June 20 2021 – Sunday Worship Posted

Please click on the  link below to get to the Sunday Services Page.

https://knox16presbyterian.ca/worship/weekly-worship-services

Good Morning … and Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers!

This morning we reflect upon faith:  what it isn’t and how it can provide for us … peace. I hope that the music selections will help further your reflection – it is an eclectic mix!

Put Your Hand in the Hand:  Johnny Cash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyua3hL3Ag

Will You’re Anchor Hold:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQQO8v-0VBo

I the Lord of Sea and Sky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zr9SMm1glI

Also find here a link to Vocations – The Knox College Magazine.  Following Worship, I invite you to read the article on page 8-9 by Tim Reddish entitled Making Sense of Suffering:  Does God always get what God wants?  In the context of todays reflection it provides a wonderful testimony to the presence of God – and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Announcements

Zoom Worship – June 27th

In response to our congregational worship survey, on Sunday, June 27^th … 10:00 am our worship service will be held over Zoom.  You are invited to begin to gather just after 9:30am, for some light conversation … as well as to ensure that we can deal with any technical difficulties.  It is our hope that the service will be taped and made available later in the day through our usual way of distribution.  As the taped worship service will be made available for public viewing, as the current worship video is, your attendance will be considered acknowledgement of your consent.

Garden work Party:

We’ll be having a day to tend to the cemetery garden – your presence would be great (your help would also be appreciated).

Day: Saturday, July 10th

Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

What to Bring:  a smile and a rake

What You’ll Receive: Cold drinks, satisfaction from a job well done and likely a sore back.

Contact: John Best at   besty007@cogeco.ca  to let him know you will be coming!

Review of Finances YTD May, 2021

If you have questions related to the financial report, please direct them to our treasurer Ken Harrower treasurerk16@gmail.com

Presbyterian Church in Canada: General Assembly (June 6-9, 2021)

Human Sexuality:  Lengthy discussion dominated the meetings regarding Remit B and C (see below).  After years of prayerful debate and study, and much passionate and heartfelt discussion, The Presbyterian Church in Canada agreed to make changes to its theology and practice regarding marriage, permitting people to choose to define marriage as either as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or a covenant relationship between two adult people. These decisions provide Presbyterian ministers with liberty of conscience and the freedom to choose to officiate or not officiate at the marriages of same-sex couples.

Additionally, the church agreed that LGBTQI people (whether married or single) can be ordained and are welcome to serve as ministers and ruling elders. These decisions accompany other resolutions about policies and programs that will help the church include LGBTQI people more fully in all aspects of ministry. The church will also prepare a confession to all individuals and congregations that have been harmed by the church’s exclusion of LGBTQI.^[i]

(Remit B) The Presbyterian Church in Canada holds two parallel definitions of marriage and recognizes that faithful, Holy Spirit filled, Christ centred, God honouring people can understand marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or as a covenant relationship between two adult persons. That congregations, sessions, ruling and teaching elders be granted liberty of conscience and action on marriage.

(Remit C) That congregations and presbyteries may call and ordain as ministers and elect and ordain as ruling elders LGBTQI persons (married or single) with the provision that liberty of conscience and action regarding participation in ordinations, inductions and installations be granted to ministers and ruling elders.

I invite everyone to watch the attached video Not All Are Welcome.  This is a presentation of the Rainbow Communion Special Listening Committee and is a poignant exposition of what is means to be excluded.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muSNSOCHwnU

Knox 16 Church Parking Lot:

You will be noticing that our church parking lot will become busier!  We’ve entered into an agreement with the Town of Oakville to rent the parking lot at Knox 16 for the next three years while the new bridge is being constructed over the Sixteen Mile Creek.

As of June 1, 2021 the parking lot became public parking controlled by the Town from Monday to Saturday.  On Sundays there will be no public parking in the parking lot unless you have a parking permit.  Members and guests of our congregation will all be getting free parking permits!

This Agreement will provide some financial benefits to the congregation as well as some saving related to winter maintenance.  It will also provide us the opportunity to engage in some “Parking-Lot Evangelism!”  (don’t be concerned if you do not know what parking-lot evangelism is – I just made it up! … but you have to admit that it does sound catchy!)

Session will provide more details of the Agreement over the coming weeks.  However, If you have any questions, please email Gord Petrie at gb_petrie@hotmail.com   or give him a call at 905-878-6150 .

Music & Conversation with Lloyd

Lloyd is ready, willing and able to provide a musical interlude of favourite hymns over the phone!   He also asked me to remind everyone that the phone goes two ways – so that if you want music or a conversation just pick up the phone and give him a call!

… and if you would like a pastoral conversation please reach out either by phone 905 257 2770 or by e-mail pastor@knox16.com.

With Blessings

Patrick