Presbytery Prattle

February 18, 19, 2003 - Fort Saskatchewan

Gathering and worship by Division of Communication, Bob Harper leading. The centering prayer, "Lord help me to believe the truth about myself - no matter how good it is" became the central prayer throughout the meeting.

Greetings - From Mayor of Fort Saskatchewan and from the Official Board Chair, Jackie St. Goddard. Guests included Margaret Findlay, president of Alberta & Northwest Conference, Gale Glover, personnel administrator.

Meeting Theme: "The Wonder of Water" introduced by Peter Chynoweth, chair of Division of Communications. Broke into 5 groups for discussion: 1) The Wonder of Water 2) Conservation 3) Trade in Water 4) Drought and 5) Baptism in Water. Each group was shown how to search on the net for information. Key Internet pages: www.google.com www.askjeeves.com and www.dogpile.com The latter gives you many search engines.

Margaret Findlay brought greetings from conference. Key speaker for Annual Meeting of Conference at Lethbridge will be Dr. David Swan. Beads of Hope campaign is important to the world. Urged letter writing campaign against war in Iraq if we so desire. Quilt made from materials gathered at last meeting of conference was on display.

Nominations: Tammy Allan, Mervin Gallant and Kathy Suteau are searching for nominations for General Council in August 2003 at Wolfville NS. One ordained/commissioned minister and one lay person required. If you are interested contact any of the above folks. Forms are available.

Division Reports:

Pastoral Relations: Lamont Pastoral Charge are now ready to start searching for a new minister. Vern Wishart was appointed for another term to Namao Pastoral Charge - week-end supply. Sturgeon Valley still need some names to complete paper work for a vacancy to be declared. Settlement teams are now beginning to meet. A letter from Onoway Pastoral Charge concerning conduct of a retired minister from Edmonton Presbytery is being forwarded to that presbytery.

Oversight: all who have done visits were thanked. Moose Hill, Stony Plain, Athabasca are lined up for visits soon.

Education and Students: Dealt with the following:

David Stewart recommended not to continue with ordination process
Marjorie Steele continues as LMIT
Craig Nelson continues toward Ordained Ministry
Ian Otterbein declined at Conference Interview Board but is encouraged to continue with the discernment process.
Linda Bridges has withdrawn from process toward OM
 

Lay Preachers approved:
Margaret Vanbinsbergen, Valerie Ellis and Lou Newell.

2 discernments of call process under way

Application for Sturgeon Valley to be an intern site is approved, pending completion of the paperwork.

New enquirer from Hinton, Maureen Engerdahl

Grand Cache was accepted as an intern site, pending paperwork being received.

Christian Development

Still looking for a youth co-ordinator. If you know anyone with some skills around youth and who can give some time to this cause, please contact Jean Keefe or Natalka Dreichel. "Camnping Sunday Service" is being prepared for general use on that date. Available by April Meeting. Life Long Learning from the presbytery fund is available for many events. Apply to Al McNeil. Still room for "God in Pajamas, Jesus in Jeans" event. For grades 7-9. Get applications for Youth Forum from Natalka and act quickly. (For General Council Meeting in Nova Scotia) Searching for a VBS program. Children at Conference and Senior and Junior Youth forms need to be in soon. UCW meeting at the Providence Centre has 55 registered.

Presbytery Mission Design

Tom Sawyer continues to work on ways to do ministry in tough situations. Shared ministry working well for some areas. Need to affirm what is good and work with what is being done even if it is not always seen as "normal."

Finance

Some pastoral charges have made the necessary changes to have titles in the names of trustees. Drayton Valley given approval to do $ 44,000 of renovations and to borrow $ 20,000 from the manse fund for a period of 5 years.

M & S Grants: Beaumont will have an opportunity to receive $ 750 from the Appeals and Grant Fund, if there is any balance remaining.

Treasurer: Lilley Glebe submitted financial statement. Conference assessment has been paid, leaving a balance of

$ 16,528.53. Most pastoral charges have paid the assessments.

Resource Fair: After supper, all were invited to attend a resource fair sponsored by Division of Church in the World and Stewardship. Visited 6 booths and listened to 6 guest speakers. Topics were: 1) SKRIM and Beads of Hope projects 2) Mission Support story from Athabasca 3) Education (Colleges of St. Andrew's and St. Stephen's) 4) KAROS and human justice issues 5) The Bissel Centre and 6) Canadian Foodgrains Bank

Each presentation was 10 minutes and groups of approximately 10-12 rotated through them all so that everyone was able to see and hear. This format seemed to work well. Maybe it could be done again with other divisions??

Wednesday

Worship: Led by Ken DeMan, complete with Holy Communion and oil of anointing.

Celebration: A letter was read from the Town of Swan Hills thanking us for supporting the paid ministry in that place. Some very nice things were said about the minister, Kent Horsman too! (When part of the body rejoices, we all rejoice!)

Note Phone # Error: On Applications for annual meeting. Correct phone # is 403-329-7218

Pat Bourque: Reported as Pastoral Charge co-ordinator for the northern part of the conference. Lots of happenings! Anyone who misses the final M & P workshop at Spruce Grove on March 1st may attend at April 26th at Edmonton Presbytery. Course for Licensed Lay Preachers is in the works. Let Pat know of anyone interested. Recommended book is "Radical Gratitude" by Mary-Jo Leddy. Watch for and attend a Kennon Callahan workshop this summer.

Conference Executive and Chair Report: Mervin presented a written report of conference executive work and also of his work as chair of Yellowhead Presbytery. More details will be in the minutes.

Other business: Concerning change of chair of Yellowhead Presbytery from one to two year term resulted in a motion to have the executive come back to the April meeting with further clarification after considerable discussion. Similar situation around who should or should not attend executive meetings and who gets to vote. Answers will come at the April meeting on April 23,24 at Barrhead.

Amazing! Rev. Cyril Martin just celebrated his 103rd Birthday!!

I have no room to tell you about the wonderful God Spots and the outcome of the 'Wonder of Water" presentations around the font. Many thanks to the people of Fort Saskatchewan for their warm hospitality, good foods and excellent billets.
 

Ken Flanagan
Division of Communications

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