Rector................................Rev. Cathy Lee Cunningham
Honorary Assistant.............Rev. Dr. V. B. Matthews
Honorary Retired Assistant.........Rev. Canon C. R. Elliott
Wardens............................. Mrs. Shirley Marston ,Mr. John Whidden
Visitation to Shut-ins............. Miss Ann K. Watson
Treasurers..................Mr. Robert Wrye , Elizabeth Biggs
Organist.......... Don Corbett
Secretary to Parish Council...............Margaret Coghill
Auditor.................. Mr. George Estey
Synod Delegates........Jim Amos, Wendy Alden,  Ann Watson,  Mrs. Shirley Marston (Alt.)
Diocesan Times Mailing List Convener........ Margaret Coghill
Parish Secretary...................Margaret Coghill
Parish Hall Manager............ Mrs. Dorothy Hancock

Parish Council Members
 

Honorary Member: Mr. G. Porter

Representatives of Organizations
Anglican Church Women......Mrs. Elizabeth Browne 
Choir............................ Mrs. Cathy Stewart
Sunday School..............Mr. James Nelson 
Sanctuary Guild........ Mrs. Mary Lynn Bruce

Parish Council Committees for 2006   (For duties, see Canon 35)
Rector: The Rev. Cathy Lee Cunningham 
Wardens: Shirley Marston, John Whidden

Spiritual Development
Kathy Phillips (Chair)
Don Corbett (Organist)
Miss. Ann Lowe
Mr. Dale Hennigar
Mr. Jim Amos
Mr. David Thomas

Worship Working Group Sub-Committee
Mr. Jim Nelson
Kimberly Matheson

Pastoral Care
Ann Watson (Chair)
Diana Patterson
Mrs. Pauline Wright (PWRDF Rep)
Mrs. Elizabeth Browne
Mrs Wendy Alden

Personnel
Mr. John Colwell (Chair) 

Sidespersons
Mr. Earl Pike

PWRDF Co-ordinator
Mrs Pauline Wright

Representatives to WAICC
Mrs. Helen Whidden 
Ann Watson
Kurt Bowen

Representatives to Clermont Region
The Rev'd Cathy Lee Cunningham
Synod Delegates
The Wardens

Representative to St. Anne’s Camp
The Rev'd Canon Russell Elliott
Mrs. Elizabeth Biggs
Mr. James Nelson

Property
Mr. David Ross (Chair)
Dr. Paul Kinsman
Mr. David Godon (co-opted) 
Mr. Gerald Porter - Churchyard Sub. Com.
Dr. Richard Kendall - Plant Life

Finance
Mr. Donald Conrad (Chair) 
Mr. Jack Colwell
Mrs Donna Cochrane
Mr. Gerald Porter
Mr. Robert Wrye (Treasurer)
Mrs. Elizabeth Biggs (Assistant Treasurer)

Ways and Means
Margaret Coghill (Co-Chair)
Martha MacKenzie (Co-Chair)
Mary Lynn Bruce
James Nelson
Shirley Robinson
Shirley Marston

Synod Delegates
Jim Amos
Wendy Alden
Ann Watson
Mrs. Shirley Marston (Alt.)

Representatives of Organizations
A C W    Mrs. Elizabeth Browne
Choir    Mrs Cathy Stewart
Sunday School   Mr James Nelson
Sanctuary Guild   Mrs. Mary Lynn Bruce
Parish Treasurer  Mr Robert Wrye
Assistant Treasurer  Mrs. Elizabeth Biggs
Parish Council Secretary    Margaret Coghill

The Wardens are members of all committees.

POPULATION

1. Total Families on Parish Roll: 191 (191 ) (193*) 
2. Total Individuals on Parish Roll: 361 ( 358) (357**) 
3. Baptized Communicants on Parish Roll: 360 (354 ) (352***) 
4. Number of Identifiable Givers: 144 (151 ) (146) 
5. Average Sunday Attendance: 114 (113) (96) 
6. Christmas Eve and Morning Attendance: 201 (203****) (231) 
7. Easter Attendance: 230 ( 261) (201) 
8. Average Attendance at Manning Memorial Chapel (Wednesday Evening Service): 5 (6) (8) 
9. Average Attendance at The Elms and the Wolfville Nursing Home: (once a month) 46 (45) (38) 

* In 2004, those families which no longer have affiliation with the parish, or have moved away, but were still kept on the lists were taken off the official statistics to give the most accurate reflection of the pastoral statistics to date.

** See note *, above.
*** See note above.
**** Several of our parish families were away this Christmas, visiting those family members that they normally bring to our worship services. Also, the children and grandchildren (who would come to visit some of those of our parish family who have died at Christmas) do not come back to Wolfville for Christmas. 

SUNDAY SCHOOL
1. Number of Teachers: 5 (5) (6) 
2. Number of Registered Pupils: 18 (18 ) (26) 

PARISH RECORDS

1. Baptisms: (5) ( 9) (0) 
2. Persons Confirmed: (0) (0) (1 ) 
3. Marriages: 3 (4) (3) 
4. Funerals: 9 ( 7) (5)

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RECTOR 2006
 

The hope of Jesus, expressed in these words, is that we, as his followers might find the same complete joy and strength that he found in his relationship with God. We find these gifts by abiding in His love, and by holding the commandments of God in safe-keeping in our daily lives and in the community. Of course, the summary of the commandments, the Shema, is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbours as ourselves. And we are doing that here in the Parish of Horton!

The well-known hymn which we sing at Christmas reminds us of the centrality of love and renewal, which are the heart of our faith:

It is the Love of God that causes all things to be, it is the beginning, the end, and the heart of the commandments. It is this same, eternal love which creates us all. All of our efforts as God’s servants in the world together are conceived of and fed by it. It is the mortar that holds the Christian community, both here and afar, together.

