Woody Nook 101

Woody Nook
An Introduction
to our
Community Life

Topics
Summary of Faith and Practice
Woody Nook: Our Common Testimony
Woody Nook: Our Story
Woody Nook: Living Together In Christ
Woody Nook: The Organization
Belonging To Woody Nook

A Summary of Faith and Practice
Finding Home, Finding Rest

Basic Confession
Q. What is your only comfort in life and
in death?
A. That I am not my own,
but belong—
body and soul,
in life and in death—
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his
precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of
the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for
my salvation.

Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and
ready
from now on to live for him.

The Parable Prodigal:
It’s all about coming home
There is a place we call home
Longing for the another life: leaving home
The deceptions of life, the disappointments
Confession and Homecoming: it’s better with
God

God’s Story and Your Story
God’s Story
“Let us make…”
The sorrow of God
The waiting of God
The Seeking God
The Forgiving God
The Empowering God
The God who makes the future
come
Your Story
Created Like God
Walking away from God
Life away from God
Facing ourselves, facing our
world
Turning to God: confession and
faith
Living with God: faith, hope
and love
Our destiny with God

God’s Story
“Let us make…”
Image and likeness
Stewards of creation
Genesis 1, 2
Your Story
Created like God
and God said:
“good”
Psalm 8, 139

God’s Story
The Sorrow of God
Genesis 3: the Fall
Genesis 6: and God
grieved
Luke 15
Your Story
Walking away from
God
“did what was right
in his own eyes”
lived a “prodigal life”
–party life
Did not listen -

God’s Story
“the Waiting of God”
The book of Judges
The Prodigal Father
Your Story
Life Away from God
Other gods
Who is First?
What is good?
The Brokenness that
does not go away

God’s Story
The Seeking God
Your Story
Facing ourselves,
facing our World

God’s Story
The Forgiving God
Your Story
Turning to God:
confession and faith

God’s Story
The empowering
God
Your Story
Walking with God:
faith, hope and love

God’s Story
The God who makes
a future
Your Story
Our destiny in God

How we get to know God
Through Creation
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world
God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and
divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being
understood from what has been made, so that men
are without excuse.
Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings in his
own image. In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

Through the Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the
glory of the One and Only, who came from the
Father, full of grace and truth.

Through the Work of the Spirit
Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our
spirit that we are God's children.
Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the
sinful nature have their minds set on what that
nature desires; but those who live in accordance
with the Spirit have their minds set on what the
Spirit desires.

Our Central Text: The Bible
• Written over time: from Moses (approximately 1400BC) to
Revelation (around 100AD)
• Contains 66 books – it is a library of books the church believes
is inspired. (otherwise known as the Canon)
• Contains a variety of literature: poetry, prophetic works, law,
history, letter, gospel, wisdom, apocalyptic.
• Scripture reveals the great story of the relationship of God to
earth and its people.
• Creation, Fall, Redemption
• Central part of the story is Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Our Central Text: The Bible
We hear the voice of God
We see the action of God
We learn about the character of God
We get to know Jesus, the Son of God, whose
image we bear.

The Christian Worldview:
Key Questions
Who am I?
What is the good life?
What is worth striving for?

The Christian Worldview:
Key Questions
What is my North Star (orientating
star)?
What is my responsibility to others?
How should I see others?
What is my responsibility to nature?

The Christian Worldview
Our identity is found in Jesus
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him
before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to
do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.

God wants us to bear fruit
John 15:4-8 Remain in me, and I will
remain in you. No branch can bear fruit
by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you
remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are
the branches. If a man remains in me
and I in him, he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing … 8
This is to my Father's glory, that you
bear much fruit, showing yourselves to
be my disciples.

God wants us to live in love
John 15:14-17 14 You are my friends if you
do what I command. 15 I no longer call
you servants, because a servant does
not know his master's business. Instead,
I have called you friends, for everything
that I learned from my Father I have
made known to you. … 17 This is my
command: Love each other.

God wants us to be responsible for creation
Genesis 1:27-28 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image
of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God
blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill
the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the
air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Psalm 8:3-9 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that
you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You
made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with
glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts
of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the
paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all
the earth!

