Rev. Emma Duncan
Gary Evans, Clerk of session

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Yes, it’s still Christmas…but Happy New Year

As I go for my walks each day, it is becoming more and more apparent that the Christmas season, at least for many people, is over…. over just as soon as the presents are opened and the last of the dishes from the Christmas feast are stacked in the dishwasher.

At least that’s the conclusion one gets from seeing the number of Christmas trees placed out on the curb for a collection that is far off in the future.

But according to the Christian church year, we are still in the midst of the Christmas season, a season which started on Dec. 25th and extends to Jan. 5, the twelve days of Christmas.

And so, as a New Year dawns, we are reminded that the church year starts in September, and despite some of the mangled interpretations of a popular song, we indeed are still celebrating Christmas, and will do so for several more days.

Pulpit supply
There have been several pieces of communication recently concerning interim ministry, the search process and the desire of Rev. John Duff to ease back from his responsibilities at Knox. When John was first approached about taking on the interim ministry role at Knox, his contract was for the period from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31, but for the month of January, he will be sharing some of his responsibilities with the Rev. Bob Docherty, retired from St. John’s, Grimsby who will assume pastoral care responsibilities in January while John continues to preach on Sundays.

But saying that, John will not be in the pulpit to start the New Year as he is on vacation, and so for this date we will have as our guest minister, the Rev. Willard Pottinger, who served at Val d'Or, Montreal, Ottawa, and St. Paul's, Hamilton, before retiring from full-time ministry work. In an online bio, he notes that he alternated between teaching and ministry several times to preserve his sanity, teaching English and French at several schools in Ontario, as well as at Zhenjiang, China. Now an avid curler, you can also spot him on a bicycle as he rides around Hamilton Bay twice each week.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Twas the night before Christmas

…and all through Knox Church, all was in preparation for wondrous Christmas services.
Once again this year, Knox will have two Christmas Eve worship services as well as the traditional Sunday morning service on Christmas Day.

Knox Church will have a family service at 7 p.m. with musical presentations by Iori Lewis, Tegwen Lewis and the Rockin’ Angels, a delightful group of young choristers.

The family service will be followed by a special candlelight service which includes the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, starting at 9 p.m.

Then on Sunday, the regular worship service will be held at 10 a.m.

A warm invitation is extended to each and all to worship at Knox, especially during this Christmas season.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Christmas Services

December is a time for special church services at Knox with two such services already this month, and additional ones in the days ahead. The Advent Communion saw 130 unite around the table for the Sacrament of the Last Supper, and then – as always – the children of the church school were such a delight in their annual pageant, a presentation put together by our wonderful Sunday School staff, who put in long hours just to make sure that everything is perfect – or at least as perfect as can be expected under the circumstances.

This week’s service will feature special music by the choir under the direction of Peter Hanson for the annual Lessons and Carols service with the prelude featuring the Hand Bell Choir and vocal soloist Hella Hanson.

A message from the interim moderator
There is a special message on the way to all within the Knox congregation. This message will be in the mail for some, available at Sunday’s service for others, and via email for those in my address book as we seek to get it into everyone’s hands just as soon as possible.

The message from Rev. Thomas Kay takes a look at where we have been over the last few months, and then looks ahead at another phase in the interim ministry program at Knox.

There is important news in the letter as we move on toward the search phase of our vacancy, followed by an overview of our present financial situation.
There is a lot of important information in this letter, important information as we move forward into a New Year with new challenges and new opportunities, so please read it over carefully.

Cookies
Knox has a very active cookie ministry, and that fact became most evident in recent days.
Each year, a huge batch of cookies are prepared by members of the congregation which are then re-packaged and hand-delivered to individuals who are not able to get out to church on a regular basis.

These individuals are so appreciate of this simple gesture, and so a special thank you to the organizers, those who baked the cookies, and the many people who made the deliveries.

Knox is also involved in a special ministry for students at McMaster University during exam time, and recently 38 dozen homemade cookies were provided for the students. Carolyn McNiven and John McGibbon served hot drinks and cookies between 5:30 and 7:30 while Charlie Pearson and Bev Murie took over for the second shift, and between them, they served a total of 121 students.

The students are quite appreciative of this cookie ministry, with appreciation being extended on the spot and through letters received by the church from the thankful students, who enjoy this tasty break during the exams.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Time does fly

It has been some time – six weeks to be exact – since I have added to the Knox blog, but time has not been on my side, so this is a bit of catch-up so to speak.

