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.​
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​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​
REMEMBRANCE DAY
This week, we pause to remember those who have fought for freedom, and especially those who gave their lives in service of our nation, and to thank God for the peace and freedoms we enjoy. We remember, too, that true peace is found only in Christ, who laid down His life to reconcile us to God and one another. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
Please note: there will be no Men’s Prayer Breakfast or Westminster Confession of Faith class on Tuesday, November 11th.
CHRISTMAS DINNER HELP
We are looking for help to organize and plan our annual Christmas dinner! Commitment is minimal with just one planning meeting and then helping with set-up and clean-up the day of. If you have an eye for Christmas decor or any fun ideas, please reach out to Christine VanGelderen.
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP/RETREAT
The Women’s fellowship night this month will be combined with the Retreat this coming weekend. Ladies are welcome to join us at Camp Silversides on Friday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. If you are not registered for the retreat, you will need to pay $40 for activities and snacks provided by the camp. Please RSVP to Stephanie VanderLeek by Tuesday if you want to attend!
CRAFTING COLLECTIVE
Just a reminder that the day and time for the Crafting Collective has shifted! It will now be the third Sunday of the month from 2-4 p.m. at Birdy Coffee. Join the ladies next week Sunday afternoon, November 16, for a time of crafting and fellowship.
BABY SHOWER
Jessica LaRocque and her husband Sam are expecting their first baby - a boy - in the new year and we are thrilled for them! We are so excited to bless them with a baby shower to help them feel prepared for the arrival of their first child. Please join us here at the chapel on Saturday, November 29, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Please RSVP by November 21st to Jasmin Howell.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: FAMILY MORNING PRAYER
Once a month, on the Sunday of a long weekend (or on the third Sunday for months that do not have a long weekend), we meet at 9:30 a.m. for a time of prayer together. Adults and children meet in a Sunday School room. The elders meet each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the office for prayer prior to the service. Though this is a shorter time of prayer, we extend an open invitation to anyone who desires to come and pray for our service and for those serving. Please pray that the Lord would form us into a praying people, who long for times of prayer together as a congregation; and that we would not neglect to labour in prayer for one another, for our community, and for our world. Please be in contact with Matt VanderLeek if you have any questions. Our next Family Morning prayer is next week Sunday, November 16.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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NEHEMIAH 3:1-32
1. In Nehemiah 3, priests, rulers, goldsmiths, merchants, and ordinary families all join together, working side by side. What other Scriptures show us how God’s people are meant to labour together in His Kingdom today?
2. We see families repairing what was “opposite his house.” What does this teach us about personal responsibility in kingdom work, of tending to what is right in front of us, before looking elsewhere?
3. What sort of things can you help build/repair that are right in front of you? your family? your City Group? our church?
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NEHEMIAH 4: 1-14
1. How does Nehemiah respond to the insults in vv. 4–5, and what do his imprecatory words teach us about godly anger and dependence on God’s justice?
2. The Christian Church today is surrounded by ideological enemies — progressive moralism, sentimental empathy, false unity — what does faithful “building and battling” look like in our context, and in your own life?
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NEHEMIAH 4: 15-23
1a. Why did the people keep both sword and trowel in hand?
1b. What does this reveal about the balance between trusting God and taking responsibility in our own lives?
2. What does “keeping watch” look like in your context—at home, in church, and in spiritual life?
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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
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Long Weekends & Holidays
Please note that Sunday School and Nursery are not provided on long weekends and holidays. Parents are encouraged to help their older children participate in the service on these days; for very little ones, the nursery space will be available for parents to use. Activity packets will be available for children who would normally be in Sunday School.
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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​
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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​
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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.
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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!
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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
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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!
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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.
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.
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.
