Merry Christmas

The church is all decorated for Christmas Eve with the candles glowing in the stained glass windows, the tree standing in the corner and the Nativity scene gracing the Communion table. It’s a pretty sight, the church being decorated to remind us about the true meaning of Christmas.

Knox Church has already held its lessons and carols service along with the Christmas pageant, and so on Christmas Eve, the congregation will gather along with family and friends as well as visitors for two special services.

Rev. Bob Docherty, the interim moderator at Knox, will be conducting both services, with a family Christmas Eve service scheduled for 7 p.m. following by the Christmas Eve Communion service at 9 p.m.

There will be lots of special music at both of these services including anthems from the choir and of course many of the traditional Christmas hymns.

You are invited to join with us for one or both of these services as we celebrate Christmas at Knox.

We hear from Victor

Dear Friends at Knox,

    Hard to believe the year is almost over; seems to have gone so very quickly. My first semester at Presbyterian College is now complete; finals ended for me on Dec 16th. I believe everything went rather well. Don't wish to say any more until after the results are posted because, as Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have said, "The hen is the wisest of animals - she does not cackle until after the egg is laid"! The winter semester begins on Jan 7th, so I have a couple of weeks to enjoy the holidays with my family.

    Also, as many of you know, when I was last in Burlington at the end of October I appeared before the Student and Colleges Committee of the Presbytery of Hamilton. I am happy to say that all seems to have gone well and the Presbytery has certified me as a candidate for ordained ministry. 

Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you once again for your help and encouragement. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the members of Session for commending me to Presbytery.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you as we begin this holiday season. Allow me to wish you all a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year! 

In Christ,

Victor

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).

Housling cloths

It’s Communion Sunday on Nov. 25th and once again, the church will be using the housling cloths. For anyone who does not know the tradition behind the use of these cloths, check out the Knox Facebook page where there is an explanation. It can be found at www.facebook.com/KnoxPresbyterianChurchBurlington

And just one other note this time around, but a most important item concerns honors which are being bestowed on Cindel White at the University of Western Ontario on Sunday.

Cindel honored
Cindel has two scholarships:  In first year she received the "Gerry Killan Entrance Regis Award" plus she received the continuing scholarship of this award for second year.  She is also now receiving "The Mr. Justice John Kennedy Award for Excellence, 2012-2013.  The award is given to a returning King's University College student with the highest average in five full courses or equivalent in his/her first year program.  She is also receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Achieving for the Top Award.

King's University College is an affiliate college of the University of Western Ontario in London.  She is specializing in Psychology.

Proud parents Sharon and Trevor White will be at Western to help celebrate the occasion which occurs in conjunction with the Feast of Christ the King.

As a congregation we congratulate Cindel on this impressive achievement, and wish her well in her future studies at Western.

Overnight guests

Knox Church will be having a large number of guests Saturday night - overnight guests - so that when the congregation arrives early Sunday morning they may be witness to a great deal of activity.

As a unique outreach program – and in order to accommodate cadets who will be participating in an overnight vigil at the cenotaph prior to Sunday’s Remembrance Day service - session has approved the use of the church facilities for Burlington’s Air Cadets, with Knox being so ideally situated to help in this particular cause.

Deb Settle has already posted information on the Knox Facebook page, but in order for everyone to have an even better understanding about what is happening, I thought that perhaps it would be best to use Deb’s own words about the vigil.

“For many years, starting on 6 p.m. on Nov. 10 until 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, the Air Cadets have held an overnight vigil at the cenotaph at the corner of Brant and Ontario streets. This involves five cadets standing guard at the monument for one hour shifts each.  In the past, officers and volunteers would drive the cadets back and forth from their Squadron in the Mountainside area throughout the night. The remainder of the cadets would be sleeping there.

“Last year the Navy cadets joined the Air Cadets and so were able to use the Iron Duke facilities. This year the three units (Air, Army and Navy) will be involved. The Navy cadets will stay at the Iron Duke and the Air and Army corps will be at Knox. The routine will be the same, but instead of having to drive the cadets they will be able to walk.

“The cadets will arrive at about 5 p.m. at the church with uniforms, sleeping bags, toiletries etc. They will be delegated to a room. A brief service will be held at the cenotaph at 6 p.m. Five cadets will remain on duty and the rest will return to fellowship hall for dinner. My group, the Squadron Sponsorship Committee (SSC), will have a meal prepared.

