Hello Everyone,

As I get ready to leave on vacation for a couple of weeks, I wanted to send a quick note to make sure that everyone is up to date with the exciting things that are being planned to celebrate our 190th Anniversary as well as the status of the amalgamation plans.

I will be travelling to Newfoundland for a much-needed break and to take some time for centering. It was a few weeks ago that my oldest sister Debbie passed away at 67 and going home will provide the opportunity for me to spend time in conversation with my sisters Dianne and Denise. Dianne will celebrate her 65 birthday and it will be good to be with her as she celebrates this important milestone in her life. I would ask that you hold me in your thoughts and prayers. And Diane? – my wonderful wife is currently travelling through India – and I am sure that she will be more than happy to share stories of her adventure with you when she returns!

I have listed all the activities that are being planned for the fall – and I have highlighted places where members of the congregation are needed to participate. I would request that you are intentional about making participation in these activities a priority so that as we come together as a church community, we can share both the work and the joy of celebrating!

With blessings that you find rest and regeneration through the remainder of the summer.
Patrick

Worship Services

• September 10th is Welcome Back Sunday. An occasion to get reacquainted and to update each other following the summer.
• September 17th is the day that we will celebrate our 190th Anniversary. The theme of the service is Remembering the Past … Embracing the Future. Following the service we will share a time of fellowship – with a special cake! Brenda will be organizing the Hospitality Committee to prepare this reception – reach out to her if you can help in some way.
• September 24th will focus on Truth and Reconciliation as we reflect upon our relationship with the indigenous people whose land we share. In a particular way we will explore the relationship that indigenous people have with the land as we reflect upon the Creator who in the beginning created all things.

Mission Projects

• Back to School Back Packs.
  • We are collaborating with Hopedale to collect back packs and back to school supplies for the Children’s Aid Society of Halton. Please bring either school supplies or make a donation by August 27th for this very important initiative.
• Kerr Street, Adopt-a-Shelf, food collection.
  • With ICF and Hopedale we are once again adopting the bean shelf. Starting on September 3rd we will be collecting 350 cans for this very important community program.

Community Outreach:

The Crossing Community Heritage Day will take place in Lions Vally Park and at Knox 16 on Saturday, September 23, 2023. It is anticipated that 500 people will pass through the event locations on that day so this is a wonderful opportunity for our congregation to invite people from the community to Come and See who we are.

The Crossing is a Hub Event for Ontario Culture Days, and as such there is a fair amount of collaboration with the Town of Oakville and promotion through the Ontario culture Days website: https://culturedays.ca/en/hubs/c0b6b3fb-b16e-4085-a7c6-6c09ba5ab432.
Cogeco, has also reached out and we will be working with them to prepare a local segment on Knox 16 and its history in the community.

To make this event successful we will need support before and on the day. Please speak to Patrick regarding any of the volunteer roles.

Cemetery Clean-up

• • John & Gord will be organizing a day to trim the hedges and prepare the cemetery – this will occur during the week or two leading up to the event.

Event Day

• • Information Booth Volunteers – 4-6 people
    • Job – to greet people who come to the event and answer any questions that they may have. A brochure will be provided outlining the events and schedule – and training will be provided.
  • Parking Volunteers – 6-10:
    • Job – manage traffic at the event site to ensure visitors know where they can park and what parking options are available. There will be guidance from the Town of Oakville.
  • Kitchen Hosts 2-4 people:
    • Knox 16 will be the staging area for the people who will be organizing and volunteering for the event – a place to take a break, eat lunch ..etc…. The job will be to host the people providing hospitality – and a cup of coffee!
  • Volunteer Co-ordinator – 1 person:
    • Job – to direct the volunteers on the day of the event. The co-ordinator will be responsible for directing the volunteers to get to where they need to be!

Community Building

• Harvest Dinner – Saturday Oct 21st
  • This will be a combined dinner with Hopedale and will take place at the Hopedale facility. While it seems like a long way off we will need to form a joint-committee to organize and prepare the event.

Spiritual Development & Education

• Book Study – Wednesdays, Oct 18 for 4 weeks:
  • We will be reading Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg. A sign-up sheet will be circulated in early September.
• Week of Guided Prayer – November 19-25th.
  • The Theme for the retreat is Called to Community. This retreat in the midst of everyday life will be a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon our call to live in community by our Triune God.

Amalgamation Discussions

In a nut-shell … the Amalgamation Committee that consists of members from both congregations met twice in July. Additionally, area-specific conversations occurred between smaller groups. These meetings and conversations were very fruitful and affirming and has enabled the committee to continue to feel optimistic.

We have continued to find opportunities to be together. Sharing summer worship has been very rewarding and has opened up new possibility to share music. We have agreed to collaborate on two mission projects. And we look forward to sharing table fellowship at a joint Harvest Dinner in October.

The next stage is to meet in September, following the summer break. Two meetings are planned September 6th and 20th. It is the committees hope that by the end of these meetings we will have something substantive to share with the congregations.