Henri Nouwen, in his book entitled Peacework writes this of Christian community:
 

When Jesus spoke to his disciples before his impending torture and death, he softly reminded them of all of these truths. He reminded them that living together and being his feet, hands, mouth and heart in the world would not be easy. He reminded them that they would have different ideas about what that work would look like, how they would carry it out. He begged them not to let their differences pull them away from him and his love. He reminded them that in abiding in his love, they would feel his very own joy, deep within, and promised that joy would carry them. His is a joy born of all of the adversities and pain of the cross, of which the end was and is resurrection, newness of life and rebirth. He reminded them that following in his way is not welcomed by the “world”. He calls us today to continue this journey together, feeling his love, his joy, and his presence in all of it. Of all of the beautiful and abiding things that we are called to remember of the life of precious Jesus, perhaps the most important is this: he struggled, fought, and stood up against the forces of his world to make things new, joyful, hopeful, and redeemed for all people, especially for those who had never heard the voice of God or felt his touch or love. We must touch one another and love one another and continually seek renewal in our common life, for him.

Many in the parish have expressed this desire for our parish community. As a result, through the work of the Parish Council and its committees, through the work of ACW, Men’s Group, Sunday School, Youth Group, RROC Committee, Choir and Sanctuary Guild, we are seeking a spiritual renewal in the parish which both seeks to draw in and acknowledge the gifts of every member of the parish, and make them known to all, as well as to reach out beyond ourselves in service to others in the community. The completion of the discernment process for the Rev’d. Ann Watson, our Deacon, represents our call to continually renew ourselves and our ministries through prayer, both as a community and as individuals, and to be God’s faithful servants in the world. Congratulations, Ann!

Over the last several months the focus has shifted from the restoration of the Church and the rectory to the importance of focusing our energies on spiritual re-awakening. The Spiritual Development Committee, after hearing the voices of many other parishioners, has come to a very basic conclusion; that all of our efforts at renewal and any conversations or visions that we might form around that purpose, must first begin with all members of the parish getting to know one another as a family in God. Many have expressed a deep desire to get to know their neighbours in the pews through more fellowship together in coffee times, potlucks and other social activities. The Spiritual Development Committee, chaired this year by Kathy Phillips, has been looking at this question over the last several months and will begin a new program in January of 2007, which will focus on revealing the gifts and talents, hopes and desires of our parishioners. What a wonderful way to continue to build on the foundation that has already been laid. I thank Kathy and all members of the committee for their openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit, for their willingness to listen and to discern, and for the sharing of their gifts not only with the committee, but with the parish. We are so blessed!

In January and February of 2006, a very successful series of talks on the Anglican Communion in the 21st Century was held on the Acadia Campus. The series was well-attended and represents an effort of the Spiritual Development Committee to fulfill the Parish mandate to reach out to Acadia students and faculty through the Campus Ministry Program of the Diocese. Thank you to those who have provided drives for students, to and from our worship services on Sunday mornings, and to the Rev’d. Ann Watson, who sometimes works together with me to support and lead the Wednesday night service of Evening Prayer in the Manning Memorial Chapel on the campus. In 2006, I continued to be present at various events on Campus, as well as to preach at the main Chapel service on the invitation of the University Chaplain, the Rev’d.  Roger Prentice, with whom I continue to work closely throughout the year. As I do each year, I remind you that this is an official ministry of the parish and is financially supported by the Campus Ministry Sub-committee of the diocese, to whom our Parish Council is accountable for that ministry. 

I also represented the parish by making a presentation on our Campus Ministry program at Synod in October. I had the great pleasure of meeting Michael Janz, our new Diocesan Youth Ministry Co-Coordinator, who expressed a great desire to visit every parish in the diocese to talk about youth ministry. I brought this invitation to our Spiritual Development Committee and suggested that we bring Michael in for a visit. He will be with us in January of 2007. I have encouraged the Spiritual Development Committee to continue to look at further developing a campus program apart form the Rector’s presence on Campus. These links will be very important for the future renewal of the Parish as we consider the needs for mission in this place where young people and students are such a part of the fabric of the community. We need them and they need all of the love and support that they can get as they make that often stressful journey through their academic careers.

My work throughout the year is vast and unending and encompasses everything from sorting through paper, filing and service preparation to sitting at the bedside of one who is dying or in distress in the middle of the night, whispering prayers and scripture and messages of love into their ears. The need is so great, and the hours so few, that I will always feel that there is no end in sight. That’s because there isn’t! 

Throughout the year, I offer baptismal preparation, hospital and home visitation, respond to pastoral emergencies in the parish, manage the mail, the phone and parish e-mail, attend to the pastoral needs of families at the time of the death of a loved one and plan the funerals with them, provide for youth group, train new servers, lay administrators and readers, prepare for Sundays and special services throughout the year with Don Corbett, work together with Sanctuary Guild, attend ACW meetings, and committee meetings unless I am not available, attend the monthly meetings of Clericus, WAICC Clergy Committee, and regional council meetings and services, meet with the Chaplain at Acadia, prepare for weddings, attend diocesan services, synods, and gatherings of the College of Clergy, prepare sermons each week, lead the services at the Nursing Home and Wolfville Elms, take Home Communions, prepare sermons for special services, weddings and funerals, meet with the wardens when necessary to plan meetings and events, prepare the bulletin with Margaret Coghill each week, meet with the Parish Council and committees, and with the deacon. That is just the skeleton. And I love it all.

This last year required much time spent with the Rev’d. Ann Watson as she continued to complete her discernment process and prepare for her pre-ordination assessment. My diverse work is all dedicated to the Lord Jesus in love. The need in the Parish is great and growing. As I said last year, with the demographics of the Parish we will continue to need to grow our pastoral ministry to respond to growing needs that cannot be fulfilled by a handful of people alone. We continue to discuss the possibility of expanding the number of people taking Home Communions and I now have a list of those who feel called to this ministry. I will complete their training through 2007. Please see the Rector’s report from 2005 for the details of what such a ministry will look like.