“During the evening, the off-duty cadets will play board games, watch movies etc. until bed or their turn to be at the cenotaph. The rotation will continue all night and into the morning.

The SSC will provide breakfast in the morning at 8:00 a.m. The cadets will be dressing and preparing to attend the parade that will start at Burlington Central High School at 10:30. and as such will be leaving the church around 9:30.

“There will be about 40 cadets participating in the vigil throughout the night. There will be at least four officers supervising and a few CVs (Civilian Volunteers) as well. The cadets will never be left unattended and will have strict rules to follow.”

While Knox has made its facilities available for the cadets on this special occasion, Deb must be congratulated not only for making this event happen, but for all her involvement with the Air Cadets in Burlington.

Time change

In our last blog, we talked about time with particular reference to the change in clocks going back to Standard Time. But there is another important time change this week as everyone is reminded that the church service will be at 9:30 a.m. for this coming week only, so that those in the congregation wanting to attend the cenotaph service will have sufficient time to walk over to the cenotaph at City Hall.

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

Thanksgiving Sunday

It’s Thanksgiving weekend, a special time of the year as we offer our thanks for all the blessings bestowed upon us. It’s also a time of celebration for on Sunday Knox will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Rev. Bob Docherty, our interim moderator, will be preaching on Sunday as we come together for this special service.

A special thank you
As clerk of session, I would like to also offer my sincere thanks to three individuals who have now completed their term of office as active elders, and while they are still active in many other ways around the church, they have stepped aside from session duties and regular pastoral visits.

Merri Fergusson, John Gowing and Gord Sherritt all decided not to seek re-election when the most recent election for the Knox session was held, and while we will indeed miss their participation around the session table – for the foreseeable future – we are ever so indebted to all that they brought to their responsibilities over the years.

Knox moved to term eldership four years ago, and while term eldership is for a six-year term, it was decided at that time that some elders would serve for two years, others for four and the rest for six years as the concept phased in toward the six year terms.

Session is actually down in numbers from the Spring as no new nominations were brought forward, but we are thankful that Reg Butt, Roxie Clendening and Patty Kirby, each nominated by session, agreed to serve another term. If all that sounds a bit confusing, just know that session had 22 members as of May 31 and today we stand at 19.

Knox on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/KnoxPresbyterianChurchBurlington
Hopefully most everyone knows that Knox now has a Facebook page, and over time we expect to add various items of interest not only to the Knox congregation, but to the general public as well.

But perhaps I can highlight how a Facebook page can provide great visibility to a church such as Knox by using an illustration from another page. At the present time, I am involved in several other Facebook pages, some of them designed around historic and/or nostalgic photographs.

I put up an old photograph of the Bell Tower Room on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Burlington/345338745530110 but I did not provide any details, instead asking viewers to provide their insight. After 24 hours, more than 200 people had viewed that picture; today, 346 people have viewed the picture and 24 have offered comments. That is great exposure for Knox, and will continue to be so for some time. 

That picture is not on the Knox site at the moment, but may well be migrated over there some time in the future, but in the meantime, it can be seen at the above link.

We hear from Victor
As most everyone knows by now, a member of the Knox congregation is now at Presbyterian College in Montreal, immersed in studies at this college as he heeds his call to the ministry.

Victor Vaus spoke to the Knox congregation in the Spring, talking about his calling and his desire to attend Presbyterian College. Session endorsed his application, passing it along to the Presbytery of Hamilton for their consideration. As part of the official process, Victor must now appear before the Presbytery….just one more step on his long road toward ordination.

The letter below is from Victor, bringing the congregation up to date on his life in Montreal, and about his Presbytery appointment.

Dear friends at Knox,
First allow me to thank you for remembering me in your prayers, and for the cards and best wishes that you have so kindly sent.

My first month at Presbyterian College has gone by very quickly. Academically things are fine, and I feel like I am starting to get into the "swing of things" here. The workload is heavy but manageable, and I am being exposed to new ways of looking at things on a regular basis.

Rev. Dr. John Vissers preached a sermon that revolved around Anselm's notion of  "Fides Quaerens Intellectum" - faith seeking understanding -which I particularly enjoyed. The title of the sermon neatly sums up my experience here so far.

