Greeting Brothers and Sisters,

Summer is officially here! With it comes the desire to be outside and to relax. It is the time of year when the flowers are in full bloom and fresh fruits and veggies abound. The world truly embodies the green growing season of the church year. As we move into the summer let us relax, but also continue to grow and deepen our roots within our relationship with God!

-Through worship as we join as Downtown United – at Wilmot Church 10:30 through the month of July Starting Next Week.
-Through carrying “flat Jesus” with us as a physical reminder to bring Christ with you everywhere you go.
– Through supporting with your time, talent and treasure the Go Adventure Day Camp (July 16-20th), VBS (August 27-31) and Youth activities (Youth Camp July 10-12 and encouraging your children or your grandchildren to attend.
– Through taking time every day to give a prayer of thanksgiving and to pray for your church and its leaders.
– Through taking PAR for the summer challenge – and explore another way to extend generosity and support of the ongoing ministry.
– Through reflecting in this time on where Christ is calling you to service on His behalf so that you are ready to act in September.
– Continue to read the E-news to keep connected!

Do you like drama or Readers’ Theater? Contact Rev. Michelle (michellenarmstrong@hotmail.com) about the chancel drama group that we are looking to form as we enter into our second year of using the Narrative Lectionary this September.

As we continue the exploration of the changes in church structure and governance we have now hit Remit 4, the last one in the structural change remits. Remit is a question sent to seek the will of the church for a change that significantly changes our understanding or way of doing things. Remit 4 had to do with finances and how are we going to fund the United Church of Canada. For a quick and easy overview of the changes that were presented please visit the link to the 4 minute informational video produced by the church at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKCoadt8B2c Currently each Presbytery decides what assessment will be for congregations and the formula for determining this varies dramatically across the country and a small part of M&S goes to support the structure of the church. The major changes are that all M&S monies will go towards ministry and mission work and a standardized 4.5% will be assessed by the denomination which will fund the work done at a denominational level and some will be transferred to regions for their work. This will replace the current assessment process where presbyteries assess based on their needs and the needs of conference. If you have any questions about this or any of the other remits talked about this month please contact Rev. Richard or Rev. Michelle.

Looking forward to seeing you at St. Paul’s this Sunday

Rev. Michelle and Rev. Richard

The bulletin for this Sunday is available for download from here.