SUMMER LETTER - June 16, 2010

 Dear Friends,

Summer is one of those times in Canadian society that offers great promise and anticipation. No other season involves such a large and sustained shift of pace, pursuits and plans. Obviously life at St. Paul’s is impacted. Some ‘regular’ activities [e.g. committee meetings] hibernate, others [e.g. Sunday School] are amended. And our paths cross less frequently.

 Nonetheless St. Paul’s life and ministry remains highly engaged. Let me take the opportunity of this letter to underscore some of our summer highlights and introduce some fall activities. Let me begin with the latter and finish with the summer.  

STEWARDS BY DESIGN

            As you know a team of four members spent a week-end in May discussing with Kennon Callahan his research on the 12 Keys to an Effective Church. This team is being expanded and in October will guide us all through an exciting Saturday morning of celebrating and augmenting our strengths as a congregation. Ian will assist this process in September by focusing our worship on the themes that are integral to effective congregational life.  

ST. PAUL’S SESSION

            Later in the Fall we will be seeking to add an additional six elders to Session. This is a great time for us to seek God’s guidance as we discern whom among us that the Spirit has gifted for pastoral leadership. Two of Callahan keys are Shepherding [Pastoral Care] and Solid Leadership. It’s not too early to start praying for the clear direction of God in this process.  

PHOTO DIRECTORY

            A planning team is already in place and developing preliminary plans to produce a new photo directory for St. Paul’s this Fall. Details will be forthcoming later in the summer. Start practising your smiles!  

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

            From Monday to Friday, August 16-20 St. Paul’s is working with a team from Camp Kintail and offering a five day summer extravaganza! Combine this with the picnic and the festival and give your children an exciting and prolonged adventure in the land of Faith. Invite neighbours.  

AUGUST PICNIC

            Once again the Session is in planning mode and all the details are being put in place. It will be a great event. All that is needed to make it fantastic is you!  Plan now to be there [Who Did it Club] on Sunday Afternoon/Evening, August 22.                                                 

KIDS FESTIVAL

            St. Paul’s is working with several other churches in bringing a super children’s festival to Simcoe. It begins at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 23 [a great one-two with the picnic] at the AUD.  Further details will be available at the church and throughout the community in July and August .                                                                                                                                                           

FINANCES

            The first five months of 2010 have been on pace with projections in expenses and gifts. That has enabled us to concentrate our efforts and gifts in other directions [e.g. see above].  This makes for a more exciting and enriching life at St. Paul’s. Thanks for your ongoing and consistent committed response.   

LEMONADE

            Each Sunday there is opportunity to extend the joy of worshipping with others with some refreshments. Take advantage of this opportunity to connect in the midst of summer’s ‘to-ing and fro-ing’. There is even opportunity to assist with preparations. Just call the office [426-1845].                                                                                                                               

BOOK CLUB

            Beginning on June 29 with The Shack, there are 3 times when all [bring friends] are invited to come to 78 Lynndale at 8 p.m. and discuss a book.  There will be refreshments [if possible sign the list in the library]. The other two evenings are July 21 [Mere Christianity] and August 11 [Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society].

 As you can see we have much to anticipate in the next few months and lots of reasons and opportunities to engage with each other throughout the summer. I look forward to sharing in these and other activities [e.g. Sunday morning worship!] with you.    

Enthusiastically  

Ian