Also, the date that I am to appear before Hamilton Presbytery has been set - Saturday Oct 27th. I intend to stay thought Saturday night and worship with you all at Knox on Sunday Oct 28. I will return to Montreal Sunday afternoon.

I wish you all a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, and look forward to seeing you in Burlington very soon.

Yours in Christian fellowship,

Victor

Going and coming

It’s Labour Day weekend, the end of summer for many, the start of a new church year, and so, in the next few weeks various activities will be starting up around Knox, starting with Rally Day Sunday on Sept. 9 when courtesy of the board of managers there will be a barbecue after the regular church service.

In the meantime, everyone is reminded that Sunday’s church service reverts back to the normal time, that is 10:30. The earlier church service was done as an experiment this year, something that many other churches do in the summer, as we tried to address not only the heat and humidity, but also to provide a bit of flexibility for Sunday activities.

And the search goes on
As Rev. Bob explained last Sunday, the search process has continued over the summer with the committee still meeting on a regular basis. There was somewhat of a lull after the flurry of early applications, but there has been renewed interest over the summer months as a number of additional applications have been received.

Rev. Bob tries to get copies of all the new applications out to the committee as soon as possible, so that when they do meet, there is the opportunity for good discussion. And, of course, with the internet these days, there is also the opportunity for committee members to gain additional information on any of the candidates…information that will help find the ideal candidate for the Knox pulpit.

And some other pieces,
• We welcome the Rev. Gordon Ford, from Niagara-on-the-Lake as our guest minister this Sunday. Rev. Ford, who was a classmate of Rev. Bob, will in the pulpit for most of September, that is except for Sept. 9 when Rev. Bob will be with us once again for Rally Day.
• The church office hours will return to normal this week, well, almost normal, as Monday is a holiday. But other than that, Trish will be in the office Monday and Fridays, 9 am-12 noon, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 am- 3pm.
• The Knox Quilters will be holding a fall rummage sale on Saturday, September 22 with the funds raised by this sale going to the Quilters Malawi Orphan Care project

Summer time hours

It’s not only the calendar that tells us that it is summer time, but also the weather, and as a result Knox Church is making a few changes in the timing for summer services and for the church office.

Starting July 1st, the church service will start 30 minutes earlier, that is at 10 a.m. with the hope that the air and the humidity in the sanctuary will be somewhat better. The change in time is for July and August only, so that for Sept. 2, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Knox will revert back to 10:30 a.m.

And with so many people being away, and with far less activities around the church, the office hours are being changed so that Trish, our church administrator, has more opportunity to enjoy the days of summer. Once again, for July and August only, the church office will be open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, with no afternoon hours.

Pulpit supply

This week we welcome Marilyn Repchuck back into the Knox pulpit as the church has reverted to pulpit supply from interim ministry as part of the process as we advance through the stages of calling a new minister.

Strawberry social

And then, after the service, everyone is invited to participate in the Strawberry Social in Fellowship Hall. There will be a freewill offering, and all monies collected, according to the Congregational LIfe committee, will go toward the operating fund.

Defibrillator

In recent weeks, an anonymous donor provided the church with the funds to secure an Automatic External Defibrillator, which will be located in a highly visible location just outside of the sanctuary.

While the new models are highly automated, and in fact will talk one through the steps once the case is opened, there will be a training session following the church service on July 15, and all are urged to attend as this session will provide some practical information, and as well, will provide an opportunity to ask questions of Gary Macdonald from the Burlington Fire Department.

Repaving

The tree is down and now the parking areas will be paved so that might make for some alterations if you are visiting the church at the end of next week. The tree at the end of the driveway was in extremely poor condition, with the core rotting away at an alarming rate, and while it was hoped that it might be on city property – and removed at the city’s expense – it was just over the line and so the board of mangers had it removed.

That was the first step to renovating the parking areas, with the next step to be done Wednesday, June 27 and Thursday, June 28, when the old pavement will be removed, the grade sloped to take rain water away from the foundation and then both lots will be repaved.

But for those two days, visitors will need to park on the street and enter the church by the James Street door. Trish suggests that if you just need to drop something off, phone ahead and she will meet you so that you can avoid parking.

Search committee

And finally, although it is the summertime, the search committee will not be taking a break.  Now that they have completed the church profile, it can be sent out to those ministers who have expressed an interest in Knox, and in fact, some ministers have already responded with their own profiles.