Again this year I found myself being with many of you who were facing illness, death, many forms of crisis, and the loss of loved ones. It is the highest privilege of ministry to be called to be with you and God in your homes and in the hospitals during those sacred and painful moments of life. I take great joy in all of these labours, as you know. I feel a peace and a presence of God that is beyond words in my pastoral ministry. This year was particularly painful with the accidental death of Ryan MacAskill in a car crash and the disappearance and murder of Leslie Ann Conrad. The grief over these two profound losses will always be part of my heart as we stand with Jesus on the cross and ask, “Why?” In those many moments on earth, when we can find no answer, we must do as he did and turn the question over to God, trusting always that there is some greater purpose for the good that is prevailing in the midst of the darkness. We must always trust God to make right that which we can’t. In the midst of these two losses we have witnessed the depth of God’s mercy, love and forgiveness in the faithful responses of the Conrad and MacAskill families. Their faith, strength and compassion are an example to us all. I thank them for welcoming my ministry at such a difficult time. Thank you as well to those of you who continue to call me when you are aware of the needs of others in order to “keep me in the loop”. On rare occasions, I don’t hear of a crisis directly from those facing it, but from the other members of our family who know of it and have concern. Thank you to those who take the time to do this and thank you to those of you who have reached out to me when you have found yourself in crisis. You have made me deeply aware of the power of God’s love and of the courage it takes to ask for help. That is what makes us strong! The Prayer Chain, which was organized by Murray Phillips is a wonderful addition to our common effort to stand together before God when we are in need of healing. Thank you Murray! I am so thankful for this new response that we are making to Jesus’ call to abide in God.

I am not alone in pastoral ministry here in the parish. I am ever thankful to God for those of our parish family who assist me in the ministry of visitation. Special thanks to the Rev’d. Ann Watson, our deacon, who faithfully visits the hospital as well as those who are shut-in at Tideways, the Nursing Home, the Elms and beyond. Ann’s presence is appreciated by all. I also thank Canon Elliott, and Pat Moore who drives him, for their faithful visitation of those with whom they have built bonds in Jesus over the years. Thank you to Doris Ross, who continues a ministry of visitation at the Wolfville Elms on behalf of the ACW, and to Kathy Phillips, who continues to assist with the services that are offered at the Elms and the Nursing Home each month. Nancy Fraser plays the piano for the Nursing Home service. Thank you!

We continue to be represented on the Wolfville and Area Inter-Church Council (W.A.I.C.C.). Throughout the year we have continued to participate in the ecumenical services which are sponsored by the W.A.I.C.C. and planned by the Clergy Committee, of which I am a member. As a member of the clergy and a leader for the worship services, I particularly enjoyed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity lunch time gatherings, held at the Harvest Gallery. Each of the leaders chose a piece of artwork on which to base our reflections. It was quite a departure from the tradition of previous years, and so well-enjoyed by those who participated that we will plan the services in the same way for 2007. Thank you to all of you who attend these services in support of the work of the Wolfville and Area Inter-Church Council. 

Several Regional events and services were held throughout the year for the Region of Clermont. These gatherings included a pre-synod meeting and a special evensong and gathering with Alyson Barnett-Cowan, the Director of Faith, Worship and Ministry for the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. Alyson addressed questions regarding the St. Michael Report on the Blessing of Same-Sex Unions.

During Lent, Canon Elliott led his yearly Bible Study on Wednesday mornings, following the service of Holy Communion at which I presided. As always, Canon Elliott’s study was appreciated and warmly received by all who attended.

I repeat the same report that I made of Holy Week and Easter in 2005. We celebrated Holy Week and Easter using the deeply moving liturgies of the Church from both the BAS and the BCP. Palm Sunday was beautiful as we shared together in remembering the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem and moved into the reading of the events of his Passion. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week, a said Holy Communion service was offered each evening. On Maundy Thursday, we had a service of Holy Eucharist with the Washing of the Feet and on Good Friday, a service of Tenebrae with Meditations on the Cross. Directly following our service, we prepared to join the procession of the cross through town organized by the L’Arche Community. This year, the annual Good Friday service for the Wolfville and Area Inter-Church Council was hosted by Port Williams United Baptist Church. On Holy Saturday, we marked the Great Vigil of Easter with a renewal of our baptismal vows and Holy Eucharist. A sunrise service, by candlelight, was offered to the glory of God as the first Easter light was dawning. Thank you to Marlianda and Harrison Czapalay for so joyfully filling the church with chocolate, hidden in secret places, for the following Easter morning services. The sunrise service was followed by hot cross buns and coffee in the Sunroom. The annual Easter Egg hunt followed the 10 a.m. combined Easter Communion. It was a great celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus! 

Meetings of the “The Disciples” youth group have continued on Sunday nights through the year, and I thank Karen Langille and Donna and Bob Thomas for providing unending support to the effort. As well, we have enjoyed youth leadership in various capacities in the worship services, including a youth-led service. Many of our youth participate in the Clermont Regional summer camp and the Diocesan Youth Conference. I thank the ACW for the support that they have offered by sending a young person to the camps and supporting the youth conference. Also in the realm of youth ministry, I thank our Sunday school teachers: David Thomas (Superintendent), Donna Thomas, Dianne Thorpe and Pam Herbin, and Jim Nelson for their tireless devotion to our children. I continue to offer them support by way of equipping them with teaching resources and providing a children’s talk each Sunday. Thanks most of all to our Sunday School students who bring us such joy on Sunday mornings and through the week.

In August, I took a much-needed vacation. Thank you once again to all of you who encourage me to take care of myself through the year. It is often easier said than done, as we all know. Not only clergy, but every person who lives in the world today faces that same challenge. I pray that each of you will take proper care of yourself and give thanks for all of you who give of your time to the parish through worship, leadership and committee and fund-raising participation. As we move through this time of restoration and renewal I continue to keep watch over those of you who are volunteering in the parish. 

In October, we celebrated the Leap for Faith Sunday for the Diocesan Capital Campaign. A DVD of a special sermon, delivered by our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev’d. Fred Hiltz, was played at both of the Sunday services. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the campaign above and beyond your support of the parish. 

In December, a few of us enjoyed the Fifth Annual Family Bowling Party at Fairlanes in New Minas. On the Third Sunday in Advent the children of the Sunday School, under the direction of Superintendent David Thomas and assisted by Pam Herbin, Jim Nelson, Donna Thomas, and Dianne Thorpe, our other Sunday School teachers, provided a wonderful Christmas pageant at the 10:00 service. Thank you to all of them. At the beginning of the month, it was moving to watch the Pastoral Care Committee work together with the teachers and children of the Sunday School yet again to bring Christmas baskets to those who are shut in at the Wolfville Elms and Wolfville Nursing Home. Once again the love of the parish family went beyond the end of the church driveway to bring the light of Christ to those who can feel so alone at Christmas. Stockings were also prepared for the youth at Waterville. Thank you to everyone who contributed. 

