Presbytery Prattle - October 2001

Day 1: The Retreat and the full meeting was hosted by Edson Pastoral Charge. "Healing Hands" workshop by Bob Scammell and Peggi Langston. Enrichment of music workshop by Sheila Dunbar. Both were highly praised as successful!
Day 2: Opening worship with Holy Communion, Kathy Suteau, Chair, presiding. We welcomed these new members to Yellowhead Presbytery: Jane Kreiner, Joanne Knobbe, Sharon Foster, Kent Horsman, Peggi Langston, Val Ellis, Pat Calvert and Modise Molefe.

God Spots: We had several during the meeting, by Leslie Penny. A lot to think about!

Reporting Time: Healthy Congregations:

Pat Bourque: Reported lots of things to celebrate! Edson Pastoral charge for hosting; Regional Planning Team for a great Regional Meeting at Whitecourt in April; Josephburg celebrations around 100 years as a congregation; the Kennon Callahan Event last June; dedication of Lamont Health Care cross and mural; all the covenanting services that are happening and have happened,; Leadership Consultation event. George Rodgers is retiring this coming summer.

Stewardship: Kathryn Hofley gave us information about pastoral charges planning ahead so that if you receive a special gift you have a process in place to make the best of it. Contact Georgina Bruleigh if you want to know more.

Christian Development: UCW is still active. The new Naramata rep. for Yellowhead Presbytery is Peggi Langston (who is also the presbytery rep for Fort Saskatchewan Pastoral Charge) VBS was a hit once more. Still need a 'Youth Worker"

Communications: The good news is that there are still people wanting to keep the Book Room open. We are being asked to keep on using it, keep on supporting it and keep on praising the folks who work there. The water is still muddy, but hopefully some way can be found to keep it going. Certainly the desire is there and the rest will happen by faith. Vests were available at the meeting for those who had previously ordered. If you would like one, contact Judy Stretch at Spruce Grove - jsstretch@compusmart.ab.ca Price range is $ 38.00 for most sizes to $ 41.00 for 2XX sizes. Next Meeting: Our "Web Weaver" is hoping to show a demonstration for us who might like to know how to search a particular topic on the net.

Oversight: Visits are happening all over. A new streamlined version for both visitor and visitee seems to be working. A visit is not to be feared but to be openly sought. All parties learn from the experience.

Education & Students: Kathy Suteau is now officially a Staff Associate and Joan Smith (who has now moved to the Toronto area) passed through all the interviews and will be able to be received as a candidate for Diaconal Minister status. Continue to pray for David Pollard, Ray Olsen, candidates for Ordained Ministry and for Karen Gusek, to be designated as Lay Pastoral Minister. Final interviews for all students will be held at Pickardville on January 3, 2002. LayPreacher certificates must be renewed yearly, and must be initiated by the pastoral charge.

Inspiring Healthy Congregations: Throughout the meeting there were several pastoral charges who gave examples of what it take to make a healthy congregation. Hinton says it was the variety of ministry styles that helped them. Morinville says their congregations health was defined by the Visitation Team. Stories were shared about "how this church came to be" and Betty Welsby is firmly convinced story telling is important for healthy congregations.

Presbytery Mission Strategy: Did you know we have 9 charges vacant, one charge where minister is on sick leave, (Ken De Man) and 4 points with part-time ministry? PMS wants to find ways to do ministry in the future. Cluster groups, ecumenical, circuit rider, lay leadership, etc. Tom Sawyer is soliciting new members so give him a call if you would like to be part of this visioning team.

We get letters… and we had one from Neville Smith who says he and Joan are doing fine in Toronto.
Farewell- To Margie Van Binsbergen who is going to Thailand for a few months, teaching. Keep her and her family in your prayers.

Day 3: Began with worship! And what a worship it was! Very inspiring, peaceful and centering. Great way to begin a new day. Thanks to our hosts, Edson United Church.

Strong Public Witness Reporting: Bert Giffen says the Church-In-Society and the Division of World Outreach and Heritage will become one. Will have a name and more details at the next meeting. Don't forget Moderator's Day of Reconciliation set for November 4^th. Material went to all pastoral charges; a day of justice healing, reconciliation around the legacy of Residential Schools.

Inter-Church-Inter-Faith: Ursula Martin gave a full report on the meeting she attended at Beausejour Manitoba which included First Nations people, and most other major faiths. She closed her portion with a "first Nations Prayer" - very moving. Anne McMeekin is busy with work in shared ministries. The success of Slave Lake Pastoral Charge shared ministry is a good story we can tell others about.

Refugees: Modise Molefe, who has only been in Canada two weeks, gave us a good education of what it feels like to be a new person in a new land. Let's everyone be welcoming of Modise and his family. (he is the minister at Lamont Pastoral Charge.)

Inspiring Public Witness: We heard from Spruce Grove Pastoral Charge who say the way to do public witness is to run a thrift store. And one can always work together with others in the ministerial association where you live. Leduc Pastoral Charge, on the other hand, says to look for a hole in the roof of the church. This leads to a new roof, new pews, enlarging the sanctuary, changing entrances and a whole bunch more expensive stuff. Anyway, it worked for them!

The Budget was passed for 2002, and only up about $ 400 from 2001.

Support Grants were approved for Athabasca, Beaumont, Grande Cache, Fort McMurray, Moose Hill, Swan Hills. Another way your Mission and Service dollars help at home. The manse in Swan Hills was approved for new floor covering.

Remits: Four were discussed and sent on to General Council.

Reflections by Betty Welsby. Retreat time was peaceful and relaxing. We took the time to "feel" God's answer to prayer. Thanks to all musicians, to Bob and Peggi. Thanks to Leslie for inspiring God Spots. Thanks to Judy for the vests. Thanks to Katherine Hofley for her presentation and to many others…. Especially thank you to Sheila and the congregation at Edson United Church.

A Commercial: Tammy Allan from Hinton and myself, Ken Flanagan of Woodland Pastoral Charge at Whitecourt, have agreed to be Co-Chaplains for all presbyters of Yellowhead Presbytery. There is no job description so neither of us knows what to do. But if you have a need to talk to someone at any time, please contact either one of us. We will try hard to give you pastoral guidance. Pray for us and for this ministry.

Ken Flanagan

Some Internet Addresses

United Church of Canada - www.uccan.org
Alberta & Northwest Conference www.anwc.com/
Yellowhead Presbytery www.anwc.net/yelpres/
Please make 'bookmarks' or 'favourites' of the above and refer to them often. One thing leads to another and by beginning at any of the above, you may find much material and assistance.

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