Moving forward

The first week of June has been a busy time in the life of Knox Church with various meetings taking place to address the vacancy, as well as Knox opening its doors for the Doors Open program.

The fact that the vacancy is being addressed is indicated in that the search committee met again during the week, this time to discuss the church profile, a document that will be sent to ministers who have an interest in applying for the vacancy here at Knox.

A great deal of time goes into preparing this document, as it not only offers candidates an overview of the congregation and the community, but also provides somewhat of a vision, so that the ministerial candidate and the church have the same vision as Knox moves forward.

There is still work to be done on the profile, but Rev. Bob hopes that it can be completed in the next few days, ready for Presbytery’s ministry committee, and ready to be sent out on request to candidates.

As indicated in previous blogs, there is an advertisement in this month’s Presbyterian Record, and the vacancy is also listed on the PCC website. Rev. Bob has contacted all those who have already indicated an interest, explaining that the church is moving along on the process, but was not in a position to send out the profile…just yet.

As much as everyone would like to move the process along as swiftly as possible, the search is a step-by-step process, following procedures as established by the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

One of the next steps to be taken does not affect the search committee directly, but in fact is one of the more important aspects of any call. One year ago, the Knox session had started on the process of purging the roll – a normal occurrence since there are many people who move away, or who have not had any connection with the church for a long, long time.

That action was put on hold during the first stages of the interim ministry, but needs to be addressed now because Presbytery will be looking at the level of support in connection with any minister to be called.

It is a time consuming, difficult responsibility, but an ad hoc committee will be meeting to address this aspect within the next few days, just one more step in filling the vacancy.


Doors Open
It may have been a rainy morning, but when the weather cleared in the afternoon, a large number of people came out to tour Knox as part of the Doors Open program.

Volunteers were stationed in the sanctuary and in the Bell Tower Room to welcome visitors and tell them a bit about the history of the church. There is a new set of brochures prepared for this year’s event, providing a list of church timelines, a history of our stained glass windows, a story about the housling cloths, plus a story on the church history.

Knox is just one of many buildings involved in this year’s Doors Open program which will continue until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

One of the added features this year is the presence of Al Clarkson from the Presbyterian Church Museum who has set up a display in the Bell Tower Room. Al knows his church history, and is eager to talk to members of the congregation about the museum, and church history across the denomination.

Pulpit supply
This Sunday Knox welcomes Marilyn Repchuck to the pulpit as Rev. Bob reverts to his new responsibility of interim moderator. Marilyn will be preaching on a number of occasions during the weeks ahead, although Rev. Bob will be back in the pulpit on Father’s Day. That date is important since it is also the date for the church picnic with a large number of the congregation planning to travel out to Crieff to join with the other three Presbyterian congregations for a joint picnic.

Despite the picnic, sessions decided several months ago to still hold a church service at Knox on the same day as many people are unable to travel to Crieff for the occasion, plus, it’s also important that the church doors be open for any visitors.

Anniversary Sunday

This Sunday marks anniversary Sunday for Knox Church, with a special speaker preaching that day to mark the occasion.

Knox is celebrating its 167th anniversary this year, and as part of Sunday’s worship, the congregation will be singing Hymn of Celebration penned by Patty Kirby to mark the 150th anniversary in 1995, and sung each year to commemorate this special occasion.

There wasn’t even a community known as Burlington back in 1845 when parishioners got together for that first church service; in fact, the community would be known as Wellington Square until 1873 when it merged with Port Nelson to become the village of Burlington.

Those early services were held in what is now known as the Bell Tower Room, and while it was only used as a sanctuary for about 30 years, that building is now seen as one of the oldest structures in Burlington.

Rev. Dr. Nancy Calvert-Koyzis of Hamilton, who will be our guest anniversary preacher for the occasion, has the distinction of being an honorary associate minister at Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton.

 Dr. Calvert-Koyzis has taught for 20 years at colleges, universities and theological schools. She is an ordained Presbyterian Church in Canada minister and academic who has published three books, including Strangely Familiar: Protofeminist Interpretations of Patriarchal Biblical Texts (2009). She lives in Hamilton with her husband and daughter.
There will be a lunch served after the worship service providing for a time of fellowship and the opportunity to meet with our special guest.

