Emo-Devlin
September 22-25, 2011


Knox United, Emo

Guthrie United, Devlin

The congregation of Knox United Church in Emo was joined by Guthrie United, Devlin and Rainy River-Stratton Pastoral Charge members, some 68 Presbyters and guests, as well as 26 youth and their leaders at Sunday morning worship. The Rev. Dr. Richard Bott , preaching via Skype from Vancouver, used Matthew 21:23-32 to speak of relationships that can get broken and fixed, even at a distance.

In a live demonstration on the previous day he participated in a session, again by Skype from Vancouver, on the Presbytery theme of Digital and Social Communication in the Changing Spiritual Marketplace. Using technology in worship, live news from the Internet can connect to the Prayers of the People, Google Earth can zoom in on any location. The global and the personal can be brought together. People sing with their heads up when hymn words are projected on the screen - images can also be used to enhance the hymn theme. For example, pictures of veterans can be projected for Remembrance Day. Privacy must be observed when projecting images of people unless permission is obtained.


Presbytery Chair Scott Gale was given appropriate head gear.

Delegates shared with each other their computer and on-line usage. Joy and George Bott, Lori Van Santvoort-Jansekovich, Randy Boyd and the Very Rev. Dr. David Giuliano led a very visual session on how they use digital communication in worship, including the use of web sites, YouTube videos, and Flickr images. Most were surprised to learn from Lincoln Dunn’s presentation that the social media dates back to 1971. The Moderator’s messages are on YouTube, as well as videos for worship and study. There are programs for use in presenting worship on screen - e.g. ProPresenter. When experimenting with new technology be willing to fail at first. It’s worth taking time to learn. Joy and George Bott are willing to go anywhere in the Presbytery to help pastoral charges with technology, as long as their expenses are paid.

Useful web sites:

In addition to learning components, such as making videos of Bible stories and events, the Youth watched a movie, visited the First Nations Manitou Mounds and generally had a great time. In one session they shared much of their social media expertise with the adults.

Observer Editor, David Wilson, spoke of a general media bias towards Christianity, unless it focuses on “lunatic fringe” occurrences, such as Harold Camping’s prediction of the end of the world, or creationist US presidential candidates like Michele Bachmann. The Observer, he said, is an expression of enlightened Christianity. It is the oldest magazine in North America and the second oldest in the English speaking world. Beginning as a Methodist publication in 1829, it has consistently won more Church press awards than any other Church magazine on the continent. Though a show of hands told him that most Presbyters subscribed to the Observer, he noted that 4 out of every 5 United Church households do not subscribe.

One of the joys of Presbytery meetings is the singing,
led this time by Carol Zacharias, of Music United,
who came from Winnipeg to be with us,
and Verna Puhalski on piano.

The Friday evening Vespers was led by Christina Stricker;
and Saturday morning Communion was led by the Very Rev. Dr. David Giuliano.

New clergy to the Presbytery are the Rev. Heather Landry (St. Paul’s, Thunder Bay), the Rev. Mark Loyal (Red Lake District) and Diaconal Minister Sarah Bruer, who was covenanted as the Cambrian Youth Minister. Sarah shared a video story of a senior lady who reached out to a teenager. Sarah will be visiting the pastoral charges of Presbytery over the next several months.

Special Notes: