IN  TOUCH

Winter 2004

Click to view a subject in this issue

[Rector's Introduction] [Funerals&Baptisms] [Wardens Report] [Mile End Mission] [Youth Ministry] [A.C.W. News] [Sunday School] [Christmas Eve Eucharist] [Financial Results For 2003]

Dear Friends:

            Last year in this charge I laid out the overall situation of life as a Christian and as an Anglican at this particular time in the life of the church.  The good news is that because I undertook that task last year I do not have to do it this year.  However it may be useful to refer back to it from time to time as it lays the overall foundation of my priorities and theology of my ministry amongst you.

             I lamented the lack of participation in education groups and pastoral guidance.  It is said to always be careful for what you wish for!  Attendance is up substantially at the education groups and over twenty people have been seeing me this past year for guidance.

             Things are going extremely well in the life of our parish and so this charge shall be short.  There are still some issues around gossip but I addressed this in my longest sermon ever (22 minutes) in late summer.  Things have either improved or people are no longer gossiping to me, and so I do not hear it.  Either way I need not repeat myself here.  The parish is healthy.

            Our Sunday morning attendance has increased by 16%, our overall attendance has increased by 17%, and the overall number of communions for the year has increased by 36%. Since my arrival the average Sunday attendance has jumped from 40 to 55.  There are currently seventeen different church groups active in the parish.  There are over fifty people who take part in Sunday Morning worship in some functional capacity or another.

The congregation is growing, the youth ministry is flourishing, the social life of the parish is very busy, the Bible Study and adult education have been well attended, the mission commitment is up, the Sunday School is strong and five new Committees have been formed in the past year: the Sunday School Committee, the “In Touch” Committee, the Cemetery Committee, the Stewardship Committee, and the Pastoral Care Committee, all with strong leadership.

 This leaves one main focus for my charge and I am afraid it deals with money,  I do not talk about the finances much and only preach on it for the Diocesan Planned Giving Sunday.  However, finances in the life of our parish have become an important issue.  I have set up a Stewardship Committee under the direction of Robert Friend to analyze our financial situation, look at education opportunities, and initiate a planned giving drive.  We discussed these issues at Vestry this year.

 In short a few individuals enable our parish to survive.  Their giving is disproportional  to their size.  It is often said that in any organization 10% of the people give 90% of the income.  This is roughly the case with us.  The last thing I want is for these people to take on more than they already do.  Our goal is to reach those who give little to our church.  A vast majority of our members give a very small amount.   We are asking for a reasonable amount of commitment that should not hurt the individual involved.

 I will end with a note on the meaning of Stewardship.  It is unfortunate that so many people associate stewardship with finance alone.  Stewardship involves everything we have.  A good definition of Stewardship is: our response to God for his infinite majesty and glory in the Creation of the world and the gift of life and Redemption of by His Son, Jesus Christ.  The way we respond to God for the mystery of life involves all that we do and have.  In short it is the way we live our lives as Children of God.  Giving is simply a token of thanksgiving of the fact that all things belong to Him who created all things.

“All that we have is thine, O Lord, and of thine own do we give back unto thee:”

Yours in Christ

Edward OGS

E-mail:  FATHER EDWARD SIMONTON OGS

[Top]

[Top]

 WARDENS REPORT

                We would like to start by thanking Father Edward for his leadership during the past year.  His services have been an inspiration to all of us and we would like to specially thank him for the very impressive services at Easter and Christmas.  He has continued to work with our youth and his talents have not gone unnoticed as he was named Youth Chaplain by the Archbishop/  Father Edward has won the confidence of the youth of our parish and others and now has young people going to him for advice and counseling.  At this point we would like to congratulate him on his been made Regional Dean of the Laurentians.  We particularly pleased at his work in the reestablishing our Sunday School, the establishing of a Stewardship Committee, an “In Touch” Committee and the Pastoral Care Committee.

                 Your Wardens meet once a month with Father Edward and our Treasurer.  At these meetings we review the plans for the future, finance, committee work etc.  We haven’t undertaken any projects during the year, as our finances just aren’t strong enough.  We have put off such projects as refinishing the hall floor, upgrading the hall lighting system and considering a ramp to the hall for handicap access.  We did install a railing at the handicap ramp at the Church as we felt that this was a necessity.  A minimum amount of work was done in the Cemetery and this was undertaken thanks to a friend of our Church.

