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The items on this page are not current news. These events were reported on PresbyKirk earlier in 2008.
Presbytery Archives 2008 - 2010
In Blog style the more recent material on this page appears at the top of the column and the older material further down.
New Beginnings in Port Dover
Port Dover, ON – On Sunday, September 12th, 2010, the Presbytery of Hamilton, held a Service of Thanksgiving recognizing the congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church becoming a single point charge. The day started with a lunch for presbyters at the home of Rev. Cathy & Thomas Kay hosted by the Choir. The Moderator welcomed those in attendance and led the worship. Rev. Judee Archer Green, as Clerk of Presbytery narrated the steps that brought us together for this time of Thanksgiving. The Presbytery, Congregation and the Rev. Cathy Kay participated in the confirmation of the constitution of the congregation. The message and charge was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Tom Billard of Kirkwall Presbyterian Church. The text of Dr. Billard's challenging message “The Fragrance of Knowing God” can be accessed by clicking on the link. Special music was provided by the choir and soloist, Alysia Kay. Following worship, the congregation hosted a time of fellowship.
Workshop on Evangelism
On April 24th., 2010, the Presbytery of Hamilton sponsored a workshop on Evangelism in Chedoke Church, Hamilton. The keynote speaker was Dr. John Bowen of Wycliffe College and he has given permission for the audio of his two theme addresses on that day to be made available on the Internet. You may access these lectures by clicking on:-Dr. Bowen on Evangelism, Lecture 1
Dr. Bowen on Evangelism, Lecture 2
October Meeting of the Presbytery
The October 2009 meeting of the Presbytery was held in St. Andrew's Church in Ancaster on October 13th. One of the highlights of the meeting was a report by Don & Carole MacVicar on the Inner City Outreach Ministry in which they have been engaged for over 20 years. This ministry centered at St. David's Church, 474 Wentworth Street North, involves several different programs for children and youth that are operating each week. They also reported on the various seasonal programs which they operate or, in the case of summer camp, sponsor children in their community to attend. They expressed appreciation for the financial, volunteer and prayer support which has been provided to sustain their work through the years. They always welcome new volunteers and indicated that their most immediate volunteer need at the moment is for people to work with Junior High aged youth in a program on Tuesday evenings. Anyone wishing more information about this Inner City Outreach Ministry or who is willing to consider volunteering in some way is invited to contact the MacVicars at 905-664-2838 or via e-mail at chariotsoffire@hwcn.org.
September 2009 Meeting
The September meeting of the Presbytery opened with a communion service led by the retiring Moderator, the Rev. Bob Dawson, of Brant Hills Presbyterian Church. He then installed the new Moderator for the 2009-10 year. The new Moderator is Mr. Ken Sheward, an elder from St. John's Church in Grimsby.
Upon assuming the Chair, Mr. Sheward outlined his aspirations for the work of the Presbytery for the coming year. The emphasis fell upon prayer, an increased participation of the elders in decision making and more effective communication. Then, with a confidence that reflected his years of experience with the work of the Presbytery, he conducted his first meeting as Moderator. The new Moderator had previous served the Presbytery as Chair of the Business Committee.
Click on Moderator's Bio for an introduction to our new Moderator.
Minister Inducted in Ancaster
The Rev. Henry Huberts was inducted as the Minister of St. Andrew's Church in Ancaster on Sunday, April 6th. This was the fifth induction service within the Presbytery of Hamilton since the beginning of 2008. The service was conducted by the Moderator, Dr. Ian McPhee, and the sermon and charge to the minister and congregation were delivered by Dr. Clyde Ervine of Central Church. The service was enhanced with special music by the Choir and very capable musicians of St. Andrew's Church under the direction of their Music Director Susan Plewes.
St. Andrew's Church, is located on Sulphur Springs Road just off Wilson Street in Ancaster. The present building was erected in about 1875 and has been enhanced by an addition added in 1961 and substantial renovations accomplished in 1990.
Glen Soderholm performs at Chedoke Church
Glen Soderholm presented a celebrative but yet reflective concert at Chedoke Church on Sunday evening. April 6th. The presentation, which was part of the Connect worship program at Chedoke, included both fresh arrangements of several traditional selections as well as a number of selections from amongst Glen's own compositions. Glen accompanies himself on the guitar and at Chedoke was also supported by fellow musician David White. Glen Soderholm, who is an ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, conducts a unique ministry in music through Moveable Feast Resources. See glensoderholm.com for further information about Glen's ministry and his music.
