News from the Churches

Wanted

We would like to include news and activities from your church too. But, you need to provide us with the material. Our objective is that items received by Tuesday morning will be up on PresbyKirk by Friday. E-mail messages can often simply be cut and pasted - saving us tons of time and effort.

News from the Churches

This page presents news items from the Presbyterian community in the Hamilton area. News of the Presbytery of Hamilton itself will generally appear on the Home Page.

Death of Dr. Mariano Di Gangi

A Memorial service for Dr. Mariano Di Gangi was held in St. Paul's Church, Ottawa, on March 22nd. Dr. Di Gangi served as Minister of St. Enoch's Church in Hamilton from 1951 to 1961. A Toronto Memorial service for Dr. Di Gangi will be held in Knox Church on Spadina Avenue on Tuesday, April 22, at 2:00 PM.

New Westminster Induction

The Presbytery of Hamilton met in New Westminster Church in Hamilton on the afternoon of Sunday, March 9th., to induct the Rev. Gregory Dickson as the congregation's new Minister.

The service of induction was conducted by the Moderator of Presbytery, the Rev. Dr. Ian McPhee (as pictured above). The Rev. Dickson is a recent graduate of Knox College in Toronto who was just ordained by his home Presbytery the week before his induction at New Westminster. He has been called to a half time position in ministry at New Westminster. The charge to the newly inducted Minister and the New Westminster Congregation was delivered by the Clerk of the Presbytery, the Rev. Judee Archer Green.

Following the induction service there was a fellowship gathering at which the members of the Presbytery, as well as personal friends of the Dixon family, joined the New Westminster Congregation in greeting and congratulating Gregory as he commences his new ministry in Hamilton.

Induction Service at Heritage Green Church

The Presbytery of Hamilton met at Heritage Green Presbyterian Church, on Sunday evening, March 2nd. to induct the Rev. Colleen Smith as the congregation's new minister. This represents a time of new beginnings for the Heritage Green Congregation. The Rev. John Hibbs had been serving as Heritage Green's Interim Minister for the past three years.

At a time of fellowship following the induction Service the Rev. Colleen Smith was presented with flowers by her new congregation.

The Chancel of Heritage Green Presbyterian Church

New Minister Inducted at St. Columba

The Presbytery met in St. Columba Church, Hamilton, on Sunday afternoon, February 3rd., to induct the Rev. Harold Kouwenberg as that congregation's new Minister. The sermon for the service was delivered by the Rev. Steve Jenvey of West Flamboro and the encouraging charge to the new Minister and the St. Columba congregation was presented by the Rev. Dr. Clyde Ervine of Central Church, who had served as Interim Moderator during the vacancy.

Following the service the newly inducted minister was warmly greeted by his new congregation, members of Presbytery and friends who had come to share in the occasion.

PresbyKirk joins in welcoming the Rev. Harold Kouwenberg and his wife to St. Columba and the Presbyterian community in Hamilton.

Central Church Choir Releases CD

The Choir of Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton has released a CD of familiar hymns. This collection of 21 selections includes traditional favourites such as "Be Thou My Vision", "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and "Fairest Lord Jesus." The recording was done within Central Church on three dates in June and October of 2007. The Choir is accompanied on Central's Casavant organ by Paul Grimwood, Director of Music at Central Church.

Under Paul Grimwood's direction the Central Church Choir has long been recognized for its excellence. In August 2001 they were the Choir in Residence for a week at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. They plan to return to England for another week of choral services at St. Paul's Cathedral in 2008 as well as providing some additional services at St, Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. Copies of this excellent CD may be purchased for $10.00 each through the office of Central Presbyterian Church. You may call 905-522-9098 to arrange to secure your copy.

Call from St. Andrew's Ancaster

On Sunday, January 19th., 2008, the Presbytery of Hamlton met in St. Andrew's Church, Ancaster, to consider a call that the St. Andrew's Congregation desired to extend to the Rev. Henry Huberts. The call was approved by the Presbytery of Hamilton and forwarded to the Presbytery of Huron-Perth. The Rev. Huberts is presently minister of First Presbyterian Church in Seaforth, Ontario.

Presbyterian Men Begin 2008 with Prayer Breakfast

The annual Men's Prayer Breakfast, held once again at Knox Church, Dundas, on January 12th., is typically the Presbytery's largest men's gathering in the year. Men were present from a considerable number of the congregations of the presbytery. Following breakfast the men moved to the Knox Sanctuary for a vibrant hymn sing and a challengingh address on confessonalism by the Rev. Dr. Clyde Ervine of Central Church. Dr. Ervine stressed the importance of the church publicly professing what it believes.

New Mission Project Invites Wide Participation

(Oct.02/07) Back in 2001 some creative women in Fisherville, Ontario, launched a local mission project as a response of compassion to people in Third World countries. The project, when you first hear about it, sounds a bit unusual. The women began to crochet attractive, durable, washable, sleeping mats out of plastic milk bags. The mats were then distributed by missionaries in Africa to people who had no other option but to sleep on the ground. It takes approximately 250 milk bags to create a sleeping mat. Early on the project almost faltered because of the cost of shipping the mats to their destination, but then the discovery was made that the mats could be used as packing material around fragile items on route and in that way could be delivered to their destination without cost.
Since 2001 the project has spread from Fisherville to Dunnville, Cayuga, Hagersville, Selkirk and now also to Ancaster. Many people in St. Andrew's Church, Ancaster, are excited at the prospect of having a part in this creative response to a genuine human need. The mats are presently being made in two sizes - one for adults that is 36 x 65 inches, and a child's mat that is 30 x 45 inches. One of the challenges facing those involved at St. Andrew's Church is finding sufficient milk bags and they are hoping that the wider Presbyterian community will be able to provide some assistance. The mats are made not from the individual 1 litre milk bags but from the outer bag in which they are delivered. To be usable in the project the milk bags must be thoroughly washed, dried carefully and then folded flat. Pam Cundy (905-679-2742) would be delighted to hear from anyone willing to gather bags from neighbours and friends to expand their supply of materials or from anyone who desires to learn more about how to actually make the mats.
milk bag sleeping mats

The photo on the left shows Pat Cundy admiring one of the mats made at St. Andrew's, Ancaster and the photo on the right is of Esther Blackwell and the sleeping mat that she created out of milk bags.

St. Paul's Church, Hamilton, to Celebrate 175th. in 2008

Since 1833, St. Paul’s Church (corner of James Street South at Jackson)has been an integral part of the downtown scene in Hamilton. The beautiful english-gothic stone structure, erected between 1854 and 1857, and designated a heritage building by both the Federal and Provincial governments, stands as a Hamilton landmark. Special events will be held throughout the year to mark St. Paul’s long and intriguing history. Further information about these celebrations will be announced here on PresbyKirk or can be secured by contacting the office of St. Paul's Church at 905-522-2792.

We would like to be able to features events and projects from your congregation on this page. However, we need your assistance in order to do so. PLease send news items, along with photos, to the e-mail address at the top of this page.

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