January 2023

We are well into the new year and the season of Epiphany  – the season of Light! There is so much to be thankful for as we move into increasingly lengthening days.

I’d like to share a message from the Minister, Rev. Meg Jordon in Lake of Bays Pastoral charge. It arrived in my inbox this week. She writes:

“The changing seasons make us realize how much our lives spiral around a circular pathway which reveals new things to us every time we pass by. Sometimes the revelation comes to us as the slowly emerging light of a new dawn. Sometimes it comes like a flash of lightening or a theatrical spotlight. All are Epiphany moments, “aha” moments, moments of clarity and enlightenment about something that has always been there.”

This past Sunday we heard that message in the story of Jesus calling to his disciples, fishing on the Sea of Galilee, to follow him. The call is as strong today. Who are we called to be and what are we called to do at this time in our lives on earth? Each one of us has a “calling” which is just as strong and clear as Jesus” call to the fishermen. Our challenge is to discern God’s call amoung all the demands and distractions that surround us every day.

Earlier this month, Council Circle presented it’s proposed vision for Kamloops United Church. Overwhelmingly, there was great energy and positive feedback for the directions chosen – of course! Those directions and insights came from you!

From our “Continue, Stop, Start” process we heard that people were happy with the work we are doing and wanted it to continue. We wanted to be “risk-takers” in our worship and music, to be more environmentally active and, most strongly, to actively work towards a First Third ministry presence that involved the input of First Third people. All exciting!!

The challenge for Council Circle was to discuss and discern a possible way to get there. We heard a few helpful comments about the recommendation of hiring a second full time position, whose primary focus would be the First Third work. I want to take this opportunity to explain our reasoning behind this more fully.

There are three reasons for this:

1.     We are an older population in the congregation and we embrace the need to bring new and younger people into our loving community of faith – to support them in their Spiritual growth. Already we have seen an increase in this populaiton – 12 infants/children last Sunday alone. I understand that there are 6 and possible more who will be Baptized in April!

2.     With all of the work and outreach of the church Michael is working significantly more hours than were contracted for. As a point of fact, Ministry and Personnel were on the verge of approaching Council Circle with regards to hiring a new full time Minister to cover this extra work. Add in the additional feedback from the Congregation in our visioning, and the new position became imperative.

3.     Michael is entitled to a 6 month Sabbatical leave starting in 2024. With all of the work of our community of faith, we need to have a position to fill-in all of the on-going ministerial work while he is gone. As this will be coming up in a year, the sooner we find someone for this position, the better.

These were the three primary reasons behind our decision. As to how we can afford it? We heard from our Treasurer, Gail Wichmann, that we have sufficient ability through our Legacy funds. However, a caution that doing so would mean that we don’t have this available for other things in the future. It is important for each of us to seriously consider our commitment to what we can offer of our own resources to help fund this position. We heard some people make that commitment on the January 15th meeting, and I thank them – with a full heart! There is more to do….

Council Circle will not have a formal meeting in February as both Michael and I will be out of the country – Michael to Mexico, me to Sri Lanka. They will, however, gather together on February 21 to talk about the Vision, the Nominations Committee and their worship service in February.

We are a deeply caring and spiritual community and our Light shines out into the community of Kamloops and beyond each and every day!
Warm blessings and love
Marcia
Council Circle Chair