Under Sail

Pastoral Transitions Update:
Shelburne Wesleyan – Ben Medel candidated in Shelburne May 9^th.  The membership gave Ben an excellent vote and he has accepted.  Ben and his wife, Bayley, both graduated from Bethany Bible College May 1^st of this year.
Havelock, NB – Jacob Ebbett candidated in Havelock, NB May 16^th and the church voted unanimously to extend to him the invitation to be their pastor.  He has accepted and will take up his new responsibilities in mid-July.
Easton, ME – Rob McDowell will be candidating in Easton this Sunday, May 23^rd.

Pastor Dave Mason, Kings Valley Youth Pastor, shares the highlights of “Rally in the Valley” which was held May 7-8.   It was a great event:  They had over 430 students registered, fed 475 for meals and had over 500 in attendance.  Over 100 volunteers from Kings Valley spent an untold amount of hours to pull it off.  There was a 28-hour prayer vigil that encompassed the entire event (4PM Friday-8PM Saturday).  Over 300 were served in KV’s “Kings Square Park Outreach.”  Teens took hot dogs, hamburgers, balloon animals, face paint and live music to the streets of Saint John to show the people of the city the love of Jesus.  Pastor Brent “BD” Ingersoll & the Valley Boys led the worship music, and Andrew Maves brought the Word.  Pastor Dave says, “The floodgates of Heaven opened and grace poured out.”  A number of teens “got honest with God,” and the weekend became a benchmark spiritual experience for many.  Plans are already in the making for Rally in the Valley 2011 which will take place May 6-7, 2011.  You can get the latest info on RitV at the website: rallyinthevalley.ca
Tim Long, Pastor of Youth & Outreach at Dartmouth Hillside, reports on Hillside’s “Turn on the Lights” Youth Event held last weekend, May 14-15.  Joel & Nick Guptill from Hillside, and Josh Churchill & Joey Millington from Hammonds Plains Cornerstone made up the “Echo the Silence” Worship Band.  Matt Fitzgerald, Youth Pastor at the Hartland Wesleyan Church, was the special speaker.  Hillside is his home church.  150 teens were registered and there were 180 in attendance.  Dozens of teens made first-time commitments to Christ, and many re-dedicated their lives.  PTL for the victories, and thanks to all who made this weekend possible!
Beulah Work Day: We are getting ready for another camping season and there is opportunity for you to help.  A Work Day at Beulah will take place on May 29^th.  It will start at 8:00 a.m. (or whenever you can arrive!).  Dinner will be provided at 12 Noon.  Please notify the camp caretaker, Bruce Cheney, if you or a group from your church can participate.  He can be contacted at cheney@beulahcamp.com or (506) 432-2900.
We offer our sympathy and prayers to Margaret and David Jewett and the extended family on the passing of Margaret’s mother, Mrs. Hilda Cochrane.  Mrs. Cochrane was the widow of Rev. B.C. Cochrane.  She passed away May 7^th at the age of 96.  Her funeral service was held May 11^th from First Wesleyan in Fredericton.  Senior Pastor Karl Ingersoll officiated and DS David LeRoy brought the message.  The Committal Service and internment were at the Olivet Wesleyan Cemetery in Marysville, NB conducted by Dr. H.C. Wilson.

Congratulations Twice!  Pastor Jason and Barb Muir are thrilled to announce the birth of their twin baby girls, Madison Ruth & Amelia Estelle. They were born April 26, 2010 at 8:39 & 8:40 am, and were 6 lbs, 12 oz, 51 cm long and 6 lbs, 6 oz, 50 cm long.  Jason is Pastor of Worship & Arts at Moncton Wesleyan.  And…

Pastor Ken & April Banks are celebrating the birth of their third child, Brayden Ray Banks.  Brayden arrived Friday morning, May 14^th, at 9:07 am.  He was 20 inches long and weighed 7 lbs 14.5 oz.  Mother and baby are doing fine.  Ken is Senior Pastor at Central Nova Wesleyan in Truro, NS.
Joanne and I were at Charlottetown – Sunrise Wesleyan for Mother’s Day, May 9^th.  This church meets in the Charlottetown, PEI Mall.  They rent a space which is just inside the doors of one of the main entrances.  They are enjoying not having to set up and tear down chairs and equipment every week!  There were 40 people in attendance and that number pretty much maxes out the space.  Pastor Greg Hanson is already exploring other options as it relates to meeting places.  It was my privilege to dedicate Noah Michael Hanson during the service, the second son of Pastor Greg and Shera Hanson, and younger brother to Nate.  Grandparents are Doug & Lynette Hanson of Fredericton and Mike and Sajonna Kneebone of Hammonds Plains, NS.  We enjoyed a barbeque at the Hansons following the service, along with some of their extended family.
This past weekend Joanne and I were in the “Scallop Capital of the World,” Digby, NS. Pastor Andrew Maves is the Senior Pastor and Jason McCutcheon is the Associate Pastor of Digby Wesleyan.  There are two morning services.  The first service had 40-plus people in attendance and the second service 100-plus.  The atmosphere was warm and inviting, there was good energy in the service, and the people were friendly.  I enjoyed speaking with some folks who are newer to the congregation and catching their excitement about the church, its ministries, and its impact in the community.  Joanne and I had lunch at the Shoreline Restaurant with the Maves and McCutcheon families following the service…and yes, we had seafood!
The Beulah Wastewater Project is 99% completed.  Last Friday (5-14-10), Jochen Schroer and NATECH Environmental Services, Inc. provided an Open House for invited guests at Beulah, particularly for those who have been heavily involved in the construction phase of this project.  The Hon. Jack Keir, Minister of Energy for the PNB attended, and Dr. H.C. Wilson was also present.  Both of these men, along with Dr. Cal Seaman and the Hon. Greg Thompson, MP for NB Southwest, were instrumental in helping us get this project launched.  Jochen has been involved from Day 1 as the environmental engineer.  Construction has been carried out by Ken Prosser and Atlantic Precast Concrete Ltd.  Following the Open House, NATECH also provided a dinner at the Evandale Resort in celebration of the successful completion of the project.  The system will be totally operational very soon.
Beulah Camp is July 2–11, 2010.  Is it on your calendar?  Plan to be part of this great event.  There has been a camp meeting at Beulah Camp in Brown’s Flat, NB every year since 1894!  This year, District Conference will be held July 8^th, and the Ordination Service will be Friday morning, July 9^th.  We will be ordaining six people.                   
The Atlantic Chapter of the Wesleyan Missionary Alumni Fellowship will meet during Beulah Camp.  There will be a luncheon, hosted by River Valley Wesleyan Church in Grand Bay-Westfield, on the second Saturday of Camp, July 10^th, at Noon.  Global Partners and Go-Net alumni are invited to attend.  Please contact Joyce and Bill Moore if you plan to attend.  They can be contacted at 506-474-0362 or at moorewja@nb.sympatico.ca We appreciate River Valley Wesleyan offering this fine ministry to those who have served so faithfully.