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.
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