Community

City Chapel is a church driven by the Great Commission. This Commission is impossible without relationships as a church community, as well as relationships with the communities in which we live.

Upcoming Events and Announcements

WEEKLY EVENTS

MEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST

We are still gathering weekly for men's prayer breakfast at Cora Restaurant every Tuesday morning at 6:15 a.m.

MOMMY PLAYDATE

On Friday mornings we meet at The Dome at 10:00 a.m. for the kids to play and the ladies can fellowship!

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OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

WESTMINSTER CONFESSION CLASS

This Tuesday, March 10, we’ll be working through Chapter 28—Defending the Reformed positions of Baptism. Doors open at 6:45 PM, with class from 7:00–8:30 PM. There are no prerequisites; just bring your Bible and your questions. Reading the chapters ahead of time is encouraged (available free online).

COVENANT MEMBERS MEETING

Join the Elders and Deacons on Friday, March 13th, at 6:00 PM at the former Impact Church building in Lower Fairview (just one block east from City Chapel). We’ll be gathering to discuss the future vision of our church and the exciting new doors opening for City Chapel. We look forward to seeing you there!

FAMILY MORNING PRAYER

Next Sunday, March 15, all families and individuals are encouraged to gather for a focused time of prayer before our worship service. We will be praying through Psalm 1 together as a larger family, starting at 9:30 AM in the Sunday School room.

CRAFTING COLLECTIVE

Next week Sunday afternoon is the Crafting Collective. All the ladies are welcome to go to Birdy Coffee from 2-4 PM for a time of fellowship and crafting.

HELP WANTED

The deacons are looking for someone to tape, mud, and paint the drywall in the front entry way of the chapel. If you have the skill set and are interested in helping, please reach out to a Deacon on Duty.

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: CUSTODIAN

Here at City Chapel, our custodian takes on the responsibility of regular cleaning of the Chapel, lawn care and snow removal, and making sure the building is safe, cleaned and maintained for us all to use on a weekly basis. At this time, our custodian is Joel Pilon so please pray for him this week, thanking the Lord for allowing Joel to use his gifts and that he is willing and able to serve the church in this way.

City
Groups

“All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors.”
- John Calvin

City Chapel desires to be a fellowship of city groups rather than a fellowship with city groups! Why? Because through the Great Commission, Christ called His Church to go into the world around it, make disciples of all people, baptize them into the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey God’s call in their lives.

We take this call to heart and feel this can only be accomplished through the intentional development of genuine relationships where we can live out the Gospel together.

Further Study Questions
Each week, our elders provide questions related to the sermon/Scripture passage to assist with your own biblical study. City Groups may use these questions in the second week of the month, during their “Study” time. The past four weeks of questions are listed below and updated each week.

NEHEMIAH 13: 1-31

1. What can we learn from seeing covenant compromises in Nehemiah 13, which appear most clearly after a season of renewal and dedication?

2. Several of the reforms involve ordinary, administrative faithfulness (storage rooms, wages, gates, schedules). Why does Scripture present these as matters of holiness rather than distractions from it?

3. Nehemiah enforces reform decisively, yet the chapter ends unresolved. How does this tension help us understand reformation, and how does this drive us to Christ?

1 THESSALONIANS 1:1

1. What does it mean that the church is “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”?

2. Paul opens with “Grace to you and peace.” Why is that order significant?

3. Paul includes Silvanus and Timothy in the greeting. What does this reveal about shared leadership and gospel partnership?

1 THESSALONIANS 1:2-10

1. What is the difference between merely hearing the gospel and receiving it “in power and in the Holy Spirit” (v 5)?

2. What are some modern idols that Christians must consciously turn from to serve “the living and true God” (v 9)?

3. How does waiting for Christ’s return (v 10) shape the way we live and speak in the present?

1 THESSALONIANS 2:1-8

1. Why is flattery and financial self-interest so corrosive to gospel work?

2. How does the gospel create real affection among believers who otherwise might have little in common?

3. What pressures tempt Christians to soften, adjust, or silence the gospel? Feel free to share personally.

1 THESSALONIANS 2: 9-16

1. The sermon highlighted three biblical things to receive: shepherds, God’s Word, and persevering through suffering. Which of these is hardest for you personally, and why?

2. How does remembering Christ’s finished work encourage us to keep walking faithfully when obedience is difficult?

Children’s

Ministry

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
- 2 Timothy 3:14-15

City Chapel Children’s Ministry was established to serve the families and the children of City Chapel, as well as the families and children that visit, by teaching about God, to His glory.

Each week our volunteers provide meaningful, biblically sound teaching to children from the ages of 2 to 7 years. Through games, songs, readings and activities, we help the kids to have an enjoyable time, while furthering their understanding of God and helping them to develop a relationship with Christ. We feel strongly that the message of the Gospel should not be ‘watered down’ for children, but simply delivered in terms that they can understand, without compromising on the content of the scriptures and the heart behind the stories. Each week we incorporate prayer, scripture reading, catechism and direction to the gospel to help the children understand the importance and value that each of these practices hold. We also work to encourage parents in their role as the primary teachers of their children and to equip them with resources to further expound on our weekly lessons with their kids.

