Good afternoon friends, members, adherents, friends, and family of Knox and St. Giles,

There is an old saying that the best way to understand where we are going is to know where we have come from. Churches know this especially well – we carry the stories of the people who worshipped before us, the hymns they sang, the ministries they built, and the faith that carried them through. That history is not something we simply preserve, it is something we inherit. And inheritance comes with responsibility.

Both Knox and St. Giles have stories worth remembering. Generations of people have given their time, resources, prayers, and hearts to these congregations. They have cared for their neighbours, welcomed strangers, celebrated marriages and baptisms, gathered around tables, and opened their doors in times of need.

We are now the ones holding that story, and as we continue the process of bringing Knox and St. Giles together, perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask is what do we want to pass on? What kind of congregation do hope those who come after us will inherit?

I hope they will inherit a church where people are known by name; where there is room for questions and doubts; where scripture is taken seriously while remembering that faith is lived by real people with complicated lives. A church that does not measure its success only by numbers, but by the depth of its compassion. A church that looks beyond itself and notices the needs of the community around it. But above all, a church that remembers its job is to follow Christ and share God’s love with the world.

We cannot know exactly what the congregation of Knox and St. Giles will look like years from now. That makes the choices we make now meaningful: we are not only inheriting something from those who came before, but also creating something to one day be inherited from us. Every time we welcome someone, pray, give, teach, listen, or offer help where it’s needed, we shape the church. Every time we choose hope over fear, we bear witness to the gospel.

I encourage us all to think about the congregation we wish to help build, and what kind of community we’re willing to help create for others. Everyone is warmly invited to gather for worship this Sunday at 10:00AM, and welcome to stay afterward for conversation and fellowship. There is always so much we can learn from one another.

Our regular opportunities for learning continue as well, with Tuesday book study at 1:30PM and 6:30PM, and Wednesday Bible study at 10:15AM. Please join in whenever you are able.

As always, the attached bulletin contains this week’s announcements and additional information about the life of our congregation. Please be reminded especially about the upcoming congregational vote taking place on August 30, immediately following the Sunday service. 

Thank you for all you do, both the things that are noticed and the many things that are not. Thank you for carrying forward what has been entrusted to us and for having the courage to help shape what comes next. 

May we be good stewards of the church we have received, faithful builders of the church we are becoming, and generous witnesses to the God who is with us every step of the way.

Wishing you all the best,

Kaiden 

Kaiden Reding

Office Administrator 

St. Giles Presbyterian