Newcomers Welcome!
Thank you for visiting our website! Feel free to browse around and learn a little more about our church. Of course, we would welcome the privilege of meeting you in person! You will receive a warm welcome and our prayer would be that you sense something of the unconditional love of Jesus during your time with us.
Dear Castor EMC family!
In response to the COVID-19 situation, our denomination recently advised us to temporarily suspend any church gatherings. That being the case the church board decided to immediately cancel all our public services until a later time. However, though the building will be closed for public gatherings, as a church family we still want to stay connected, growing, and serving Jesus in this time and place.
So, here are a few things we’re recommending for the meantime:
- Sunday mornings, if you have internet, you can go to the CrossRoads Church website, a church in our denominational family in Red Deer. The website address is: www.crossroadschurch.ca Click “Watch on-line.” And enjoy worship and teaching through their on-line streaming.
- Join the prayer chain. This can be a great way for us to stay connected as a church family in prayer. So, if you haven’t already joined the prayer chain I encourage you to send Rose an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. letting her know you want to be part of it. Then any prayer requests / updates sent to Rose can be forwarded on to the rest of the church family.
- Keep serving one another. Resist the tendency to hoard things for oneself. And look for ways to bless others in our church and community. Offer to pick up groceries. Make phone calls. Write encouragement notes. Keep each other in prayer!
- And be ready to share the hope that is in you. As Peter instructs, “Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). I believe our hope can shine even more brightly in such a time as this. So may Jesus give you lots of opportunities to share His compassion, peace, and hope in these troublesome days.
As you maybe know beginning April 13th (Easter Monday) I will be going on a Sabbatical for four months. This will be an unpaid Sabbatical. My hope for this time is to study, pray, and rest. What I have been most excited about for this time is participating in a spiritual pilgrimage in Turkey and Greece, travelling to the places where Paul lived and ministered! There’s certainly a good possibility this trip will be cancelled. If it is I am allowed to defer my trip to next summer.
During this Sabbatical period Marty Hays has agreed to be the point of contact for pastoral care in my absence. If you have any pastoral or spiritual needs during this time you can reach Marty at 780-519-0134. Thank you Marty for helping in this way!
We will provide another update of the church’s response to the COVID-19 situation on April 17th. Any decision to resume regular church activities will come from the church board. Let the board know if there is anything we can help with. The board members are Elias White, Arlene Charette, Richard Tirrell, Keith Weeks, Cliff Campbell, and Brent Siemens.
Concerning giving, we have set up a few different ways to continue giving to the church during this time. We still hope to meet our proposed budget in light of current events. So here are some different giving options.
- You can donate using your banks e-transfer service to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. All you need to do is in the message box put your NAME and DONOR NUMBER. If you don’t know your donor number or don’t have one you can text Peggy at 403-575-1944 to get set up. This will ensure we connect all donation receipts to the right donor.
- You can mail a cheque to the church. The church address is:
Castor Evangelical Missionary Church
C/O Peggy Hein, Treasurer
Box 506
Castor, AB
T0C0X0
- As well, there will be three drop off places around town. You can drop off a cheque at the church office on Friday afternoons with Lynn, with Rose at the Manor, or with Jim at the Lodge.
A Scripture passage to leave with you (from the Psalms!).
Psalm 31:21 “Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.”
May you have the sweetest of experiences of the Father’s magnificent love in this time of isolation!
God be with you!
Peace and love,
Pastor Brent Siemens
403-740-3049
