Communion Sunday

This Sunday is Communion Sunday, changed by a week because of the disruption which was forecast by the Chilly Half Marathon, when access is difficult, and parking near impossible. That being said, there were a good number of people who found a place to park, hitched a ride, walked or took some other form of transportation.

We had tried  to make arrangements with the city to reserve parking for Knox, and those efforts proved to be just so, so. The group designated to reserve spots for Knox, unfortunately, were located at the wrong lot - I really think we are capable of looking after our own tiny lot, although some racers did try to park there.

In any case, as I started to write this blog, it was 358:17:08:20 to the start of the next race. Yes, the race committee already has information up about the 2014 race, with a time clock attached, and so we already know that the race is 358 days away.

That, hopefully, gives the congregation lots of time to plan, and already there are some new thoughts as to how Knox can enjoy Sunday worship with thousands of racers and even more spectators on our doorstep.

And so, with Communion moved one week ahead, it also means that each of us must remember that this is the time of the year when we revert to Daylight Savings Time, and that means moving the clocks ahead.

Rev. Dr. Don Donaghey, recently retired from Knox, Dundas, will be with us again this week for the Communion service.

Victor writes 

Dear Friends at Knox,
 I apologize for having been incommunicado the last little while. Mea culpa. It is currently reading week at McGill and I am taking the opportunity to catch up on correspondence.

Everything continues to go well at Presbyterian College; this semester I am particularly enjoying systematic theology (who would have guessed?!). Clyde Ervine was in Montreal lecturing during the continuing education week in February and I had the chance to participate as well as catch up with him.

After discussing it with Clyde I have elected to remain a member of Hamilton Presbytery rather than becoming a member of the Presbytery of Montreal. It just feels right to remain where I am.

I will be taking an intensive New Testament Greek course this spring (May and June), and will probably take a July course as well to lighten the load for next year since my summer will be a short one. This will allow me more time next year for involvement in non academic activities at both Westminster and PC. I also hope to take a summer charge next year for the months of May through August as may be available.

I do foresee being in Toronto towards the end of the summer since the guidance conference at Crieff Hills is normally held late August. Quite some time to go before then I know; still I look forward to seeing you all again.

I wish you all a blessed and happy Easter!

Yours in Christ,

Victor

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3)

It's a matter of time

Time is such an elusive quantity. It just seems that we never have enough of it, ever.
We juggle our time, we try to multi task, and we try to stretch out every minute of the day.

As I write this blog I should be elsewhere, but if I’m elsewhere, this blog won’t get done.
And this dilemma with time – unfortunately – is not getting any better – for most of us.

Well, perhaps for one day a year it does get better, and that day is tomorrow. And so, for everyone looking to gain even one extra hour of time, you are reminded that the clocks fall back one hour, and so indeed we each have 60 minutes of extra time to enjoy.

While I would really like to have this blog out on a more regular basis, it is time – yes, there’s that word again – that steps in the way. But the blog is part of our communication network with not only those who worship at Knox, but the outside community as well.

And, as I have noted in the past, Knox is a vibrant church, and despite the present pulpit vacancy, many have pulled together to provide strong leadership as the search committee works towards calling a new minister.

 Timely speaking…..

• Speaking of time, everyone is reminded that the church service next Sunday – Remembrance Day – will be at 9:30 a.m. to accommodate those in the congregation who want to attend the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph at 11 a.m.

• While time – in the form of a tight deadline – is tight, every effort is being made to get the next issue of Knox Talks out before the next Communion service, which is scheduled for Nov. 25. That means the deadline is Nov. 11, but there is so much going on during the Christmas season that it is important to have the newsletter into your hands in good time.

• It is now only two weeks until the Holly Wreath Bazaar with groups throughout the church busy making last-minute preparations as time closes in on this major event in the church year. Please consider how you can help in this event, and of course, please mark the date – Nov. 17 – on your calendar.

• And finally – for now – just another reminder about the Knox Church Facebook page. We need people to log onto this page and Like it, please, so that we can chart future items to download. Facebook can be a valuable communication tool, but without 30 Likes, we cannot determine how many people are looking at various items, or, in other words, we can’t gauge interest levels. You can just Google in: Facebook Knox Presbyterian Church Burlington and it will pop up, or the long form is www.facebook.com/knoxpresbyterianchurchburlington

New interim moderator

Now that the May meeting of the Hamilton Presbytery is history, there are a number of things that are falling into place for the Knox congregation.

As noted in the last blog, Rev. Thomas Kay, who has been serving as interim moderator since last June, recently preached for the call at Knox Leamington, and on Tuesday of this week, the Hamilton Presbytery approved that call, with Rev. Thomas starting his ministry in Leamington on June 3rd.
In the meantime, Rev. Thomas has had some health issues and as the McNab bulletin this week states, he will not be returning to the pulpit until later this month.

That leaves the question as to what is transpiring at Knox Burlington, and on the recommendation of the Knox session, the Rev. Bob Docherty will be assuming the responsibility of interim moderator as of June 1. Rev. Bob has been serving as interim minister for the past three months and that appointment was extended through May as the formalities were addressed at Presbytery.