Since penning a few words back on Oct. 21, much has been happening around Knox, including another very successful Holly Wreath Bazaar, an impressive Remembrance Day service wherein the children of the Sunday School made wreaths which they placed during the service, an act which obviously gave all those in the church school a deeper understanding of why we observe Remembrance Day.

Quiet time
As Knox continues to move through difficult times following the passing of our minister, the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen, we have been fortunate to have not only the services of Rev. John Duff who is providing stated supply on a regular basis, but also the Rev. Linda Corry who is conducting courses at the church in grief recovery.

Linda also provided the leadership in another interesting program recently, an Advent Quiet Day, which was entitled Keeping in Touch with God. Using the book, Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life, it started with prayer followed by a quiet time with God, reflections on Sleeping with Bread and concluded with lunch and worship.

Financial picture
 As we get to this time in the church year, the church treasurer, the stewardship coordinator, and the board of managers take a hard look at the operating and mission budgets, with treasurer Rick Craig providing projections on where we as a congregation are likely to stand financially on Dec. 31.

Knox is no different than most churches. It’s always a scramble at year-end.

In 2010, the church received several major gifts in the month of December, gifts that not only allowed Knox to eliminate the carry-over deficit, but allowed us to meet our obligations for Presbyterians Sharing while still allowing for a small surplus to start 2011.

That was great news. In this day and age of budget cuts, we are ever so thankful that Knox lived up to its obligations – not only in the repair and upkeep of this magnificent building, but also to its ministry, both within its walls, but to our neighbours here in Burlington and around the world.

As we come down to the last few days of 2011, we are in much the same situation we faced 365 days ago. Revenue is down – slightly – and so are expenses – slightly – but we need your help to once again end the year on a positive note. We hope to have the 11- month figures very shortly, and that will give us an even better picture of what we need in the short time left until Dec. 31, but in the meantime, everyone is asked to give prayerful consideration to ensuring that Knox again ends the year on a positive financial note.

Communion service

Knox church will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper on Dec. 4, and there will be something a wee bit different with the Communion service this time around as there will be co-celebrants as Rev. John Duff will be joined by Rev. Linda Corry in this special service.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Induction service

It is a special time in the life of Knox, Burlington, this Sunday as three new elders are being inducted during the morning worship service. I use the term “new” very lightly, however, as all three individuals have served as elders in the past.

Nick Lewis and Carolyn Wilkins have both served on the Knox session in previous years but stepped down when their terms of office ended after Knox implemented term service for elders.

The third individual, Charles Pearson, has a long history of church service in Hamilton where he served as an elder and was clerk of session for a great many years at Centenary Church.

With the induction of these individuals, there are now 22 elders on session, and that has resulted in some changes to the elder districts, changes which were put in place for the elder visits prior to the recent Communion service.

 Operation Christmas Shoe Boxes
The children of the Sunday school are once again supporting Operation Christmas Child by filling the shoeboxes which will be sent all around the world to needy children.  They will be assembling the boxes Sunday morning so if you have any items please see that they get to the Edrie Elder Room before the church service.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Finding a way

Yes, I know that I said there would not be a Knox blog this week as I am dealing with dial-up internet service up here in the north country. While I sometimes question the speed of my in-office internet service, it’s a real joy when compared to what I am facing this week - 20 minutes plus to retrieve one email message, for instance.

So, that being said, what’s up with this update on the blog?
Actually, it’s quite simple in reality.

It’s raining up here, has been, will be, and yet, here I sit in my car parked outside of a late 1800s railway station that has been converted into an art gallery, which just happens to have WiFi service, a service that extends to the parking lot.
Hence, a way around that dial-up service.

Memorial window
One of the nice things about a blog is that it provides a way to report little things around the church which otherwise would not be reported; they’re perhaps not items for the Sunday bulletin, but indeed they are part of the life in and around Knox.

Such is the case of the scaffolding at the front of the church in recent days. It seems that the framework around the window has been showing decay, such decay that the priceless stain glass window it supports was in so much danger that the still had to be replaced…immediately.

I don’t have my notes with me, but I do know that the window, in addition to being a beautiful piece of art, has a fascinating history, albeit but one that has been clouded with misinformation over the years.

It is known that the money for the window came from Colin Campbell, who lived in Burlington in the late 1800s, although it appears that the money was not originally intended for that purpose, in fact was designated for general welfare within the church.

There are no records available as to how the money - all $600 of it – went to a different cause, but it is understood that the gift of the window resulted in the building of the narthex.

The money was donated in memory of Colin Campbell’s mother, a member of the Knox congregation in the late 1800s, and in fact her name shows up in early church records.

