Communion Sunday

     Sunday is World Communion Sunday in churches around the world, but if you haven’t realized it yet, Knox has moved its October Communion service to the following Sunday, that being Thanksgiving Sunday.
     One of the main reasons for the shift was the fact that several months ago it was felt that the Run for the Cure, which is being held Sunday morning, might impede people from getting to the church in a timely fashion. Now that the route has been released, it should have not impact on Knox to any great extent, either for traffic congestion or parking around the church, although worshippers heading to church along New Street should be aware of the potential for delays in that the staging area is at Central Park with the event itself getting under way at 10:30 a.m.

Police checks
     This announcement was in last week’s bulletin, but it is worth repeating, and repeating.
The Leading with Care Committee is in the process of finalizing police checks. The Session has adopted to be a “Leading with Care” congregation and therefore requires all persons (including staff) working with children, youth, vulnerable adults, seniors and money, to have a police check. Our insurance company requires this process.  If you are involved in any of the listed areas, we are asking you to take responsibility and provide the church office with your police check as soon as possible.  It is required to be updated every three years. Compliance is mandatory and the Session will be enforcing the policy.
     The Committee needs to have this completed by October 24. We will be contacting you if your records are not updated in the church office.  Let’s work together ensuring a climate of safety for our children, youth and vulnerable seniors, while keeping us credible and insurable!  Please direct your questions to any member of the Leading with Care Committee, Jackie Harrington, Patty Kirby, Janet MacIntyre and Ian MacIntyre.
     So that all everyone might have a better understanding of the implications, the following is an excerpt from a letter written by Marsh Canada Insurance, a company which provides insurance coverage to about 290 Presbyterian churches in Canada. The letter was written at a time when the General Assembly was considering adopting the Leading with Care mandate.
     “Congregations who fail to implement the church's proposed volunteer screening and training policy may find themselves without insurance to cover abuse claims. The warning comes from Michael Petersen of Marsh Canada Insurance. Petersen said the coverage "is not a warranty" against possible slip-ups or oversights in abuse protocols. He said the possibility exists for a congregation to make a claim and, if found not to be in full compliance with the guidelines, refused compensation.
     “The policy insists that congregations screen volunteers and employees using interviews, references and police records checks. It calls for clearly stated definitions of all forms of abuse and a code of conduct for employees and volunteers. Precautionary measures such as windows in classrooms, keeping doors open during counselling sessions, and avoiding one-on-one time between a child and adult must be implemented.”

And finally, a message from Linda Gowing,
     To share the blessings of harvest, each Thanksgiving Knox donates our fresh produce from the display to the Wesley Urban Ministries. This year we are giving the congregation an opportunity to participate in this. If you would like to donate hearty fresh fruits and vegetables with a longer shelf life (cauliflower, brussel sprouts, squash, peppers, onions, melons, pears, apples ...etc) we will be collecting them Thanksgiving Sunday. There will baskets and boxes at the front of the church under the display to place them in at the beginning or end of service. If you have any questions talk to Lynda Gowing.

Rev. Dr. Herb Gale, past moderator

Knox has already had two past moderators preaching from the pulpit in recent weeks, and now, the immediate past moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Rev. Dr. Herb Gale will be preaching at Knox Sunday.

It is a distinctive honor for Knox to have so many past moderators preaching at Knox in such a short time frame, with Rev. Dr. Allan McPherson and Ms. Wilma Welsh having been with us during the summer months.

Dr. Gale was well known by Rev. Mark who had indicated on many occasions that he would like to invite the past moderator to Knox once his term as the moderator of the 136th General Assembly was completed, and in fact the invitation was one of the first initiatives taken by Rev. Thomas Kay when he became interim moderator of Knox following Mark’s death.

 In addition to being the immediate past moderator, Dr. Gale is the Associate Secretary for Planned Giving in the Life and Mission Agency for the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The national website notes that “Planned Giving is a way of being responsible stewards of the blessings God has entrusted to us”.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for a luncheon following the service in the Fellowship Hall, being served by ladies of the church; which will also give people an informal opportunity to greet our past moderator, and for him to bring us some informal words out of his experience visiting the churches in Canada and overseas during his year as moderator.

As a matter of background, the following is from the Presbyterian Record, when the church publication highlighted each of the nominees for moderator.

Rev. Dr. Herb Gale hails from North Carolina, but headed north to complete his education at the Toronto School of Theology. He ministered for several years in Stouffville and then in Guelph, Ont., alongside his wife, Rev. Dr. Shirley Gale, until she was forced to resign for health reasons. 

In 2004, he became associate secretary of Planned Giving, a role that he sees as an extension of his call to strengthen local congregations. He has served on the national worship committee, stewardship advisory committee and planning teams for Stewards by Design conferences since their inception in 1999.

“I’m interested in the next generation, in children and young people, and would like to see a clearer strategy for how to reach that group,” he said. “My master of theology degree was in the area of spirituality, so helping to forge a living faith would be important for me.”

He suggested he would also try to restore hope to congregations and presbyteries that have fallen into a “survival mindset.”

“Many congregations have given up dreaming because they don’t see a future for themselves,” he said. “But I think planned giving can really put wheels under those dreams. It provides a new source of money to do some creative things.”

Prayer requests

The Knox worship committee met recently, and one of their initiatives was to encourage requests for prayer to be phoned in during the week, either directly to Rev. John Duff, or through the church office, for inclusion in the prayers of the people at Sunday worship.

Grief Recovery program

As part of our interim ministry program, the  Rev. Linda Corry has planned two dates for a Grief Recovery Seminar: Thursday, October 13 at 10:00 am or Monday, October 17 at 7 pm.  This seminar is for everyone who has experienced loss of any kind and for anyone who would like to be more informed about loss and grief in the future.  This 2-hour seminar will help deal with issues such as death, divorce, job loss, changes in health and finances.  The seminar will also lead to other programs planned including “The Grief Recovery Outreach Program" or "When Children Grieve" and "Spirituality 101".  Please contact Linda for more information at www.corrycoach.com and contact the office to register for one of these two seminars.

Rally Sunday

The new church year really gets into high gear this week for as a congregation we have the opportunity to witness the commissioning of the Sunday School teachers and then following the church service there will be a BBQ in the parking lot, all part of the Rally Sunday celebrations.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy this time of fellowship while munching on a hamburgs, hot dogs and other goodies prepared for this yearly event which officially launches the church school year.

Sunday also marks the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 and as such there will be a time of remembrance, as well as the singing of a special anniversary hymn, O God, Our Hearts were Shattered.

There is also a special service remembering the victims of terror around the world and honoring emergency services and first responders at MacNab Street Presbyterian Church Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Rev. Harvey Self, moderator of the 135^th General Assembly in 2009, and a former Canadian Forces Chaplain, will be the guest speaker for this occasion.

Sunday’s bulletin is full of announcements of upcoming events as the various groups get back to a regular meeting schedule, with such activities as the Bible Study group scheduled to meet Sept.15 at 2 p.m. in Reception Room B.

And everyone is reminded that the rummage sale is fast approaching, in fact will be held Sept. 17, with donations such as small appliances, kitchen items, linens, clean wearable clothing, toys, puzzles, paperback books, china, glassware, jewellery and small furniture being accepted. The drop off for such items begins Monday, while set up days are Thursday and Friday, when lots of volunteer help is needed.