Summer hours
 While it would be nice if the sanctuary was air conditioned, such is not the case, and with the hot weather starting much earlier this year, session recently approved a change, which many other churches are doing for the summer months.

Starting July 1 the church service will start 30 minutes earlier, that is at 10 a.m. with the hope that the air and the humidity in the sanctuary will be somewhat better. The change in time is for July and August only, so that for Sept. 2, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Knox will revert back to 10:30 a.m.

Picnic and worship
While numerous members of the Knox congregation will be going out to Crieff Hills for the Presbyterian Church picnic on Father’s Day, there still will be a worship service at Knox that day.

When the organizers were planning for the picnic, it was suggested that only St. Paul’s Church would be open to offer worship to those not attending the picnic, but the session of Knox made the decision to remain open and offer worship that day for the convenience of those not able to journey out to Crieff.
The Rev. Bob Docherty, our interim moderator, will be preaching that day, the only time he will be in the pulpit in June as Marilyn Repchuck, a familiar figure to the Knox congregation, will be preaching on June 10 and 24th.

Doors Open
Knox Church will be once again participating in the Doors Open program this year, offering the general public the opportunity to tour parts of the church and ask questions about the history and the architecture of the building.

The main sanctuary and the Bell Tower Room will be available to visit with church members situated in both areas to greet visitors and provide them with information sheets about Knox.

The Doors Open program will be held June 9th and 10th, running both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional volunteers are required for both the Saturday and the Sunday with no one available at the moment for the Bell Tower Room on either of those days.  The sign-up sheet will once again be available in Reception Room B following Sunday’s service.

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.

About those rumors

There no doubt has been a lot of talk around the church in recent weeks as to the status of the search process, much of it as a result of rumors concerning our interim moderator. In reality, I suppose, they were not rumors as the Rev. Thomas Kay had been very upfront with his own congregation in that he would be preaching for the call at Knox Leamington, a church where he had held the pastorate a number of years ago.

Rev. Kay had also informed our session at its last meeting that he would be preaching for the call, and in fact, on April 15th he was in Leamington where the congregation, after the morning service, voted to call the Rev. Thomas Kay as its minister.

A note in this Sunday’s bulletin at Knox, Leamington, indeed indicates that he will be starting his ministry at that church on June 3rd.

As a result of that announcement, the obvious question for Knox Burlington is, where does that leave us as far as our search process is concerned? Are we starting from scratch? Will it mean a long delay? Who will be our new moderator?

The answers to those questions?  About the same. No. No. Not sure at this precise moment in time.

Session at its last meeting approved the names of those to constitute the search committee, and their first task will be to develop a congregational profile. On that score, much has already been done, partly because of recent input from the congregation, and partly because the previous profile is not that out of date.

Under normal circumstances, the Presbytery of Hamilton would appoint another interim moderator for Knox, but in this case, session has made a recommendation regarding an individual. That individual has agreed to serve as interim moderator, but the action has not been officially approved by presbytery.

So yes, while there is a slight interruption in the process, it should only be a minor hiccup, and the entire process should be back on track very shortly.

All that being said, there is already a listing on the Presbyterian Church of Canada’s website under vacancies, and while it was intended that it was not to be officially listed until June, it has already created a great deal of interest in the Knox vacancy, 18 applications in fact in a matter of days.

So while as a congregation we are sad to see Rev. Kay leave as our interim moderator, we ask that the Lord’s blessings be upon him as he embarks on another chapter of his ministry.

And more,
• The Knox Quilters recently received a letter from Kenneth Kim, director of PWS&D,  acknowledging receipt of a donation of $2,000 sent by the  Quilters to support Community Based Orphan Care centres in Malawi.  The donation was made in memory of Rev. Mark. The Quilters will continue to raise funds for the same project as they use the fabric Mark brought them from Malawi.  Items made will be offered for sale with the funds going to the orphan care project as decided by the quilters.

• The Congregational Life committee held another successful ham and beans dinner recently, with an excellent turnout for the event, and when all the bills were accounted for, the committee was able to report that $967 was raised for the church budget.

• For the last few years, four churches – Wellington Square, Burlington Baptist, Port Nelson United and Knox – have been involved in joint Holy Week services, and this year, the service was held at Burlington Baptist Church. Their minister, the Rev. Terry Dempsey, notes that the freewill offering collected for the Good Friday service was donated to the Downtown Community Dinner program ($736.85) and the Stephen Lewis Foundation ($1,932).

