The Sunday School children did graffiti this morning. Their questions and thoughts on "Living in Christ, Sharing His Love" Well done!
Sunday School version of “Living in Christ, Sharing His Love”
About the Creative Ministries Position
Up until the spring of this year, St. Andrew’s Hespeler had a position called the Creative Ministries Coordinator – a part time position that was very ability filled by Adriana Vermaas for many years. In the spring she resigned and is moving on to other challenges (while continuing to participate in the life of the congregation).
What do you do when a position like that is suddenly vacant in the life of a congregation? Generally speaking Christian congregations are not overstaffed. Though there are always concerns about how much the payroll costs, of course, the problem is almost never that there are too many people on staff but rather that there are not enough to do everything that needs to be done.
So there is a temptation, as soon as a position like this is vacated, to go ahead and fill it right away because there is a danger that, if we don’t, the congregation will just decide that they can get by without the position and the existing staff will only end up getting stretched thinner.
But immediately filling the position is not what we are going to do in this case. Instead, after considering things for a bit, the session has decided that we will take some time to evaluate things. We have created a list of all the responsibilities that have fallen on the Creative Ministries Coordinator in the past and created some proposals for how these these responsibilities can be covered by others – by committees or volunteers in some cases, by staff (hopefully without overburdening them) in others.
We will very carefully monitor how these responsibilities are being covered over the next six months. In every case we will be evaluating whether or not these responsibilites are being covered and by whom. We will also be keeping track of whether or not taking care of these responsibilites has led to other things in the congregation being neglected.
At the end of this period of evaluation – by next spring – it is our hope that we will have a better picture of where the gaps are in the work and ministry and work of our congregation. Then we will be in a better position to determine whether we need to increase our paid staff coverage, whether specific volunteers need to be recruited or other solutions need to be considered. We do not know where this evaluation will lead us and we want to be open to all posibilites.
I think that this next period of evaluation has its risks. If we are not honest with ourselves about how things are going, if we wrongfully overburden some individuals or if we fail to consider new possibilites, we could end up making some wrong decisions.
I would greatly appreciate everyone’s prayers during this period. I encourage everyone to pitch in and help but also to be very open to talking about how things are going. Above all, let us place our trust in God that, as we open ourselves to his leading, we will be able to find an excellent partnership between staff, committeess and volunteers that will continue to lead this congregation with excellence.
We must not be governed by fear of change or fear of large budgets. If we are faithful to follow God’s call, we know that our Father will provide what we need. We will be governed by faith.
Andrew’s Voice – Latest Edition
The Back to Sunday School Fall 2012 edition of the newsletter is available now at this link:
http://www.standrewshespeler.ca/PDFs/201209newsletter.pdf
Hard copies are available at church. A great message from Scott, an introduction to our new Youth Leader, lots of start up dates and events - all can be found in this edition. Please take the time to read through it and maybe join us for some of our programs and events.
Continue reading »
http://www.standrewshespeler.ca/PDFs/201209newsletter.pdf
Hard copies are available at church. A great message from Scott, an introduction to our new Youth Leader, lots of start up dates and events - all can be found in this edition. Please take the time to read through it and maybe join us for some of our programs and events.
We are a stop on the Doors Open Tour!
September 15th is a busy day:
Come out to shop at the Mom-to-Mom sale in the gym at St. Andrew's,
Visit our table at the Hespeler Harvest Festival,
Come in for a tour of the sanctuary; celebrating History and Architecture.
Sunday, September 9th
Welcome back! Well, it isn't officially the beginning of the church year, but it does feel like we are all getting back into our regular routines.
Please join us this Sunday as we have a special morning full of important events. First please join us for The Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our children in Grade 4 + will be participating in Communion with their families.
If you are involved in any ministry within the life of St. Andrew's we urge you to attend the service this Sunday. It is Commissioning Sunday as well and this is a way that we can lift each other up in prayer as we serve the community of St. Andrew's and show others the love of Jesus.
Sunday School Rally Day!!!! A favourite Sunday for our Students! If you bring a filled out & signed registration form to Joni after church, in the hall, you will receive a surprise treat. Will there be Jelly Bean count contests this year, or will it be bubble gum, or some other surprise? You have to come to find out! See you there.
Oh, and what better way top off our Sunday, then CAKE SUNDAY? We will celebrate those who have birthdays in July, August and September!
Continue reading »
Please join us this Sunday as we have a special morning full of important events. First please join us for The Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our children in Grade 4 + will be participating in Communion with their families.
If you are involved in any ministry within the life of St. Andrew's we urge you to attend the service this Sunday. It is Commissioning Sunday as well and this is a way that we can lift each other up in prayer as we serve the community of St. Andrew's and show others the love of Jesus.
Sunday School Rally Day!!!! A favourite Sunday for our Students! If you bring a filled out & signed registration form to Joni after church, in the hall, you will receive a surprise treat. Will there be Jelly Bean count contests this year, or will it be bubble gum, or some other surprise? You have to come to find out! See you there.
Oh, and what better way top off our Sunday, then CAKE SUNDAY? We will celebrate those who have birthdays in July, August and September!
Sahel Food Crisis!
Can you help?
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Vandalizing a Venerable Motto
Games Night – Mark your calendars!
Floor hockey or your favourite board game!
Introducing a new group in our congregation: the Inbetweeners, a place where people of “in-between” age can find opportunities to belong and believe through fellowship and friendship, sharing and support. We will get together for some adult nights out during the year. Leave your children at home; come out and have some fun, meet your friends, make some new friends.
Our first official meeting will be on Saturday, October 13 at 7 pm until about nine. It will be a games night at the church. Bring your favourite card or board game and your favourite snack to share (no nuts please).
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who generously gave so many school supplies. These supplies will help families in our immediate area provide much needed supplies for their children to start out the school year. The supplies will be given to the Community Clothing Closet.
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A taste of STOMP!
You'll want to come Friday night at 7:00 pm to hear all of it!