Dear Friends…
I hope you are truly enjoying this beautiful summer. Since the last newsletter we have had the Spring Bazaar, Strawberry Social and a delicious Greek dinner. Also, three young adults have attended Canada Youth 2018, a gathering of young people from Presbyterian churches across the country. They were supported financially by the congregation and the Presbytery to help them to attend. The same is true for how we supported one of children in attending one of our church camps. Busy, busy around here.
One of the other busy activities around here is the work of the Search Committee in preparing the way for our next minister’s arrival. The paper work took a lot of time & work as we developed a Congregational Profile describing our congregations and explaining the gifts & skills we are looking for in our next minister. All that will be completed by early August. We then send the profile to the denomination and publicize the position – and then review all the profiles we receive from interested ministers. We are still aiming for a new minister to be here by early 2019. There is so much work for your committee to do before that. Please keep us all in your prayers as we move forward into the Fall. The Search Committee is made up of Marie Barylak, Audrey Dickson, Maureen Black, Tom Maxwell, Mike Zmijowskyj, George Spall, Barb Young and Natalie Zmijowskyj from St. Luke’s. Mary Colleran, Arnold Jacenty and Ron McTear represent St. James’. The committee members are dedicated & gifted and are doing a great job for the congregations.
In the meantime, we continue on. The Session keeps things rolling. Committees do their work well. Activities, Bible Study and social events get planned and work out great. Especially during a vacancy it takes all our people to step up and do a little more.
While I am truly enjoying my time with you, I can only help you folks to hold the fort and even move ahead in some small ways, but we really do need and look forward to the next minister God has in store for us. In the meantime, we are still God’s church, made up of God’s children, committed to worshipping, learning & serving others through this wonderful place we call our church home.
Blessing to you all,
Jim Biggs