• There will be a real special musical program as part of the morning worship service at Knox on April 22nd, when Linda Binkley will be singing some of her inspiration offerings.

In order to offer some insight into Linda’s ministry, this testimonial was provided for her website by Rev. Bob before he retired as minister at St. John’s, Grimsby.

Linda Binkley has been an inspiration to our congregation. Her joyful and very professional style of singing accompanied by her taped background music is very uplifting. This is truly a wonderful ministry of music that she shares. Every time Linda sings in our church, numerous requests are received to have her back again. Linda has a gift of tailoring her extensive repertoire to meet the theme of each particular occasion, be it a worship service, a ladies group function, an anniversary or an evening concert. We have truly enjoyed every time she has joined us.

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.  

And more,

• Representatives from the four Presbyterian churches in Burlington met recently to discuss the four-church picnic scheduled to be held at Crieff on June 17th. John McGibbon has seized upon this initiative and has been meeting with the other Presbyterian churches to make this event a reality, providing an opportunity for a joint worship service and a time of fellowship in a most unique setting. Church members received a questionnaire recently, and the results were forwarded to the committee so as to ascertain interest. A church service will still be held at St. Paul’s on that date, while the Knox session will consider whether to still hold a service for those members not attending the picnic.

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 this Saturday, 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.

Annual meetings - Now and Then

I have recently been involved in a great deal of research for a new book project, going through old microfilm during the period after the Second World War. Aside from my primary research, it’s interesting to note some of the other news stories of that era, and one thing that really stands out was the level of coverage churches received in the pages of the Burlington Gazette.

Most churches were able to receive a certain level of coverage, but of course I was most interested in the stories involving Knox church, noting that the various women’s groups received extensive coverage concerning their regular meetings, with names, names and more names of those who were involved in the meetings.

This Sunday is an important one in the life and witness of the Knox congregation, as we not only celebrate the Lord’s Supper, but after the service, we will adjourn to Fellowship Hall for a light lunch followed by our annual meeting.

Annual church meetings were major news back in the 1940s, as there was not only extensive coverage, but often it was front page news. With that in mind, what follows is the front page news story from the Gazette, wherein there is a detailed story concerning the annual meeting covering the year 1946.

The annual meeting of Knox Presbyterian Church was held on Thursday evening in the Sunday school room. The minister, Rev. Dr. James G. Berry, presided and conducted a short devotional service.

John Blair was then chosen chairman. In the course of his remarks, he said that the congregation had had a good year. The reports would testify to the work done and the finances well maintained.

Dr. Berry gave the report of the session: The past year saw release from war strain and the return to peace conditions. These were, however, disturbed and difficult. Yet in our church life there is much ground for thankfulness. It is a good thing to say, “first of all we give thanks to God’.

The work of the church was faithfully performed. Besides our ordinary services, the customary special ones of Communion, Easter, Anniversary, Thanksgiving and Christmas were seasons of refreshing and grateful giving.

For the Advance for Christ and Peace Thank Offering a substantial contribution had been made. There were also some contributions to be given over the three-year period. A united effort during 1947 and 1948 would bring us to the desired goal. Let us resolve to have a good try together.

Our missionary giving was well maintained. The offering of the Sunday school from the monthly missionary Sundays was most encouraging.

The reports of the organizations show that much good work has been done both for congregational needs, and for the needs of the church at large.

To all members and friends of the church for their support, and to the officers and members of the boards and societies, the session expresses its sincere appreciation. This includes the teachers of the Sunday school, the organist and choirmaster, and those who give their services in the choirs. Our caretaker and his wife deserve a special word of thanks here. Let us renew our devotion to the worship and work of the church, and in unity and fellowship seek its welfare.

The reports of the other boards and societies were then given by the treasurers as follows:
Board of Management, Board of Trustees, Session Fund, Missions. Ladies Aid, WMS, Mission Band, Choir Fund, Sunday school, Young People, Young Women’s Auxiliary, Junior Choir and Auditors.

Especially notable were the varied services rendered by the Ladies’ Aid and the large amount raised by the three groups. The ladies were warmly thanked for their untiring work.

