Hymns for July 5th

1. Praise the Lord # 245

2. The Summons # 567

3. I Feel the Winds of God # 625

4. Sent Forth by God's Blessings # 481

Psalm. # 48 # 772 - 773

Doxology # 540

Mission & Service Storytelling Shawl Presented at St. David's

Joe and Donna Currie Renewed Vows on their 25th Anniversary

Hymns for June 28th

1. Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour - 665

2. I'm Gonna Live - 575

3. Precious Lord, Take My Hand - 670

4. Be Still My Soul - 652


Psalm - 130 #852 Sung

Doxology - 537

St. David's Yard Sale

A Yard & Bake Sale will be held at St. David's Hall on Saturday, June 27th from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Donations are welcome, but PLEASE - no clothing.

St. Mark's Ways & Means Committee

The St. Mark's Ways & Means Committee are very pleased to report that a profit of $1,196.00, which includes monetary donations was made from the Girl Guide Dinner on Thursday, June 11th, and the Seniors' Bus Buffet on June 14th. A huge THANK YOU to all who helped in any way.

St. Mark's Sunday School

St. Mark's Sunday School will resume September 20th.

Graduates from St. Mark's

Congratulations to the graduates from St. Mark's:

Jennifer Barss

Heather Blundon

Jennifer Butts

Ryan Flood

Matthew Higgins

Daniel Harper

We wish you well on your journey.

Summer Schedule

July Services at St. David's
July 5th - Lana MacLean
July 12th - Al Fougere and the Choir
July 19th - to be announced
July 26th - Lorna MacRury

August Services at to be held at St. Mark's.
August 6th - Chris Cooke

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, June 28th - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

2 Samuel 1:1, 17 - 27
2 Corinthians 8: 7 - 15
Psalm 130 (Voices United pages 852 - 853)
Mark 5:21 - 43

Hymns for Sunday June 21st

MORNING HAS BROKEN - 409

SEEK YE FIRST - 356

LORD JESUS, YOU SHALL BE MY SONG - 641

ONE MORE STEP - 639

PSALM - #9 , 732 & 733

DOXOLOGY - 542

Small Crew Clean Up at St. David's

St. Mark's Congregational Board
will meet Tuesday, June 16th

Executive: 6:30 p.m.
Committees: 7:15 p.m.
Combined Board: 8:15 p.m.

Lectionary Readings for St. Mark's Anniversary Sunday, June 14th

1 Samuel 15:34, 16:13
Psalm 20, page 742, Voices United
2 Corinthians 5:6-17
Mark 4:26-34

Hymns for Sunday, June 14

St. Mark's Anniversary Sunday

Processional -- This Day God Gives Me..........410

Come In, Come In And Sit Down....................395

He Touched Me - Roy MacKinnon

Take Now My Voice Choir

We Are One....................................................402

Psalm 20.........................................................742

Doxology........................................................540

Communion Setting......................................942 and 943

M&S at Maritime Conference

Irene MacIsaac is wearing the new M&S stole with the M&S Quilt in the background. The quilt was raffled off to raise funds for M&S.

St. David's Yard & Bake Sale

June 27th, 2009: Yard and Bake Sale at St. David's Church Hall from 9 to 12. Call Ian MacKinnon at 625- 2303, Arnold MacLean at 625 - 2978 or Cathy MacLean at 625- 0891
if you have anything to be picked up.

Contact June, 2009 Cover

Photo by Rev. Sheldon LeGrow

Contact June, 2009 Page 1 & 2

Index
Page 1............Index, Minister’s Message
Page 2...........Minister’s Message, The Editor
Page 3...........ICW Refugee Resettlement Project
Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery
Page 4...........Port Hawkesbury Food Bank
Choir Notes
Page 5 & 6.....Report on Maritime Conference
Page 7............A Quilting Legacy
Page 8...........In Memoriam, Baptisms and Marriages
Page 9...........St. David’s Prepares for Christmas
Page 10.........Hanging of the Greens at St. Mark’s
Page 11..........St. Mark’s Congregational Board
St. David’s Official Board
Page 12.........St. David’s UCW
Page 13.........St. Mark’s Worship & Pastoral Care
St. David’s Board of Stewards
St. David’s Schedule for July
St. Mark’s Men’s Group
Page 14.........St. Mark’s Trustees and Finance
St. Mark’s Mission & Outreach Committee
Helping Hands
Page 15.........St. Mark’s Ways & Means
Page 16........St. Mark’s Special Events (UCW)
Page 17........St. David’s Sunday School
Easter Sunday Confirmation
Page 18.......St. Mark’s Sunday School & Christian Education
Page 19.......New Choir Gowns
The Mission & Service Fund