Stories over the years have indicated that Colin Campbell was the lieutenant governor of Manitoba at the time of the donation, but in fact he was attorney general and if memory serves me right, he held the dual role of minister of public works for the Manitoba government around the turn of the century.

Colin Campbell died at a relatively early age, but his wife, the daughter of one of the pioneer doctors from Halton, lived on for several decades and after she died, two truck loads of documents relating to the Campbell and Buck families were donated to the museum in Milton.

The former Pearl Buck was a strong advocate for children’s rights, and her action was instrumental in leading to legislation toward the protection of children, thus making the donation such a treasure trove of historical documentation.

There had been discussion last year about observing the 100th anniversary of the window, but missing documentation means that we are still searching for further detail, perhaps to be found in the records transferred to Milton.

Grief recovery seminar

The second of the grief recovery seminars is scheduled for Monday, and while the original concept called for it to be a Knox-only event, low registration has resulted in this event being open to others within the Presbytery of Hamilton.
Rev. Linda Corry, who will conduct the seminar, made a presentation at Tuesday’s presbytery meeting, and an invitation to participate will be made at churches tomorrow, with the hope that far more people will register.

Thanksgiving
Once again, Knox church was beautifully decorated for the Thanksgiving Sunday service, thanks to the efforts of Lynda Gowing and Marge Moore. And, as part of the Thanksgiving service, many members of the congregation donated fruit and vegetables which were added to the display with the donations late going over to Wesley Urban Ministries in Hamilton.



Saturday, October 8, 2011

Thanksgiving Sunday


Sunday is a special day in the life of any church, especially at Knox, as we offer thanks for our many blessings as we not only celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday, but gather around the table to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. There are special decorations in the sanctuary, and the fruit and vegetables, donated by members of the congregation, will be donated to the Wesley Urban Ministries after the service.

Harvest Festival
And, in keeping with the harvest theme, tickets will be available on Sunday for the Harvest Festival Dinner sponsored by the Congregational Life committee. The event is scheduled for Oct. 21, with tickets priced at $12 while kids eat free.

Grief recovery seminars
As you well know by now, Rev. Linda Corry is now part of the interim ministry team here at Knox, assisting Rev. John in many different ways including during worship, but her main emphasis is on grief recovery, and in that regard, the first of grief recovery programs will get under way Oct. 13 at 10 o’clock in the morning. This seminar, which is for anyone who has experienced loss of any kind, will be repeated on Oct. 17th at 7 p.m.
Linda will also be conducting a Grief Recovery Outreach Program starting Nov. 3rd and running for 12 sessions, while a special program for children is scheduled to begin Nov. 7th.

There is a display of the various books to be used in the seminars and workshops in Reception Room B, and those interested in attending any of the programs are urged to look them over during coffee on Sunday.

Complete details about these programs and the registration requirements were included with Knox Talks, which was delivered recently by the church elders. If you did not receive the information, please contact Trish at the church office.

Rev. Linda Corry has given leadership in ministry in both the Presbyterian and Anglican Churches in Canada, and has served as a private practice psychotherapist to lay persons and clergy.

Linda is a graduate of Concordia University, Montreal (Bachelor of Arts), McGill University (Bachelor of Theology), and The Presbyterian College at McGill University (Diploma in Ministry).  She has studied with The Institute for Life Coach Training, is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® Certified Practitioner, a Grief Recovery® Specialist licensed by The Grief Recovery Institute, and a member of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists. She has experience incorporating principles of church leadership, growth and development from the Alban Institute, Bill Easum and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Mission Developer Training in church planting and re-development, among others.

Linda's faith and ministry have roots across denominational lines.  With an Anglican mother and United Church father, she grew up in a Presbyterian congregation in a Roman Catholic community and attended a largely Jewish High School. She became the first woman graduate of The Presbyterian College, and served in the Presbyteries of Montreal and West Toronto before entering the Anglican Church to minister in the Diocese of Niagara. 





Friday, September 23, 2011

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.

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.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Rally Sunday

Now that the summer holidays are over - at least for most people - the various church activities are getting under way after a summer break. Various groups will start their fall meeting schedule, and so, in the next few days there will be a busy schedule of events from ladies groups to the quilters and from men's breakfast meetings to church school.

One of the first activities, and one of the highlights of the start of the new church year, is Rally Sunday which will be held this week with a BBQ in the parking lot following the regular church service, a service which will include the commissioning of the church school leaders.

Everyone is invited to join with us on this occasion for hamburgs, hot dogs and lots of other goodies.

Join us for good food, and a time of great fellowship on this special occasion in the church year.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A new (church) year

The days of summer are winding down, students will be back at school within a few days, and the Labor Day weekend marks the start of a new church year.

