Under Sail

Caton’s Island is celebrating its 400th Anniversary! The first European settlement in what is now New Brunswick was established on Caton’s Island in 1611. The first Holy Mass on the Saint John River was performed in October of 1611 on Caton’s Island by a Jesuit priest, Father Pierre Baird. The Atlantic District of The Wesleyan Church purchased the island in 1985, and has conducted children’s and teen camps, and other family-oriented ministries there for the last 26 years. On Saturday, September 10th, there will be a 400th anniversary celebration held on Caton’s that is open to the public. Transportation to the island will be provided from 8:30 am – 11:00 am. Ceremonies will begin at 11:30 am in the Amphitheatre. Kingston Peninsula Heritage, Inc. (KPHI) is organizing the event and the Atlantic District’s Caton’s Camping Ministry is hosting it. Representatives from the Wolastoqiyik Nation, Societe de l’Acadie du N-B, the Roman Catholic Saint John Diocese, the NB Historical Society, and the Atlantic District will be present and share remarks. Also, NB Lieutenant-Governor Graydon Nicholas will be present to rededicate the historical monument that is on the Island. A reception is planned for 12:45 pm following the dedication ceremony. Our thanks to Caton’s Director Dean Stephenson for coordinating the on-site logistics for this event.
The Beulah Summer Wrap-up Services were held Labour Day weekend in the Tabernacle at Beulah Camp, Sunday, September 4th. There was an excellent crowd in the morning service. The two center sections were full. The Sussex Worship Team provided the music under the direction of Pastor Rob Trafton, and I brought the message. Sunday evening, Pastor Seth Fancy, Assistant Pastor at Saint John First, brought a challenging message, and a time of food and fellowship was enjoyed in the Beulah Hotel following. This has been a great summer for all of our camps on the District.
Andrew Maves, Pastor at Digby Wesleyan reports that they baptized 14 people Sunday, August 21st, at the “Digby Fish and Game”. There was a huge crowd and a lot of blessing!
Bethany is hosting Homecoming on September 23-24, including: Concert Friday at 7 PM – open to all Alumni and Friends; Optional Golf or tour Sussex Murals; BBQ lunch on Saturday; Softball Game on Saturday at 1:30 PM. For full schedule visit Homecoming on Bethany’s website. Contact Debbie Benson for information and to register: bensond@bbc.ca or 506.432.4411
Check out BBC’s online classes. If you are pursuing ordination, Bethany’s first online class begins this month on September 26th. Wesleyan Church History and Discipline, a course required for ordination in The Wesleyan Church, is being offered online in a ten-week format. This course ends on December 2nd, just before the busy Advent/Christmas season.
First Wesleyan Church in Fredericton, NB is hosting an Evening with Phil Callaway on October 1, 2011 in an attempt to help their community become more familiar with Alzheimer’s Disease, which as you know, affects a lot of people and impacts a number of families. They want to make people aware of the services that are available to families, and help to raise support for the Alzheimers Society. For tickets and information, contact First Wesleyan Church at (506) 458-9232 or info@firstwesleyan.ca
We extend our prayers and condolences to Pastors Dee & Ed Lower, Fort Fairfield Wesleyan. Dee’s mother, Elma Freeman, passed away this past Tuesday (September 6th). She lived in a nursing home in Pendel, PA. She was 88 years old. A public funeral was not held.
Sharon Lewis, wife of Pastor Scott Lewis, Lower Hainesville Wesleyan, shares that she was one of the leaders in their VBS program last week, and all of the children in her class gave their lives to Jesus! She said, “This was one of the best days of my life! They all want to go to Sunday School! Please pray for them.” What great news!
Pastor Nelson Koonce, Bangor Pathway Wesleyan, has recently taken a job at Central HS in Corinth, Maine to supplement his income and take some of the financial pressure off his local church. He is an “Ed Tech 3” for Special Ed. and is working from 8 am – 3 pm daily. He is caring for his church responsibilities in the evenings and on the weekends. Attendance at Pathway has averaged almost 60 through the summer on a regular basis (lya 65) with visitors each week. They will begin two new ministries at Pathway in October: a weekly mid-week Bible Study, and a Men’s Fellowship that will meet twice a month. Pastor Nelson says, “I feel people are getting excited, and hopefully by this time next year I can be full time [at the church]. But I am willing to work [the secular job for] as long as it takes.” I love your heart, Pastor! Please pray for Nelson & Holly Koonce, and the folks at Pathway in these days of transitional adjustment. (Please note: “lya” stands for “last year’s average”)
Halifax – Deep Water had a great crowd of people out this past Sunday – 170! That was their average attendance for all of last year, and this was a long weekend in the summer! Heidi Bezanson left this past Monday for Haiti where she will serve for the next nine months. Deep Water is her home church and she is part of their global missions emphasis – luvHAITI. It is two years ago this weekend, just shy of their second birthday, when Deep Water launched luvHAITI. Thanks for having a heart for the world! AJ Thomas is the pastor.
Barry & Beth Gould are very excited to report that they have been given financial release to leave for Haiti! The tickets have been purchased and their departure is set for September 19th. They thank all of you who are praying for them, and those who are supporting this ministry financially. This Sunday (Sept 18th) at 10:30 am, the Amherst Wesleyan Church is having a send off service for them, followed by a pot luck lunch. They leave for Haiti early the next morning!
General Conference 2012: The Wesleyan Church will hold its 12th General Conference at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, Kentucky, June 2-6, 2012. Church leaders, delegates, exhibitors, visiting guests, and their families will meet to review the worldwide ministries of the 300,000-plus constituent denomination. The General Conferences is convened every four years. “Loving Christ, Embracing our World,” is the theme of the conference. Seven ministerial delegates and seven lay delegates will represent the Atlantic District in the business sessions at General Conference. The over-all event is open to non-delegates. More information can be found at www.wesleyan.org