Under Sail

Sydney – New Roots:  Pastor Kevin Myers and the New Roots Launch Team will be holding their official launch service this Sunday, March 14^th, in the Delta Hotel in Sydney, NS.  One important goal Pastor Kevin has is to be able to give a list to the Launch Team on March 14^th of at least 100 people who are praying for them during their first service sometime between 9 AM and 12 NOON.  He believes that this will be the single most effective element of their launch.  I want to encourage our pastors to take a “New Roots Moment” sometime in their church services on the 14^th and remember this church plant in prayer.  Those who would like to send an encouraging email or a list of people who will be praying at the above mentioned times can contact Pastor Kevin at myers@yoursydneychurch.com.
Scarborough – Coastal Community:  Pastor Dwayne Hopkins and CCWC were thrilled to have an afternoon baptism at a neighboring church Sunday afternoon, February 21^st.  There were five baptismal candidates –  two adults, two teenagers, and one child.  A reception followed the baptism.  It was a HIGH day!
Fredericton – Crosspoint:  Pastor Tim Guptill reports that they baptized five people on Sunday morning, February 21^st, and had almost 400 people in attendance!
Pastor Raymond Fancy, Amherst Wesleyan, shares that they hosted their first ever “Church Family Fun Day” at the local YMCA on Saturday, February 27^th with over 60 people attending.  Some who showed up have never been to their church.  Sunday night, February 28^th, an impromptu Olympic night was held in the church hall.  The Canada-US hockey game for the gold medal was shown on the big screen.  Over 50 people attended this event – again, some non-church people showed up!  Both events were considered “out of the box” for this congregation, but both events proved to be a successful way to provide Christian fellowship, and demonstrate “community” outside the confines of “normal church!”  Good stuff!
Recall Votes – March 7, 2010:
Jim Agrell received a very strong extended call from Quispamsis – Kings Valley
Perry Ingersoll received a unanimous two-year call from Sandford
Doreen (Dee) Lower received a unanimous extended call from Fort Fairfield
David Wilcox received a very strong four-year call from Yarmouth
Resignations:
Mark McCluskey from Mount Pearl – Solid Rock
Nick Graham from Havelock, NB
Rob McDowell, Pastor of Assimilation & Discipleship, from Dartmouth – Hillside
Dr. H.C. Wilson, Director of Global Partners, is pleased to report that funds given by Wesleyans in Canada to the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund for Haiti exceeded $52,000.  This is only those funds processed through The Wesleyan Church of Canada (TWCC) books.  Without doubt, a considerable sum of money was also given by our people through other channels as well, such as World Hope International and World Hope Canada. TWCC has filed the appropriate forms with CIDA with regards to the matching dollar amounts that will also be focused on Haiti relief.   Our churches in Maine gave through U.S. channels and their giving would also be in addition to what is reported here.
Rev. Barry & Melissa Vernon (currently serving at French Lake Baptist Church) had a baby girl on Friday, February 26, 2010.  Her name is Morgan Marion Mae Elizabeth (middle names are after her four great-grandmothers) and she weighed 7lbs 13 oz and was 22 inches long. Everyone is doing well and mother and baby are now home.
Shelley Berry, wife of South Coastal District Superintendent Dan Berry, died Friday, March 5, 2010.  Shelley Berry was the administrative assistant in the South Coastal district office and had served in ministry with her husband in The Wesleyan Church for over 35 years.  On September 10, 2007, the Berrys were returning home in Conyers, GA, from celebrating Shelly’s final radiation treatment for breast cancer when their vehicle was T-boned by a speeding vehicle, resulting in a horrible accident. Shelley was life-lined to an Atlanta hospital, where she would begin a three-year struggle from a brain injury. Her medical updates were seen by thousands of Wesleyans and other friends on the CaringBridge.org web site, and they were the subject of many special prayer meetings.  The funeral service will be held at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at 1 p.m.

Dr. J. D. Abbott, General Superintendent Emeritus of The Wesleyan Church, died Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Elkhart, Indiana, at the age of 87.  He served in several elected General Church positions in the Pilgrim Holiness Church, and in 1966, he was elected General Superintendent of that denomination.  At the merger of the former Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Pilgrim Holiness Church in 1968, he was elected as one of four General Superintendents and consequently served on the Board of General Superintendents of The Wesleyan Church for twenty years. In 1988, he was appointed General Superintendent Emeritus of the Church.  The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, at the Middlebury Church of the Brethren, conducted by Pastor Dan Petry.  Dr. Aron Willis, superintendent of the Indiana North District of The Wesleyan Church, will be giving the message.
I was in Sussex Wesleyan February 28^th for the morning service.  The church is in a preaching series entitled, “The Jesus Files.”  I was assigned the topic “Jesus on His Return.”  Bottom line – live ready!  Pastor Rob & Val MacCallum’s ministry here is appreciated.  There is a good staff and a good group of committed lay people who are making a difference.  Joanne and I joined the MacCallums for a meal with their home group afterwards.
Pastor Raymond & Trista Fancy is another pastoral couple who are loved and appreciated by their congregation.  Joanne and I were in Amherst Wesleyan this past Sunday morning.  It has been almost three years since this congregation was able to purchase a church facility in their town that had become available, and was for sale.  It is now their church home.  This has proven to be a positive and strategic move for Amherst Wesleyan and has provided them room to expand and grow.  We enjoyed a meal and a time of fellowship with the Fancys, the LBA and their spouses, and also Pastor Linda & Sterling Fillmore who have been making Amherst Wesleyan their church home for these last several months.
“Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance, but taking hold of God’s willingness.”                    – Phillips Brooks