Each week brings new games, new lessons and new fun for the children and after every lesson we feel blessed as leaders to see the children understand a bit more of who God is and what He has done for us. City Chapel Children’s Ministry is open to all children aged 2 to 7 years and we welcome visitors!

City Chapel Baby Care
Each week we have volunteers ready and able to watch your little ones while you sit in the service! Toys, lots of attention, and loving care will be provided. Please note that there is no food permitted in the nursery.

Long Weekends & Holidays
Please note that Sunday School is not provided on long weekends and holidays. Parents are encouraged to help their older children participate in the service on these days.

Contacts:
Brittany Halsey

Kristina Smith

Women’s

Ministry

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women ..."
- Titus 2:3-4

The goal for Women’s ministry at City Chapel is to glorify God and make Him known, by serving and supporting women as they serve the LORD. We do this through formal and informal opportunities for fellowship and friendship.

We also have in place a list of people who are willing to serve in different capacities when called on. This isn’t only ‘Women’s ministry' per se, but it does directly impact many women as we will provide meals, rides, cleaning, babysitting, etc., as needed. People just need to contact Janelle Edwards if they need help.

Women's Fellowship Evening
One evening every other month, the women of City Chapel gather together for an informal time of fellowship and prayer. These evenings are usually held on the third Friday of alternating months, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., and all women are welcome. We would love to see you there!

City Chapel Mommy Play Date
Every Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., a group of moms meet to give their kids a chance to play together, and themselves a chance to connect! Weather-permitting, we sometimes head to a playground or park, otherwise we meet at The Dome or the Chapel. For up-to-date information about where we'll be meeting each week, please contact Stephanie VanderLeek. All Moms, Grandmas and women who hope to one day be Moms are welcome.

Contacts:
Stephanie VanderLeek
Shiloh Nielsen

Men’s

Ministry

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
- 1 Timothy 6:11-12

At City Chapel we believe that strong and healthy churches need to be filled with strong and healthy men, husbands, and fathers. Our men participate in all areas of ministry, and there are also a few ministries that are specifically aimed at giving the men in our congregation opportunities for fellowship and growth.

Weekly Men's Prayer Breakfast
"I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling..." (1 Timothy 2:8). Every Tuesday morning at 6:15 a.m., we meet for breakfast and prayer. Men of all ages are invited to join us at Cora Restaurant.

Men's Fellowship Night
These evenings are usually held on the third Friday of alternating months at the Nielsens' workshop. These evenings are informal and are intended for fellowship. All men are welcome!

Contact:
Matt VanderLeek

Logan Nielsen

Music

Ministry

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
- Psalm 100:1-5

As Christians we are called to live the entirety of our lives as an act of worship. At City Chapel we love God and see Him alone as worthy of our worship (Rev 4:11). He is our Creator, our Sustainer and our Saviour, and in all these things, He is a good, loving, and personal God. It is for these reasons, and more, that at City Chapel we are committed to “holistic worship, without compromise in living". We recognize that worship is more than singing songs on a Sunday, but is also what we are meant to do in every aspect of our lives (Luke 10:27). In everything we do, we either honour the Lord, or we dishonour Him. Thus, as His disciples, we seek to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24), in all areas of our walk with Him.

Our Sunday service brings us together for corporate worship as a body of believers. At City Chapel, our Worship Ministry acknowledges that our role is to "facilitate orderly worship, for the edification of the body, to the glory of God." We recognize that the primary focus of worship is God, not us - and we praise God that we are personally blessed by coming together to worship Him! By worshiping together with God as our focus, the blessings of unity, conviction, encouragement, edification, and rebuke are poured out to us. Our music worship teams seek to lead the congregation in genuine worship, holding sincerity and Biblical-truth as higher aims than feelings and experiences. We affirm that, "True worship of God the Father is only possible through God the Son, by God the Spirit as we hear God's truth from His word, the Bible."* Therefore, our corporate worship times include a wide range of hymns, choruses, and contemporary songs - all which honour and glorify our Heavenly Lord, and speak the truth of His word. As a discipleship ministry, we welcome musicians of all calibers to come alongside our teams, and be trained up to serve in a leadership role. We praise God for the range of musical skills in our congregation, and seek to use our gifts to glorify Him, as in all areas of our lives!

God is good and is worthy of our praise!

Contact:
Stephanie Vander Leek

* Quote taken from True Worship by Vaughan Roberts

Our Elders

Parish Elder

Rev. Shane Fox

Shane is married to Nicole. He is a founding elder of the City Chapel church plant, and has been serving at City Chapel since 2012. Shane is the Teaching Elder of our church plant in Penticton called The Winepress.

Parish Elder

Travis Gebbink

Travis is married to Heidi. He has been attending City Chapel since 2020. He served faithfully as a deacon for several years before becoming an Elder in 2025.

Elder Emeritus

Peter Robinson

Peter is married to Brenda, and is a founding Elder of the City Chapel church plant. Peter spent 38 years serving in church leadership before moving into the honourable position of Elder Emeritus in 2022.

Teaching Elder

Rev. Matt VanderLeek

Matt is married to Stephanie. He was a founding deacon of the City Chapel church plant, and was established as an Elder in 2015 and a Teaching Elder in 2024.

Parish Elder

Noah Welch

Noah is married to Alissa. He has a heart for discipleship and has been serving City Chapel in a variety of ways since 2019. He was established as an Elder in 2022.