_________________________________________________________________

Minister’s Message

Contact is a great way to bring our church communities together. Looking at the pictures and reading the Blog is almost like getting a letter from home. But then...this is our spiritual home. Christine and I are enjoying our time with you as we head toward the end of our second year.
As we journey together, I hope I’ve been able to help you in your spiritual growth. I hope my messages contain some new and challenging topics, and that you may be encouraged to delve into them further. Jesus tells us to seek the Kingdom, and also that the Kingdom of God is within us. Therefore, seeking has to do with looking within ourselves and realizing how wonderful and diverse we are, and celebrating that wonder and diversity. It also means developing a working relationship with God. This is an active process as opposed to a passive one. We must do the work of building our spiritual selves. It’s a fabulous journey.

I hope that you have enjoyed our visits, either at home or in hospital, and that we have brought a sense of God’s presence with us. As we greet you at the door on Sunday mornings we are aware that with each handshake we are greeting a divine being; one in whom God’s Spirit lives. It is a privilege for us, and not just a social nicety.

Something that the Jewish and Christian faiths have in common are feelings of guilt and disappointment. Hebrew scripture teaches us about a group of people who envisaged God as being separate from humanity and one that had to be appeased by living according to a system of rules and rituals.

That belief has carried through to modern times and has been amplified by some Christian faiths with the result being expressed in some people’s feelings of guilt, inadequacy and fear of death.
In February, we looked at Rabbi Harold Kushner’s book “How Good Do We Have To Be?” which deals with these feelings, where they come from and how to deal with them.

The group met on Monday evenings in the parlour of St. Mark’s. The initial group numbered around a dozen but the numbers dwindled as some members left for winter vacations. (maybe a winter study group needs some rethinking).

Some of the questions discussed included:
•Do we feel ashamed or guilty over things we did wrong in the past?
•Do we feel guilty because we have so much in a world where others have so little?
•Do we feel guilty because we may feel that we have somehow disappointed God?
•Do we have unreasonable expectations of our parents or our children?
•As parents, do we try to live vicariously through our children?
•How do we deal with these feelings and are they legitimate?
I’m happy to say that all those attending the discussion took an active part in it. Kushner’s wisdom partly comes from the experience of watching his own young son die with an incurable illness, his experience as a spiritual leader, rabbi and counselor as well as out of his deep faith.
I am thinking about a study for the fall but haven’t made any decision on the material as yet. Some possible authors are Depak Chopra, Margus Borg, Neale Donald Walsch, or Tom Harpur.
There is much to discuss as we walk the spiritual path. I look forward to more insights as we journey together.

We hope you have a great summer. Vacation time for us is the month of July. I’m planning a week’s study leave in June to attend the Atlantic Canada Theological Seminar in Truro.

While you’re enjoying the summer sun, warm breezes and flowers, contemplate this from “Meditations From Conversations With God,” by Neale Donald Walsch:
God says:
“I tell you, I am in every flower, every rainbow, every star in the heavens and everything in and on every planet rotating around every star.
I am the whisper of the wind, the warmth of your sun, the incredible individuality and the extraordinary perfection of every snowflake.
I am the majesty in the soaring flight of the eagles, and the innocence of the doe in the field; the courage of lions, and the wisdom of the ancient ones.”

To you with Christ’s Peace and Joy,

Rev. Sheldon

________________________________________________________________

The Editor

There must have been some reason why I have had so much trouble preparing this issue of the Contact. I suppose it allowed those with late breaking stories to have them added before it was published. My struggle with my computers (having one crash and the other one prevent me from unpartitioning my hard drive) seems to be over for the moment.

Ian MacKinnon has asked me to publish the date of the distribution of the fall Contact. It should be coming out (God willing) December 6th. All photos and submissions will be due November 16th if Jane has to type them or November 19th if sent by email. The fall issue will include graduation photos as well as wedding and Baptism photos, so please bring them to the office by November 16th. Digital files should be 1200x1800 pixels (4”x6”) at 300 DPI.

Have a wonderful summer!

Camille Chapman

Contact June, 2009 Page 3

Inverness County Welcomes Refugees Resettlement Project

Donald is continuing his work with the Canadian Hydrographic Survey, Central Arctic Region in Burlington Ontario. He is probably preparing now for his second summer visit to the Arctic. His work is scheduled so that he collects his field data during a six week Arctic visit in the summer and does the office work in Burlington during the rest of the year, when the weather in the Arctic is less hospitable.

Christiana has been taking training as a personal care worker and will soon be qualified and able to seek employment. With two incomes, they hope to be able to save faster to bring Christiana’s mother over from the refugee camp as conditions there are becoming progressively more difficult. The children, Israel and Donalda are doing well. Israel may be old enough to start preschool in September.