The Rev’d. Dr. Bruce Matthews has continued to provide leadership at the 8:00 services on Sunday mornings and at both services during times when I have been away or on vacation. Bruce has been a wonderful support to me over the past years and I thank God for his ministry and devotion to peace, tolerance and justice. I also give thanks for the Rev’d. Canon Russell Elliott and the Rev’d. Canon Cal McMillan for helping out in various ways with the liturgy on Sunday mornings. We have missed the physical presence of the Rev’d. William Bishop on Sunday mornings, but continue to give thanks for his spiritual presence through prayer.

Over the last year, with the Rev’d. Ann Watson as the chair, members of the Pastoral Care Committee have continued to grow in their ministry of outreach by linking their ministry with the various groups in the parish and community including the ACW, the W.A.I.C.C. and our P.W.R.D.F. Parish Representative. As a member of the committee, Pauline Wright, our Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund Representative, made sure that we have the current resources that the Primate’s Fund produces, so that we can support current campaigns in informed ways. Pauline also makes sure that we are well-supplied with PWRDF Christmas Cards each year as well.

It is a great privilege for me to be able to gather with the women of our parish who offer their ministry of dedication to serving the needs of others to the glory of God. Again this year I deeply enjoyed being a part of the ACW, and serving at the Crachit‘s Coffee House. The annual service of Evensong for the ACW was held in the Winter. I thank these faithful women for all of their hard work and the many ways in which they reach out in love in our community and beyond, in both times of joy and of sorrow, by supporting those who have lost loved ones, to build up the kingdom of God. It has been a joy to see that the efforts that you have made over the past year are bringing even more new life to our parish family and are helping us to grow. As well as other Evensong services and meetings for the women of the Sanctuary Guild and Brass Committee were held. Thank you to the Sanctuary Guild and Brass Committee for caring so lovingly for God’s holy sanctuary, which takes many hours throughout the year. 

The needs for those who have little in the way of material things continue to be great in the community. I continue to provide assistance through the utilization of the Rector’s Discretionary Fund and the programs of the W.A.I.C.C. which include referrals to the Emergency Food Voucher and Christmas Food Voucher Programs when this help is sought out by those in need. As we continue to journey together through this time of restoration and renewal, I have heard many in the parish express the desire to continue our work of renewing the parish through an expanded program of outreach. That work was expanded to help to support two students from Acadia this year who have come to us from the African Continent. As well, I was able to provide some temporary assistance to a young woman trying to make ends meet while getting a degree through community college, as well as to help several families and individuals at Christmas time. It is my prayer that this ministry will continue to expand in 2007.

Special thanks to all of you who have continued to support the Restoration and Renewal Campaign. Your generosity is extraordinary! Special thanks to our Wardens, Shirley Marston and John Whidden, for their tireless efforts. A new worship book has been compiled for use at the 10:00 service to aid the worshipper. A small committee, comprised of Paul Hobson (chair), the Wardens, myself, Jack Colwell, Don Corbett, and Kathy Phillips, worked together over many hours to compile and edit based on the services used at 10:00 as well as the expressed needs of the worshippers. The booklet will be unveiled in February 2007. The outside renovations on the rectory were completed, and the house looks wonderful, without any rot in sight! This has been made possible by the great generosity of all of you through your commitments to the Campaign. In addition to campaign donations and in order to meet the financial challenges which have faced us, the work of the Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Margaret Coghill and Martha MacKenzie, continues to be absolutely essential. The Annual Parish Yard Sale and the Quiche Luncheon, together with the Men’s Suppers and the donations of funds from the ACW, represent enormous amounts of work for God. You are all amazing! All of these efforts involve everyone of all ages in the parish, which makes them not as much about money as about working together as a family in God. Through them we have grown closer together and had a great deal of fun. All of these efforts are deeply appreciated and continue to help the parish to grow and to serve the community. A new addition to all of these efforts has been the completion and unveiling of the new Parish website, created by Debbie MacDonald with the input of willing parishioners. Our deepest thanks to Debbie for creating this beautiful site by offering her creative talent and a great deal of her own time to do so. It is a very exciting new place for all of us to visit when we are surfing the net!

I leave the covering of the rest of the details of all of the ministries of the parish family ministry to the reports of the Wardens and Committee Chairs and Restoration and Renewal Oversight Committee. As Rector, it has been a great pleasure to have worked with these gifted people as we continue the work of the restoration and renewal of the parish. 

Once again this year, I give thanks to the “old faithfuls”, who continue in their service of God in this place in their various capacities. This year, I give special thanks to Earl Pike for his great work in ringing the bell, co-ordinating the sidespeople to greet, take up and count the offering on Sunday mornings and at other special services throughout the year. Deepest thanks is expressed to our Treasurer, Bob Wrye; our Assistant Treasurer, Elizabeth Biggs; Paul Hobson, Chair of the Capital Campaign Fundraising Committee; and to the many members of the various committees established under the Restoration and Renewal Oversight Committee. Your hard, time-consuming work is appreciated by all of us. Special thanks to George Estey, our Auditor, for his good work and the generous gift of his time. Thanks also to the membership of our Parish Council and committees, the chairs of each of the committees which function under Canon 35, and the members of the groups and organizations who give so freely of their time to contribute to the administration of the parish. We are a very busy family of God! 

My deepest thanks is extended to our wardens, Shirley Marston and John Whidden. They are two very gifted and faithful people who offer their work in service of God, doing so with great love and integrity. God has truly blessed us in them! Special thanks to Margaret Coghill, our Parish Administrator, who works quietly behind the scenes, producing bulletins, reports and letters throughout the year. She is a great blessing as is Martha MacKenzie who assists her! So too is our Director of Music, Don Corbett, with whom I work very closely throughout the year. 