Now, as interim moderator, Rev. Bob will take on different responsibilities as we move on to seek a new full-time minister. Rev. Bob has indicated that he plans to be in the Knox pulpit on various Sundays, and will seek out others to preside on a Sunday-by-Sunday basis over the next few months.

One of the obvious questions under the circumstances would be as to why Rev. Bob would not continue to be in the pulpit on a more regular basis during the vacancy, and there are several ways to answer that question:

1. As interim moderator, he has his hands full and needs to concentrate his efforts on helping our search committee in their task at hand.

2. It had been the intent all along the regular stated supply would be re-introduced about this time so as to give the pulpit a sense of a vacancy as we move through the search process.

3. Rev. Bob is after all retired and he would like to be able to enjoy some of those benefits of being retired.

Even before that the formalities of Rev. Bob’s appointment of interim moderator were approved by Presbytery, he was very much at work on the search process, wanting to move ahead as swiftly as possible as we approach the summer months.

As a result, he held the first meeting of the search committee this week, laying out the groundwork for the process, with one of the first steps being updating the congregational profile. This is expected to be completed by the end of the month, and thus will be available at that point to be sent to those inquiring about the vacancy here at Knox.

Rev. Bob also outlined a very tight schedule for the search committee, expecting numerous meetings in the weeks ahead, holding out the prospect of beginning the interview process early in the fall.
The vacancy is already listed on the Presbyterian Church of Canada’s website and an ad will be carried in the June issue of the Presbyterian Record, and while 18 applications have already been received, many more are expected after the June Record is delivered.

There is a great deal of confidentiality associated with the search process, but as much as possible, the Knox congregation will be kept informed of developments over the next few months.

And while the search committee as approved by session was introduced to the congregation recently, for those not present at that time, that committee is made up of:
Gerry Craig, Gerry Dickkeboom, Gord Fergusson, Gwen Gayfer, Lynda Gowing, Janine Jaconelli, Haf Lewis, John McGibbon, Charlie Pearson, and Lynne Rutherford.

Searching

"Ministers are now preaching for a call in Knox Presbyterian Church. Next Sunday, Rev. A. A. Gibson, director of Religious Education, Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto, will be the preacher at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m."

Now, before anyone thinks a step in the search process – or perhaps many steps – have been skipped over, readers should know that this was an item that appeared in the Burlington Gazette on Aug. 8, 1928.

That a newspaper would even give coverage to a Sunday service no matter the search process indicates a much different philosophy on news coverage back then. Then again, the lead item in that column indicated that Mr. Joseph Smith and family spent the holiday at Turkey Point. "Joe made a fine catch of perch and bass and our thanks are due him for a lovely bass."

Times and newspapers do indeed change, except Knox Church is yet again searching for a minister, with the process starting to take shape on several fronts, with the congregation asked to fill out Congregational Profile sheets, with the composition of the search committee starting to take shape and then with a workshop on March 3 entitled Knox Looks to the Future.

There were only about 40 people in attendance, but those attending learned about the search process, some history about the Presbyterian church, received an interesting perspective about why Presbyterian church membership has dropped steadily from a high of 500,000 in 1972, and also had a chance to really get to know others sitting around the tables.

While the names of the search committee will be revealed within the next few days, another step in the process has already been taken as the vacancy is now listed on the Presbyterian Church in Canada website, and there will be an advertisement relating to the vacancy in the June issue of The Record, the monthly magazine for the Presbyterian Church in Canada.  

Looking to the future

It is quite appropriate that the workshop being held Saturday morning is entitled, Knox Looks to the Future as this meeting will mark an important stepping-stone toward the future of Knox.

The congregation received a letter from interim moderator the Rev. Thomas Kay recently where he wrote about the search process and invited every member and adherent of the congregation to attend the workshop scheduled to go from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in Fellowship Hall. The purpose, as the letter notes, is to engage all of those present in sharing the story, strengths and challenges of the congregation, and to provide material that will form the basis for the Congregational Profile, and shape the search for a new minister.

Everyone – including those who cannot make it out Saturday morning – is urged to complete the questionnaire, which will help shape the work of the search committee. The completed questionnaires must be into the church office by Sunday, so that work can start immediately on the Congregational Profile, and so that the actual search can begin early in April.

And also, 
• The session, at its most recent meeting, authorized the purchase of a new piece of equipment that could literally save lives. The Leading With Care committee had been researching the possible purchase of a Zoll AED defibrillator (automated external defibrillator) for installation within the church. An anonymous donor has come forward to purchase the defibrillator and training sessions will be offered in the near future for those wishing to be certified in its use.

• The Christian Nurture committee handed out a survey form following last Sunday’s service which asks eight questions pertaining to a four-church picnic. The event, which would be held at Crieff Hills Retreat and Conference Centre on June 17th, would involve all four Presbyterian churches in Burlington, and would replace the picnic which in recent years has been held at Hidden Valley Park. Please return the questionnaire by this Sunday, or if you have not received one, pick one up at the church so that the committee can determine the level of interest in this event.

