Under Sail

We have some stellar people in pastoral ministry on the Atlantic District serving in all kinds of locales and communities, and making a Kingdom impact.  It’s a joy to know them, and a privilege to serve alongside them.
Sunday, November 30th, I was in the Lower Brighton Wesleyan Church.  I brought greetings on behalf of the District, and preached in the AM service.  There was a wonderful spirit in the service.    Pastor Glen (Eleanor) McVicar leads this congregation, and is in his third year.  In the last couple of years, they have re-done the church basement area in order to minister more effectively to children. They are building bridges to their community.  I enjoyed a meal and some good fellowship with the McVicar family following the service.
This past Sunday (December 7) I visited the Nackawic Wesleyan Church.  Pastors Carl & Evelyn Brewer have served this congregation for ten years.  They have lived in the area for 25 years and are well known.  Their ministry reaches far beyond the walls of the church, and they minister to many people who do not come to the church on Sunday.  People who do come to the church, however, are going to feel welcomed and loved.  Here are two examples of the ministry of this church:
1) Pastors Carl & Evelyn Brewer and over thirty people from the Nackawic Wesleyan Church went to Lower Hainesville Wesleyan Sunday night, November 30th.  They took the food for the fellowship time after the service, and they went to help raise some funds to ease the financial burden of the Lower Hainesville Church.  People from the community showed up with a joyous spirit and a desire to help as well.  The blending of the two churches and the community proved to be a great night.  Both churches participated in a Christmas Sing, and the Lord used it to help raise over $2400.00 for the Lower Hainesville Church.  Funds are still coming in!  Our thanks to pastors Carl & Evelyn Brewer for their servants’ hearts, and the willingness of the Nackawic Church to make a difference!  Lower Hainesville is in between pastors at the moment.
2) The Brewers further report that Nackawic Wesleyan has a big heart for missions.  The church has now sponsored ten wells in Africa and six wells in Asia.  In addition, they are buying chickens, goats, pigs, bicycles, and other things that are meeting practical needs in Asia.  God always honors the church that has a global view.  Congratulations, Nackawic!
Ken McGeorge, Executive Director of York Manor in Fredericton, NB passes this word along about one of York Manor’s employees and one of our pastors:  “Pastor Pete Thomas, a much loved pastor on our district, is giving wonderful leadership in Spiritual Care at the York Care Centre.  He regularly ministers to 219 residents and conducts Bible Studies attended by residents of our 72 apartments as well.  In all, he is Spiritual Advisor and Minister to a congregation that totals 300, plus their families, plus 250 staff.  Needless to say, he is very busy and is making a terrific impact on many, many families.  In many ways, it is like being pastor to a very large church congregation.”
I concur!  Pastor Pete and Janet Thomas served churches on the Atlantic District faithfully and well across a number of years.  I appreciate this affirmation from Ken for one of our pastors who is not presently leading a local church but is still making a huge difference for God’s Kingdom.
Fort Fairfield Wesleyan had 33 people out to a breakfast put on by Pastor Dee Lower and her husband, Ed.   It was held on the first Sunday of Advent.

Pastor Walter & Margo Perry will be moving back to New Brunswick December 27th after helping out in the Mount Pearl – Solid Rock Wesleyan Church in Newfoundland for the last sixteen months.  I pass on to you their thanks as sent to the prayer partners that interceded for them during this chapter of ministry in their lives:
“We wanted to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for all your support during our 16 months here.  It has been a wonderful experience for us to be here and to sit under the ministry of our son Graham and his wife Rebecca, and to be here for the birth of our first grandchild, Nathan Adam.  Many of you have sent us financial support and we have felt your prayers.  We certainly could not have made it without your help and so we thank you from our hearts.”
Atlantic District “snowbirds” are already making their way south, and more will follow in the next few weeks!  We will host the Annual Atlantic Snowbird Breakfast on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at the Country Kitchen Restaurant in Brooksville, FL at 8:30 a.m.  Please note this on your calendar.  We look forward to greeting all our Atlantic District snowbirds at that time.
(Attempted) Correction #2:  Pastor Raymond Fancy, Amherst Wesleyan Church, shares that they held their second annual Trunk or Treat at the church on October 31st and had over 150 children plus their parents drop by for a visit, some treats, and some fun.  It was a great night!  Then, on Sunday, November 2nd, the church hosted for the first time a fundraiser for the local food bank.  This was initiated by the church.  Pastor RAYMOND (not KEN) invited five choirs, plus AMHERST’S CHOIR (not Central Nova’s choir), to sing praise and give thanks for what God has given to us.  They collected almost $800 in cash for the food bank plus over $500 worth of groceries!  All of this was topped off with a record crowd of 240!  The building was filled to the max!

Moral of the Story:  Never ‘cut and paste’ anything late at night when you are tired and in a hurry!
Thanks for your patience, Raymond!  And if anyone finds further corrections on this matter, don’t tell me!  We’ve got to move on!
We are approaching the third Sunday of Advent.  May we all – pastors, people and communities – come to realize with fresh awareness that He is Immanuel.  God IS with us – no matter what the economy, the political scene, or the myriad of personal issues that we face.  These may seem to dictate, but it is God who rules!  These things may change for the better or for the worse.  But whatever happens, He is changeless!  He is all-knowing!  He is everywhere present!  He cares!  He is with us!