Donald has scrapped his van and he now has a compact sedan. He was also making enquiries about a mortgage, so they are considering buying a home of their own.

Dave Chapman

_________________________________________________________________

Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery

The November meeting was held at St. Stephen’s United Church in Port Hood on November 18th. It was a week later than usual due to Remembrance Day. The worship service was conducted by Andrea Currie and Margaret Poulette, members of the Mi’kMaq community. It was an impressive service of smudge, drums, Mi’kMaq prayers and song.
Rev. Wayne Yorke of West Bay proposed an “Amazing Grace Race 2009” modeled after the Amazing Race on TV. It would entail travel by groups from several pastoral charges to several other pastoral charges and participation in activities at each. In the process they would meet the people there, and get to know the participating churches. Several contact people/organizers volunteered. Proceeds would go to Mission & Service.
The January meeting was held at West Bay United Church on January 27. Jen Power and members of the L’Arche Community presented the Order of the Day.

A JNAC committee will be set up for St. John’s Pastoral Charge as Rev. Roger Moore has submitted a letter of intent to retire effective October 11, 2009 after 40 years in full-time ministry.

Financial support for school breakfast programs at Chedabucto Guysborough and Fanning Canso was confirmed. A visioning activity “What will Inverness Guysborough Presbytery look like in ten years’ time” was conducted to make a model for long term planning.

The March meeting was held at Greenwood United Church in Baddeck on March 10. Donna Tourneur gave a slide show presentation that she had prepared for Conference executive to tell people about the Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery.

Discussion was held regarding a celebration of the ministry offered to this presbytery by Maxine Smith for her years of service as secretary.

We sponsored five for Youth Forum and six Intermediates at Conference.

So far, four congregations have expressed interest in the “Amazing Grace Race 2009”.

The April meeting was held in St. Matthew’s United Church in Bayfield on April 14.

Applications for mission grants for school breakfast programs in Guysborough and Canso were approved for submission. The biblical character represented in the concrete and stone tablet went unidentified.

Ruth Digdon distributed certificates recognizing 2008 Mission & Service contributions.

The June meeting will be held at Alexander Grant United Church in East Lake Ainslie on June 2.

Dave Chapman

____________________________________________________________

St. David’s Anniversary

St. David’s Anniversary will be celebrated on October 18th this year at 11 A.M. The Rev. Robert Latimer will be our guest speaker.

Contact June, 2009 Pages 4

Port Hawkesbury Food Bank

Thanks to all at St. Mark’s and St. David’s who so generously donate to the Port Hawkesbury Food Bank.

During the spring an increase in the use of the service provided by the Food Bank has been noticed. Due to the generous support of this community and the surrounding area which is served, we have been able to keep up with the demand so far.

The work of the dedicated volunteers who spend approximately thirty-five to forty hours hours a week at the Food Bank, is certainly appreciated. Recently several new volunteers have joined the group. With new people, new ideas and new energy appears.

Thanks for your support.

Anabel Butts

_________________________________________________________________

Choir Notes

The new choir gowns are now in use at both St. Mark’s and St. David’s. At St. Mark’s, they were dedicated on Palm Sunday in memory of Laura Swain and other choir members we have lost. They are handsome gowns indeed! We are still considering what to do with the blue choir gowns. We may keep some for special occasions when our numbers exceed the number of new gowns and give the rest to a congregation who needs them.

The choir conducted the service on Conference Sunday on May 31. We worked on a new anthem “Take Now my Voice” for this and Anniversary Sunday. We have not yet started to prepare for July 12, when we will conduct one of the summer services at St. David’s.

Dave Chapman

St. Mark's is delighted with the new gowns.

New gowns for St. David's too.

Former Choir member, Wayne Crouse joined us for a service.

Contact June, 2009 Pages 5 & 6

Report From Maritime Conference

The 84th annual meeting of Maritime conference took place in Sackville, NewBrunswick on May 28th to 31st. The theme was "Gospel and Empire: What about Us?"

About 400 delegates attended from throughout the Maritimes as well as Bermuda to celebrate, renew acquaintances and attend to the business of the Church especially in relation to the upcoming General Council in Kelowna British Columbia August 9th to 15th.

“Empire" is a metaphor for interconnected systems of domination that affect all levels of human relationships and in which all people participate in some way. Empire-like behaviour can be found in relations between states, international trade agreements, forms of institutional governance, including within the church, interpersonal relationships including families. The common thread is the unjust use of power by someone resulting in the disempowerment, abuse or destruction of others.”
This definition is by Gary Kenny, the United Church Program coordinator for Southern Africa/Emergency Response.

