Vision rationale:
We want to encourage our Mandarin brothers and sisters and bless them as they move to a new time where they believe they can grow better as a congregation. The Mandarin service is planning to move from 9:00 am on Sundays to 1:00 pm in order to have more time and space for worship, fellowship and educational programs.

Timing of service change:
The current plan is to move to a new time on November 6, coinciding with Alberta’s fall time change. We are seeking feedback from members and all interested stakeholders on September 11 and 18. Our staff will meet to discuss your feedback, make a proposal to our Elder board, and our Elder board will decide on October 11th . We will communicate the change to all congregations from October 16–30th .

The Opportunity:
The English and Cantonese congregations soon will have the opportunity of choosing new worship times that will be the best fit for them on Sunday mornings, but we must work together in this decision.

• There are strategic considerations (i.e. which time will be the most attractive for those outside our congregation that we are trying to reach);
• There are structural considerations (i.e. how much time do we need between services to set up properly and not have to rush out at the end, how would prayer times fit in, when would Sunday school classes be held, etc);
• There are also personal considerations (what is the preferred time for me and my family to worship?)

The base case that we are suggesting for the worship to start for the English and Cantonese congregations are: 9:30am and 11:15am.