I have completed my course of study and training in Conflict Management after three years of working at it when I was able to spare a bit of time. I now hold the Certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Management from Dalhousie University College of Continuing Education and Dalhousie University Law School. As well I completed a course of study through the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School in the Fall. I am now a mediator and trained by Harvard to teach the ways of peace in a very practical sense. As you all know, peacemaking is a ministry near to my heart and I look forward to serving not only the broader but the local community in this capacity in the name of God. Last June, Bishop Fred asked me to travel with him to Winnipeg to co-facilitate, and act as the keynote speakers for, the Annual Conference for Clergy and Lay Professionals for the Diocese of Winnipeg. This was a great privilege and a deeply moving experience. Our theme used the image of abiding in Jesus, he the vine and us the branches, in the midst of the pains that we find in our life as the Church. We were privileged to work with a wonderful group of people from their diocese, and I learned just how big a Manitoba mosquito really is! In September, I represented the clergy as a delegate to the Provincial Synod, held in St. John’s Newfoundland. This year, after four years in the office, I resigned as Regional Dean of Clermont. I continue to serve the broader church as a Reconciliation Advocate for the Diocese, a post to which I was recently named by Bishop Hiltz. In this work, I have acted and will continue to act as a mediator between conflicted parties in the church, when I am needed. In so doing, I continue to fulfill the vow that I made at my ordination as a priest, a vow which all priests make, to serve the Church beyond the parish level. 

 As part of the family of God, let us continue to pray for the unity of the Anglican Communion, and of our diocese, parish and homes. May we continue to embrace the beauty of our diversity as a gift of God and serve him with the complete joy and love that abides in our Saviour, Jesus. With that joy and love may we continue to confront every barrier to the newness of life to which we are called by the Crucified and Risen One, whose light illuminates our darkness and makes us whole.

With deepest love I thank all of you and I cherish you in the bonds of Christ. Let us continue this work entrusted to us by him, together, opening ourselves to one another, listening to his voice, and choosing the path forward always abiding in his love, as one. I recall those words of the hymn with which I began:

MARRIAGES

BURIALS

Warden’s Report
Restoration and Renewal Oversight Committee
Restoration work in the past year was confined to the rectory. Rotten wood in and around the dormers, in much of the rake moulding, and in the roof was replaced.  One chimney was rebuilt from the roof up, and new storm doors and windows were installed. An awkward protrusion at the rear, around which some leaking had occurred, was removed.  The roof was stripped and re-shingled, and the exterior walls were scraped and repainted. Though some caulking remains to be done, the house is now in extremely good condition.

Restoration costs amounted to some $55,000.00, and donations in 2006 totalled $35,000.00. Over the three years of the campaign expenses have been about $214,000.00 and donations $183,000.00, all figures inclusive of HST costs and rebates. At this stage we are about $31,000.00 in deficit.  It must be stressed, however, that there are two years left in the campaign, and that the great preponderance of the work is done.  In addition the committee is very pleased that more of the congregation are contributing to the campaign, and that many are doing so through small monthly donations which, over the life of the campaign, will be of significant help.

Much of the attention of the Committee in the last six months was focussed on renewal projects. A number of proposals from the Spiritual development Committee were discussed and supported at Parish Council, and several such as the coffee hour, the wall of photos and the prayer chain have been introduced. A great deal of time was spent working on the new St. John’s worship booklet in which all the different services we use on a regular basis will be printed and presented in a uniform format.  As the restoration part of the committees mandate nears conclusion, parish renewal will become the dominant aspect - as it should be.

We,

• Brought the motion to the Parish AGM in September which facilitated the adoption of the current Sunday two service format 
• Recommended that all the parish's choices of liturgy be used in rotation and contained in one service booklet 
• Reestablished the coffee/tea/biscuits greeting time following the ten o'clock service 
• Facilitated the completion of the church website designed and operated by Deborah MacDonald 
• Organized the presentation after church on Nov. 26th by Karen and Dale Hennigar at which they shared their experiences in Egypt 
• Inaugurated the Congregational Renewal Project, "Who Are We?", which focuses on the gifts of the Spirit for each member of the congregation; this beginning process will hopefully help us to blend and merge our gifts and lead us to see ourselves as one church family
• Are in the process of planning a Youth Service 
• Plan to have before the end of 2007 a short series of evening talks to be held at the Acadia Chapel similar to those of February 2006 
• Have met with Michael Janz (Diocesan Ministry for Youth Coordinator) to explore youth involvement, development, and leadership within our parish and neighbouring parishes; plan a subsequent family potluck lunch following the service on March 25th to further ideas from this meeting 

Our committee is representative of the diversity represented by our congregation and each member brings a wealth of knowledge, creativity, opinion, and experience to make our discussions meaningful and purposeful.  Many thanks to Jim Amos, Don Corbett, Cathy Lee Cunningham, Dale Hennigar, Ann Lowe, Kimberly Matheson, Jim Nelson, Tom Shaw, and David Thomas.

We welcomed a couple new members this year. Wendy Alden and Diana Patterson. Also Jim Amos and Dale Henniger have volunteered to help when needed.  Pauline continues to be a faithful member of the committee as PWRDF Parish rep.  Their contributions are much appreciated.  Thank you all.

We would like to give special thanks to Debbie MacDonald for her first draft of the information booklet to go in our welcome baskets.  The booklet is one of the items on the top of our project list to finish in this new year.

We would like to thank Donald Conrad who volunteered his time and truck to bring a cart up to the church for us to store our supplies in.

One welcome basket was delivered to a new family this year. A total of  twenty-five Christmas baskets were delivered to the shut-ins and to the seniors at the Wolfville Nursing Home and the Elms.

We would like to thank the Sunday School for their beautiful cards that they made for the baskets and for delivering them to the Nursing Home and the Elms.  Your visits and your art work are truly treasured by the folk there. 

We would also like to thank David Ross for his time out of his busy schedule for arranging for the taping of a Christmas service to put in the baskets. Many thanks also to the choir for the extra work in such a busy season.  Many thanks to the congregation for accepting a Christmas service at an odd time The tapes were much appreciated by the seniors.
Many thanks go to Kimberly Matheson and James Amos for their faithful involvement in picking up the Acadia students for church on Sundays.

Elizabeth Biggs has been hard at work heading the "Enjoy The Warmth" program. The program is an outreach in the community and for fellowship within the community.  Anyone interested in learning to knit, crotchet, quilt, etc. are most welcome. They meet on Tuesday from 10am-3pm.You can drop in at any time during that time period.

The group has been very busy. 5 teddy bears for tragedy went to the RCMP station, 4 afghans to the Wolfville Nursing Home, 3 hats and mitts and 4 baby sweaters to family services, 10 hats to Mission to Sea farers, and 38 pneumonia vests sent away. 16 people worked on these.

The group had some yarn, fabric and sewing machines donated. All donations of materials or cash are very much appreciated to cover the costs of materials.

The Rev'd Canon Elliott and Patricia Moore who has very kindly taken on the driving task, continue to visit many parishioners.  Their work is very much appreciated. 

Ann Watson continues to be involved in hospital and Wolfville Nursing Home visitation along with occasional home visits.

The Rev'd Cathy Lee Cunningham is working with the youth group, The Disciples, with some family members helping out.

We will continue to work with our Rector on new ways of reaching out in our parish family, in our community, and in the world.

The second expensive incident was the necessary replacement of the propane water heater in the parish hall.  However, in the long run we should be able to recover some of the cost, inasmuch as the new heater can be turned off and on with a switch, and can be operated only as necessary in the summer season, and we will attempt to devise a schedule for the rest of the year for minimum use of hot water.

We investigated the possibility of brighter lights in the parish hall, for the benefit of the quilters, but discovered the present lights are at maximum strength for the installation, and instead purchased two floodlights which do the job, at a very reasonable cost to the parish.

Otherwise, a routine year.  Work continued on the property renovation, and that is covered in John Whidden’s report.  And of course, Dot and Jim Hancock, after years of faithful service to St. John’s, are retiring to where the phone doesn’t ring, and the property committee chairman can’t find them, and in spite of it all, I wish to thank them both for all they’ve done for us, and our church.  Happy Retirement!!!!!

My first impression of Synod and the goings on – was that indeed there were many youth delegates, a lot of whom were from the HRM area and who acted as guides, gofers, movers and pages for Synod. 

The new Youth Ministry Co-ordinator, Mike Janz, was in evidence with the younger set and he gave a wonderful report. He will be visiting our parish in the near future as he makes his rounds of the diocese. Michael was commissioned at the Friday evening worship which was youth led.

As it stands now there is opportunity for youth to –
            - be a youth delegate to General Synod (Winnipeg next year)
            - be a youth member of Diocesan Council
            - be a youth member of the Nominations Committee 
            - be a youth delegate to Synod from your parish.

The first notice of motion dealt with reducing the number of lay delegates from four to three, to include youth delegates under lay delegates, and to provide for a review of the clergy/lay balance. After many queries, the motion was tabled for further study and to be reintroduced in 2007. Youth delegates, by the way, are between the ages of 16 and 22.

Another notice of motion that had to do with youth involved the exemption of expenses pertaining to youth ministry personnel from allotment. This was deferred. In the Bishop’s charge in 2005 he stated that alongside healthy congregations and within them, there is the initiative for embracing youth. We need to build on a long-standing commitment to the place and ministry of youth within the church. This is to find expression through provision for youth members on Parish Council and youth delegates from every parish to Synod; through TEC; and the annual youth conference in the fall.

TEC – an annual three day retreat on the essentials of our faith, centered on the Easter story. The goal is to offer older youth and young adults an experience of the Pascal Mystery of Jesus. A lively band, superb food, inspiring talks and foolish fun serve as avenues to bring the message of God’s unconditional love to young adults
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Fall event – a residential conference at AST (Atlantic School of Theology). It provides an opportunity for participants to explore spirituality among peers and to identify and strengthen areas of ministry that may be of interest to them.

Ask and Imagine – a program for young people in the Anglican Church from all over Canada. It’s more than a camp, it’s more than a youth conference – it is a ten day experience in living and learning in community with other youth and adult mentors. Participants will experience – 
                        - leadership 
                        - social justice
                        - theology
                        - ministry skills
                        - hands on ministry
                        - world issues
                        - outdoor adventure
                        - spiritual formation
                        - seeing a bigger picture
Congratulations to Cathy Lee on her captivating presentation on the Acadia University Chaplaincy. Dal presented a short program – with a playlet and also music. The St. FXU. Anglican chaplain spoke about her student congregation and their concerns. 

Aside:
Around one table discussion I found a few who were negative, a few who complained about Sunday shopping and how that and sports were taking our youth and one priest who has 91 children under the age of 13 – and a standing room only church.

 In 2006 there were several opportunities for ecumenical worship.  The year began with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which was marked on weekdays by noontime meditations based on artworks in the Harvest Gallery in Wolfville and concluded with a Sunday evening service on Jan. 29 at St. Francis with an address by artist, Regina Coupar.  On April 14 there was the annual Good Friday Walk with the Cross, with stops at the Wolfville churches and l’Arche Homefires, and an afternoon service hosted by the Port Williams United Baptist Church.  The year ended with an Advent Service of Readings and Carols for the whole community at University Hall on Dec. 3.

Through WAICC’s outreach ministry, approximately $43,000 was given to those in need in our area, mostly through food programs, the main one being the year-round Emergency Food Relief program delivered by means of monthly vouchers and special Christmas vouchers redeemable at a local store.  Donations were again made to the food/breakfast programs in five area schools.  WAICC also provided funds for emergency assistance with occasional fuel/ power bills and mortgage payments.