Conference opened with a First Nations sweetgrass smudging ceremony by Spiritual Leader Raymond Solomon who works with aboriginals in prison who are spiritually broken. Ray, whose family is Ojibwa, has been in the Maritimes for the past 45 years. His mom and dad were educated in the residential school system and, though they weren’t physically abused, they suffered the loss of being away from their families for long periods.

He thanked the United Church of Canada for being one of the first to recognize the injustice that was done with regard to the residential school system and the apology that accompanied that recognition.

In the smudging ceremony, before a person can be healed or heal another, one must be cleansed of any bad feelings or negative thoughts, bad spirits or negative energy, both physically and spiritually. This helps healing come through in a clear way without being distorted or sidetracked by negativity in the client or the healer. The elders say that all ceremonies either public or private must be entered into with a good heart so that we can pray, walk and sing in a sacred manner. Native people throughout the world use herbs to accomplish this. Herbs are burned and the smoke is rubbed or brushed over the body to signify cleansing.

The delegates were seated in table groups which were designed to facilitate discussion. Each morning and at the beginning of each session there was a time of singing and music. Midway through the deliberations as old bones and muscles stiffened up, there was a short period of Korean Yoga with yoga master Sungmin Jung.

There was much work to be done in the way of discussing proposals, electing commissioners to General Council, reading reports and viewing presentations.

One presentation involved the display of Mission and Service story telling shawls in all their colour and vibrance.

Another presentation focused on the destruction of communities that are the direct result of mining in such places as Central America and the Philippines. International companies (including Canadian ones) move in and begin mining operations against the wishes of the people but there is little that the locals can do. The land is destroyed as well as water supplies. Money talks and the local inhabitants come to know the oppression of “empire” very well.

Then there was the electric presence of all the young people together dancing, laughing, running and raucously celebrating God’s presence amid the more sedate elders. What a contrast!




The music throughout was super. Linnea Good is a singer-songwriter from British Columbia whose primary work is to help individuals and churches express their souls through music. She is a leader in the fields of music in worship and all-ages worshipping. Her background includes a BA in French Literature, a Master of Religious Education with a specialty in music as an educational tool.
Her latest CD “Swimmin’ Like A Bird,” was nominated three times for major awards.
She offers an internet subscription for worship and music leaders called the “Psalm-body’s Prayin’ Group”. She performs with her husband and drummer, David and she has a web-site:
www.LinneaGoode.com As well, the musical group “The Message” provided wonderful celebratory offerings and great harmony.


The event finished up with the election of a new president, Rev. Robert Johnson of Atlantic School of Theology who, earlier in the meeting, gave a short presentation on why churches should support AST. He posed the question whether or not churches appreciate having a minister and, with the answer being in the affirmative, he then asked the question, “Well, where do you think ministers come from?” Ministers are graduates of theological seminaries and schools, and if we are to continue the work of educating people to become ministers. then we have to support those educational facilities.

As the United Church of Canada, we are called “to seek justice and resist evil” and “to live with respect in creation.” We must respond to that call as individuals and as churches. In Maritime Conference the Church In Action committee has the mandate to raise awareness of justice issues.

There is abuse of power all around us: in our own communities, in our own churches, in our families and in our country and in the world. What we profess to believe is not merely words, but a call to action. We act out of who we are, and we are people in relationship with God.

The meeting received the report of the Education and Students committee in which candidates for commissioning and ordination to the Order of Ministry were recommended.
•Annika Lynn Sangster was commissioned into the Order of ministry.
•Rosemary Godin, Christine Johnson, Wendy Louise Kean and Tara-Ann Burton Wilson were ordained into the Order of Ministry.

•Wayne Glenwood Smith was admitted from the Presbyterian Church.
•Those recognized as Designated Lay Ministers are Marilyn Dale Crawford, William Neil Drysdale, Norma Manship Mills and Simpson Archibald Rushton.

Maritime conference concluded with a worship service of celebration, communion by intinction, and joyous music. Another year’s work finished, another begun.

Rev. Sheldon LeGrow

Tea Thyme Quilters

The Tea Thyme quilters at St.Mark’s have been very busy this past winter and spring.
In January we welcomed Bev Crouse from Lunenburg, who did a workshop on appliqué.
We also completed a large queen size quilt for one of our members, quilted a lap quilt for Lana and worked on Basket favours for our up-coming Retreat at the Keltic Lodge in 2010.

The Ocean Waves Quilt Society of Cape Breton, of which we are all members, will be celebrating the 10th year as a Society. It was ten years ago that five quilters in Port Hawkesbury saw the need for networking with quilters around the Island to promote the art of quilting and to make Cape Breton the centre of excellence for quilting. Today we celebrate with 175 members.

