Greetings from the Chair

When I was a child, the wait for Christmas seemed interminable. The older I get, the faster it seems to arrive!   The Advent wreath with candles for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, as well as the Christ candle, help count down the weeks until the blessed birth day. 

In our congregation the Purdy’s chocolate and the boxed cookie fundraisers also remind us of the time passing. These have been well-supported fundraisers which reveal to us that there are many sweet teeth in our community! A big thank you to all the volunteers who made those events happen.

But what are we waiting for?  There is a selection of contemplative studies happening in our church this Advent season to help us ponder that question:

• Reverend Alwin is hosting a weekly Advent bible study from the PWRDF entitled, ‘The Birth of Hope’ on Tuesday evenings at 7:00, in person and via Zoom.
• Catherine Ripley is offering Virtual Advent Potlucks, each Saturday morning at 10:00 in a small group format via Zoom, comprised of folks from KSM as well as participants from other Anglican and United congregations in the East Kootenays. 

More information about these study groups is available on our KSM website, through the biweekly emailed newsletter, as well as by phoning the church office (250-427-2428 Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00-12:00).

• From further afield, the Anglican Church of Canada is leading a weekly series during Advent entitled, ‘What Are We Waiting For?  Mondays feature Advent Meditations with the Leaders of the Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian, and United Churches.  Then, every Thursday during Advent, listeners are invited to join in a live discussion, via Zoom, with one of the leaders on that week’s Advent theme. Registration is required to join the Zoom gatherings.  Attendees will be able to ask questions during the online conversation. Visit the Anglican Church of Canada website for more information.
• The United Church of Canada’s offering is entitled, ‘Advent Unwrapped’:   ‘Get ready for Christ(mas)!   Advent—a holy, four-week countdown to Jesus’ birthday—begins on Sunday, November 27!   Get ready to make room for Christ and the radical, countercultural messages that Christ brings.

Throughout the season, videos, prayers, family resources, and reflections will introduce and explore the Christmas story. For more worship resources visit our Advent and Christmas worship pages. Follow our Advent Unwrapped Facebook page (opens in a new tab) and subscribe to our newsletter (opens in a new tab) for regular updates.

As well, there are many Advent worship services offered in our sanctuary. These are listed elsewhere in this newsletter.

Waiting for Christmas is a busy time with many options for study and fellowship. I look forward to seeing many of you at some of these events.

Christmas Blessings,

Kathy Desbiolles

Chair, KSM Council

2022 Christmas Print Newsletter

Click to view this newsletter

This Service included Right Rev. Dr. Lynne McNaughten, Rev. Ibi Chuan, and Rev. Canon Andrea Brennan. The streamed video of this service is on the YouTube channel for Kimberley Shared Ministry.

Congregational Meeting: After worship on Sunday, July 10

The purpose of this meeting is to approve the updated Shared Ministry Agreement.

Click to read the updated Shared Ministry Agreement

The 2022 Council members and members of each committee will be approved.

Nominations from the floor for any position will be accepted.

Members of the congregation are encouraged to volunteer and sign up in the office if they are interested in greeting, counting, coffee, visiting, scripture reading, Sunday school Co-ordinator 0r 100th Birthday

Click to read the list of 2022 Council members and committee members

The draft budget for Kimberley Shared Ministry will also be presented.

TREASURER’S NOTES ON BUDGET

The draft budget as presented for Kimberley Shared Ministry from June to December 2022 is based on a few more estimates than usual.   The revenue side of things was particularly difficult to forecast as we don’t have a good past year’s history to base these amounts on.   Many of the expense amounts can be budgeted more accurately as they are either fixed costs, such as salary, or items like building operating expenses where we do have a history.   

With reference to M&S and PWSD please note that the budgeting for these two items is a bit different than the budgeting for other expense items. In general, budgeted expense items are the maximum we can spend on those items without obtaining additional authorization from the congregation.    The budgeted amounts for M&S and PWSD are instead a commitment to the smallest amount we will spend on these two items.   Put another way the congregation is committing to pay these amounts from operating funds if there are not sufficient individual donations to make up the budgeted amount.

Susan Baker

Click to read the KSM Budget 2022

ROCK LAKE UNITED CHURCH CAMP

REPORT MAY 1, 2020

Due to Covid-19 Health Restrictions, Rock Lake Church Camp has been closed for the summer and the children’s Summer Camp has been cancelled.

Most of the Church Camps rentals have been postponed until 2021, with two cancellations.

The Seasonal Campground will be allowed to stay open (after May 19) as it is in the Koocanusa Recreation Region that is allowing for private campgrounds to remain open, with certain restrictions.

At this time spring cleanup will take place on an individual basis, but, we ask that you please let me ( Jill Sayegh 250-432-5447) know and I will call the caretaker and inform him of when you will be there.

All of the above may change at any time as social restrictions evolve.

Rock Lake United Church Camp is in a healthy financial position as the Seasonal Campground revenue provides for the Camp requirements in regards to maintenance and repairs that are constantly needed in an older camp. 

2019 saw much needed renovation of the kitchen which included a new stove and the purchase of an icemaker, freezer, coolers and new windows and doors. These purchases, also included a new sign, propane fire ring, canopy for patio, utility trailer, and electrical upgrades.  

The Boil Water Notice is still in effect as the work required was not done in the permit time frame – a new permit is required, so hopefully, this much needed work will get done as soon as possible.

There are plans to demolish the meeting hall this summer if able – no new hall plans at this point.

As there will be no summer camp this year, the loss of the Church Camp rentals will not have an impact.

2019 saw 35 campers with 17 staff and was very well received.

The Board consists of United Church members from the East Kootenay region and is very well served, however, several board members serve on two or three committees.  My involvement is limited to attending board meetings.  I believe Rock Lake Camp would be better served by someone who would be interested in becoming more involved in the operations of the camp. The Board lost a devoted member in Dick Moffatt who was integral in keeping the camp going forward.  Most Church camps in the country have been sold or simply closed – so the region is fortunate to have such devoted people to keep this camp in a financially solvent situation.

Should anyone in our Church Community willing to step into this position of ‘Director at Large’ – please let me know.

Respectfully submitted

Jill Sayegh

Rock Lake United Church Board

All Saints Anglican and Kimberley United Church

These two congregations continue to work together to explore the possibilities of a shared ministry in Kimberley. A workshop was held on Feb 29 at All Saints church, and the two congregations held a combined worship service on Sunday, March 1. The worship service at Kimberley United Church was led by Anglican Bishop Rev. Lynne McNaughton.