will return to 10:30am.

The children will join the service and leave part way through with the teachers. They will be meeting in St. Andrew’s Hall.

The flooring in the pulpit and choir area and the new organ site is completed. Extensive wiring including significant upgrading has been finalized.  Some finishing touches to the paneling under the organ pipes remain to be done. New carpeting has been installed throughout and in the church street entrance. Choir chairs have been ordered.

Cleaning has started with all indications we will be able to move back for Sunday worship, as scheduled, on September 12.

This remarkable transformation is due to the efforts of a dedicated group from the congregation providing a new look to our beautiful sanctuary that includes the best aspects of a current day setting.

Please make every effort to be on hand next Sunday. Invite family and friends, and celebrate with all those who have worked so hard, our best efforts to acknowledge with thanksgiving that which God has made possible.

to Match Pakistan Flood Donations

In response to the devastating destruction caused by Pakistan’s floods, the Canadian Government will be matching donations made by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charitable organizations – including PWS&D – for flood relief efforts from August 2 until September 12, 2010.

“The Government of Canada will use the Pakistan Floods Relief Fund to provide assistance through experienced Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations with significant in-country capacity, as per established channels and procedures” (CIDA press release). As such, your financial support at this time will make twice as many funds available for the affected families in Pakistan.

Your donation to PWS&D will support the distribution of food, shelter, emergency supplies and medical care for over 150,000 of the most affected people in the provinces of Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North West Frontier Province and Swat Valley).

Congregations can send PWS&D one cheque for the sum of all the donations they have collected for Pakistan flood relief, along with a letter identifying the names and amounts of the individual donations that make up the total. This will ensure these funds are eligible for matching in the Pakistan Floods Relief Fund.

You Can Help

The people of Pakistan need your prayers and financial support to recover and rebuild from this disaster. You can make a donation to PWS&D by calling 1-800-619-7301 ext. 291, donating online, through your church or mailing a cheque to the office. Please mark all donations “Pakistan Flood Relief.”

Visit www.presbyterian.ca/pwsd/pakistan for more details.

Presbyterian World Service & Development is the development and relief agency of  The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

However currently we are not keeping pace with this year’s commitment. Even more troubling is that we are behind in comparison to last year.

The gospels refer to so many references by Christ urging us to provide financial support for the work of the church. He knew it was not an easy subject for us.

Without our budgeted revenue Betty and Sylvia have to juggle expenses and explain delayed payments which add extra work to a busy work schedule.

At our annual meeting in February the Stewardship Committee gave thoughtful consideration to this year’s budget and projected only a 5% increase in givings for a growing list of congregational needs.

Christ makes reference to the cheerful and generous giver. I think we are all familiar with the story of the widow’s mite. This impoverished lady gave almost all she had and Christ’s heart went out to her.

When we consider making our offering each week and supporting the periodic requests for special financial help, are we giving from the heart or are we giving what is left over after  paying for our busy life styles.

Only you know the answer to that question and whether you are responding to Christ’s call to strengthen his church.

Being a Pre Authorized  Remittance (PAR) member you know that His request is being met regardless of whether you attend Sunday morning service. It is such a simple process. I would be happy to answer any questions with anyone who is interested.

Please give prayerful consideration to increasing your offering. It doesn’t have to be a burden if we all step forward and make a renewed commitment.

John McCutcheon on behalf of the Stewardship Committee.