AGING WELL - a free online conference
2025-06-21 09:00 - 14:30 (America/Toronto) | Online Webinar
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they will still bear fruit;
healthy and green they will remain, to proclaim,
“The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and in Him there is no unrighteousness.”
Psalm 92:12-15 (NIV)
This free on-line conference is for the whole church, as we are called to take the entire gospel—in deed and in word—to the whole world, starting locally in our churches and in our neighbourhoods and bringing it to the world around us near and far. What does that mean? Come and learn about Existing church programs for the aging, Future plans and ideas, The needs in the surrounding community, Available resources and opportunities for inside and outside the church and Global and local awareness of issues around aging (Cantonese sessions)
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
DATE: JUNE 21, 2025
9:00 – 9:15 Welcome and opening with song and prayer (Sharon Leung)
9:15 – 9:35 Devotional: “Aging Well: Biblical Guidance” (Dr. Tom McCormick)
9:40 – 10:50 Workshop Session A
Breakout Room A1: Church Based Programs
Breakout Room A2: Community Outreach – Missional Dimension
Breakout Room A3: 全球老齡化意識 Global Awareness on Aging (Cantonese Session):
Breakout Room A4: 本地教會對老齡化的意識 Local Church Awareness (Cantonese session):
10:50 – 11:05 Break
11:05 – 11:15 Interviews/testimonials
11:15 – 11:45 Keynote: “Aging Well: Next Steps” (Dr. Tom McCormick)
11:45 – 12:30 Lunch Break
12:30 – 12:40 Interviews/Testimonials
12:45 – 1:55 Workshop Session B:

To offer everyone a chance to attend both sessions in English or Cantonese, the afternoon workshops are similar and have the same topics as the morning workshops. You will automatically directed to the alternate workshop in your chosen language. If you can only attend one session (morning or afternoon), you will be asked to choose a session on the registration form.

Breakout Room B1: Church Based Programs
Breakout Room B2: Community Outreach – Missional Dimension
Breakout Room B3: 全球老齡化意識 Global Awareness on Aging (Cantonese Session):
Breakout Room B4: 本地教會對老齡化的意識 Local Church Awareness (Cantonese session):
2:00 – 2:30 Q&A, Panel Discussion and Closing
INTERESTED?
Please follow the link below to fill out a registration form.
LINK: REGISTRATION FORM

The Trinity - Through the Lens of the Council of Nicaea -
2025-10-11 10:30 - 12:30
This year marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the formulation of the Nicene Creed. In light of this, Raoul Kingma presents a course on the Trinity through the Word and Spirit Institute.
Classes will be on 3 or 4 consecutive Saturdays (10:30 – 12:30 EST) starting Oct. 11, 2025.

Spiritual Needs and Pastoral Care for Caregivers
2025-11-15 08:30 - 12:30
One in four Canadians is a caregiver and one in two will become one at some point in their lives. Caregivers, experience unique challenges and are often overwhelmed with the enormity of the task. Various ways of how the church can support, what church leaders and lay-helpers need to know, and what caregivers can do to help and support themselves and their loved ones. Resources will be shared and you will hear from others what has worked for them and what doesn’t.

Practical and Personal Resources for Caregivers
2026-01-10 10:30 - 12:00
Around 25% of Canadians are caring for aging parents or relatives. Many of the caregivers struggle with this enormous task. They wish that someone could help them to find resources that are helpful to their situation or that someone could coach them in the steps that could help them. The Word and Spirit Institute together with the Caregivers Network has invited an experienced professional in the caregiving field! Come to the webinar on Saturday January 10, 2026 from 10:30 to Noon (ET). There will be lots of opportunity to interact, ask questions and discuss with others in this webinar in caregiving. Resources and tips will be shared. You will also hear testimonies of lived experiences of caregiving.
To register, follow the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/q2gd6sIERIqz-FdvaI3d3g. You will be sent the Zoom link after registration and close to the date of the webinar.

Music with Frank Ezinga
2026-02-11 20:00 - 21:30
The course format will be a lecture (3/4) followed by a class discussion (1/4). A PDF handout will be provided in advance. I will use PowerPoint and supporting media, such as images or video fragments.

The course is helpful for any church member, as knowledge of music is not required. The course provides a framework for music within the church and Christian life. The course will not address specific musical instruments, accompaniment, requirements for accompanists, worship songs, etc., but it will provide a context that participants can apply to these topics. Music discussions often focus on the “what” and “how” without addressing the “why.” The course will unpack the “why” as a context for the “what” and “how.” The topics will provide a foundation for a church music discussion, where the practical outcome for a particular denomination or even a local congregation may differ.

Intergenerational Church and Confronting Ageism
2026-02-14 09:30 - 12:00
Join the ElderCare Network for a webinar discussing how churches can bridge generational divides and challenge ageism in Canadian congregational life. The landscape of what has been happening in many churches will be discussed. Moreover, we will take a look at a model of churches that are intergenerationally integrated, and explore what the impact of ageism has on a lot of churches. There will be ample time for discussion. Come and discover practical ways to strengthen intergenerational relationships and affirm the dignity and spiritual vitality of older adults.
