Monday Again

One of the highlights of my Alberta tour last week was the opportunity to attend chapel at Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary. In addition to the chapel service, I was honoured to share lunch with the President, the Dean of the Chapel and the Dean of Theological Studies. Also present were my trip host Rev. Laurence Croswell and two Wesleyan students at the Seminary who are pictured above – Emile Griffiths and Prince Thomas.
The primary purpose of the trip was to familiarize me with the churches in Alberta as we look to future ministry details for the new Canadian Conference. I was privileged to visit churches at Edmonton and Slave Lake last Sunday and to speak in both. On Monday and Tuesday, we visited the churches at Newbrook – where there is also a small camp ground – and Calgary.
It was an insightful journey over many kilometres and I am indebted to Rev. Laurence Croswell for his top notch service as logistics manager, chauffeur and historian. We also stopped in at the church in Hondo pictured below. A small group still meets here in a building without electricity and running water. Our pastor at Slave Lake, Peggy Yetman, is preaching there on Sunday afternoons. All of the churches visited were historically part of The Standard Church of America that merged with The Wesleyan Church more than a decade ago.

• Peter was at Miramichi yesterday to install Ron and Karen Purdy as co-pastors there. This is their first pastoral assignment – welcome! They received a special offering of over $6000 yesterday for debt reduction.
• I was on Grand Manan on Saturday and yesterday for the election of the new LBA for The Lighthouse and to interact with the group concerning the building plans going forward. Anticipation continues of how future ministry will unfold and develop.
• Last week, Peter represented the district at the funeral of Joan MacCallum and brought remarks at the service for Evelyn Ingersoll, widow of Rev. Scott Ingersoll.
• Last night I attended the farewell event at Beulah for Wayne Briggs as he brings a decade of ministry at Browns Flat to a conclusion.  Thanks Wayne for serving faithfully with a true pastor’s heart. Appreciated.
• While in Calgary, I had coffee with Josh Symonds; lunch with David Klob; and, while in Ontario, a visit with Allan Summers in Kanata – many of you would know one or more of these men. Great to connect.
• Pastors – you are aware of the Huddles bering held this week and next. Look forward to seeing you when Peter and I are in your neighbourhood.
• Fredericton Journey has seen 9 people make commitments to Christ in the past two weeks – PTL!
• The new headquarters and training centre for The Wesleyan Church in Cuba was recently dedicated. Teams from our district have contributed work and dollars for this project and Pastor Rod Guptill is headed there with a team in just a few days. Check the PDF below for dedication info.

On my way home from the west, I stopped in Ontario for two days for the meeting of the World Hope Canada (WHC) board which met at Silver Lake Camp. The pics above and below show the board at work and at play…….Our forward looking meeting was followed by two WHC dinners at Southgate and Whitewater Wesleyan churches. A total of $19,000+ was raised in these two events and new sponsors were recruited – a great evening. WHC is worthy of our solid support.

THOT: “ A concentrated mind and a sitting body make for better prayer than a kneeling body and a mind half asleep.”  – C S Lewis
ON SECOND THOT: “ Picture hell as a state where everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance.” – C S Lewis