Category: Uncategorized

January 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, January 20th, the scheduled worship service was cancelled because of inclement weather. It turns out it was also cancelled because Rev. Amanda’s water broke that morning, and she thought that she should probably go to the hospital. Two days later, at 7:00 am on January 22, her firstborn son was born! He arrived almost three weeks early, taking Rev. Amanda and the Kirk family by surprise.

Grayson Allister James weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. He was healthy, but due to a bit of jaundice spent a couple of days in the hospital before being brought home to the Manse. He is now at home with his parents, and is busy letting the dogs and cat know that there is a new boss in town.

Father Chad quipped that; “We’ve already started to read the Book of Forms to him at night and Calvin’s Institutes for his afternoon nap. You can never condition one too early, or so I’m told. We look forward to introducing him to you all in person over the next several months. Please keep us in your prayers as we navigate the world of parenting!”

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. Amanda was determined to go ahead with the baptism of Lucy Lefurgey that was scheduled for January 27, so led the worship service this past Sunday, notwithstanding her recent residency in the QEH maternity ward. That’s real dedication! The Session hosted a special fellowship following worship on the 27th, featuring a cake that said “Welcome Baby Grayson.” Grayson himself was not in evidence, unfortunately, as he was being kept cocooned at the Manse with father Chad.

It has been many years since there have been children residing in the Manse. It makes for a very welcome change. The whole Kirk family joins in offering a rousing welcome to baby Grayson, and extending warmest congratulations to Rev. Amanda and Chad. May God richly bless their new family in the months and years ahead.

January 2019

On Epiphany Sunday, January 6, 2019, the historic downtown Kirk of St. James launched its “Renewing Hope” five-year, $1.0 million capital campaign. The campaign will raise the funds needed to weatherproof the building, restore stone and brick work, repair the church’s beautiful stained glass windows and provide new washrooms, including barrier-free facilities.

Campaign Chair David Hooley announced the launch, saying: “Our ancestors bequeathed us a very beautiful sanctuary here at the Kirk of St. James. This generation is now the Kirk’s stewards. During the five year process leading up to today we heard over and over how attached this congregation is to their Kirk. This campaign is all about breathing new life into both our physical facilities and into our Christian ministry and community outreach. We chose the campaign name and theme “Renewing Hope” most of all because that’s exactly what this campaign is all about: Renewing Hope. Charting a bright new future for the Kirk of St. James.”

Offering the sermon at the launch, Rev. Amanda Henderson-Bolton tied together the themes of the Wise Men and Epiphany Sunday, and the campaign launch. “It takes courage to start out on a journey like the magi did so long ago. That is part of the reason we chose to launch the capital campaign on this particular day. We pick up on their theme of hope and tenacity.”

Rev. Amanda continued: “I know that we are setting out on this campaign to fix up and improve our building, but it is about more than that. It is about a community who loves one another and loves God. It is about being at home with one another. It is also about the possibilities for the future. We will be working not only on the building but on congregational renewal….I trust in God, who has been with us every step of the way and who I am certain has surprises in store that we cannot yet imagine. Whatever happens, we have our faith and we have one another and at the end of the day I give thanks for that.”

Eight months pregnant, Rev. Amanda reflected: “I feel anxious about this baby coming and how it will shake up my life, my routines, and my sleep. There are tons of anxieties and questions and concerns. But more than any of it is the potential and excitement. I feel the same way about this campaign. I am nervous and anxious but more than anything I am excited to see what God will do with us. He has been working with us for nearly two hundred years and I know he is not done with us yet – we still have things to do!”

David Robinson, the Action Clerk of Session, expressed excitement at the campaign’s launch. “I love the Kirk because of the wonderful community of faithful people it represents, and because of the caring outreach it does in the community and the world. Whether it is serving meals at the soup kitchen, visiting seniors in their nursing homes, helping Habitat for Humanity provide needed homes for people, supporting the Salvation Army Helping Hampers campaign at Christmas, building a family farm in Guatemala, or helping to welcome a refugee family from Syria, we are living out our faith together. This capital campaign will help ensure that the Kirk remains a beacon of Christian hope on the corner of Fitzroy and Pownal streets for years to come.”

The Kirk of St. James was established in 1825 as the original Presbyterian church in Charlottetown. The current stone Kirk Sanctuary was completed in 1878, just over 140 years ago. The phased five year schedule of building restoration and improvement envisioned by the capital campaign should ready the Kirk to joyously celebrate 200 years of service to the Charlottetown community in 2025.

Those who wish to learn more about the “Restoring Hope” capital campaign or who would like to make a tax-deductible donation are invited to contact the Kirk’s office at (902) 892-2839.

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 2018

Don MacKenzie, a Kirk Elder, has received the highly prestigious appointment as a Queen’s Counsel.

Presented annually, the Queen’s Counsel designation goes back to 16th century England, when one or two senior barristers of the High Court were entrusted with providing the Crown with legal counsel.

A Queen’s Counsel (post-nominal QC) is an eminent lawyer who is appointed by the Crown to be one of “Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law.” The term is also recognised as an honorific. Membership exists in most Commonwealth jurisdictions around the world. Queen’s Counsel is a status, conferred by the Crown but also recognised by courts. Members have the privilege of sitting within the bar of the court and may wear silk gowns, thus, being appointed a Queen’s Counsel is known informally as taking silk. Appointments are made from within the legal profession on the basis of merit rather than a particular level of experience. Today it is a mark of exceptional professional aptitude and community service within the legal profession. Only three such appointments are made each year in Prince Edward Island.

“I congratulate this year’s appointees,” said Jordan Brown, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General. “This designation is given to lawyers who have demonstrated excellence in the practice of law and recognizes their contributions to the justice system as well as their community.”

