Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Where is PGIMF?
When and how was PGIMF
established?
What is PGIMF's Mission Statement?
Who is the pastor of PGIMF?
What are some of the scheduled activities of
PGIMF?
Do you have 'care groups' at PGIMF?
Do you have Sunday School at PGIMF?
What do Mennonites believe?
How can I learn more about Mennonites?
Why can't I find any e-mail addresses for
your leadership or members?
What are some
resources that I can use to prepare to speak at PGIMF?
How can I find out about
your past and future events?
What is your policy for
linking to the PGIMF web site?
Q: Where is PGIMF?
A: We worship in the chapel of the Menno
Simons Centre, at
4000 West 11th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
See our Worship-Contact section for
a map and directions.
Q: When and how was
PGIMF established?
A: In 1986, a small group of people
started the Pacific Centre for Discipleship Association, initially for
the purpose of operating the Menno Simons Centre. A number of those
people decided to start the Point Grey Fellowship (PGF) at the same
time. In 1993, the congregation decided to distinguish itself as a
Mennonite congregation but also to embrace its dual-affiliation status
by changing its name to the Point Grey Inter-Mennonite Fellowship (PGIMF).
Q: What is
PGIMF's Mission Statement?
A: We are a maturing Christian fellowship
valuing God and each other. We invite you to join us as we:
- Worship on Sundays with ample
opportunity for singing, praying and hearing Bible readings.
Our morning talks offer insights into scripture, the nature of
God, and faith. Our leisurely discussion times encourage us to
reflect on the morning’s activities, and raise thoughtful and
honest questions with the Fellowship. Our reflective
celebrations of the Lord’s Supper remind us we are members of
Christ’s Body across the world and the ages.
- Involve an array of worship leaders
and speakers, both members and special guests, young and
old.
- Strengthen our faith intellectually,
aided by resources available through the church, UBC, Regent
College, and the Vancouver School of Theology.
- Meet in the chapel of the Menno Simons
Centre, a university student residence seeking to model
Anabaptist values. This challenges us to offer students
fellowship, encouragement, and practical support during their
formative years.
- Practice lay leadership and encourage
active participation in the life of the congregation. Our
sense of community and fellowship, coupled with our commitment
to consensus building, fosters mutual appreciation and support
as we attempt to live our Christian lives in one of Canada’s
major metropolitan areas.
- Build our interest in, and knowledge
of, the Anabaptist/Mennonite spiritual heritage as we share
with each other our varied interests and perspectives from our
various spiritual backgrounds.
- Learn from each other, whether
through open conversation in discussion time, talking
individually during the coffee hour, meeting in homes for study
and prayer, or sharing lunch.
- Appreciate ways in which the arts can
nourish faith and life. Our singing is heart-felt, whether
for traditional hymns in four-part harmony or for unison songs
in a contemporary style. Our chapel’s walls offer art exhibits
by members and friends, inviting us to enter into a world
unencumbered by words.
Q: Who is the pastor of
PGIMF?
A: The duties of a pastor are shared by
dedicated volunteers in the following ways:
- The Pastoral Concerns Committee,
consisting of two to four people (with overlapping terms of
service) enhances the spiritual life of the church. They take care
of visiting those who are absent or sick, those seeking counselling
(using an outside Christian counselling service), and newly
interested people. This group also arranges for flowers to be sent
to the ill or bereaved.
- The Worship Speaker Coordinators,
consisting of two people, ensure that each Sunday service
includes a speaker, whether a testimonial by someone from within
the congregation, or a guest speaker from another church or
missionary service. Sometimes the coordinators will arrange for
one or more speakers to deliver a series of teachings on a topic,
such as a book of the Bible.
Since PGIMF has no clergy at this time, the
congregation has arranged with the Conference of Mennonites of B.C.
for Evan Kreider to be licensed to perform marriages for persons of
the congregation. Any request to
have Evan perform a marriage requires prior approval of the church
Board.
