Drummond Hill Newsletter, September 22, 2022
Wednesday Meditation (John 3:16)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
The picture shows a river in the middle of Utah Desert. The name of a small town that leads to this river is called “Green River.” From Denver Colorado, as you descend the Rocky Mountains, desert begins. After many hours of desert driving, one comes upon this small town where we can see a river with green banks. It is impossible not to appreciate this wonder in the middle of impossibly dry desert. We can imagine how thankful early people would have been when they arrived at this river after walking or riding horses for many days. Literally, out of deathly existence, they find life.
Gabor Maté, a Canadian Medical Doctor, was sharing his newly published book, The Myth of Normal, in many shows. He makes a point over and over again how every infant can be traumatized when she is left alone or taken away for her own safety. He asks us to see this from the infant’s perspective. He uses his own example of how in order to save him from Germans his mother, a Jew living in Budapest Ghetto under the nazis, gave him away to a stranger, a Christian woman, to be taken to his aunt who was in a safer place and how this loving action of his mother traumatized him. Being abandoned, though for the best of intentions, is the way children experience the absence of caring parents, he said.
Imagine a person who has been ignored, abandoned, and pushed out all her life to hear this passage. “God so loved the world” does not suddenly rush into her heart as a wanderer in the desert finding a source of water. For a person who is living through a spiritual desert, often misled by mirages of love dangled at her from all kinds of people who mistreated, took advantage of, abused, and used her, this phrase does not become the good news that leads to life. Until she experiences fully the true love that brings her into the flourishing life, she ends up continually journeying through her spiritual desert.
This verse that has given us so much joy gives life when those who come across it can realize all that it offers in her life to the full extent as God intended it to be in Christ.
All aboard! (Exciting news)
Remember the voting that took place on the last Sunday of June? The motion was a simple one: That the congregation of Drummond Hill approve the decision to downsize in order to ensure the future of the congregation. This motion passed. Those who opposed the motion expressed that they were not opposed to the downsizing. They simply wanted more details on what and how.
At this week’s session meeting the discussion centred on the mandate for the group who will be working on suggesting the best way to downsize. Currently the mandate for this newly set up group is that they explore and suggest the best possible ways and means to downsize and bring recommendations to the congregation by the end of February, 2023. This group is given the freedom to engage outside expertise in figuring out costs for various possibilities.
Secretary
Due to COVID 19 lockdown, we have not had a secretary working at the church. At the very beginning of October, Debbie McCracken will return as our church’s secretary on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and carry on the duty as before. The session is very appreciative of Debbie’s willingness to return and take up the post once again.
Communion
Our communion worship will be on the first Sunday of October. We will be worshipping in a way that we can be united as one in Christ Jesus. We are still thinking about the best way to do this. One thought was to sit around tables as we have done before with bread and wine in each table. It seemed to have worked very well when we did this before.
This communion worship is part of the Worldwide Communion Sunday worship. Christians around the world will be participating. More than ever, as the wars in this world continue and life becomes more difficult for everyone. As we praise and glorify God, we will remember those who are poor and are unable to meet their physical needs today. We also will lift up those who are struggling in war zones and are displaced.
Forward 'n onward!
In our Tuesday evening session meeting, we formalized our structure as we get on with the work of the church. We have already mentioned Building and Facilities Group. There are three other groups: Worship Group, Mission Group, and Maintenance and Finance Group. If you are interested in any of these groups, you are more than welcome to join. We are searching for representations from all parts of our church.
Worship Group
is responsible for organizing many aspects of worship activities such as greeting, serving refreshments, reading Scripture, making announcements, and helping with slides. This is the group who will also be arranging musicians for Sunday worship services.
Starting on the first Sunday of October, we will follow the sign up list and begin figuring out ways to provide welcoming hospitality, leading and participating in worship. Please help as you are able. We need everyone’s help.
Mission Group
is responsible for reaching-out activities like Cinnamon Bun Tuesdays, past projects like Tea Tastings and Saturday Lunch Take Outs, Summer BBQs, as well as various quarterly fundraising activities.
For this Fall and Advent season, this group is suggesting that we support “Growing Children’s Ministry.” It is done through the national church. We will share the details available starting next week.
This year, for a local mission, we will do our best to support refugee families who have been settled in Niagara Falls. Due to the high cost of rents in our area, many of these families are struggling. We want to assist them so that they can settle in our area with some confidence.
Starting this Fall, one thing we are determined to do is to help people to help themselves rather than continuing on the same old programs which, though helpful for immediate relief, only make people in need depend on what we have to offer. We will also engage people outside of our church to work together.
Maintenance and Finance Group
With less and less number of members, we are finding it difficult to keep up with all the repairs and provide necessary resources to maintain our church. With the increasing cost of all that we have, it is important for us to figure out a way to keep up with the running of our beloved church facilities. To this end, this group will do its best in being good stewards of the gift God has given us.
This year has been a difficult one for many reasons. To this end, we will begin by asking the congregation to approve the withdrawal of $20,000 from our investments in order to cover our general operating expenses. We will take a vote on this motion on Sunday, September 25 while we ask you to support us continually.
Starting on Thanksgiving Sunday, we will also provide for you “Love Your Church” envelopes. It is our hope that this fundraising event will be able to help us sustain ourselves through the coming Christmas season.
Starting next year, we will begin doing various fundraising activities. These activities will involve all our efforts so that many of our neighbours will benefit from the good news of God in action.
With less and less number of members, we are finding it difficult to keep up with all the repairs and provide necessary resources to maintain our church. With the increasing cost of all that we have, it is important for us to figure out a way to keep up with the running of our beloved church facilities. To this end, this group will do its best in being good stewards of the gift God has given us.
This year has been a difficult one for many reasons. To this end, we will begin by asking the congregation to approve the withdrawal of $20,000 from our investments in order to cover our general operating expenses. We will take a vote on this motion on Sunday, September 25 while we ask you to support us continually.
Starting on Thanksgiving Sunday, we will also provide for you “Love Your Church” envelopes. It is our hope that this fundraising event will be able to help us sustain ourselves through the coming Christmas season.
Starting next year, we will begin doing various fundraising activities. These activities will involve all our efforts so that many of our neighbours will benefit from the good news of God in action.
New Ways of Being a Church of Jesus Christ in this tough times
We are launching two very new ways of forming a community of Jesus Christ. Hot and Spicy House Church will begin after Thanksgiving. It will take place in people’s houses as well as in our church hall from time to time on a weekday evening. It will be offered to those who are not open to attending Sunday regular worship services.
Another will be a devotion/fellowship activity on weekend. This activity will take place in the sanctuary, but will be open to the public. It will consist of concerts or lecture series on spirituality themes.
We are also reviving our fun activities like Wine, Women and Songs. As we embark on these and more activities, we need your prayers and support.
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