One by one, the church organizations are gearing up for the fall season, the Sunday school teachers have prepared their curriculum, plans are under way for Rally Sunday, and as the summer holiday season winds down, there is an air of anticipation within the church, as people who have been away return to the pews, hungry for the Good News.

During the last three months, since the passing of our minister, the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen, the congregation has been blessed with the presence with many outstanding preachers, but as we move into September, the direction has been changed as Knox welcomes Rev. John Duff to the pulpit for a five-month period of stated supply.

As previously indicated in this blog, Rev. Duff's ministry has taken him from Red Deer to St. John's and from Ottawa to Nicaragua, and while he has been officially retired since 2002, he will put his retirement somewhat aside and lead us in worship and provide pastoral care through the fall months, the Christmas season and into the New Year.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Bikes for Malawi


The Quilters at Knox Church with the support of many others within the congregation have been busy this summer with a series of after church events, with ministers in Malawi being the recipients of the money raised through these socials.
The group held such events as a Sloppy Joe lunch, Sundae After Sunday, and a Corn Roast and as a result, a cheque has been sent to purchase three bikes and repairs kits for ministers serving in Malawi in memory of the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen. The Quilters are now working on fund raising for the Community Based Orphan Care Centres.  Early in the fall, items made from the fabric from Malawi will be available for purchase with proceeds of those sales also going to the orphan centres in memory of Mark.

Aid for Africa
Knox Church, like many other Presbyterian congregations across the country, is raising money for the East African Famine.  The Presbyterian Church in Canada is co-ordinating the church’s response through Presbyterian World Sharing and Development, working through the ACT Alliance to help provide 300,000 refugees with food, clean water, shelter, hygiene kits and psychosocial support.  Special envelopes have been made available for donations toward famine relief, and as well, contributions can be dropped off at the church office.

Celebrating the Lord’s Supper
This Sunday at Knox, the Rev. Linda Corry will again be leading the congregation in worship as we celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Rev. Corry has served congregations in both the Presbyterian and Anglican churches and now provides coaching and consulting to clergy and parishioners (corrycoach.com).

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Sunday at Knox

     The guest preacher in the Knox pulpit this Sunday will be the Rev. Linda Corry who has given leadership in ministry in both the Presbyterian and Anglican Churches in Canada, and served as a private practice psychotherapist to lay persons and clergy.
     Linda's faith and ministry have roots across denominational lines.  With an Anglican mother and United Church father, she grew up in a Presbyterian congregation in a Roman Catholic community and attended a largely Jewish High School. 
     She became the first woman graduate of The Presbyterian College, and served in the Presbyteries of Montreal and West Toronto before entering the Anglican Church to minister in the Diocese of Niagara.
     Presently, Linda is privileged to serve as guest minister to churches in the Diocese of Niagara and the Presbytery of Hamilton, and to coach people from many faith communities.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Stated supply

The Presbytery of Hamilton has approved the appointment of the Rev. John Duff, a retired Presbyterian minister now living in Ancaster, to the role of stated supply at  Knox Church for a period of five months starting Sept. 1.

Rev. Duff grew up in Burlington but as a child attended MacNab Street Presbyterian Church, where his grandfather, the Rev. Dr. Beverley Ketchen  was minister.  Later his family became part of the beginnings of Aldershot Presbyterian Church, under the ministry of the Rev. Wm. Black. 

His ministry has taken him to Red Deer, Meaford  and Thornbury, Toronto, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Nicaragua; and St. John's Newfoundland.  He officially retired in 2002, but has done some part-time ministerial assignments from time to time since then.

Until September, a number of ministers and lay speakers will be filling the pulpit at Knox Church, with Ms. Wilma Welsh, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, leading the service on Aug. 14.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Sunday and sundaes

Knox Church welcomes the Rev. Bob Docherty to our pulpit Sunday morning. Rev. Docherty is originally from Scotland, (Coatbridge & Airdrie).  He immigrated to Canada in 1968, met a fantastic Canadian girl, Muriel, and was married in 1970.  They have three children and four grandkids plus a West Highland Terrier, Rob Roy McGreggor. Rev. Docherty recently retired from the ministry after 27 years of service, the last 11 as minister of St. Johns in Grimsby.