The board of managers were re-relected as follows: John N. Blair (chairman), R. S. Merton. R. McFarlane, John Troughton, J. D. Gibbins, E. W. Smith, W. G. Henderson. A. M. Bryce, C. A. Peace (secretary), Stanley Craze (treasurer), also the auditors. G. F. Buzza and R. McFarlane.

A committee of ladies, with Mrs. Fraser Buzza, convener, served refreshments.

Moderator to preach

This Sunday, Knox is delighted to welcome as our guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Rick Horst, moderator of the 137th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

Born in Hamilton, Dr. Horst was raised in St. Enoch Presbyterian Church, and studied broadcast journalism before he answered the call to pastoral ministry.  Ordained in 1984, Rick was appointed to three inner-city congregations in Toronto, and later answered a call to St. Marys Presbyterian Church, where he served for 17 years.

 Witnessing significant congregational growth in St. Marys, he also guided and oversaw two major building expansion programs during his ministry there.  But in the spring of 2004, Rick felt the call of God to St. Andrew's Church in Barrie, commencing his duties in August of that year.  In 2007, Rick was appointed to the Board of Barrie's Royal Victoria Hospital, where he currently offers his governance expertise in the role of vice-chairman.  His earlier concern for those in our nation's armed forces takes expression today through his volunteer work as Padre to the Veteran's Club of Barrie.

 Married to Karen who ministers to St. Andrew's, Orillia, Rick says that he continues to nurse his imperfections through the unconditional support of his beloved Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is also very much a baseball fan as during his time in St. Marys he served as a governor of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Throughout his ministry, Rick has brought emphasis to the local congregation's sense of mission in the wider community.  His work with Dr. Kennon Callahan, author of the influential “Twelve Keys to Effective Churches” materials, has seen Rick working with many congregations and presbyteries to strengthen and enhance their efforts in concrete missional ministries.  He has served our denomination in many capacities, including the chairmanship of two Synod Camp Boards, a member of the Special Committee on Restructuring, the Assembly Council, convenor of the Canada Ministries Advisory Committee and his Synod's Missions Committee.

Rick's profound love of people and for the life and witness of the local congregation is a theme that underlies and informs his daily work as a pastoral minister.  His passion for helping congregations build upon their God-given gifts and strengths in order to be more effective agents in addressing human hurts and hopes in the larger community influences what he is sharing with our churches this year.

There will be a reception in Fellowship Hall following Sunday’s service which will be hosted by the Knox session, and everyone is urged to attend, providing an opportunity to meet with Rick at that time.

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 (Feb. 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 RevBob.Docherty@gmail.com 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.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

As we face a New Year, there are a number of new challenges facing the Knox congregation, but one of those challenges will not involve having to start the year in a deficit situation.

While the situation did not look overly promising in November as a significant deficit was looming, once the people of Knox realized the situation, givings in December not only resulted in a balanced budget, but one with a slight surplus – how big will not be known for a few days until the various year-end bills have been paid.

But no matter the size of the surplus, we not only offer our thanks, but also point out that Knox is in a most desirable situation. A great many churches are struggling with their finances in this day and age, and so to finish yet another year in a positive position is most encouraging.

We will let everyone know as to the final figures, both for the operating budget, and for Presbyterians Sharing, when we have those results.

A time to celebrate
The coffee hour on Sunday will be moved down to Fellowship Hall as Congregational Life is using the occasion to celebrate a special occasion (somewhat of a secret) and also to thank the Coffee Crew for this special ministry that they provide week after week, preparing the coffee for the many people who enjoy this fellowship after church.

More time to celebrate
The congregation is invited to Gery Puley’s 90th birthday party on Jan. 15 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  Gery invites everyone to come and celebrate with her on this special occasion. Best wishes only but items for the Knox Church food cupboard would be appreciated.

Food Pantry
And speaking about the food pantry, a reminder that the Food Cupboard is always in need of food items.  Tuna and salmon, juice boxes, granola bars, shampoo, puddings, crackers, canned fruit and vegetables and Kraft dinner are things that are needed.  Cans that can be opened without a can opener are very helpful.

Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast 
Now that we are into the New Year, a reminder goes out to the men of the congregation that you are invited to join with other men from the Presbytery for the annual Presbyterian Men’s Breakfast to be held at Knox, Dundas, on Jan. 28th. Tickets for the event, which cost $8, are available from Art Barnwell.