             The restoration work has not gone ahead as we are waiting for further funding from The Quebec Heritage fund.  We intend to replace the carpet on the Church but feel it should wait until the next phase of the restoration work is done.

             A glass covered display case is now ready to be placed in the Narthex.  It will contain a Book of Remembrance and a Memorial book, both of which were donated during the year. The Memorial  Book will list the donations made to our Church and the Remembrance Book will list those who have passed away.

            This year we have established a web page under the guidance of Frank Dyball Jr.  This was done at no charge to our Parish and is very much appreciated.

              In closing we thank you, our fellow parishioners for your help and support when called on.  It has been a pleasure to have served  you this past year.  Please feel free at any time to contact one of your Wardens if you have a problem or would like to discuss Church matters.

 Shirley Tinkler Moore  Peoples Warden

 Verna Asbil Negm, Rector’s Warden

 Earle Moore, Deputy Warden

P.S……As this will be my last report as one of your wardens, I would like to thank you for your support and friendship during the last six years.  It has been a real pleasure, particularly seeing the Restoration work well started, and to my successor, good luck.  If I have one suggestion to make to Vestry it is to have two Deputy Wardens.

Earle Moore

A VISIT TO THE MILE END MISSION

             At the 2002 Annual Synod, the delegates were invited to visit the Mile End Mission.  Unfortunately Lorraine Marfoglia and I were too late in registering.  We were disappointed.  Finally, on October 30, 2003 (one year later) we made arrangements to visit and Shirley Tinkler-Moore and Elizabeth Burgoune joined us.

             We were warmly welcomed by the director, the Rev. Roslyn MacGregor and introduced to everyone present.  We then moved chairs into a circle to take part in the

weekly Holy Eucharist and discussion.  Some members of the Sisters of the Diocese were also in attendance that day which added to the discussion and quite definitely to the singing of the hymns.

            After the service we had a tour of the premises.  We then helped put tables together and were invited to sit down and join everyone present for dinner.  Sister Jean asked the blessing.  The dinner was delicious and the dessert that day was special…a birthday cake…Ros MacGregors’.  This celebration just added to the warm feeling and friendliness around the table.

            After dinner while everyone else picked up and Sister Jean washed the dishes, we were asked by Rev. Roslyn MacGregor and Connie to view the video on the Mission.  They explained the various directions and out reach activities that are involved.  Whew!! It is never ending!!

             After the presentation, we felt we had helped a little as we had come with some donations, books, can goods from Christ Church White Gift Sunday, plus items donated by the A.C.W., to this most worthy cause.  We said our good-byes and were thankful that we had met such wonderful hardworking and caring people.

             When we got to our car we wondered how four reasonably intelligent women having read all the parking signs could have a parking ticket on the windshield! We had a good laugh and decided it had been a truly enlightened day for us.

Verna Asbil-Negm

 YOUTH  MINISTRY

            You will have read the report by Alex Campbell and Bryan Rourke in the last issue of “In Touch” about our trip to Washington, DC.  I also spent a week as Chaplain to the Senior Camp at Quebec Lodge this summer.  I preached at the Montreal Boys Choir Course in August.  The Youth Council of the Diocese came to Rawdon on the 19^th and stayed overnight.  Three youths from the parish attended the youth sports day in Montreal.  The Youth Group has also started back in the Autumn with 15 youth attending this year.  The Deanery of the Laurentians has agreed to hire a part time youth worker to help start youth groups in the other parishes of the Deanery.  We hope to have an away day (overnight Friday) once a month so that the youth of the Deanery can meet other youth and get to know the Laurentians and the churches better.  Alex Campbell and Bryan Rourke continue to go into Montreal every six weeks for youth projects going on over the next few months.  Scott Worton is organizing a number of fundraisers to raise money for the Anglican Sisters of the Community of the Holy Transfiguration in Zimbabwe to help feed the orphans there in this time of crisis.  They plan to organize a skiing trip to Quebec City, bottle drives, shoveling snow off roofs this winter and a fundraising concert in the hall sometime this spring.  They are trying to raise $1500.00.  Alex Campbell is organizing the World Vision 30 hour famine this coming year for poverty relief in the third world and to raise consciousness about the global economic situation.  Bryan Rourke is organizing a Sunday morning bus or carpool to bring housebound parishioners to church each week.  He will be helped in this new endeavour by the new Visiting Committee.

