ANNOUNCEMENTS

Worship Services

6 April – Worship led by Lorna McKendry

13 April – Worship led by Andrea Harrison

20 April – Worship led by Lorna McKendry

27 April – Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sunday; worship led by Andrea Harrison, with guest speaker, Keith Smith.

6 May – Worship led by Andrea Harrison (baptism Sunday)

Meetings

8 April – Williamstown Session mtg at 7:30pm in Irvine Hall

 Upcoming Events

6 April – Coffee Hour, following worship in Williamstown.  This will be a ‘welcome home’ to Pat Power, who has recently returned from a seven month tour of duty with the Military Police in Afghanistan, and a “send-off” to Bill Chambré, who will be leaving in April for a six month tour of duty as a UN peacekeeper / military observer in southern Sudan.

20 April – Pancake Breakfast at the Martintown Church – from 9:00am to 11:00am and until all are served.

6 May - 7:30 pm  Cheryl & Bruce Harding at Williamstown Church.  Bruce and Cheryl are recording artists and worship leaders from the South Coast of BC.  Their eclectic music style melds a liberal theology of healing and understanding with an evangelical, spirit-filled passion for congregational singing.  Through their music and ministry they inspire people across Canada to sing with spirit and conviction.  Suggested donation: $10 or what you can afford.  You can visit Cheryl and Bruce at their website,   www.evensong.ca

 Exploring Faith, Mission, and Ministry

One of Andrea’s favourite authors is being featured by Oprah. Oprah and author, Eckhart Tolle, are teaching an exclusive online class about his best-selling book A New Earth every Monday night.  This started on March 3, and the sessions are available live or for download at www.oprah.com.  Copies of his book are available at church this morning.

15-16 April – Come and join former Moderator, the Very Rev. Bill Phipps at Shalom House, St. Raphaels, and be inspired in your passion to seek justice in changing times.  The Tuesday evening session begins at 7pm, and there will be a full day workshop on Wednesday, ending at 4:00pm.  For more info, contact Andrea or go to www.montrealandottawaconference.ca.

18 & 19 April - There will be a Caring Clowning and Clowning Ministry Workshop in Smith falls. For further information please call Audrey Baker at 613 283 5033 or email her at audaster@hotmail.com

19 April - Pastoral Care Training sessions with Verna Nuttall will be held this spring in Irvine Hall. There will be two sessions on Sat. April 19 and one session Wed. evening April 30.  Saturday sessions will cover spiritual needs, pastoral identity, visiting hospitals/institutions, homes, and ministering with aging persons.  Lunch will be provided.  Wed. April 30 will focus on setting up and enabling effective pastoral care teams.  Contact Karen Paavila at 613-525-1399 or pastoralcareteam@standrewsunited.org for more details and registration.  Register early as space is limited!

26 April - Our Presbytery Vision and Transformation comittee presents:    ALIVE AND REVIVED: The rural Church In Changing Times  A conference for all Presbyters, clergy and other interested folks- held Saturday, April 26, 10:00-3:00 at Chesterville United Church.  In the morning: a motivating exploration of the gifts and potential of congregations in changing times. In the afternoon: two practical workshops. Keynote speakers: Dr. Marvin Anderson (prominent speaker on rural church issues)  and Robert Dalgleish (General Council staffperson for congregational renewal). Bring a bag lunch; coffee, muffins and soup will be provided. Donations accepted. To register, call Elisabeth Bachem at 613-674-1218 or e-mail eli.bachem@gmail.com. Please register by April 20.

30 May – 1 June - M&O Conference 2008 Educational Event “Inspiration 08 – GOD IS ON THE LOOSE – DIEU EN LIBERTE”

This event takes place at John Abbott College.  The theme leadership is by Rev. Christopher White (author of Jacob’s Blessing: Dreams, Hopes, and Visions for the Church and Seismic Shifts: Leading in Times of Change) and Prof. Gregory Baum (Catholic theologian and ecumenist).  The music leadership is by Rev. Michael Hawn (Professor of Church Music at Perkins School of Theology and Director of the Sacred Music Program, Southern Methodist University).  The cost to attend the event is $250 for programme, meals and accommodation ($125 for young people, ages 16-25), or $200 without accommodation.  $750 from the McGregor fund has been allocated to subsidize participation.  To apply for funding, please email WSession@standrewsunited.org, or speak to a member of Session by Sunday April 8th.   Registration deadline is May 1^st.  For more information about the event, go to www.montrealandottawaconference.ca

Outreach

Lunch at the Café in Williamstown.  Andrea plans to eat lunch at ‘Ye Olde Bridge Café’ in Williamstown each Tuesday ~12:30pm.  If you would like to join her for lunch, or just stop by for a coffee and a chat, that would be great!

 11 April – Presentation on Botswana by Tara MacDonald at 7:00pm at Irvine Hall.  All are welcome to come and hear Tara’s stories and see her pictures from her time working with a school in Botswana last year.

 Please send announcements to Andrée Hunter at secretary@standrewsunited.org or 528-4912, and email news and photos for our website to Sarah McDonald - webmaster@standrewsunited.org (or by regular mail to the church address).