We were saddened when one of our quilters, Stella Warner, lost her son to cancer. A Memorial Golf Tournament planned by his co-workers for May 24 encouraged the Tea Thyme quilters to also help. A quilt was donated by Sherrille, quilted with love by all and presented to Stella’s family. Tickets were sold and all money raised from the quilt will be going to the Kidney Foundation of Nove Scotia.

We also quilted a top donated by Barb for the Strait Regional Hospital Fund- Raising Cottage. This quilt will be put on one of the beds in the beautiful cottage.

We are now quilting a Queen size Double Wedding Ring quilt and getting ready for our 4th Annual Quilt Show and Sale at St. David’s Church, August 13 - 20.

We hope to see you there among the beautiful quilts!

The Tea Thyme Quilters invite all who are interested in quilting to join us at the church on Wednesday from 1:00 - 4:00pm.

Barb MacIntyre

Contact June, 2009 Page 8

St. Mark’s In Memoriam

Norma Patterson Long-Murray
March 5, 1930 - December 12, 2008

Nicole (Niki) Elizabeth King
September 2, 1992 - April 20, 2009
_____________________________________________________
St. Mark’s Baptism

March 8, 2009
Paige Allison Randall
daughter of Glen Jason Randall
& Tracy Lynn Skinner

*See photo March 8th, 2009

_____________________________________________________

St. David’s Adult Baptism

April 12, 2009
Robert Downard

____________________________________________________

St. Mark's Marriage

Nicholas Henry Morris & Mary Jennifer Leigh Arnold
March 7, 2009

_______________________________________________________________

Congratulations are extended from St. David’s congregation to
Robert & Yvonne Fox
on the marriage of the daughter, Michelle.

Craig Hopkins & Michelle Fox
Varadero, Cuba on April 13th, 2009

Contact June, 2009 Page 9

St. David’s Prepares for Christmas

*For photos of St. David's preparing for Christmas see December 7th.

Contact June, 2009 Page 10

Hanging of the Greens at St. Mark’s

*For photos of the Hanging of the Greens Service see December 2nd

St. Mark’s Congregational Board

Being Chairperson of the Congregational Board of St. Mark’s was not in my plan for this year. However it did happen and with the continued support of committee chairpersons and members things will move forward.

St. Mark’s began the year with a financial deficit but with the hard work of many, it is disappearing. Appreciation to all in the congregation who donated and supported the recent fund raising projects, especially the conveners of the events. We are looking forward to the anniversary of St. Mark’s Church and a fellowship time following the service.
Have a safe and happy summer.

Anabel Butts

*For photos of the November meeting of the Congregational Board, see November 18th, 2008

_____________________________________________________

St. David’s Official Board

The life & work in the Church at St. David’s is good. Attendance at Sunday service is good with children and members attending on a consistent basis, as well as “new faces” who attend regularly. St. David’s welcomes all to join in on Sunday services. Overall, finances are in good order. The choir showcasing their new burgundy gowns continues to make a positive contribution to the spiritual growth of those in attendance. The Easter Sunday Sunrise service was held in the sanctuary because of the cold, rainy weather. It was followed by a hearty breakfast in the Firehall. A games night, initiated by Bob Downard was held in March allowing the youth to challenge the skills of adults in the matter of reasoning & deception.

With business affairs in order, and all committees fulfilling their obligations, members can focus their attention to spiritual matters. With guidance from Rev. Legrow, we can spend time in reflection - examining who we are and in which direction we wish to travel.

Thank you all for participating in the work of St. David’s.

Alicia Vink

*For photos of St. David's Goods & Services Auction see November 25, 2008

Contact, June, 2009, Page 12

St. David’s U.C.W.

The last Contact came out in November so I will begin by reporting on our Christmas 2008 activities. We set up our Angel Tree at the church entrance as usual. The enthusiastic and generous response from the congregation who chose their angels on which items were recorded for groceries and gifts enabled us to pack 11 boxes for needy folks in the community. The UCW members purchased the turkeys, hams, pies and rolls for the boxes.

We provided the evergreen wreaths once again to help decorate the church for Advent and Christmas as well as purchasing and delivering gifts to shut-ins of the congregation.
Our UCW members prepared the lunch for those attending the Congregational Annual Meeting in February.

Thanks to Heather Deschenes for looking after the Lenten Cards again this year. The annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper was very successful with the free will offering amounting to $444.00 for the Mission and Service Fund.

On Friday, March 6th, we held a Congregational Games Night which was lots of fun. The evening was spent playing board games and cards, followed by a delicious lunch and door prizes.

Our members were overjoyed with the success of a Homemade Pie Sale at the Mall on March 20TH when we raised $543.50 from sales and donations. Many thanks to all who so willingly made pies and to those who bought them.

