Rev. Mary Beer, Forest Hill's Interim Minister

I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the congregation for the welcome you have extended to me. I am getting settled in and appreciate so many people who have been available to explain routine, show me where things are, and introduce me to others in the congregation.

While I am still working out a schedule with the Ministry and Personnel Committee, for now I am planning to be in the church office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well as other times for events and meetings, as needed. I hope you will feel free to contact me when I am not available in the church office through the contact page.

I look forward to getting to know you all in the time we will be sharing ministry together.

Grace and peace to all,

Mary Beer

Danielle was “born, baptized and raised” in the Forest Hill Church community. Her parents, Dennis and Donna, are long-time members of our congregation. And Danielle comes to the task of leading the Junior and Senior Youth programs (Grades 6-12) with great credentials—as a graduate of Teachers’ College in 2010, for Kindergarten to Grade 8, currently acting as a supply teacher at Waterloo Public School and with an additional specialty in music. Although planning is still in the works, it’s her intention to have these get togethers as “more fun based”. There will also be a Facebook page where everyone can dialogue and get to know each other better. Meeting dates for Junior and Senior Youth—the groups will be combined at present—are April 15, April 29, May 13, May 27, June 10 and June 24, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition, in the short term, Danielle will be supporting the Kids’ Church program on Sunday mornings. This program is carefully laid out, based on the United Church curriculum, “Whole People of God” and, each week, includes a story, Bible verse and choice of crafts. At least one volunteer is needed to assist each week. Volunteers will be contacted by Danielle in advance, so they are fully prepared for the task at hand. If you are interested in helping in this worthwhile endeavour, please send her a message using our contact page.

Born and raised on a farm in Kemble, Ontario, north of Owen Sound, she attended a one room school and with her four siblings went to church every Sunday. But the church was not in her plans back then or for many years after. There was a Bachelor’s degree from University of Guelph in Psychology and Philosophy, graduation from Conestogo College in non-traditional arts for women—carpentry, maintenance mechanics, and welding—a year in England, a turn in banking, and much more. In fact, she confesses, you could say she was “shoved” into the ministry. She applied for a job as secretary at Dublin Street United in Guelph, and while she didn’t get the job, it was suggested by the minister that she would be great in Christian Education.

So in 1982, to develop the skills she needed, she enrolled at the Centre for Christian Studies. Later, as a diaconal minister she served for a time at Calvary United in Kitchener and, since then, never needed to  apply—the churches came to her. She served at both Conestogo United and Highland Road simultaneously—the congregations adjusting the times of their services to make this possible—and she has served the wider church: as Chair of Waterloo Presbytery, President of Hamilton Conference and Co-chair of the local arrangements committee for General Council in 1994.

If you wish to be in touch with Katharine, she is at the church from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Mondays or you can use our contact page to send her a note.

Chair of the Board: the main contact for any issues that arise (from committees or otherwise), hopefully making good use of the committee chairs and ministerial team.  Chairs the board meetings and executive meetings. Roughly 12 hours per month involvement.

Vice-Chair of the Board: backup / assistant for the chair, and will become chair the following year.  Part of the executive.  Roughly 4 hours per month involvement.

Secretary: records the minutes for the board and executive meetings.  After previewing with chair, and approval by board, submits minutes to office for archiving and publication for the congregation.  Part of the executive.  Roughly 8 hours per month involvement.

Presbytery Representative: attends Presbytery meetings and board meetings.  Roughly 4 hours per month involvement.

Pastoral Care Chair: works with the Pastoral Care committee, and represents them at board meetings.  It need not be the same person that runs the Pastoral Care meetings, but the board will view them as responsible for ensuring that the committee is meeting and working effectively.  Roughly 3 hours per month involvement.

Christian Development (CD) Chair: works with CD committee, and represents them at board meetings.  It need not be the same person that runs the CD meetings, but the board will view them as responsible for ensuring that the committee is meeting and working effectively.  Roughly 5 hours per month involvement. The committee is responsible for kids church, youth group, nursery care, and adult education programs.

Kids Church Coordinator: ensures that there are sufficient lay/staff members available to help for each Sunday.  Determines the weekly plans by using curriculum available for each unit; this may involve having other people buy items or read what they will be teaching in advance.  Roughly 4 hours per month involvement, plus 4 more if also teaching at kids church.

Youth Group Coordinator: works with kids church coordinator to ensure that there are sufficient lay/staff members available to help for each Sunday. Also sets a regular time for the youth to meet — for example, every other Sunday evening at 7:00 — and ensure that it has sufficient leadership.  Determines any agenda that might be used at these meetings, probably in coordination with CD chair and ministerial team. Roughly 3 hours per month involvement, plus 4 more if part of the leadership at the youth meetings.

Forest Hill volunteers are needed to help during the day with parking, welcoming, site-management (traffic directing in the building). Sign up on the list posted on the bulletin board, if you can give an hour or two to the task on the 20th, or help with set up on the 19th. Thanks!

(Photo credit: South African masks from here, flag from here.)

Becoming a loving, welcoming, supportive community to each other is something the church does have to work at every now and again. Maybe now, we at Forest Hill, are in one of the “again” times. As we get into the mid-winter blues, and approach our annual congregational meeting, we do need to pray for God’s Spirit to come and bring us revival of purpose, faith and community. We are introducing a new worship song “Spirit Come,” this Sunday. It is a powerful, prayerful song seeking the revival that God’s Holy Spirit brings. I hope that together over the next weeks we can “pray” it with the intensity and enthusiasm of a faith that believes that God’s Spirit among us will come with a power to heal any discontent and revive our congregation to be about the work God intends for us. Also this week in worship we observe the Christian church’s tradition of Candlemas – the blessing of candles to be taken home and used as a reminder of Christ, the Light of the world in these dark days.

May our prayer together, the song, and the candles brighten your spirits and your faith over the coming weeks.

Be blessed!
Murray