Faithful Parenting

Mondays, April 21st and 28th, 7-9 pm

Parents of children of all ages are invited to gather for two evening workshops about parenting from a faith perspective. Reflecting on scripture, life experience and the wisdom of our children, we will consider the following:
- Am I the parent I want to be?
- How does my faith inform my parenting?
- How do I nurture the faith of my child/children?
- What skills/insights/support do I require to do this well?

These sessions will be facilitated by the Rev. Beth Hayward.
Beth has worked in a six-point Pastoral Charge in Newfoundland, as Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Presbyterian Inner City Mission Evangel Hall and as Minister of Christian Development and Family Ministry at Leaside United Church, Toronto. Beth brings experience from Latin America, rural and inner city Canada and from her role as Mom to Leah (4) and Anna (2). Contact Beth with questions at: bethhaywardconsulting@gmail.com Register by calling the church office at 613-546-3263.

Follow-up to the Seminar on Poverty and Homelessness
held on January 29, 2008 in MacCallum Hall

The Federal Homelessness Partnership Initiative is now accepting applications from organizations in Kingston needing assistance to provide housing for those in greatest need. Lily Inglis and Kathleen Beeman, both part of the Chalmers family, have put together a proposal for a three-phase project to convert existing buildings into affordable rental units. They need our help in Phase 1, the research phase, to be the channel through whom funds will come to their informal group, the "Simple Housing Group". Council voted to support them at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12. We will keep you informed as events unfold regarding the application.

From the Moderator of the Congregation, Joyce Holden

Once again, in 2007, Chalmers gave very generously to the Mission and Service Fund (M&S) of The United Church of Canada -- $71,112. The work of the United Church across the country and around the world is funded by the M&S Fund in hundreds of different ways. Some of the money supports congregations, programs, and new church development. Some is spent in Canadian outreach programs, on international relief and development programs, to prepare ministers, to maintain ecumenical relationships, and to administer the work of the church. The national 2008 goal for M&S is $31.5 million. Chalmers is one of the top contributors nationally

We are grateful for the ministry leadership of Steven, but there remain some gaps in other areas of our work which need to be addressed.

• Our Administrative Assistant will be leaving in April and an ad hoc committee will begin a search for a new fulltime staff person very soon.
• Our treasurer has resigned and we need someone in the congregation with accounting experience to step forward for this work.
• The Joint Needs Assessment Committee (joint between Kingston Presbytery and Chalmers and usually referred to as the JNAC) has begun to meet. They will be assessing future ministry needs and defining positions for leadership in areas such as Faith Formation and Pastoral Care.
  

We already give the normal statutory holidays to our staff, but the Coordinating Council of Elders voted recently to add the new Ontario public holiday, Family Day, the third Monday of February each year. Our office will be closed this Monday, February 18. Families of all shapes and sizes are important to us!

While our General Givings ended the year a bit short of our 2007 goal leaving us with a net deficit of $18,136, the Council is grateful for all that people have contributed. It is our hope that during the Stewardship 2008 Campaign, each of us will consider increasing our support to the work of our church. There are many new and encouraging things happening: an energetic group in confirmation explorations; new families participating; increased attention to the ways we welcome newcomers; workshops for worship leadership; after church lunches and pancake suppers…. This community of faith is important to us, to the city we live in, and to the wider world. God is so generous with us; let’s respond thankfully.

For more information on any of these activities please contact is at Chalmers House:

Mail:

212 Barrie Street
Kingston ON
K7L 3K3

Phone:

613-546-3263

Email:

office@chalmersunitedchurch.com

Or Fax:

613-546-3341

On June 17, the congregation approved the annual report. Annual Report 2007