God wants us to seek the Kingdom of God
Matthew 6:31-34 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall
we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we
wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well. 34 ¶ Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

How do I become a Christian?
Admit that God has not been first in
your life.
Ask God to forgive you.
Believe that Jesus died to pay for
your sins and Jesus rose to give you
life
Accept God’s free gift of salvation
Confess the you are the “servant of
the Lord Jesus”. Let the Lord Jesus
rule you by His Word and Spirit.
Repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38)
“the change of mind of those who have
begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds,
and have determined to enter upon a
better course of life, so that it embraces
both a recognition of sin and sorrow for it
and hearty amendment, the tokens and
effects of which are good deeds”
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for making
and loving me, even when I ignored
you and went my own way. I need
you in my life. Forgive my sins.
Thank you for dying on the cross for
me. By your Spirit make me a new
person. I want to follow you. Help
me grow in faith and understanding.
Lead me by your Spirit. In Jesus
name, Amen.

Why Confessions?
Confessions are invitations to unity
Confessions embrace a history of understanding
the Bible and the good news of Jesus
Confessions are a way of seeking to be faithful
By embracing a confession we stand together
in our faith

Our Confessional History: the List
• Nicene Creed – 325AD
• Athanasian Creed – 6th century
• Apostles Creed – 4th century & earlier
• Belgic Confession – 1566AD
• Heidelberg Catechism – 1563AD
• Canons of Dordt – 1618-19AD
• Our World Belongs to God -a Contemporary Testimony –
1986AD
• the Belhar Confession – 1986AD (presently being
studied)

The Apostles’Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living
and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
This creed is called the Apostles'
Creed not because it was
produced by the apostles
themselves but because it
contains a brief summary of their
teachings. It sets forth their
doctrine "in sublime simplicity, in
unsurpassable brevity, in
beautiful order, and with liturgical
solemnity." In its present form it is
dated no later than the fourth
century. More than any other
Christian creed, it may justly be
called an ecumenical symbol of
faith. This translation of the Latin
text was approved by the CRC
Synod of 1988.

The Athanasian
Creed
Whoever desires to be saved should above all hold
to the catholic faith.
Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken
will doubtless perish eternally.
Now this is the catholic faith:
That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in
unity,
neither blending their persons
nor dividing their essence….
But it is necessary for eternal salvation
that one also believe in the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully.
Now this is the true faith:
That we believe and confess
that our Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son,
is both God and human, equally.
This creed is named after Athanasius
(A.D. 293-373), the champion of
orthodoxy against Arian attacks on
the doctrine of the trinity. Although
Athanasius did not write this creed
and it is improperly named after him,
the name persists because until the
seventeenth century it was commonly
ascribed to him. It is not from Greek
(Eastern), but from Latin (Western)
origin, and is not recognized by the
Eastern Orthodox Church today.
Apart from the opening and closing
sentences, this creed consists of two
parts, the first setting forth the
orthodox doctrine of the trinity, and
the second dealing chiefly with the
incarnation and the two-natures
doctrine.

The Nicene
Creed
he Nicene Creed, also called the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is a statement
of the orthodox faith of the early Christian church in opposition to certain heresies,
especially Arianism. These heresies, which disturbed the church during the fourth
century, concerned the doctrine of the trinity and of the person of Christ. Both the
Greek (Eastern) and the Latin (Western) church held this creed in honor, though
with one important difference: the Western church insisted on the inclusion of the
phrase "and the Son" (known as the "filioque") in the article on the procession of the
Holy Spirit; this phrase still is repudiated by the Eastern Orthodox church. In its
present form this creed goes back partially to the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) with
additions by the Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381). It was accepted in its present
form at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, but the "filioque" phrase was not added
until 589. However, the creed is in substance an accurate and majestic formulation
of the Nicene faith.

The Nicene
Creed
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin
Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried.
The third day he rose again, according to the
Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and
glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.
We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.

The Heidelberg
Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism was composed in
Heidelberg at the request of Elector Frederick III,
who ruled the Palatinate, an influential German
province, from 1559 to 1576. An old tradition
credits Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus
with being coauthors of the new catechism. Both
were certainly involved in its composition,
although one of them may have had primary
responsibility… The catechism was approved by
a synod in Heidelberg in January 1563… Soon
the catechism was divided into fifty-two sections
so that one Lord's Day could be explained in
preaching each Sunday of the year.
The Synod of Dort in 1618-1619 approved the
Heidelberg Catechism, and it soon became the
most ecumenical of the Reformed catechisms
and confessions. The catechism has been
translated into many European, Asian, and
African languages and is the most widely used
and most warmly praised catechism of the
Reformation period.

