Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Good morning everyone and I am sure you all agree it is nice that summer has returned. Today’s beautiful blue skies and low humidity are a wonderful experience. Although the weather was a little strange on the weekend, Barb and I spent lots of time with our grandkids and it was an awesome weekend. I took Friday off as well and we just played with the kids. We went swimming, walking, had great conversations (Aiden the youngest one loves to talk 😊); we went mini golfing, fishing in a little pond to catch tiny catfish (I think it was the same catfish over and over again); we went on a wagon ride – in short both Barb and I were lost in a world of grandkids over the weekend and we loved it. I hope your holiday weekend had something in it as well that helped you to feel a sense of joy, connection, family and adventure!

Here at the church the adventure continues. Last week the session approved the decision to enter into a lease agreement with Nexus church. The lease agreement is still being worked out, as are all the details, but in broad terms it appears as though Nexus will be using Iona Hall as a worship space beginning September 8 – initially for a one year lease, but with the desire for many more years to come. St. Andrew’s will provide some leasehold improvements that have to do with sound (a roll away carpet and some acoustical box hangings). Nexus will provide their own sound system and other worship furniture. Nexus will also be sharing some of the space upstairs for church school – Andrew Hight has been part of all of those conversations. This is an exciting time for two reasons: one, it helps to cover the costs of the building itself and second, Nexus is a church with many younger families who have expressed great interest in helping us to meet some of the needs of those who live and work in the downtown. They are keen to help out and indeed increase our ability to expand things like the Thrift Shop so it includes more clothing for children and teens, and an increased food security program for those in need. Lots of details to be worked out over the summer, but exciting developments.

Conversations also continue with KW Redeemer and with Kids and Company Daycare, but as each day passes the likelihood of them starting in the fall diminishes. Hopefully they will be part of this beautiful facility in the new year.

The Roy St. Task Force has been busy as well. Dr. Bob Fewster gave an update to the congregation after church a week ago. We have engaged a local consultant to help create a Proforma (an assessment showing the feasibility of the project both financial and otherwise). We will be applying to the City of Kitchener for funds for what are called soft costs of the project (feasibility studies, architectural studies and drawings, soil tests and so on). The task force is also hosting a second symposium with leaders in the community who are involved in providing support to adults with differing abilities and also to potential donors who may be interested in helping to fund the project. As well, this past Sunday we had an excellent presentation by Lisa Reitzel from Elmira District Community Living about a program they will be starting here in the fall called ‘Trying it on for size’. A social worker will offer two workshops weekly, one in the afternoon and one in the evening for eight weeks. The program will focus on skills that the clients themselves decide they need to work on with the goal of trying on for size a greater sense of independence and potentially more independent living. Elmira District Community Living is very excited about what we plan to do here because it ties in directly with the ‘Trying it on for size’ program. The social worker’s name is Cindy and she will need volunteers from the church to help each week. Please consider offering your support to this beautiful program.

In terms of my own schedule, with negotiations happening between St. Andrew’s, Nexus, KW Redeemer, Kids and Co and Elmira District Community Living, I will be taking two weeks holidays in the summer (July 22 – August 5) and then a couple weeks in the fall.

This coming Sunday we are doing something different. The worship service itself will be 30 minutes and then, together with St. Peter’s, we will have an educational experience in Iona Hall about the worship service itself. What are vestments and why do clergy wear them? What are the colours of the church year and why are they important? What is the lectionary and why do we follow it? What are the different parts of the worship service and what role do they play? The reason for this is two fold: first, it gives us a chance to enjoy and strengthen our relationship with the people of St. Peters. Second, it gives us an opportunity to ask questions about why we do the same things over and over again on a Sunday morning. I hope all of you will consider coming as you are able.

Talking about St. Peter’s, they have just requested an extension to their lease with us until May of 2025. Construction delays are inevitable and St. Peter’s renovation is no different. The session unanimously agreed to extend the lease. It is a very tangible way to support St. Peter’s in their own adventure of creating space within their facility to meet the needs of those living in the rough. It is good to have St. Peter’s with us. They have been an excellent partner to help us understand what it means to share our building. The relationship between the two churches is strong. This coming Sunday is a way to help to enjoy that relationship even more.

PLEASE NOTE: The congregation has been called to meet on Wednesday, July 10 at 7 pm to hear a report from the Finance Committee and the Trustees. Both groups have been very hard at work to deal with the short term financial deficits the church has experienced. A very creative short term solution will be presented to the congregation, as well as the longer term plans to get us back to balanced budgets. These longer term plans include using the building as an entity to support the mission and ministry of the congregation moving forward. Please attend this meeting as you are able. You are encouraged to come in person, but a zoom option will be available if you cannot make it.

And finally, yet again a bogus email has been sent out in my name asking for people to respond. Please ignore that email. Again we have contacted our computer consultants to look at why and how this is happening. It is frustrating for all involved. Please do not respond to anything that bears my name unless it is from my St. Andrew’s email account – m.molengraaf@standrewskw.com Please ignore any other messages and I am sorry that this has happened again.

Take care everyone

Rev. Marty Molengraaf (he, him)
Minister, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church