Don graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Science degree, and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie Law School. He was called to the bar in 1992. He practised law in Charlottetown with Foster Hennessey MacKenzie for 15 years, working extensively with the Mi’kmaq community. He joined the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI as its legal/band government advisor in 2006 and the next year became its Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. He was appointed to his current post as Executive Director in 2014.

Donald is a former president of the Law Society of PEI. He has given valued service to the Kirk in many capacities, including his election as an Elder in 2008. The Kirk warmly congratulates Don on this exceptional career milestone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 2018

The Advent season commenced in joyous fashion at the Kirk, with the lighting of the first candle on our Advent wreath, a baptism, the reception of five new members, and our Advent communion service.

The service began with the choir singing the anthem “Come, thou long-expected Jesus” by E. Daley. The first candle on the Advent wreath was lit by David and Valerie Toms, both Elders of the Kirk.

Following the Advent hymn, “Hope is a Star”, the family of Robert Robinson-Bartley-Crossley was invited forward for the baptism. Robert, who has been an active member of the Kirk family for about three years, was joined by his wife, Eleanor Robinson-Bartley-Crossley and father, John Crossley from Fredericton, NB and Dyer’s Bay, ON for the ceremony. He was presented for baptism on behalf of Session by his father-in-law, David Robinson, the Action Clerk of Session. Reverend Amanda Henderson-Bolton had to stand on tip-toes to reach Robert’s forehead to baptize him! It was a new challenge, as we see so few adult baptisms in our church, especially of those who stand six feet tall.

Said Robert, “It means so much to have taken this step with my family present. The Kirk has been such a welcoming environment for the past several years, and I am glad I get to be a part of this community.”

After the baptism, the choir sang the anthem, “Thou shalt know him,” by M. Sirett, and then the five new Kirk members were invited forward to be received. Joining the membership of the church were Robert and Eleanor Robinson-Bartley-Crossley, Katherine Burnett, and Josephine and Tim Rose. They all made confessions of faith and were presented with mementos by the Action Clerk of Session, following which they received the right hand of fellowship from all present Kirk Elders. More than a few tears of joy were shed as we thanked our new members for making the Kirk their church home.

The recepti0n of new members was followed by the Advent communion service, always a joyful and uplifting remembrance of our Lord’s life and his new covenant with us. It made an altogether wonderful start to the expectant and love-filled season of Advent.

November 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For centuries, church bells have been rung to mark joyous occasions – weddings, coronations and the arrival of peace after war. This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the signing of the First World War armistice on November 11, 1918. To mark the occasion, the Kirk and all Charlottetown places of worship that are fitted with bells, will ring them 100 times at sunset, 4:44 pm. Similar bell ringing will take place across Canada at local sunset time.

This ringing of the “Bells of Peace” is a joint project of Veterans Affairs Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion. Says the Legion: “The Royal Canadian Legion was born from the ashes of the First World War. As Canada’s largest veterans’ organization and in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, we have been handed this torch of remembrance by our founders to hold high and to never forget the sacrifices made in the name of Canada and for Canadians. On 11 November 2018, 100 years will have passed since the signing of the armistice that officially ended [the First World War]. As a tribute to all Canadians that served in this horrific struggle we are producing a program of remembrance for those from that era — an event that allows Canadians, if only for a moment, to stop, to remember and to feel, perhaps for a second, the joy that peace brought after so much death and destruction.… Our hope is all who hear the Bells will stop and focus on the loss and sacrifice both on the battlefield and at home.”

At the Kirk, the ringing of the “Bells of Peace” is being organized by Heritage Committee member Ian Scott. He will be joined by a number of congregation members at sunset on November 11 to toll the Kirk’s bell and remember all those who fought and served in the First World War, and especially the eight members of the Kirk family who made the ultimate sacrifice during that devastating conflict.

September 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

During its annual meeting, held at Summerside Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, Rev. Amanda Henderson-Bolton was inducted as the new Moderator of the Presbytery of Prince Edward Island. Rev. Amanda succeeds the Rev. Brad Blaikie, Minister of Summerside Presbyterian Church, in that role.

During the induction ceremony, Rev. Brad said: “I’ve noticed at events like this that the outgoing Moderator often gives the incoming Moderator a gift … often a beverage, and frequently alcoholic in nature. So I went out and purchased something suitable. Then I heard Rev. Amanda’s good news [that she is expecting in February 2019] and decided that what I had bought wouldn’t do. I had to drink it myself!” Instead of the unnamed libation, Rev. Brad bought Rev. Amanda a box of chocolates and a Rock and Roll Baby Names book, which were presented to general laughter.

The Moderator presides at bi-monthly meetings of the Presbytery, which is made up of Ministers and Representative Elders drawn from PEI’s 25 Presbyterian churches and charges. According to the Book of Forms, “the duty of the Moderator is to constitute the court and preside, to open and close the meetings with prayer, to preserve order, to take the vote, to announce decisions, to pronounce censures, to sign the minutes when sustained, to instruct parties to judicial process, to call meetings for emergent business and generally to direct the business of the court.”

Rev. Amanda came to the Presbytery of PEI in 2014 and most recently has been very active in the Camp and Business Committees of the Presbytery. It is a sign of the high regard in which Rev. Amanda is held that she is being called to assume the Moderator’s chair at such an early juncture in her ministry career.

A native of Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Rev. Amanda earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Stephen’s University (2005), spent time in the Iona Community in Scotland, studied for a Master of Divinity degree from Acadia Divinity College (2009) and a Master of Arts degree from Acadia University (2010). After that she studied for 18 months at McGill/Presbyterian College in Montreal. She accepted a call to the Kirk of St. James in 2014, and lives in Charlottetown with her husband Chad, who is a candidate for ministry, as well as her two dogs and cat.