The August weekend will also see a special treat for those in attendance, as a Sundae After Sunday will be held with special ice cream sundaes available immediately following worship.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Rev. Dr. Alan McPherson

The Rev. Dr. Alan McPherson, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, will be the guest preacher at Knox Church, Burlington, on Sunday.
Rev. McPherson, minister of Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton from 1980 until his retirement in 2005, was elected moderator in 1995, the same year that Knox College conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He is currently a member of the Board of Knox College, and was a recent inductee into Hamilton's Gallery of Distinction.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Summer services

As a result of the recent death of our minister, the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen, interim pulpit supply has been arranged through the summer months as follows:
July 3:     Rev. Alan McPherson, Moderator, 121st General Assembly
July 10:   Rev. Alan McPherson
July 17:   Rev. Alan McPherson
July 24:   Rev. Bob Docherty
July 31:   Rev. Bob Docherty
Aug 7:     Rev. John Hibbs
Aug 14:   Ms. Wilma Welsh, Moderator, 132nd General Assembly
Aug 21:   Rev. Linda Corry
Aug 28:   Rev. Linda Corry
Sep 4:     Ms. Wilma Welsh

Strawberry social

The Congregational Life committee at Knox Church had a most successful strawberry social immediately following Sunday's worship service. A large number of members of the congregation along with many friends were on hand for the event, which featured fresh strawberries, and blueberries on sponge cake or  home made biscuits, smothered in strawberry ice cream.

The strawberry social is just one of many similar events held by the Congregational Life committee througout the church year with the next such event being a Sloppy Joe luncheon scheduled for July 17.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

From the desk of Gary Evans, clerk of session, Knox Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Ont.

As I opened up my email account on Monday morning and waited for the various messages to roll in, I subconsciously looked for that ever-familiar address, Mark Hoogsteen.

The messages had been there, day after day, just like clockwork since I assumed the roll of clerk of session.

Rev. Mark and I communicated by email. Of course, we also talked on the phone and met in person, but many of our messages were over the internet. It was fast, easy and unobtrusive.

A quick question, a short answer. A time saver so we could move on to other things.

Some days there would be a single message, on other occasions, there would be two or three or four or more. In other words, he kept on top of everything that was Knox Church.

Mark (and his messages) will be missed.

It was indeed with sheer disbelief that I heard Kathy’s words on Saturday night that Mark had passed away. Our minister, our passionate, compassionate, devoted minister had died.

Mark’s time at Knox was relatively short, but it was so packed with promise. He was inducted on March 30, 2008, and during his three years as our minister, he spent so much of his time providing his unique blend of pastoral care.

Mark cared for others in a very real way. His visit to Malawi opened his eyes to new mission opportunities, wanting to do so much to help those in need.

He spent many hours on Presbytery work, helping other ministers and other congregations in their time of need.

Just days before his death, he set in motion the structure for a new vision for Knox, with an ad hoc committee in place to begin planning for the future of our church, a vision that would build on establishing goals for five to 10 years into the future.

Just as his emails will be missed, so too will be his inspirational messages, his helpful advice, his warm and caring presence.

There is obviously a huge vacuum in the leadership of the church when the minister passes away, but I am pleased at the speed taken by the Presbytery of Hamilton to fill this void.

Within 24 hours of Mark’s death, the presbytery not only had an interim moderator in place but also had a minister available to lead us in Sunday worship over the next several weeks.

The Rev. Thomas Kay, minister of MacNab Street Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, will serve as interim moderator, at least until the September meeting of the Hamilton Presbytery. Rev. Kay will be filling the pulpit on June 19, and this will give the congregation the opportunity to meet him at that time as he prepares to give us leadership through this difficult time.

The congregational meeting scheduled for May 29 has been rescheduled for June 19 and at that time the congregation will elect new elders, re-appoint the church treasurer, elect representatives to the board of managers, appoint the church trustees and conduct any of other business deemed necessary.

The Rev. Linda Corry will be leading the congregation in worship on June26, while the Rev. Dr. Alan McPherson, now retired, but minister of Central Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, from 1980 to 2005, and moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1994, will lead us in worship on July 3, 10 and 17.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Reverend Mark Hoogsteen

The congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church is sad to announce that their minister, the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen, passed away on May 28.

Rev. Mark’s time at Knox was relatively short, but it was so packed with promise. He was inducted on March 30, 2008, and during his three years as our minister, he spent so much of his time providing his unique blend of pastoral care.

Mark cared for others in a very real way. He spent so much of his time visiting not only those of the Knox congregation in need, but others outside of the church, others who perhaps had no church home, but wanted the comfort of talking with a minister, especially one so compassionate.

His visit to Malawi in 2009 opened his eyes to new mission opportunities, instilling in him an even greater desire to help others at home and in such places as Malawi.

As a congregation, we have been blessed by Mark’s ministry, and while short, ever so thankful for such inspirational leadership.