A.C.W.  NEWS

                Since our last “IN Touch” the ACW held the Christmas Luncheon and Sale.  We were very pleased with the attendance and proceeds netted about $1000.  Our Christmas Card Party was also successful.  We thank all who supported our events during 2003.

            We were pleased to host a large funeral reception after Doug Cowan’s funeral on Sat. Jan. 10.  Our sympathy is extended to Peggy and family.

            We have planned a Valentine Luncheon on Sat. Feb. 14 at noon.  The proceeds from the luncheon will go to the Orphanage of the Community of the Transfiguration in Zimbabwe, which Father Edward helps support.

            We are also planning an Egyptian night sometime in March with Canon Dan Fleming and Verna Asbil-Negm.  Details and date have to be worked out.        The year the World Day of Prayer will be held in the Anglican Church on Friday, Mar. 5 at 2:00 o’clock.  Please try to attend this Ecumenical service.  It is no longer a women’s event.  All are welcome.

 Lillian Parkinson

[Top]

[Top]

WERE YOU THERE ?

                Dec. 24 eve last was a magical experience for many of us who attended Christmas Eve Eucharist service.  The night  was typical of a Rawdon winter night with Christmas lights lit up all over town.

            Christ Church as decorated in the seasonal style with two Christmas trees complete with decorations and lights, so nicely put together by several of the ladies and one or two of the male volunteers.

            All round the church  lighted candles and poinsettias were positioned in the windows which shed their glow over all those present, and we note that the congregation turned out in force along with a good number of out of town visitors including family members who in some cases had traveled long distances.  Several of them commented after the service how they were inspired by it all, which makes us very pleased that all the effort was worth while.

            Our thanks goes out especially to Father Edward Simonton, our Rector, who gave us all great encouragement to our efforts at decorating and overseeing all the requirements for this special service.

            Above all this was of course one of our Church’s most reverent events, and we do not forget that.

            As the Choir began its walk up the aisle singing our favorite Christmas Carol, the lights dimmed and the congregation lit individually lit candles for the service.  Truly a moment to remember and as I looked out over the people as I read the first lesson, the true meaning of Christmas struck me.

            The highlight of that Christmas Eve Mass was, without a doubt, the sermon.  Who could ever forget the wisdom and thoughtfulness that was delivered that night by Edward.

            It all came together for us with his closing,

HE WAS  BORN IN A STABLE………

 Derek Morris  your editor

OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 2003

            Finances are a fact of life for our church as they are for any other organization.  This summary presents our recent results.

            Our parish managed to raise less money than we were required to spend.  The “bottom line” quite literally, is that we had a deficit in 2003, which was also the case in 2002: a shortfall of at least $7,500 each year.

            The parish planned for a balanced budget last year, as it normally does.  The amount of money actually spent came remarkably close to the budget, and in fact was slightly lower than budgeted.  Some costs were higher than anticipated, including heating (remember last winter?)  Most of the parish’s expenses have very little discretion to be adjusted downwards.  We were able to respect our total budget mainly by putting off planned maintenance.   While this was the right strategy to keep expenses in line for the short term, as you know from experience with your own houses or cars, putting off maintenance is not strategy for the long term!  But overall, the church respected its budget.

            However, the money received by the parish fell considerably short of matching its expenses (which, as indicated, couldn’t be much lower!)  We were in line with, or exceeded, our expectations for fundraising (Family Fair and other events),  for rental of the hall, and for funds raised by the ACW.  But weekly offerings were less than anticipated, as were donations.  Interest income earned on our investments was also disappointing;  however, with interest rates as low  as they are, it’s tough to earn much right now.  At the best of times, interest only covers a portion of or day-to-day needs, offerings and donations are still the  main sources we rely on.

             What happens when a parish loses money?  The same thing as if your household spent more last year than you earned.  You would have had to take money out of your savings account just to pay the bills; that’s exactly what we had to do.  So our “Funds” (think of them as your savings account) have shrunk, and we’ve had to cut corners rather than invest.  Please take a minute to reflect on these results, in light of your hopes and expectations for your church.

The Stewardship Committee

[Top]