With WAICC’s reserves being depleted and needs growing beyond our ability to respond, the main focus in 2006 was on preparatory work to launch a food bank to get more food to people in need than can be done through the voucher system.  Following exploratory meetings in March with Feed Nova Scotia, (a member of a national association which enables sharing of available free food resources), and with the Town Council in April, a sub-committee was formed to explore the feasibility of starting a food bank to serve the area bordered by Deep Hollow Road, Church Street, Ben Jackson Road and the Kings County line.  When Wolfville Baptist Church offered to provide temporary space in part of the church basement, the decision to proceed was made at a special meeting in October and WAICC’s formal application to Feed Nova Scotia was quickly approved in November.  Preparation of the site including some rewiring and other minor renovations has been completed and shelving and freezers obtained.  Feed Nova Scotia will deliver fresh and non-perishable food twice a month on Wednesdays and the food bank will be open on the first and third Thursdays of the month, beginning February 1, 2007.  Initially the WAICC Food Bank Management Committee chaired by Nancy Burbidge will run the venture with a client co-ordinator (who handled the voucher program).  Other volunteers from the churches and the community are being recruited and trained.  The goal is to make the food bank a friendly place where clients can also learn about budgeting and preparing nutritious meals. The town of Wolfville, Acadia University, service clubs and local farmers have all offered assistance and support.  WAICC sees the food bank as an important ministry to those in need; a vital part of this is ongoing advocacy work to press government to develop social policies to reduce poverty so that food banks may some day become obsolete.

Members from the WAICC churches continued work on the “Care for Caregivers” project led by Roger Cann.  A grant was received from the EKM Health Foundation to hire a part-time co-ordinator for 6 months.  However, when Caregivers Nova Scotia, a province-wide organization funded by the Province, received funding for a full-time co-ordinator for an outreach project in Eastern Kings, it was decided to refund the Foundation’s grant to avoid duplicating services. The needs of elderly unpaid caregivers, particularly for respite, and other ministries for mature adults continue to be “on the agenda”.
To find out more about what WAICC and its member churches are doing, go to www.waicc.org.  Reports and photos of church events are always welcome for the website.

I would like to thank David Thomas for getting the Sunday School students to look after collection and Communion.  There are times though, when sidespersons have to do collection and/or Communion as kids are not there or they are not up to it.   However, in most cases sidespersons just have to greet and later organize the funds in a different manner, as of this year.  Elizabeth has made it easier for the sidespersons to get their job done, so thank you Elizabeth Biggs. 

Everything is going quite well, so now if we could only get the BELL to cooperate! I would like to again thank Gerry Porter for his work this past year in looking after the 8:00 A.M. service.

The year 2006 saw the end of the third year of our Restoration and Renewal Program.  To date we have spent $239,357.19 bringing our properties up to standard.  We have raised through donations, fundraising and HST rebates $212,388.26 leaving at the end of the year a shortfall of $26, 968.93.  We are funding the deficit by borrowing from the Eugene Fairweather bequest as shown on our financial statements.

We were very fortunate to receive a bequest from the estate of Alice Cameron for $82,500.  In addition, we received a $500 bequest from the Estate of Ann Mowat in favour of the Sanctuary Guild.  We also continue to receive a significant gift annually from a donor who prefers to remain anonymous.

Our financial statements for the year show a deficit of $18,066.  Of this $6 can be attributed to operating and the remainder to restoration.  Because of the way, the Diocese handles the Allotment in relation to the restoration project 2007 will be a very difficult year for us as will be explained at the annual meeting.

Fund raising efforts brought in additional money this year, the largest amount coming from a very successful yard sale.  We need to continue focus more on these types of activities this year and in the future if we are to remain healthy financially.  We received generous donations from our ACW and Men’s Club again in 2006.  Both of these organizations continue to provide much needed support.

I would like to thank our financial team of Robert Wrye, Elizabeth Biggs and Gerry Porter for their work this past year.

Thank you for your generous support to both the ongoing operation of the church and the capital campaign.

The following is a summary of donations from those members who support the church through envelope givings and PAR.

Sunday School Report
The Sunday School continued to hold firm during the 2006 calendar year. Total registration includes some 18 students. This is the same number as were registered in 2005, but down from the 26 registered in 2004.

Sunday School students continued to participate in the morning service by taking up collection and acting as side persons during the Eucharist.

During the winter term, the Sunday School was instrumental in recognizing Mothering Sunday with the traditional simnel cake being offered with tea and coffee after both morning services. Thank you to Jean Winters, Diane Thorpe and Denise Nelson for providing the cakes.

Our students continued to liven up the morning services each Sunday by their very presence. They paraded through the church with their palm crosses on Palm Sunday, and participated in an Easter egg hunt in the church on Easter Sunday. Their impromptu comments during the rector’s story time are always enjoyable.

The Sunday school closing for the year was held on May 28th when certificates and gifts were handed out to the children during the morning service. This was followed by a parish picnic which took place on the grounds of the Agricultural Research Station in Kentville. The weather was perfect for the occasion, turn out was good, and the children had a good time participating in organized games, a piñata, and hiking on the research center’s woodland trails.

The Sunday School fall season began on September 10, 2006, when the parish held a potluck lunch at the church and students were provided the opportunity to decorate muffins. Many thanks to Kathy Phillips and Diana Patterson for assisting with these events. 

For the first time in many years, the Sunday School curriculum was changed beginning in September. Previously, the Sunday School had used the curriculum “Seasons of the Spirit”, at a cost of approximately $700.00 annually. It was decided; however, that we would be as well served if the teachers were provided with the reading from the common lectionary so that each week’s teaching would correspond to the gospel, and or epistle, used in the Sunday service. It was further decided that the material would be supplemented with the use of materials focusing on both Anglicanism and the church year.

November events included the Sunday School participating in the annual leaf rake of the church yard.

December was busy, as usual, starting on December 3rd with an Advent craft organized by Donna Thomas. On December 10th, the Sunday School took part in delivering baskets to the residents of the nursing homes which included Christmas cards crafted by the students themselves. Finally, on December 17th, the annual Christmas pageant was held. This year, the presentation was in the form of an acrostic using the letters of the word, Christmas. The pageant was followed by a potluck in the parish hall, hosted by the Sunday School for the whole parish, and which was well attended. Music during lunch was kindly provided by Dal Browne. Many thanks, Dal.

Finally, I wish to express my gratitude for the dedicated labour of our Sunday School teachers, Diana Thorpe, Pam Herbin, Donna Thomas and Jim Nelson, without whom none of the above would have been possible. I would like also to thank the parents who rouse the children out of bed each Sunday morning to get them to church. Many thanks to you all.