Q: What are some of
the scheduled activities of PGIMF?
A: Subject to change, but please refer to
the following list as a starting point:
- Worship services - 10:00 a.m. each
Sunday, except for retreats (e.g. 1st weekend in June at Camp
Luther) and ecumenical services (e.g. Trimble Park, etc.).
- Communion - 1st Sunday of each month,
with adjustments for the liturgical calendar
- Coffee Hours - each Sunday after
Church (except when there is a Pot Luck Lunch).
- Pot Luck Lunches - the last Sunday of
the month from September to April (except December)
- Church Board Meetings - monthly or at
the call of the Moderator
- Church Business Meetings - September,
January and April (Annual General Meeting). Others at the call of
the Chairperson or any group of five members after giving one
week's notice. Elections are held in April; duties start July 1st.
- Vancouver Area Ministers - monthly in
winter (Conference of Mennonites)
- West Point Grey Ministerial Association
- planning meetings for joint activities.
Q: Do you have 'care
groups' at PGIMF?
A: Yes, we have 'house groups' which our
Pastoral Concerns Committee can help you join. We encourage people to
join a house group for a number of reasons:
- to share, pray and care for one another
- to provide opportunities for spiritual
growth, including finding and using gifts
- to allow for a fuller participation in active
fellowship during the week.
Q: Do you have
Sunday School at PGIMF?
A: Although we do not have a Sunday
School program before the service, we do have a "Children's
Church" time during the second half of the worship time when the
younger children are taught suitable lessons and given structured
activities for their age group. Currently the children are divided
into three groups: nursery (up to age 3, during the whole service),
younger children (ages 4-7), and older children (8-13).
Q: What do Mennonites
believe?
A: Mennonites are Christians, in the
evangelical-Anabaptist tradition:
Q: How can I learn
more about Mennonites?
A: There are several good web sites with
information about Mennonite history as well as current issues, such
as:
Q: Why can't I
find any e-mail addresses for your leadership or members?
A: To protect the privacy of everyone who
attends our congregation, and to prevent this site from being used as
a source of marketing information, we do not publish any e-mail
addresses. To contact someone in the church, you may send an e-mail to
info@pgimf.org and the
Congregational Coordinator will read your message and forward it to
the appropriate person.
Q: What
are some resources that I can use to prepare to speak at PGIMF?
A: If you have been asked to speak, all
we expect is that you speak from your heart as God leads you. That
said, you may still be interested in using some of the following
resources which our past lay-preachers have found useful in their
preparations:
-
The Bible
Gateway: Free word search and Bible passage lookup in many
versions (including NIV) and languages (including Plautdietsch),
complete with spoken-word sound clips and Inter-Varsity Press
commentary.
-
OBB (Oremus Bible
Browser): The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Anglicized
Edition is preferred for reading aloud during our services.
-
Blue Letter Bible: A vast free resource containing: The Treasury
of Scripture Knowledge, Strong's Concordance (Greek & Hebrew word
study), Commentaries (many sources including Matthew Henry; text and
audio), Art images, Maps/Charts, Hymns, Alternate Version (including
the Vulgate), Dictionary entries and more added regularly.
-
Text Week: A
portal of links by categories such as: Liturgical references by
week, Movie Concordance (biblical themes in modern movies), Art
Concordance, Scripture Index, and of course full-text searching.
Q: How can I find
out about your past and future events?
A: Links to current schedules (today and
future) are provided on our home page.
Links to past schedules (before today) are on our
news page. If you are responsible for
entering schedule information, or if you want to see all of the
details about any given Sunday, click
here to view the full database.
Q: What is your
policy for linking to the PGIMF web site?
A: Since we are a small church, we don't
have a budget for web-based advertising, and our site is not meant to
support all kinds of reciprocal linking arrangements. All we ask is
that links to our site be appropriate and accurate. Here are some of
the places that include links to our site:
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