The Belgic
Confession
During the sixteenth century the churches in this country
were exposed to the most terrible persecution by the
Roman Catholic government. To protest against this
cruel oppression, and to prove to the persecutors that
the adherents of the Reformed faith were not rebels,
as was laid to their charge, but law-abiding citizens
who professed the true Christian doctrine according to
the Holy Scriptures, de Bres prepared this confession
in the year 1561. In the following year a copy was sent
to King Philip II, together with an address in which the
petitioners declared that they were ready to obey the
government in all lawful things, but that they would
"offer their backs to stripes, their tongues to knives,
their mouths to gags, and their whole bodies to the
fire," rather than deny the truth expressed in this
confession.
Although the immediate purpose of securing freedom from
persecution was not attained, and de Bres himself fell
as one of the many thousands who sealed their faith
with their lives, his work has endured and will continue
to endure.
The oldest of the doctrinal
standards of the Christian
Reformed Church is the
Confession of Faith, popularly
known as the Belgic Confession,
following the seventeenth-century
Latin designation "Confessio
Belgica." "Belgica" referred to the
whole of the Netherlands, both
north and south, which today is
divided into the Netherlands and
Belgium. The confession's chief
author was Guido de Bres, a
preacher of the Reformed
churches of the Netherlands, who
died a martyr to the faith in the
year 1567.

The Canons
of Dort
The Synod of Dort was held in order to settle a serious
controversy in the Dutch churches initiated by the rise
of Arminianism. Jacob Arminius, a theological
professor at Leiden University, questioned the
teaching of Calvin and his followers on a number of
important points. After Arminius's death, his own
followers presented their views on five of these points
in the Remonstrance of 1610. In this document or in
later more explicit writings, the Arminians taught
election based on foreseen faith, universal atonement,
partial depravity, resistible grace, and the possibility of
a lapse from grace. In the Canons the Synod of Dort
rejected these views and set forth the Reformed
doctrine on these points, namely, unconditional
election, limited atonement, total depravity, irresistible
grace, and the perseverance of saints.
The Canons have a special character because of their
original purpose as a judicial decision on the doctrinal
points in dispute during the Arminian controversy.
The Decision of the Synod of Dort
on the Five Main Points of
Doctrine in Dispute in the
Netherlands is popularly known
as the Canons of Dort. It consists
of statements of doctrine adopted
by the great Synod of Dort which
met in the city of Dordrecht in
1618-19. Although this was a
national synod of the Reformed
churches of the Netherlands, it
had an international character,
since it was composed not only of
Dutch delegates but also of
twenty-six delegates from eight
foreign countries.

The Contemporary
Testimony
6. We rejoice in the goodness of God,
renounce the works of darkness,
and dedicate ourselves to holy living.
As covenant partners,
set free for joyful obedience,
we offer our hearts and lives
to do God’s work in the world.
With tempered impatience,
eager to see injustice ended,
we expect the Day of the Lord.
We are confident
that the light
which shines in the present darkness
will fill the earth
when Christ appears.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Our world belongs to you.
This was adopted as a
testimony of our faith in the
light of contemporary
concerns in the culture. It
testifies to our Christian
stance in this world.
Many find the language
engaging and helpful as they
address their context.

The Belhar
Confession
that unity is, therefore, both a gift and an
obligation for the church of Jesus Christ;
that through the working of God’s Spirit it
is a binding force, yet simultaneously a
reality which must be earnestly pursued
and sought: one which the people of God
must continually be built up to attain
(Eph. 4:1-16);
-- that this unity must become visible so
that the world may believe that
separation, enmity and hatred between
people and groups is sin which Christ
has already conquered, and accordingly
that anything which threatens this unity
may have no place in the church and
must be resisted (John 17:20-23);
Since Scripture is the only rule
of faith and practice, our
confessions are and must be
historic and faithful witnesses
to Scripture. Synod observes
that the Belhar Confession
truly expresses the biblical
goals of unity, reconciliation,
and justice; the church’s
commitment to these goals;
and the fact that “true faith in
Jesus Christ is the only
condition for membership of
this church" (The Belhar
Confession, Article 2).

Why Confessions? Again...
A Confession is a Statement of our common faith
Confessions are part of a story
Confessions arise to defend and articulate what we
believe
Confessions are ways the church sought to be
faithful in the challenges of the time
Sharing these confessions are a way for us to stand
with a community of believing people

Baptism: A Sacrament of Grace
A Sign of Christ’s death and resurrection
A Sign of the washing away of our sins and our
new birth in Christ
A seal of God’s gift and promise
A Sign and a Seal

Why should I be baptised?
•Christ’s command:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)
•As a sign of your story in Christ:
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were
raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ
from the dead. Colossians 2:12
•As a seal of the promise
What God said applies to you
Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is … a deep-rooted assurance, created in me by the Holy Spirit
through the gospel, that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ, not only
others, but I too, have had my sins forgiven, have been made forever right with
God, and have been granted salvation.