We nominated Lisa Rhynold to receive a Volunteer of the Year award from Inverness County on behalf of St. David’s congregation. Lisa has always been very active in our congregation serving continuously as a member of Session since she was 16 years old. She also serves on the Boards of Stewards, the Ministry and Personnel Committee and is doing a wonderful job as Superintendent of our Sunday School.

We hosted the April birthday party at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home presenting gifts to the four residents who were celebrating birthdays in April, organized the entertainment and provided and served birthday cake. Heather Richards played the piano and led the singing while Mac Campbell played the fiddle. Heather’s beautiful, 7 month old daughter, Charlotte accompanied her mother which added to the enjoyment for the residents. It looks like Charlotte is a budding musician and will probably follow in her parents footsteps.

We will have our closing meeting on May 13th at the church hall. All women of the congregation are invited to attend. Happy spring and summer everyone. Leisure activities await!!

Julia MacKinnon

*For photos of the Pancake Supper see February 25th.
*For photos of the April Birthday party at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home see May 1st.

Contact, June, 2009, Page 13

St. Mark’s Worship and Pastoral Care Committee

Since our last Contact in November, 2008 the committee has had nominations and the formation of sub-committees for 2009 and the results were as follows:
Malcolm Matheson will remain as chairperson and Marie Horton as secretary.
Sub-committees:
Communion.....................Sherrille MacKeigan, Valli Ross, Julia MacQuarrie
Readers............................Julia MacQuarrie
Greeters & Collectors......Vida Hood, Archie Noseworthy
Choir Liaison...................Vida Hood
Supply
Ways & Means.................Sherrille MacKeigan, Malcolm Matheson or Mary MacIver (if she agrees)
Liaison.............................Malcolm Matheson
Membership....................Annabel Butts, Marie Horton

Since our last Contact, the Baptism of Paige Allison Randall, daughter of Glen Jason Randall and Tracey Lynn Skinner was performed and the marriage of Nick Morris and Jennifer Arnold was held on March 7th 2009.

On April 5th, a lovely Palm Sunday was celebrated with the customary waving of palm fronds and the choir performed in their new gowns.

Rev. LeGrow held Confirmation classes on March 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd. Courtney MacEachern, Emily MacKeigan, Tyrel and Terry MacInnis were confirmed on Easter Sunday Apri1 12th.

Since our last Contact, Communion was served on Christmas Eve, March 1st, April 12th.
As in the past, many in our congregation assisted during the Sunday service by greeting, reading scripture, collecting donations and serving Communion. We appreciate all who volunteer.
Our committee has prepared a “Funeral and Memorial Service Guidlines” to help our members in a time of need and uncertainty. We hope to provide answers to those questions which arise during a difficult time regarding worship service, music, scripture readings, reception and other pertinent queries. We hope it will be helpful.

The Anniversary Service will be held on June 14th at 9:30 AM and we invite the congregation of St. David’s to celebrate with us and partake of a light lunch immediately following the service.
Many thanks to all who give of there time willingly.

Marie Horton

___________________________________________________________

St. David’s Board of Stewards

Thanks to Myrta Burrell-Swain for the deep freezer that she donated to St. David’s.

We appreciate the electrical work done by Philip Cormier and the two men who prepared for the running of the wiring to the electrical box. This involved taking down ceilings and running the wire and replacing the ceiling again, which was a time consuming job.

Preston and Sandy England from Milford generously donated their time and skill to paint the inside of the stained glass window at the back of the church for our congregation.

George Fox

____________________________________________________

Church Schedule at St. David’s for July

July 5/09 Lana MacLean
July 12/09 Choir lead by Al Fourger
July 19/09 To Be announced
July 26/09 Lorna McRury

____________________________________________________

St. Mark’s Men’s Group

We made our usual $100 donation to the Seasonal Services project in November.

On the first Friday in February, we held our ninth annual buffet supper. It brought in $1485. This put us into a position to donate $1500 to the general fund, which was in deficit. This was in addition to a $300 donation we made at the end of 2008.

The lawn mowing schedule has now been posted and volunteers are invited to give the new ride-on mower a try. Briefings on the operation of the mower are available for anyone who has not used such a machine before.

Dave Chapman

Contact, June, 2009, Page 14

St. Mark’s Trustees & Finance Committee

T his year the new snow clearing contractor with his larger machine shaved off several sods beside the front walks, requiring repair in the spring.We are considering getting a walk-behind snow blower for clearing smaller areas and limiting the big plough to the parking lot. Besides patching the lawn, the work party also removed some of the lower tree branches to facilitate mowing under the trees with the ride-on mower.

