September 27-30, 2007 Fort Frances

The NFB documentary, Toxic Trespass, was presented as an introduction to the Presbytery theme Greening our Churches. 65 Presbyters and 24 Youth met at Knox United, Fort Frances.

In the unavoidable absence of Presbytery Chair, Christina Stricker, the meeting was chaired by Past Chair, Roy Dedon.

Presbyters and Youth joined the Knox congregation for Sunday morning worship. Former Presbytery Chair, Jack Cameron, preaching on the theme of “Where have all the flowers gone?” quoted Ezekiel 34:17-18 - “As for you, my flock...is it not enough for you to feed on good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?” The sacredness of our Creator’s image is integral part of humanity. We therefore have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of all Creation. We must stop and “smell the roses” and give serious consideration to what is happening to Planet Earth under our “watch” and begin protecting the environment and all of Creation. The Rev. Gordon Waldie, of Riverview United Church, Atikokan, was the Communion Celebrant.

A panel consisting of Meteorolgist Graham Saunders, LU Biology Professor, BrianMcLaren, First Nations leader, Kaaren Olsen Dannenman, Knox Shuniah delegate, Gary Pedersen, and LPM Peggy Mason spoke of their individual concerns and their hopes for the environment. Every increased degree of temperature means displaced animal and plant populations, with species varying in the adaptation. This in turn affects the human population. Nature adapts or fails to adapt. First Nations communities have always thought of all species as their relations. We need to work toward each new building powering itself through natural energy sources, such as sun, wind, and tides. Small changes, such as lowering the temperature on our water tanks, and switching to low energy light bulbs, saves power and money. Our stewardship of the Earth is scripturally based. The ancient meaning of the word Steward was “guardian of the sty.” Living Green newsletters can be signed up for at http://livinggreen.bhg.com. The video “Greening Sacred Spaces” was shown later. It showed Light Green, Medium Green and Dark Green ways that have been used in Churches, Synagogues and Temples. Sincere thanks are extended to theme planners David Silliman and Matsy Kenney.

Points to note:

• The Presbytery Youth Minister appointment will be announced shortly.
• Ministers’ Sabbatical leave is mandatory every five years, but one year’s notice must be given to the Pastoral Charge and six month’s notice to Presbytery.
• Lynne Dimma was recognized as a Lay Worship Leader to the Lake of the Woods Pastoral Charge.
• The Rev. Jeanne Bryan has been ordained as an Anglican priest. She serves the Emmanuel Anglican/United Church in Ignace.
• Pulpit supply guidelines must be followed, including reimbursement for mileage and incidentals.
• Retired ministers must be interviewed by the Conference Interview Board if their appointment is for a full year.
• George Bott is Education and Students Chair. Pastoral Relations is being covered by Joy Bott and the Rev. Jann Sampson (Zones 4 & 5) and Aileen Urquhart and Janet Loney (Zones 2 & 3).
• Paul McAlister was re-elected Treasurer. This must be done annually.
• St. Andrew’s, Sioux Lookout, has planted a peace garden where the Manse once was.
• Due to General Council staffing cuts the Social Justice Network of Ontario Conferences (SJNOC) is in the process of re-structuring.
• General Council full-time staff have been reduced from 185 to 165. A full document setting out changes and their implications can be found on the GC web site under “Plans towards 2010.” (www.united-church.ca)
• Zatoun fair trade, cold-pressed oil is available. It supports oppressed Palestinian farmers.
• A letter of thanks will go to the Rev. David Sparks for his long-term work on the Visioning process.
• Grace United Church, Nipigon is taking "Take off your shoes, you're standing on holy ground" literally. They are supporting the Nipigon Rotary Club's campaign to collect 8,000 pairs of shoes to be sent to Nicaragua, to protect feet from parasitic worms that have caused much infection. The infestation of worms is due to recent disastrous heavy rains. Donations of shoes may be sent to Grace United, Nipigon, or Westminster UC, Thunder Bay, by October 16th . (NB: No open toes or backs, sandals or boots.)
• The Chaplaincy program at Confederation College is going well. Chaplain Velda William-Sande recently organized a Spiritual Awareness Day, where different faith groups were represented.
• More pastoral charges are building their own web sites or using the free space available on the Conference and WonderCafe sites. See www.mnwo.united-church.ca and www.wondercafe.ca. More info on building web sites at www.cambrianpresbytery.org.
• Camp Duncan has purchased a new fire pump. Booking policy now allows non-United Church users who work on the Camp to book earlier, while still allowing United Church groups the first choice of dates.
• 55 people attended a “God’s World in our Hands” summer camp at Sunny Cove.
• The UCW are celebrating their 45th anniversary this year. They have a new UCW Guidelines Handbook.
• Bursaries from the UCW are available to theology students; also from St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay.
• Congregations are encouraged to develop “Green Teams” - see www.faith-commongood.net.
• The new M & S fund-raising challenge is discover “the 7 Wonders of Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario” See more about this on the Conference (www.mnwo.united-church.ca) and Presbytery (www.cambrianpresbytery.org) sites.
• Lay Worship Leaders’ course is to be held in the Presbytery, beginning with a weekend in Thunder Bay, Nov. 16-18.
• UCCAM (United Church of Canada Association of Musicians) membership is free. Annual worship events are to be regional in 2008. One will be in Winnipeg in early June 2008. Watch for details.
• 8 young people and 2 leaders (one of whom is Ren Amell) from the Conference will go to Zambia in May 2008. Fund-raising for this took place at Presbytery through a silent auction and an arrival dinner, raising a total of $875. Table decorations were artifacts from Zambia, provided by Elaine Frazer, from the Frazer family’s five years in that country.
• Dave McMaster’s hat raised $373.78 for M&S. (If you don’t know what Dave McMaster’s Hat is, click on Cambrian Vignettes on the Presbytery web site.)

MOTIONS passed included:

• Presbytery Chair to write to the Canadian Ambassador to the UN regarding the situation in Burma/Myanmar, in solidarity with our Buddhist colleagues, calling upon the UN to take action to end the violence.
• Presbytery to support and join the Environmental Film Network.
• support of the application from Confederation College Chaplaincy for a 2008 Mission Support Grant for $7,500.

KAIROS is beginning a new 3-year theme, Re-Energize...time for a carbon Sabbath. Emphasis is on reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. All resources are now free, web-based and green - meaning they can be downloaded and studied. Resources are grouped under Change Yourself, Change Your Community (including worship and children's resources), and Change the World. Download at www.re-energize.org and www.kairoscanada.org. The Cambrian-Agassiz Regional meeting is in Winnipeg Oct 12-14. Info at www.kairoscambrianagassiz.org. Print only what you need and print double-sided.

A workshop on the new More Voices hymn book led by Carol Zacharias and Brenda Shodin was participated in with great enthusiasm. Saturday evening entertainment included more fun with More Voices, led by the Knox United Choir, and green entertainment.

The related green theme for Youth was Fear Factor Fiction. They have not lived at a time when there was no fear for the planet. They addressed their fears, explored scriptural passages about fear and talked about living their fears out as people of faith. They discovered that fear is the beginning of wisdom and discussed the difference between rational and irrational fear. They had some criticism of the adult Presbyters for their use of coloured one-sided paper. Youth leaders, Brenda Shodin and David Lyle, as usual, did a great job with the young people.

Theological reflector, Kent Gibbons commented on the good attendance, thinking the theme attracted more participation. Green consciousness was apparent in more places than the planned theme segments.

Many thanks go to the congregation of Knox United Church, Fort Frances for the wonderful and gracious hospitality.

See you all at First Church, Thunder Bay Feb 21-24, 2008.