About Baptism: For Children?
God’s Plan includes children
Acts 2:39 The promise is for you and your children and for
all who are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Jesus loves children
Mark 10:14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said
to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as
these.
God purpose is to embrace
children
1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband has
been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving
wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.
Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is,
they are holy.
Baptism is not about
what we do, but about
what God does.
God gives us salvation.
God acts in our life. God
gives promises.
God’s promises are for
children as well.

About Lord’s Supper,
Communion
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 23 ¶ For I received from the Lord what I
also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was
betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke
it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took
the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do
this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For
whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the
Lord's death until he comes.

The Lord’s Supper: A meal
A meal
A wedding banquet
A place of fellowship

The Lord’s Supper: A Reminder
A reminder
Tells the story of Jesus
This story is part of our story: never forget

The Lord’s Supper:
A Sign & Seal
A sign & seal
Body and blood of Christ is our salvation
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The Lord’s Supper:
a Proclamation
Proclaim until he comes
We confess that our life is hidden in the life of
Christ
We confess that Jesus will come again
We testify to our hope

WOODY NOOK
Our story: from immigration to a community serving Lacombe County

Woody Nook
In the Beginning
Leaving a country but not a
faith
Need for support
Desire to Live in faith

Woody Nook
Building a New Life of Faith
A life with neighbours
A church community
A school community

Woody Nook
Adapting to Changing Times
Changing Worship Styles
Ministry to Children & Youth
Global Christians/ increasing
ethnic diversity
Working with Other Churches

Woody Nook
Everyone has a story of becoming
Born into Woody Nook
Moved into the area
Married a member
Found fellowship
Became a believer among
these people

Woody Nook
Your Story/ My Story
When did you become aware of God’s presence in your life?
What happened in your life to make your faith more “personal”?
Was there a time when you placed your life in God’s hands?
What and who influenced your faith journey?
How do you plan on deepening and strengthening your relationship
to God?
We are to live in faith, hope and love. How do see evidence “faith,
hope, and love” in your life?
How do you serve Jesus – your Lord?

WOODY NOOK: LIVING TOGETHER IN
CHRIST
Vision, Mission, Values, Beliefs

The Church: Its About God –
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
The church is God’s Story- what Jesus continues to
do (Acts 1)
The church is built on one foundation: Christ
The church is the “temple of the Living God”: holy to
the Lord
The church is the “body of Christ”
It’s Not About You

A Picture of a Vision
Revelation 21:1-7 hen I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a
loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and
he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with
them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be
no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away." 5 ¶ He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making
everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are
trustworthy and true." 6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink
without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will
inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

A Picture of a Vision
Beautiful for God
Where the new comes to life
Where the old order loses power and the new
order reigns
Where there is “water for life” for all

Our Christian Vocation
Called to make disciples
Matthew 28:18-19 "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations,
Called to love
Mark 12:30-31 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
Called to serve the King
Matthew 6:33 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

Living Together: Shared Family
Values
Philippians 2:1-16 f you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort
from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make
my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature
God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a
cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above
every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. 12 ¶ Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence,
but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 ¶ Do
everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars
in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life-

Values
Worship in which we
express our devotion to God,
re-story ourselves in God’s story,
listen to the voice of God,
and express our needs to the Lord
Care for one another by
Providing encouragement
Nurturing faith
Honouring each other
Praying for each other

Values
Stewardship in which we
use time, money and abilities to honour God
use the gifts of God to build the Kingdom of God
develop the gifts we are given
care for the environment and gifts we have received

Values
Nurture faith
in all members
by sharing our faith with our neighbours
by continually learning the “ways of God”
Prayer in which we
celebrate with thanks the gifts of God
lift up the needs for our service for God
lift up the needs & concerns of our members
seek the peace of our community & its leaders
Just talk to God

Living Together: Shared Family Values
Service in which we
serve the needs of our neighbours – near and far
develop and use our gifts
promote justice at home and abroad
Seek Unity
By protecting the “oneness” of the congregation
By seeking relationships with other Christians locally
By participating in denominational activities
By developing relationships with Christian around the
globe

As a Community we desire
That you have peace with your past (forgiven)
That you know you are loved as a member of the
family (welcomed and accepted by God)
That you can serve the Lord faithfully (sharing
your abilities, resources and time to develop the
kingdom of God)
That you develop a spirituality for the long haul
(persistence through hope)