Ways and Means Committee Report
The 2006 Ways and Means Committee members were Mary Lynn Bruce, Jim Nelson, Shirley Robinson, Shirley Marston and Martha MacKenzie and Margaret Coghill (Co-Chairs)

The Ways and Means Committee commenced after the 2005 Annual Meeting.  The Committee made up schedules of activities for the year which included fundraising events supported by the congregation and community in general.
The two new programs added this year were a fairly successful dessert party, raising $300 dollars and a Christmas Card project which broke even, 20 packages of the Christmas cards were donated to the ACW Cratchit’s Coffee Party which all sold. 

It was decided not to plan additional events as they would coincide with already established events such as the Men’s Turkey and Pancake Suppers, the Valentine Bridge Party and Quiche Luncheon.

The Committee will continue to seek fundraising projects and welcomes any ideas from the congregation.
The Committee thanks everyone who contributed to the success of both the established and new projects. 

The September meeting and pot luck luncheon was held at the home of Diana Doake.  Elizabeth Biggs organized the ‘Love & Warmth Project’ which was held at the Parish Hall on Tuesdays starting in October from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  This was for anyone interested in quilting, knitting or crafts of any kind.  Our October and November meetings were mainly finalizing arrangements for the Cratchit’s Coffee Party which was held on November 25th.  November 12th and 13th were the work days for preparing the plum puddings.  Vicky Harris again did a wonderful job in coordinating the making of the plum puddings.  In November we were very pleased to have Canon Elliott come and speak to us about St. Anne’s Camp and also to introduce his new book entitled ‘Taste of Pure Malt” which was sold at the Cratchit’s Coffee Party.  We ended the year with a Pot Luck Luncheon on December 18th in the sunroom when we presented a retirement gift to Dot Hancock for her wonderful service to us over the years.

Anglican Church Women’s Financial Report
 

Sanctuary Guild Report
The Sanctuary Guild of St. John’s has completed another meaningful year of maintaining the church sanctuary duties, i.e. flowers, hangings and vestments, linens, brass cleaning, decorating for Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter, etc.
We have a roster of twenty members who work in pairs for each calendar month of all services including funerals and weddings.

We have nine faithful members of the Brass Committee headed by Jean Winter who clean and polish all the church brass beautifully.

Two meetings were held in 2006: April 23rd and the Annual Meeting on October 16th.

We welcome two new members Elaine Slauenwhite and returning worker Pati Stuart.

Karen Hennigar and Judy Amos brought forth a slate of officers for 2007 and are still trying to find a president to replace Cathy Stewart.

The Sanctuary Guild is grateful to all members of St. John’s who supported them in moneys given for memorial flowers and for flowers from parishioners’ gardens that grace our beautiful church in season.  Special thanks to Ron Stuart for decorations with Christmas greens and to those who gave harvest fruits and vegetables at Thanksgiving.
We are thankful for all those members who have given a “life time” of service to the Sanctuary guild or to St. John’s and who no longer are able to carry out duties.  We are grateful to the parishioners who have come forward to “fill those shoes”.

Somehow “the Lord provides”….

Although  we  may  not  reasonably  expect  to  increase  our  number  to  that  level, we  do  need  a  few  more  singers  to  achieve  a  good  balance  among  the  parts.   Two  more  sopranos  and  two  more  men  would  enable  us  more  effectively  to  lead  the congregation  in  corporate  worship.

The  learning  and  singing  of  new  hymns  is  important  to  the  spiritual  development  of  individuals  and  congregations.   Endless  repetition of  familiar  old  chestnuts  breeds a  climate  of  inertia  which  is  difficult  to  overcome.  Leadership  by  a  well-balanced  choir can  enhance  this  learning  process  and  by  enlarging  our  hymn  repertoire  we  can  relate  hymnody  more  closely  to  the  lectionary.

A  sincere  thank-you  to  our  choir  for  their  faithful  contribution  to  our  worship.

I would like to thank our rector Cathy Lee and the Spiritual Development Committee for their assistance in helping to put the website together. I would also like to extend a huge thank you to Murray Phillips and Kathy Phillips whose assistance with gathering material, and proof reading of the website was very welcomed and appreciated. 

We have a brand new Prayer Chain on-line that can be entered via our website. I am always looking for new pictures to add to the photo gallery so if you have any photos, old or new that you would like to see on the site please give them to either Murray Phillips or myself.

Our site has been approved by Bishop Fred and Bishop Sue. They would like to extend their congratulations on the launch of the new Parish website and have found the site very easy to use. Our site is linked to the following other sites, Anglican Church of Canada, Diocese of Nova Scotia, Wolfville Area Interchurch Council, Anglican Book Store, Anglican Journal, Store, Primate’s World Relief Fund, Diocese of NS Book Room, All Saints Cathedral Halifax, Atlantic School of Theology, Anglican Communion, St. George's Church Halifax.

Financially my company Celtic Webworks carries 50% of the monthly hosting fees, and the remainder of $15 per month is paid by the parish. There was no designing fees or maintenance fees charged to the parish.

I invite everyone to drop by and view our website. 

Mid May word came that David Rudolph had died suddenly.  David had been the secretary treasurer for the camp for a long, long time and he knew everything.  How was the camp going to survive?  Mid June following the clean up day to get the camp ready for summer a meeting was held.  Michelle Bull from Berwick would be the secretary, Elizabeth Biggs from Wolfville – treasurer and the Spurr family would organize the turkey supper and walkathon.

The generator was stolen in the spring and has since been replaced.  On a positive note the turkey supper and walkathon was a great success.

St. Anne’s Camp ended the year with a comfortable bank balance, but with start out cost in the spring it will quickly go.  Support comes from the churches in form of allotment, donations from ACW’s, or individuals, rental of the camp facilities and the turkey supper and walkathon.  Each church is permitted two members on the committee but all are welcome to come and help with clean up and repairs and maintenance.

Charles O’Neal spoke to the camp committee about setting up and endowment fund.  With all the changes the committee is looking into the future and starting to think about the 60th anniversary in 2008.