Lead Pastor Update

Jeremy Norton, Lead Pastor (Spring 2026)

The Past 3 Months (Winter 2026)

Winter was a good quarter, a slower pace after a busy fall and Christmas season. We started the year with a 8-week teaching series titled “Virtues and Vices”, working through the tension between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. The goal was formation over time, instead of behaviour management. It sparked good conversation in community groups, and I heard from several people who said it surfaced things they'd been carrying quietly for a long time. 

On the leadership side, we held our annual Leadership Retreat on January 23-24 at the Sternwheeler Hotel. Our Board and Ministry Team spent the weekend working through Carey Nieuwhof's “7 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2026”, discussing and praying through the content, striving to discern where God is calling us in the year ahead. Out of that retreat, the Board landed on three Mission-Vision Goals for 2026, which I'll speak to more in the next section.

At the end of January, we held a Membership Meeting. We worshipped together, took communion, and inducted two new members: Nick and Kristie Sereda. It's always exciting to welcome people into covenant membership!

In February, we took a family vacation to South Carolina, which was a restorative break for our whole family after a long and demanding season. As you know, this has been a long year, walking with Nicole through her cancer treatment. The trip had moments of fun, rest and laughter; just what we needed as a family!

Upon my return, I picked up with the Building Team has been working with Scott Sauer and 3 Pikas toward the rezoning and sale of our Range Rd. Property, while working with RAW Design to establish a plan for our new downtown build. It's all early-stage conversations, but we’re moving forward!

In March, we moved into a 4-week series titled “Emotions: Getting a Grip of Your Heart and Mind”, anchored in Jeremiah 17:9-10. We worked through how the human heart deceives us, especially through our emotions, and what it looks like to invite God to search and renew both our heart and mind by His Spirit.

We hosted our Women's Conference on March 20-21, featuring author and speaker Tess Scott from Listen, Sister! Around 55 women gathered on Friday evening and Saturday. It was a meaningful event for the women of our church and the broader community.

Outside of my regular pastoral work, I continued my regional board responsibilities and finished the final stretch of my master’s degree.

 • On the regional side, a significant amount of time went into conversations around complementarian leadership structures. It's a complex issue, and although our region came to a definitive conclusion, the National Board has committed to a two-year theological study before any votes are taken. (For Mountainview, nothing changes in our current structure.)

 • On the academic side, I am currently in my final course and am set to graduate in April. After eight years of balancing coursework alongside everything else, I'm genuinely glad to see that finish line!

The Next 3 Months (Spring 2026)

As we move into Spring, I'm starting with a couple of personal finish lines. I’ll be graduating, but my Regional Board term also ends in April after six years of service. Both responsibilities closing at the same time feels significant. With that margin opening, I'm hoping to put more time into side projects, including getting a few more Yukon Boys videos published. I am looking forward to having more time!

Related to teaching series and events, Holy Week is a priority this quarter, ending March with a Palm Sunday Family Day, then moving into Maundy Thursday at home gatherings. We’ll host online and two Good Friday gatherings this year, leading into four Easter Sunday gatherings (3 English and 1 Filipino) with Baptism opportunities.

After Holy Week, we’ll walk through the Book of Ruth in a series focused on Finding God in the Ordinary. The series has a relationship-bent; seeing how God provides through unique circumstances, resulting in turning heartache into hope. A sidenote that Mother's Day is in May, and falls within this series, which will work well!

Jumping back to the Leadership Retreat, the Board set three Mission-Vision Goals that will start to take shape this quarter and into the fall:

 • The Connect Lunch launched as a monthly invitational luncheon to help people move from attending to belonging. Connection doesn't happen automatically, and this gives newcomers and attenders a consistent, low-barrier relational entry point into our church family.

 • We're building out a Christian counselling and care pathway, with the goal of establishing a fly-in Christian counsellor to serve our congregation once a month. There's real demand for this kind of care in our community, and we want to meet it well.

 • We're relaunching a mentorship pathway for young adults and an apprenticeship pathway for potential ministry candidates. Leadership development has to be intentional, and this is a long-term investment in the health of Mountainview.

Finally, in June, we’ll be hosting a teaching specifically designed around the Bible and marriage, titled “Knotted,” looking at God’s Design for Strength, Covenant, and Faith. Over four weeks, we’ll flow through themes of Identity, Brokenness, Redemption and Faithful Practice.

Prayer Requests & Closing Remarks

Heading into spring, I'm grateful for the faithfulness I've seen in our Board, Ministry Team and church community. This was a full quarter, and so many people worked so hard! I don't take that for granted; thank you!

Please continue praying for:

 • Continued healing and strength for Nicole and our family as we settle into a steadier rhythm.

 • Holy Week gatherings and Easter Sunday, that God would use these moments to draw people to Himself.

 • The Connect Lunch and counselling pathway, as we strive to get these ministries established and running well.

 • Discernment for the Building Team as we evaluate options for our future facility.

 • Endurance and encouragement for our staff, board, and ministry leaders.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:16) Renewal is happening in our people, our church, and our family. May we trust that it keeps happening!

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your pastor.

Peace,

 

Jeremy Norton, Lead Pastor
Mountainview Church, Whitehorse, YT