Rector's Weekly Report
March 6th, 2011

Burr !! It sure is cold around here. A far cry from the temperatures in Florida. But it is good to be back from vacation. I'll just have to depend on your warm smiles to brighten my days !!!

This is indeed a glorious day to come back. We give thanks this morning for the presence of Bishop Sue Moxley at our worship services. We gives thanks especially for the celebration of Holy Confirmation. Please continue to hold the candidates in your prayers as they begin a new chapter in their lives within the Church. Thanks to the Rev. David and Bev Dellapinna who have led the confirmation classes and prepared the candidates. As a wrap up to preparations we spent some time yesterday at our cathedral church of All Saints. Dean, Paul Smith, led this retreat day familiarizing the candidates with the Cathedral and by addressing the meaning and responsibilities associated with confirmation.

As suggested by my opening comments I returned from vacation this week and was back in the office Wednesday morning. Mail, emails and phone calls to catch up was the order of the day. I happened to be here Wednesday evening as the choir was practicing and liked what I heard. The hymn on the insert this morning was written by Herbert O’Driscoll but I claim a small measure of credit for the version we will sing. He changed the first line after I told him that fishermen in Nova Scotia do not fish on little lakes, but rather, brave the mighty North Atlantic. We are also in for a treat as Tim Edwards takes part in our music ministry.

As we prepared for the confirmation service this morning I was pleased to meet with Rev. David Dellapina to make final preparations and discuss other aspects of the confirmation program. I was also pleased to meet with Archdeacon, Mark Kingsbury, to be briefed about matters pertaining to our region and to update me on the meeting of Regional Deans that took place at Debert while I was on vacation.

I met the wardens as they briefed me about happenings during my absence and we also made preparations for the Parish Council meeting scheduled for this Thursday. All members of Parish Council please note that next Sunday, March 13th, we will commission the new Parish Council. All members of council should be present.

Finally, a word about a cloud that has hung over this community for some five years. The murder of Paula Gallant shocked, saddened and angered us. Developments that have led to a conviction in this case bring some sense of closure to Paula’s tragic death, but nothing can bring her back. I ask you to continue your prayers for Paula’s family and friends, those who worked with her and new her, and for everyone whose lives can never be the same because of her death. Despite what life throws our way we must remember, we are a resurrection people, called to rise above our faults and injustices so that we might continue the process of transforming this world evermore into the likeness of the kingdom that Christ calls us into. 

May your words, your actions, your lives be a blessing to God’s purpose for God’s world.

Rev. Mike