WOODY NOOK: THE ORGANIZATION
Structure, Denomination

A People, A Community
The church is a fellowship of God
The church is a family of God
The church is the body of Christ
Not a business
Not a social agency
Not a political body
Not a program
Not a retail outlet

As a people we
Have ministries to build up the body
Have an organization that helps the people of
God serve the purposes of God.
Have a building and staff to help the people of
God live faithfully, serving the Lord

Our Organizational Structure
An organizational structure is the road map for
How the core faith and values are maintained
How decisions are made
How accountability is managed
How policies are developed
How ministries are created and maintained

Full Council
Administration
Board
Pastoral
Elders
Deacons
Full Council:
1. Focuses on Mission/
Vision of the Church
2. Approves Policy
3. Approves Budget
4. Holds all accountable
5. Approves Major
Initiatives
•Council is nominated by
congregation and chosen
by lot
•All budgets and major
initiatives are approved
by the congregation

Pastoral Elders
Visitation Small Group
Stephen’s
Ministry
Supervise the
Preaching
Supervise the
Sacraments
Approve
Membership
Caring Touch
Central Task: to nurture the spiritual
growth of members, to provide “soul-
care”, and encourage the work of the
pastors
Other tasks include pulpit
supply, prayer ministry,
marriage visits

Deacons
Volunteer
Link
Diaconal
Ministry
Meals from
the Heart
SERVE
Collection
Schedule
Refugees
Assist our community in
being the hands and feet
of Christ by being a link
between people with
needs and people with
resources
Other tasks in counting
committee, social justice,
stewardship training, community
service

Ministries
Youth Ministry
Cadets & GEMS
Worship
Children: Nursery & Sunday School
Small Groups
Outreach Ministries
Library
Finance/ Maintenance

What
Pastors Do
Pastor Harv:
Pastoral Ministry
Stephen’s Ministry
Caring Touch
Small Groups
Pastor Neil:
Works with Ad Board
Preaches and Teaches
Engages in pastoral care
Worship Committee
CATCH
Pastor Rick
Youth Ministry
Preaching and Teaching
Evangelism

What members do: in the church
Support and encourage one another through
prayer and sharing
Participate in the ministries according to their
gifts and resources
Steward their time, abilities and resources for
God’s glory
Participate in the ‘business’ of the church

What members do: beyond the
church programs
Go and make disciples
Participate in the community in schools and
volunteer opportunities
Being “light” in their workplace; a holy life in the
world

Relationship to the
Denomination
Other
Denominations
Synod: Christian
Reformed Church
of North America
Classis Alberta
North
Woody Nook
Classis is a organization of
neighbouring CRC
congregations who work
together in common ministry,
support each other, and seek
to grow the church within our
boundaries
Synod is the overseeing
body of the
denomination and
guides its policy and
mission.
Ministries of the
denomination include
CRWRC, World
Missions, Back to God
Ministries, Home
Missions, etc.
We participate with other
denominations to further our
common concern for the
gospel, deepen our
commitments to our faith,
and minister to the needs of
the world

Being a member means
To share its expressions of faith
To share in its mission for God and God’s
Kingdom
To be accountable for my walk with Christ
To care for the people of the congregation
To take legal responsibility according to the laws
of the land

Why Become a Member?
A response to Christ’s love for his church
Being part of the body – with its responsibilities, joys
and sorrows – requires a full commitment
While our society calls us a “volunteer” organization,
God does not.
Growth happens in the context of faithful
commitments
Membership means taking responsibility for the
organization

What is expected of Me as a
Member?
I will protect the unity of the church
By acting in love toward each other
By not gossiping
By following the leadership
I will share the responsibility of my church
By praying for its growth
By inviting the unchurched to attend
By warmly welcoming those who come

I will serve the ministry of the church
By discovering and using my gifts
By developing the servant heart
By taking part in ministry opportunities
I will support the testimony of the church
By attending faithfully
By living a godly life
By giving regularly

I will seek ways to serve God in community
By serving in the community organizations
By supporting fellow Christians
By giving godly input into non-Christian business and
social organizations
By caring for my neighbours
I will seek to grow in my faith

What you can expect from the
church and for which you can hold
the church accountable
To pray for you
To support you as you seek to grow in faith
To be open and accountable for the ministry
To care for you in time of need
To provide opportunities to share in ministry
To discern the way of God among us

Woody Nook 101

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