The lights in the sanctuary have been replaced with compact fluorescents to save energy. The colour shift towards the blue end of the spectrum was quite noticeable at first, but we are getting used to it now.

The spring work party painted a line down the parking lot to guide the second row of cars from blocking access to the row nearest the building. Drivers appear to be using it as intended. The line was not easy to paint where the asphalt has crumbled but so far it has stood up to the traffic, thanks to the highway-grade paint.

Dave Chapman

_____________________________________________________

St. Mark’s Mission and Outreach Committee

In February a new Mission and Outreach Committee was formed:
Chair..............................Barb MacIntyre
Co-chair.........................Rilla McLean
Treasurer.......................Ruth Laske
Secretary.......................Lorna Harvey
Observer Contact .........June Oliver
Green Enthusiast..........Rilla McLean
Presbytery.....................Irene MacIsaac
10,000 Villages.............Lana MacLean

Rev. Wayne York of West Bay Pastoral Charge, is hoping to co-ordinate an “Amazing Grace Race” with all the churches from the Inverness-Guysborough Presbytery participating. We hope his enthusiasm will be able to generate interest and “raise awareness of the pastoral charges, the ministries and the beautiful scenery within our presbytery”. He is hoping to encourage family and group participation in church activities beyond Sunday services.

On March 28th, Earth Hour Celebration Day, a fantastic evening was enjoyed when Stan & Joyce Richards along with Hughie and Connie MacEachen provided music and dance lessons to all. They had several “professional” dancers with them, who managed to help those with two left feet. The committee and friends provided a delicious lunch which we ate by the glow of candlelight, thus, taking part in Earth Hour.

Irene attended the Presbytery meetings in Baddeck and Bayfield.

The committee has provided readers for the Minutes for Mission each Sunday and the response to the Mission and Service United Fund for a United Vision has been tremendous.

The M&S Storytellers now have a scarf with the M&S colours they can wear while being an M&S Storyteller. (See page 19 for the stole in colour.)

Barb MacIntyre

_____________________________________________________

Helping Hands

An extremely profitable Flea Market was enjoyed by all on Saturday, May 2nd. Following an intensive search for helpers, the day proved to be enjoyable and well worth the efforts put forth by many. There were many Helping Hands in St. Mark’s Church who willing gave of their time on Friday night and all day Saturday to make the Yard sale a success.

To all we say “Thank you”! The final total was a superb: $1015.00.

In February, 2009 the Helping Hands were able to give $1000.00 for church expenses and again in June, 2009 there will be $1000.00 given on Anniversary Sunday.

Barb MacIntyre

*For photos of the Flea Market see April 16th

Contact, June, 2009, Page 15

St. Mark’s Ways & Means Committee

Our first fund-raiser of the year was a “Pot Luck Supper” held on May 1st that made a profit of $1,902.00, which included monetary donations of $346.00. All the delicious food was donated and we received a huge number of compliments.

Coming up, we will be preparing and serving a roast turkey dinner for the Girl Guide Annual Meeting early in June and a buffet supper will be provided. On two separate dates in July, we will cater to fifty-two people traveling with Harvey Tours. In the fall, we again plan to have our Annual Roast Beef Dinner.

Our committee would like to thank everyone very much for their donations of food and/or money and their participation in any way with our past and future fund-raisers.

The members of the Ways & Means Committee for 2009 are: Hayward Hollett, Ruth Laskey, Brenda MacEachern, Mary MacIver, Sherrille MacKeigan, Ruth MacRae, Malcolm Matheson, Marlene Morrison, Andy Palmer and Carol Ann Williams.

Ruth MacRae

*For photos of the Pot luck Supper see May 1st, 2009

Contact, June, 2009, Page 16

St. Mark’s Special Events Group

The annual St. Mark’s Special Events (UCW) Bazaar was a great success again garnering a total profit of $1,700. Many thanks to all who baked, contributed homemade preserves, sewed, created crafts, who set up, served, and worked in the kitchen and on the cash. This event would not be possible without the help of all of you!

Since then we have been sponsors for the 30-hour Famine, which was held at St. Mark’s, We also supported the Brunswick Street Mission, Port Hawkesbury Food Bank, Strait Area Seasonal Services and Leeside Transitional Home. We send cards to sick and shut-in people in our congregation. If you hear of anyone who is sick or shut-in, please notify Dorothy MacAskill and she will send a card.

On March 26th we catered for John Chisholm’s 90th birthday, which was celebrated at the Evergreen Club. We continue to provide lunches for funerals, the last one being for the Nicole King Funeral in April.

Connie Fowlie

For photos of the Bazaar see December 2nd, 2008

Contact June, 2009, Page 17

St. David's Sunday School

St. David’s Sunday School has remained active throughout the year.

