Greetings friends and family of St. Giles,

The week leading into the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost has been a busy one in the Presbyterian Church in Canada!

This week, the General Assembly (the highest decision-making body of The Presbyterian Church in Canada), was attended by ministers and elders commissioned by presbyteries to represent the entire church. The Assembly votes on matters of theology and polity that affect the whole denomination.  This year, I was blessed to attend as a commissioner and participate in this court on behalf of the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod.  Also in attendance from our Presbytery was Mary Lil Rosza de Coquet, Rev. Laurie McKay, Cathy Gale, Darrell Risk, Rev. Christian Persaud, Cindy Stephenson, Rev. Bartholomew Alexander, and Shirley Walker.  Please visit the national website to learn more.

Also hard at work this week were the active elders on session and Presbytery representatives assigned to support St. Giles and Knox as they continued to prepare a draft amalgamation plan for the congregations.  Updates will be provided on the plan and process at the service this week by Elder Sandra Cameron Evans and Elder Moira Brownlee.  The amalgamation plan will be completed over the summer months and presented to Presbytery for consideration in September.  

Beginning July 5, Knox and St. Giles will proceed to weekly worship together on an ongoing basis.  A new committee, is in the process of being formed to guide weekly worship.  Please pray and ask God if you are called to participate on the new committee.  Please speak with your elder, myself, Rev. Terry Fach (General Presbyter), or Rev. Chris Joiner (Interim Moderator, Knox) to learn more, provide  feedback, or make suggestions for worship or the amalgamation plan.  

Our service this week, as you will see from the bulletin attached, will focus on Christ’s teaching that we pray to the Lord for more workers in God’s Kingdom (Matthew 9:35-38).  And we will also be honoured by the privilege of participating in a baptism for Weston Dansereau.  By the waters of baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit, God claims us and calls each person by name.  God unites us to Christ in his death and resurrection and grafts us into the body of Christ as members of the church.  And as disciples we are commissioned to make more disciples and to participate in the work of the Kingdom.

As you prepare for worship this weekend, please take time to reflect on the ways you have been gifted and commissioned to serve our Saviour.  Pray about the work you see around you that needs to be done in Christ’s name.  And know that you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in newness of life as people of the Word through your own baptism.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

So go in faith into whatever the weekend ahead may hold, sure that Christ walks with you.  And may your prayers and actions continue to align with God’s will for your life and God’s church.

Blessings,

Chandra