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.

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).

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.

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.