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.