Dear friends,
Taken as a whole, this report booklet provides a sketch of how, over the past season of our congregation's program life....
"...We strive to be an active faith community
living out Christian teachings in our daily
lives."
"...We will celebrate our faith through music, fellowship, and community, stewardship, outreach, pastoral care, and nurturing Christian Education for all ages."
Behind the prionted matter of this report lies the community of faith -two key words that stand out for me in both sentences of our mission statement. So while the words of this written annual report are an important part of our life as an organization, I would like to suggest that a visit to the lobby on any given Sunday morning will provide you with a kind of 3-D, surround sound, version. So think about it: When you arrive on a Sunday morning what would you see and hear? And what does it tell you about who we are as a church?
A welcoming handshake from the greeters at the door.
A special welcome for guests and newcomers by a greeter who will help orient you to what is going on and where things are.
A well maintained, sunny space, now lit with new, greener, fluorescent fixtures!
A recycling bin, a box for food bank donations, a barrel for bottles and cans to support the handbell choir in its music ministry.
Bulletin boards, changed and updated regularly, describing the work of each of the church's main area of ministry, and other agencies and happenings in our community.
Name tags to remember who we are!
The sound of the choir practicing an anthem, accompanied by one of our team of musicians and led by our choir director.
A baby-room right off the sanctuary with piped in sound, comfortable chairs, and a welcoming toy box in the corner so that parents with small children can relax and feel welcomed.
Families arriving, sometimes in multi-generations: children, parents, and grandparents.
Friends greeting one another, getting caught up, telling stories.
Sunday School teachers heading downstairs to prepare for the morning's classes.
Children excitedly waiting to take their turn to light the Christ candle and bring in the Bible at the beginning of worship.
Someone adding a prayer concern or a thanksgiving to the prayer book, so it can be lifted up in shared in worship that morning.
A sign up sheet where you can share your time, energies, or talents in any of several different ways - from baking cookies to helping in the toddler room, to joining the volunteers at St. Andrew's Thrift Shop.
More greeters at the door prepared to hand you an order of service prepared and printed in the church office by the secretary and weekday face and voice of St. Andrew's, Doreen Gilbert.
Through the sanctuary door you may glimpse the weekly slide show of announcements projected by one of the new Operators on our recently installed digital projection system.
All of these familiar sights and sounds (and many others!) can be heard and seen on any Sunday morning and together they provide a weekly "report" of the Ministry of St. Andrew's United Church - a report that is lively, friendly, energized and energizing, multigenerational, faithful, and welcoming.
So thanks to those, from all different parts of our church organization,who prepared and composed the written reports that are printed here. And thanks to all who, week by week, bring to life the community of faith that is St. Andrew's United Church!
Thanks be to God in Christ, whose spirit draws us together, and gives us that life. Amen.
Blessings,
Curtis and Nel
This coming summer and fall both of St. Andrew’s ministry personnel will be away from their ordinary ministry work on Sabbatical Leave. Rev. Nel will be off from May 1 — August 31. Rev. Curtis will be away from July 1 — October 31. This new policy, adopted by the General Council of the United Church in 2006, allows for ministry personnel who have been serving a congregation for five years to have a three month Sabbatical leave (along with regular annual holidays). The intent of the Sabbatical is to allow for a period when ministry personnel can step back from the regular routines and demands of pastoral ministry and pursue activities that will enhance and expand their ministry. The Board of St. Andrew’s, through the Ministry and Personnel Committee and the other committees, has made arrangements so that all the essential aspects of ministry will be covered during our absence.
We are both looking forward with much excitement to taking advantage of this gift of Sabbatical time we have been given, and to returning in the fall, renewed and re-energized, to share with you our learnings. Please keep us in your prayers, while we are away!