Induction at Knox Church, Burlington
The Rev. Mark Hoogsteen was inducted as the Minister of Knox Church on Sunday, March 30th. The service was conducted by the Moderator of Presbytery, the Rev. Dr. Ian McPhee. Also participating in the service were two Ministers from outside the Presbytery of Hamilton. The Rev. Rob Congram preached the sermon and the Rev. Mark Lewis delivered the Charge to the newly inducted minister and the Knox Congregation.
An appreciated feature of the service was the participation of a group of Young Singers from Knox called the "The Rockin' Angels."
A reception followed the worship service at which time the Rev. Hoogsteen and his family were greeted by personal friends and the members of the Knox congregation. In the photo below he is being welcomed to Knox by Ms. Carolyn McNiven, Clerk of Session.
Leap Year Day!
On February 29th. the city of Hamilton was featured the Main Page of Wikipedia. That headline billing has now ended but, of course, the excellent Wikipedia entry on the City of Hamilton remains available. If you have not looked at it recently it is worth your attention. Just click on Hamilton, Ontario. Some additional detail about this Wikipedia entry is included in the Webmaster's Ramblings
(Chancel windows in St. Columba Church, Hamilton)
Presbytery Meeting Approves Three Calls
Though it may not be a record, the meeting on February 12th. was certainly a stellar evening for the Presbytery of Hamilton. The Presbytery, which has been functioning with a much higher than usual vacancy rate for well over a year, approved three new calls. Change is on the horizon! The winds of change began with inductions of new ministers at West Flamboro and Kirkwall during the fall of 2007. St. Columba Church, the site of the Presbytery meeting, has also just received a new minister and another call approved in January (see "News" page)is still in process. Together these actions will represent the addition of seven new ministers to the Presbytery in less than nine months.
The Rev. Bob Geddes, Interim Moderator of Heritage Green, presented a call for the Rev. Colleen Smith to a half time position at Heritage Green. This call was approved by the Presbytery. Pending approval of the East Toronto Presbytery tentative plans were announced for a service of induction to be held in Heritage Green Church on Sunday, March 2nd. at 7:30 pm.
(The Rev. Geddes presents the call to the Presbytery.)
Knox Church in Burlington, which has been without a minister since the fall of 2006, presented a call to the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen. This call is to a full time position as minister of Knox Church. This call was also approved by the Presbytery. The service of induction at Knox Church will be held on March 30th. at 7:30 pm.
(Elder Rob Prebble of Knox Church is shown speaking in support of the call.)
The New Westminster congregation in Hamilton received approval to call Gregory Dickson to a half time position in ministry. Mr. Dickson is a recent graduate of Knox College and will need to be ordained by his home presbytery before being inducted at New Westminster. Anticipating approval by his home Presbytery, a service of induction is tentatively scheduled for Sunday. March 9th. at 3:30 pm.
(Jeff Cass, an elder from New Westminster, represented his congregation when the call was considered.)
Presbytery Launched into 2008
The Presbytery of Hamilton held its first meeting of 2008 on January 8th. in Central Presbyterian Church, Hamilton. While the business meeting was rather routine there were elements both of encouragement and of challenge.
Opening worship on the theme of darkness and light included some chancel drama. The members of Central's Faith Explorers Group presented the short sketch "Candles in the Cupboard" to give the theme an immediate and practical application to life in the church today.
One encouraging thing that emerged at the business meeting that followed worship was the prospect that some of the Presbytery's numerous vacant pulpits may soon be filled. For the past months the work of the Presbytery has been hampered by a shortage of ordained ministers. A call from St. Columba Church, Hamilton, was approved by the Presbytery and several other vacant congregations indicated that they were close to completing the selection process.
A challenging aspect to the meeting was presented by a guest to the Presbytery. The meeting welcomed Sister Carole Anne Guay who is the founder of Hamilton's "Out of the Cold Program" and who serves as Program Co-ordinator. Hamilton's "Out of the Cold Program" brings together in partnership representatives of a number of churches and faith communities. It operates from November to March each year to provide a hot meal six nights a week during the winter season and also assists those who are homeless by providing overnight accommodation, breakfast and a bag lunch for the following day. Central Presbyterian Church, the host for the Presbytery meeting, is presently the only Presbyterian Congregation involved in hosting the program. During the 2006/07 season the program provided 14,748 meals and overnight accommodations for 1,992 guests. Sister Guay sketched the history of the program in Hamilton over the past decade. She presented the need for additional partner congregations and invited Presbyterian assistance in providing the necessary financial resources to keep the program operating effectively into the future. Additional information is available at Out of the Cold, Hamilton.
