Incumbent’s Report, March 17, 2024
It’s been a busy six weeks since the Annual Vestry! We had a successful Pancake Supper and continued our unbroken streak of not setting anyone on fire while burning the palms for the Ash Wednesday ashes. Ash Wednesday services went well, and on the first two weekends in Lent we enrolled three candidates for baptism at Easter who are between ages 9 and 14 and thus able to “answer for themselves”. They’ve since been joined by three younger siblings for a total of six candidates!
The new Corporation is off to a good start with a brunch that I hosted on February 24 and a new meeting time on Thursday afternoons. The Finance Committee has sorted out procedures for handling Sunday offerings and is planning a workshop in April.
We had a fun Ministry Fair and Potluck on February 25, and Messy Church on March 1 had a record attendance of FIFTY-ONE people. On March 3-5, I attended the annual silent retreat of the Diocese of Montreal clergy. The monthly potluck Bible study group has added a new member, although the March meeting had to be postponed due to illness.
We celebrated the life of Irene Lambert, who died aged 98, in an intimate funeral service in the Chapel on March 9.
The kitchen project is moving ahead apace, and the pews in the back right quadrant of the nave have been unscrewed in order to provide more flexibility in that area.
It’s the week leading up to Lent V, and so of course the main thing on my mind is Holy Week and Easter. We have big plans this year! In addition to our regular services (which, God willing, will not be interrupted by a power outage in 2024) and the Palm Saturday children’s and family event, we have a regional youth overnight planned for the evening of Maundy Thursday, and the confirmation class is planning a presentation of the Prayer of Jonah at the Great Vigil of Easter. Please put your name on one or more of the three sign-up sheets in the Narthex (Palm Saturday; Maundy Thursday dinner; Maundy Thursday night watch in the chapel) if you haven’t already!
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
In God’s peace,
Grace+
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