FSA Outreach Committee Report

September 2024

We are pleased that the White Squirrel Golf Tournament raised $12,700.00

The recipients of this are:

ELUCO                  $3800

Indwell                 $3800

Ark Aid                 $3800

St. Paul’s Social Services                $500

Los Quinchos School in Managua Nicaragua          $500

Thank you to all who supported our Outreach projects

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Faith Formation Report

September, 2024

1. Intergenerational services will be October 27, December 8 and December 24

2. Christmas Eve will have one service at 7:00 pm

3. We are working on trying to make things better for anyone who has vision issues, ie: making the font bigger on the screen on Sundays.

4. Bible Study will start September 19th at 11:00

5. 25 children are registered for Treblemakers and 7 in Rebells, there is a new ringing group for teenagers and interested adults

6. We will be incorporating some puppets into children’s time

7. We have started putting together our needs with the upcoming departure of Marilyn Arthur.  We hope to bring a report to the next meeting.

October 26th is a scheduled family potluck

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Music Committee Report for Council

September 2024

Plans have now been completed for the 2024-2025 concert season.  The poster for fall is sent with this report.  The brochure for the full season, completed by Jim Silcox, is available in the Atrium.

 

We are delighted to welcome back Maddie Berman, Eberhard vocal scholar in the soprano section and to welcome new Eberhard vocal scholar Yuqi (pronounced “Yutchi”) Cui in the alto section.  This is Maddie’s third year as a vocal scholar.  Previous vocal scholar Daryn Nowlin, September 2022-May 2024, has returned to the U.S. to continue her preparation for a singing career.

 

Minister of Music, Chris Fischer, has formed a new group called “The Ring of Fire”.  This is an opportunity for ages 14 and up to learn or to improve their handbell ringing.  This group meets on Thursday evenings 5:30-7:00pm in the Fireside Room.  They met first on September 12.  Treblemakers (5:30-6:15pm) and ReBELLS (6:15-7:00pm) are meeting once more on Monday evenings, time as indicated.

 

Igor Saika, director of the FSA Strings, is gathering a string quartet to perform for an hour at the beginning of the Gala Dinner on Friday, September 20, 2024 from 5:30-6:30pm.  Further entertainment of a lighthearted nature will be provided by Chris Fischer and Sonja Gustafson following dinner.

 

On Sunday, October 6, following the church service, Chris will be leading a time of reflection and singing of hymns (session outlined in “Why Hymns?” in the Fall Tidings Vol 34. No. 3 2024 page 14).  I believe pizza was mentioned for lunch.

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Property Report for Council

September 2024

1. Coal Room clean out - many thanks to all who assisted.  This was a huge undertaking.
2. LED lighting upgrade in Sanctuary - pendant lights now have LED bulbs.  
3. Plumbing repairs in bathrooms completed and underway  - thanks David Wardlaw
4. Install mounting panel for computer hardware in storage room and window blinds in back hallway - David Wardlaw
5. Computer system upgrades- 2 new computers in admin office, all files moved to cloud storage eliminating the need for our aging/failing server
6. Exterior painting of front steps - thanks Ron Bradley
7 Maintenance check of Air Handling Units - thanks Connor Campbell
8. New Microphones on order for sanctuary - delivery sometime in September also purchase of new IPad to run sound system
9. Defrosting all freezers and fridge clean outs - thanks Margo and Margaret
10 Repairs to Garland stove and dishwasher servicing
11 Garden and grounds maintenance - Paul Merritt
12 Capital Requisition approved to upgrade electrical panel in fireside hallway which will allow for AC/Heat pump installation for ministers office and youth room-  work scheduled for sometime in August
13. Weatherstripping improvements on exterior doors - David Wardlaw

Items still to be addressed:

1. Repairs to window well grates on side courtyard by Proudfoot windows

2. Pruning crabapple trees - lots of dead wood.  Chainsaw required

3. Shrub pruning around property

4. Painting Farquhar house porch floor

5. Painting small bathroom

6. Boiler summer maintenance check (Ainsworth)

As always thanks for your commitment to FSA and thanks to our volunteers.  If you can assist with any of the unfinished tasks please let me know.

 

Youth ad Young Adult Ministry Report (Rev. Marilyn Arthur)

September 2024

It is with sadness that I sent correspondence to you (Church Council) and the M&P committee in the summer months with my request for a change in pastoral relations. I have thoroughly enjoyed my ministry with the FSA faith community and its staff and will miss being part of this incredible community. With that said, my new call will bring me growth, challenges and opportunities, and I am excited and looking forward to moving into the role of Congregational Minister at Grace United Church in Tavistock. I will be in this position until October 20, 2024. I will take the following five days of study leave to read and take a Homeletics course (online) at Huron College.

 

I am deeply grateful for your support and our fruitful ministry together since May 2022. Your best wishes mean a lot to me.

 

In August, ten of our teenagers were gathered at a youth event and wondered aloud who might help coordinate youth gatherings once I moved from this ministry role. Many of our teenagers gather are from FSA, but we also have many from different faith communities. I will leave the youth’s names and their contact information with Christina Linsday and the Faith Formation committee in hopes that there are opportunities and people to continue offering youth activities that gather our teens for social opportunities that engage them in faith discussions (which sometimes happen organically, and sometimes intentional), outreach and sharing life’s stories and experiences together.

 

 

Summer Camp- We welcomed 27 children from JK-Gr. 6 to the building from July 22-26 for a full week of summer camp. This camp was led Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm. With the absence of the Canada Summer Jobs grant, I asked for volunteers to help lead this camp and we were gifted with 13 high school and young adults who showed up each day for camp full of energy, and ready to help make camp fun, safe and meaningful for the campers. What a blessing these young people were, and I thank them for their dedication and care that they showed to one another, and the children at the camp. They were sent honorariums as a thank-you for their leadership. Denver Minler, who has worked for the SALT (Summer Adventure Leadership Team with the Canada Summer Jobs funding grant) for the past two summers, volunteered to help plan and co-direct the camp with me. Again, what a gift to have such a strong leader to offer to be in this position. This team of people provided incredible leadership, which was necessary for the safety and value of the camp, but it also was an invaluable experience for all the teens and young adults to help them strengthen their leadership skills, and it provided a bonding experience for them all.

 

Thank you to the many donations from the congregation and Outreach fund money that helped bring ten children to the camp from the London Community Chaplaincy.

 

Teen Class- Thank you to Steve Elson for once again offering his leadership to our high school youth on Sunday mornings. I will continue facilitating this class until I depart, when I will be present on Sunday morning at FSA. I have asked a few people to help Steve with this facilitation, and I hope to have people in place before I depart. Please speak with me if you or someone else you know of would love to facilitate the teen class on Sunday morning once or twice a month.

 

 

Youth and Young Adult—Before I depart, three gatherings are planned for the high school youth, mainly on Friday nights. There are three gatherings on Tuesdays for the young adults to gather.