In December we were busy lighting the Advent candle and preparing the White Gift Service which is enjoyed by everyone. A special thank-you to everyone who contributed to the lunch following the service. The children always enjoy the time of fellowship.

The children had a wonderful idea for a community outreach project which unfortunately we did not have time to finish this year, but we will continue with their idea in the fall.

The Sunday school also took part in the palm parade on Palm Sunday, which is something they all look forward to.

On Mothers' Day the children presented the ladies of the congregation with carnations.

I would like to thank Christine and Katie for their support, without it the Sunday School would not be possible.

Lisa Rhynold

To see photos of the White Gift Service at St. David's, go to December 30, 2008

__________________________________________________________________

Easter Sunday Confirmation

ST. DAVID'S:

Being Confirmed were Madison Timmons and Sam Fox.
Robert Downard was Baptised.

ST. MARK'S:

Being confirmed were: Emily MacKeigan, Courtney MacEachern and
Tyrel MacInnis. Terry MacInnis was received into the United Church of Canada.

Contact June, 2009 Page 18

St. Mark’s Sunday School & Christian Education Committee

St. Mark’s Christian Education Committee continues to have a rotating Chairperson each month. Sunday School is also being shared in lieu of a Superintendent. We continue to use the One Room Sunday School Curriculum.

Our Sunday School children and Youth presented the third annual Hanging of the Greens Service in December. This service is a beautiful way to involve the children and youth in decorating the church for Christmas, while reminding us of the meaning behind each of the decorations. They did a wonderful job. Many thanks to Rev. LeGrow, Joyce Oliver-Snair, as well as Al Fougere and the Choir for their help with the service. Thank you as well to the Sunday School teachers and CE Committee members, Clark Brander for providing the tree, and Andy Palmer who helped set up the tree. The Church looked lovely.

Sunday School children and Youth took part in the Christmas Eve pageant making it even more meaningful.

During Lent, several people in the congregation were asked to assist with the readings. Thank you to all who participated. The children’s Palm Parade on Palm Sunday was accompanied by the Choir wearing their new gowns.

The Good Friday service was directed by Joyce Oliver-Snair. The Youth were extraordinary! Many thanks to all who participated, and assisted with the service. Special thanks to Joyce for her direction, Rev. LeGrow for his assistance with the readings, Al Fougere and the Choir for their beautiful music, Lucille Evans for her artistic talents, Clark Brander for providing the crosses, and to the CE Committee members for their coordination and assistance.
Congratulations to Courtney MacEachern, Emily MacKeigan, Tyrell MacInnis and Terry MacInnis on their Confirmation.

Kathy Barss and Jo Anne Connors organized the 30-Hour Famine at St. Mark’s this spring.
On May 24th the Sunday School closing took place and children and teachers were presented with their certificates.

The Sunday School would not exist without the commitment of all the Sunday School teachers. Thanks to Al Fougere for his musical guidance and to Jane for her support.

We hope that anyone interested in teaching Sunday School will consider it for the fall when it will continue to be under the direction of the CE Committee. The registration date in September will be announced.

Heather Brander

*For 30 Hour Famine photos see March 31st.
*For Good Friday photos see April 12th.

Contact, June, 2009, Page 19

New Choir Gowns

The Choirs are looking very regal in their new gowns. St. Mark’s and St. David’s combined Choir took part in a stirring Good Friday service with youth participation from both congregations.

_____________________________________________________

The Mission & Service Fund

The logo for the Mission & Service Fund can be viewed in two parts: the Base and the Vertical flourishes.

The purple Base may be seen as a manger reminding us the Christ Child was and is among us and all creation.

The Vertical flourishes coming up from the Base may be seen as a rainbow reminding us of God’s covenant of hope with us and all creation.

Together, the logo represents all aspects of the Mission & Service Fund. It is symbolic of our faith that has a sure foundation and is vibrant and energetic! It suggests each of us has something to offer to the wider wounded world.

Barb MacIntyre

Lauren MacDonald (wearing the new M&S Stole) and Emma Barss performed
a skit to illustrate that it takes money to put their faith into action.

Choir Service, May 24th

As Rev. Sheldon was attending Maritime Conference on May 24th, the combined choirs of St. Mark's and St. David's conducted the services at both churches. The reviews were very good!! Al did a wonderful job of planning and coordinating the service.

St. Mark's Sunday School Closing

St. Mark's Sunday School held the closing on May 24th with the Choir conducting the service. Thanks for the dedication of all of the teachers who were on our team this year. You prepared lessons and gave them to children even if there were few in number to teach.

After the children and teachers received their diplomas and gifts, they celebrated with cup cakes and juice in the hall.