It's Monday Again

Good Monday afternoon – on a wintry day with fresh snow on the ground.  Just back in the office from Nova Scotia – more on that below.
Ministers’ Prayer & Fast Retreat – Beulah Camp – February 27 & 28.  Please plan to arrive by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, the 27th and we will conclude by mid-afternoon on Wednesday, the 28th.  We will fast three meal times together – Tuesday supper and Wednesday breakfast and lunch.  Accommodations will be provided at Heritage Hall and the Beulah Hotel.  If you plan to attend and have not already done so, please drop me an email simply saying, “I plan to be at the prayer & fast.”  This will assist me in preparation.  Thanks!  Also, please note….if you have a sleeping bag, please bring it with you – not required, but helpful.
Mrs. Laura Rice a long-time member of our church in Havelock, NS turned 100 on January 14th.  The church turned 100 on January 15th – Laura is one day older than her church.  Mrs. Rice cooked at Bethany a number of years ago and some of you will remember her from that context.  Our warm best wishes on reaching this significant milestone. 
Check out the Caton’s Island website – there are impressive new graphics on the homepage, stay there a few seconds and watch day turn to night, and back to day again.  Access the site at http://www.catonsisland.com/   There is also an on-line registration option on the site for the first time. 
Sunday, March 25th, is being set aside as a Day of Prayer for Church Planting here on our District.  Dean Brown, our E&CG guy, joins me in requesting that church planting be included as a prayer focus on Sunday, March 25th.
Alex Otis, the son of Ed and Marilyn, (Shelburne-Hope) has recently had an extended hospital stay as the doctors worked to replace the shunt in his brain.  Your prayerful support for Ed and Marilyn and their family at this time would be greatly appreciated.
Pastoral News:
• Renata Tweedy resigned as Assistant Pastor at Saint John First.
• Walter Perry resigned yesterday as Pastor at Norton.
• Jay & Sharon Guptill interviewed with the LBA at Dartmouth-Hillside on Friday of this week and will candidate there on Sunday, March 4th.
Our mission team to Egypt has arrived back home safely and our team of 17 people arrived safely in Haiti and continue in ministry there.  We have a team leaving for Ghana and Sierra Leone next week and your prayerful support of these mission initiatives is requested.
A very encouraging word on Mark Cooney (Millville).  As a result of tests last week, the doctors have declared Mark to be cancer free.  PTL!  Thanks to all of you who have supported the Cooney family in any way during this time.
Pastors – You will be receiving from the Department of E&CG a DVD and related materials on this year’s Easter offering.
The Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC) will be holding seminars later this spring in Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, and St. John’s (NL) on the topics:  Help, I’m A New Church Treasurer, and Essentials for Church Boards.  For more info or to register, go to www.cccc.org/seminars 
This past weekend, I spoke in the Saturday night and Sunday morning services at Hammonds Plains Cornerstone (Denn Guptill).  Enthusiasm is high and significant growth continues.  There were 195 present in the two weekend services, compared to last year’s average of 84, and an average of 43 two years ago!  PTL!  Our commendation to Pastor Denn and his crew for their faithful ministry and for making a difference in their community.
Last evening, I met with the LBA in Kentville to review Pastor Scott Prime’s extended call.  Very positive meeting.  Excellent progress in the church under Scott’s 10-year ministry.  The review was unanimous to extend the call and I am pleased to advise that Pastor Scott will continue to serve the New Hope congregation.
The weekend topped off with a Central Nova Scotia’s Zone Pastors’ Meeting today at Cornerstone.  Organized by Dean Brown, our E&CG guy, there were 15 pastoral staff present and we had an excellent time of interaction, fellowship, and training.  Thanks to Dean for putting this together.
THOT:  Biblical prayer is more like haggling in an outdoor bazaar than the polite monologues heard in church.  – Walter Wink