• There will be yet another road race this Sunday, one that will affect those travelling to Knox who come along Lakeshore Road. And, because Lakeshore will be closed, there will be no doubt heavier traffic on the alternate routes you may be taking, so everyone should allow a bit extra travelling time for this occasion. The event is the 17th annual Peak Performance Chilly Half Marathon and Frosty 5 km in aid of Joseph Brant Hospital, with both events getting under way at 10:05 from City Hall meaning that not only will surrounding streets be closed, but parking will be at a premium around the church.

• As a result of the Knox Looks to the Future workshop, it has meant a change in the schedule for the Men’s Breakfast which will now be held March 10, starting at 8 a.m. at the Golden Griddle on Harvest Road. There is an open invitation for all men to enjoy this time of fellowship.

Knox North

It has been called Knox North, and for good reason as over the years a number of people from the Knox congregation have called it home.

Knox North is Heritage Place, a retirement home just off Walker’s Line in north Burlington, and for a number of years, the church has offered a monthly worship service to the residents living there.

That tradition has continued through the vacancy thanks to the efforts of a number of people. During the summer months, at a time when we had a different minister in the pulpit most Sundays, a group from Knox made sure that the services continued without a minister being present, this with the service taking the form of singing favorite hymns.

Once the Rev. John Duff was contracted as interim minister, he led the worship service, with residents, both from Knox or others associated with other denominations, in attendance.

Now, the Rev. Bob Docherty, who will serve as interim minister for the next three months, will be leading worship at Heritage Place, with the next service scheduled for Thursday morning (April 9) at 11 a.m.

Although the service is intended for residents of Heritage Place, others are welcome – indeed encouraged – to attend and give support to this important outreach ministry.

And some bits and pieces

• Anyone who would like to meet with the Rev. Bob Docherty is encouraged to phone the church office and make an appoint as he plans to be in the church office on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to 12 noon. He can also be reached at 1-905-309-3603 or through murielanne@cogeco.ca as necessary.

• With the annual meeting scheduled for the last Sunday in February, everyone is urged to pick up copies of the annual report which will be available this Sunday, Feb. 12. There is a bit of a switch in scheduling for this year’s annual meeting as there will be a lunch in fellowship hall before – rather than after - the meeting.

Stepping stones

There are a lot of challenges facing the Knox congregation as we move into yet another stage of transitional ministry, challenges as we move into yet another stage of what may seem to many as a long, detailed process to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Rev. Mark.

Session will be taking another of those steps this month as the elders with the assistance of our interim moderator, Rev. Thomas Kay, lay out the process for creating a search committee.

Knox has been fortunate during the past few months to have the ministry services of the Rev. John Duff as well as the grief counselling support of the Rev. Linda Corry, who has put together an extensive program which continued through the Christmas season.

In most cases, when a church has a vacancy, it is the result of a minister retiring or moving to another pastorate, and yet, there is still a process that must be followed before getting to the search phase.

In the case where a presiding minister passes away, there is also an extensive grief recovery phase. The program put in place at Knox was so extensive, in fact, that another minister mentioned to me that it should be written up as a guide for other churches to follow under similar circumstances.

So now, as we move into the next phase, there is a lot of work to be done. The search process is a complicated program, full of minute details, so detailed that the Presbyterian Church in Canada has issued a 96-page guidebook covering everything Knox will have to consider in the weeks and months ahead.

While it is necessary that some of the details about the search process be kept in strict confidence, every effort will be make to communicate the ongoing process as much as possible as we seek out a new minister for Knox, Burlington.  

Final service
We will experience yet another phase of the ever-changing process as the Rev. John Duff will be conducting his final service this Sunday, as he prepares to once again to enjoy his time in retirement, all the while preparing for an exciting trip to Peru in the days ahead.

Knox will miss John’s presence among us, but thank him for helping us in this most difficult time.

As Rev. John leaves, another retired minister, the Rev. Bob Docherty, takes on additional duties providing pulpit supply as well as pastoral support, for the next few months. Rev. Bob, who retired from St. John’s, Grimsby, is well known to the Knox congregation having preached here during the summer months.

Saying thank you
The Knox congregation is encouraged to stay for coffee after the Sunday service, as this will afford everyone an opportunity to thank John and Viola for their service to Knox during these past few months. There will be a special cake to mark the occasion, and everyone is urged to sign the card, thanking the Duffs for their assistance through this difficult time.


And thank you
A number of people have been asking about your year-end financial results as it was necessary for the stewardship team to put on a real push in the later part of 2011, this when it appeared that we would be facing a major deficit.

That being said, it is with a grateful heart that I announce that not only did the congregation meet the operating budget, but also there were sufficient funds available to pay for the deficit in the approved allocation for Presbyterians Sharing.

Knox is fortunate that we have so many generous contributors who heed the call when funds are needed, so that instead of starting the year in a precarious financial situation, we started 2012 with a small bank balance.

Thank you for your support of Knox and its mission…its mission here in Burlington and around the world.