Feeding the Sheep

Each September, members of the Atlantic Mission Society gather for an annual meeting. This year’s, held in St. Andrew’s, Dartmouth, N.S., in September, was the 138th since the society was formed in 1876.

From opening worship on Friday night, led by host minister, Rev. Dr. Sandy McDonald, to the closing luncheon after worship with St. Andrew’s on Sunday morning, the theme “Feed My Sheep” set the tone for all business in between.

Whitney Pyche – Melanson, youth consultant for the Atlantic synod, brought the Friday evening message, “Face to Face.” Just as God met Jacob, Moses and Ezekiel in unusual ways, so can God appear to us in unexpected places and circumstances.

Rev. Dr. David Sutherland, past moderator of the General Assembly, spoke of his attendance at national Truth and Reconciliation Commission events. There he heard painful stories from the survivors of residential schools; but he also heard from Christian teachers who had felt wounded. Both sides had an opportunity to tell stories from their perspectives.

Rev. Dr. Glynis Williams, associate secretary of International Ministries, emphasized how much we have in common with our mission partners around the world. “We are fed by the same scriptures. The same passages of scripture that we have grown up with are the ones our partners know as well.”

Williams addressed a question about why there are so few Canadian Presbyterian mission personnel overseas. Some answers are that visas can be difficult to get and mission commitments are now more suited for short – term service. “We need to look at how God is calling us forward in mission,” she said.

Betty Siverns, president of the Women’s Missionary Society, spoke from her experience and that of her husband, Ted, as mission partners and of how they have been the recipients of greetings from AMS members. “You have no idea how much it means to know you are remembered.”

The AMS has been welcoming men into membership since 1987 and one of the earliest to join was Rev. Kenn Stright, now minister of the Presbyterian Church of Saint David in Halifax. As an active member and former officer of the AMS executive, he was also named an honorary president for the next three years.

A new men’s offering project was chosen, which will operate for the next two years. The project will be two – fold: the Atlantic Teen Challenge Centre in Memramcook, N.B., which provides residential addiction treatment and rehabilitation for men, and the New Minister’s Library Fund in Malawi.

Mary Condon, convener of the personnel and policy committee, reported on the work of updating the AMS constitution and bylaws to be presented to next year’s meeting. The suggested amended version is available on the AMS website and in installments in the Presbyterian Message.

AMS members once again proved their generosity: Our yearly commitment of $70,000 to the denomination included $13,153 for specific projects for Canadian and International Ministries and Presbyterian World Service & Development. The “Something Eggstra” offering, where AMS members and mission supporters filled plastic Easter eggs with coins during Lent, garnered more than $4,500 for the AMS general funds. And the annual meeting offering was a joyous processional event with music, glitter and laughter. It was divided three ways with $500 each going to an International Ministries project in India, FOOD (Feeding Others of Dartmouth), and the general funds of the AMS for undesignated needs.

Throughout the weekend, those present were nourished with music, scripture and Christian fellowship. Reports were heard of much support being given where needed. Plans were made to reach out to others at home and abroad—all in response to Christ’s command to “Feed My Sheep.”