HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-08-26, Page 6Pl.6 11n Huron Expositor • Algot 26, 2009
News
Student minister ready to preach at Northside/Cavan,
Mary Fletcher, of Sarnia, excited to find a church In a rural community
Susan Hnndertmnark
With Rev. John Gould moving to a
new church at the end of June, the
congregations at Northside and .Ca-
van United Churches thought they'd
have months to wade through the
paperwork necessary to find a new.
minister.
But, a student supply minister
looking for her own 'church made the
right connections at the June Huron -
Perth Presbytery meeting and will
be moving into the Northside manse
on Sept. 1 and standing in the pulpit
at both churches the following Sun-
day.
Pastor Mary Fletcher, of Sarnia,
who has finished the first year of a
five-year course towards ordination
in the United Church, says she's
thrilled to be coming to the Seaforth
area.
"It all happened literally within a
few weeks. It's amazing and I give
God the glory," she says.
"We hadn't had a chance to start
looking for a new minister yet," adds
Nancy Denham, chair. of the North-
side worship committee.
Rev. Gould, after five years in Sea -
forth, has moved to a church in Straf-
fordville near Tillsonburg.
Fletcher, who has worked as a high
school home eco-
nomics teacher, a
curator at a small
town museum
and a host of a
community tele-
vision program at
a small town sta-
tion, says she re-
ceived the call to-
wards ministry In
2004 when she got
a job at Central
United Church in
the "ministry of
older persons."
In that posi-
tion, she worked
with the seniors
in her congrega-
tion, helping them
Ken Canino, Joanne Williamson,
Colleen &inti a Barb Watt emd Chris Canino
You are invited to attend these area churches
ST. THOMAS
ANGLICAN CHURCH
A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit
Sunday, August 30
Worship at 9.30 am
"Our Favourite Hymns"
PorkChopBarbeareWied.Aug 26,5-7pm
Everyone Wekome
ST. JAMES
ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU
14Vktorfa Street, Seaforth
519-345-2972
Sunday Mass 11 a.m.
ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN
Saturday Mass 5 p.m.
Sunday Mass 9 a.m.
FR. CHRIS GILLESPIE
BETHEL BIBLE •
CHURCH
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
519-527-0982
Sunday August 30 Worship at 10am
at Family Paradise Campground
43835 Hulett McKIUop Rd.
NORTHSIDE UNITED
Welcomes you
Sunday, August 30 @ 11 a.m.
Guest Speaker
Paul Elgie
Ice Cold Lemonade
served before Church begins
54 Goderich St. W., Seaforth
II519 -52] -?635
www.cavannorthsi eunrted.ca
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
59 Goderich St. W Seafrth
519-527- 0170
Sunday Aug 30th, 11:15 a.m.
Mary Jane Bisset
Sunday School & Nursery
Provided.
Eve • is invited to attend.
Mary Fletcher
connect to the services' they needed
in the community and doing visita-
tion in their homes and in nursing
homes.
"I found a wealth of knowledge
from seniors - I was blessed when-
ever I got to visit them," she says.
Fletcher adds that she loves work
ing with youth as well and wants to
see young people involved in church
services.
"Church is for all ages. We are all
in church celebrating together," she
Pian to attend Equin
Be
Art rP HURON
REACH's
GRAND OPENING
Saturday, September 12, 2009
169 Beech Street, just north of Clinton Raceway
Doors open from 10 am to 6 pm Admission is FREE
Activities for the kids (of all ages):
• EquiMania/I - interactive educational booths
all about horses. Presented by Equine Guelph
• Mapk the Cow - Kids can actually milk Maple,
and learn all about milk production from farm
to table. Presented by Durham Milk Producer
Committee
• Made Show booths full of information and
products for shoppers and browsers alike
• Raffle for a John Deere Garden Tractor -
Presented by Lions Club of Clinton
Activities are scheduled throughout the day.
Programs will be available soon at www.reachhuron.ca
We still have outdoor spaces available for participant displays.
Ifyour group would like to be involved, please contact
REACH at 519 482 3998
says.
Two years ago, she started tak-
ing courses at the Atlantic School
of Theology in Halifax to become an
ordained minister. The course offers
online courses throughout the nA1or-
ity of the year and six weeks of study
on campus over the summer.
"You can take the courses in the
summer and work in church with
wonderful communities the rest of
the year. It's so practical," she says.
Fletcher's husband Terry is also
taking courses at the same school.
"We're on the same path," she
says.
Fletcher says becoming a minister
is tying her spirituality into the work
she's done with community most of
her life.
"I've had a strong faith all my life
but I took it for granted. I was raised
in a Christian home where the Bible
was honoured and I was taught to re-
ally know my stories," she says, add-
ing that she's taught Sunday School
since she was the young mom of four
children.
"It's important for young children
to hear the good news and about Je-
sus Christ," she says.
Because she lived on a farm in
Prince Edward County for several
years, Fletcher says she's excited to
be moving back to a rural commu-
nity.
"I learned an appreciation of farm-
ing. and planting and harvesting,"
she says, adding she's always. want-
ed to drive a combine.
Fletcher .has signed a year's con-
tract with Northside and Cavan
United Churches, which could con-
tinue for a longer period of time.
"I love being in a pulpit and preach-
ing. This is where I'm meant to be,"
• says Fletcher.