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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.