Hi Friends,
Well, the Easter weekend has come and gone (and when you combine all four services, there were 1000 of us who celebrated in worship last Sunday), but the season of Easter continues on for the next fifty days. So this Sunday, Rev. Kathryn Ransdell will be preaching on the story about Jesus’ appearance to the disciple, Thomas (“What Did Thomas Doubt?”), and we will continue singing some Easter hymns (though slipping in a few extras like “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”).
Remember that after morning worship, there will be a Healing Service in the chapel with Rev. Tom Miles and Rosemary Kendall.
Let me also put in a plug for “Exploring Our Community”, a programme that will start Monday, April 19th – if you’ve become involved in the church in the last year or two, and want to go deeper, to become more involved, to learn more about different facets of “life in a faith community”… sort of like Exploring Our Faith – Part 2… then this could be just the thing for you. Contact Kathryn Ransdell for more information.
Jazz Vespers at 4 pm, as usual, featuring vocalist and pianist Diane Lines, with Rob Ferguson on drums, Tim Stacey on bass, and Tim Porter on drums.
NEWS…. As many of you may know, we are facing some changes in our staffing for next fall and the following year.
Rev. Kathryn Ransdell is pregnant – with twins, no less, who will arrive in September, which means, of course, that she will be on maternity leave for the year; her hands will be full – quite literally! We rejoice with her… and we will miss her! The Ministry and Personnel Committee has done some good, practical planning, and is pleased to announce that Tim Scorer, who along with Kathryn, has developed our programme of Adult Education and Formation this past year, is willing and able to increase his time at St. Andrew’s-Wesley, moving from quarter-time to half-time, starting September 1st. Because Tim and Kathryn have been working closely together, there will be a real sense of continuity; he and Kathryn have already put together an exciting plan for the fall – just take a look at the Brochure that was in your Easter bulletin!! Thank you, Tim!! We feel blessed to have you in our midst.
There’s more….. Rev. Tom Miles will be retiring as of June 30th this year. And he will be sorely missed! However, he’s not going to completely disappear, and has been asked to continue on as our Minister Emeritus. There will be a celebration of Tom’s ministry here at St. Andrew’s-Wesley on Sunday, June 6th – a “lunch party” right after morning worship… and everyone is welcome!!!
This has meant more planning by Ministry and Personnel … and they are pleased to announce that Jen Cunnings, our Minister with Children and Families, will take on the further responsibilities for the Ministry of Pastoral Care, and Ministry with Seniors, moving from half-time to three-quarters time. Again, our congregation is blessed to have Jen expand her ministry in these new directions, following her passion, bringing such warmth and skill. By the way, many of you may not know that Jen is going to be fully recognized as a Lay Designated Minister by the larger Church, and this will be celebrated at the Conference Celebration of Ministry Service that will occur on Sunday, June 6th, at 4 pm at Canadian Memorial United Church (16th and Burrard) – it’s going to be a great day (and busy)!
GLEANINGS…. Another Easter prayer, this time from David R. Allan, who for twenty-two years was the minister at Bloor St. United in downtown Toronto. His prayers are like poems:
God of Life and Easter
who trumpets in fresh courage and
warms forth faith from cold caves –
Your people sing Your praises in hyperbole
for only One who rules over all
could set nature and nations on edge
and open all the world’s windows to spring.
We forget Easter so quickly,
scurry round closing the shutters,
putting up rules and barring openings,
imagining that darkness and folly are
the true managers,
denying everything for which Easter runs,
preserving all the possessions and power we can
to “do Easter ourselves.”
Where is this Monarch, this Easter Sovereign?
No, the question is: “Where are we?”
See you on Sunday,
Gary Paterson