Like many United Churches, Wesley is easily identified by the number of "senior citizens" gathered on a Sunday morning. Unlike some United Churches, this group of seniors is willing to try new things. Our occasional drummers have been a huge success. The Choir offers a variety of music, and our Director of Music is willing to play just about anything, from the old Gospel classics to contemporary rock-and-roll. A memorable Remembrance Day Service included John Lennon's "Imagine"! "Bridge Over Troubled Water" also shows up occasionally, and on a recent Sunday, when we welcomed The Rev. Lorne Calvert, Principal of St. Andrew's College, to a worship service, and he spoke around the theme of the song, "Jeremiah was a Bull Frog", the music for that song sent us out on our way to coffee!
The Congregation remains supportive of The United Church of Canada's Mission and Service Fund, donating over $12,000 in 2012. In addition to that sum, it donates almost an equal amount to various other needs: The Fresh Start Kits for the Women's shelter; Camp Tapawingo; Global Neighbours; The Food Bank; toys and books on White Gift Sunday for Christmas Hampers; a Christmas tree "decorated" with knitted items (scarves, mitts, hats, socks) for the local "Community Schools"; etc.
In a survey conducted on Volunteer Sunday in May 2012, folk in the congregation listed 3 volunteer activities in which they engage within the wider community, outside of the church. From these 3 choices, we made a list of 80 (EIGHTY) separate volunteer activities. This is indicative of the commitment of Church Members to the wider community that is our shared home!
The Congregation's major fundraising event is the annual Spring Supper/Silent Auction. It involves the entire congregation, from little children to our most senior members. Some of us note that there might be easier ways to raise the same amount of money, but most of us place a great deal of value on the "community" aspect of this endeavour! There is a unique atmosphere when the entire community gets together to make something special happen!
Several years ago, the Congregation engaged in a study on whether to allow same-sex marriages at Wesley United Church. After several open-mike sessions, where individuals were given the freedom to express their thoughts on the subject without fear of rejection, the Congregation held a vote, and the outcome of that vote was decisively in favour of welcoming same-sex marriages. Since that vote, there have been two same-sex marriages registered at Wesley United Church; both took place in "Cottage Country". We are not yet an "Affirming Congregation" if measured by the official standards set by The United Church of Canada, but we are definitely affirming folk within this congregation.
We miss our youth. One of the realities of the modern era is that our teens are finding part-time jobs and therefore are not nearly as available for youth group activities as might have been the case a generation ago. Another reality is that, with smaller family units, there are not the numbers that make a youth group successful. We see the same challenges in Sunday School, where we do have children, but they are irregular participants; other events (hockey, soccer, etc.) take priority. Nonetheless, we continue to have volunteers who prepare lessons for those who do come on a Sunday morning. Where even only 1 has gathered, there will still be Sunday School!
The Congregation remains supportive of The United Church of Canada's Mission and Service Fund, donating over $12,000 in 2012. In addition to that sum, it donates almost an equal amount to various other needs: The Fresh Start Kits for the Women's shelter; Camp Tapawingo; Global Neighbours; The Food Bank; toys and books on White Gift Sunday for Christmas Hampers; a Christmas tree "decorated" with knitted items (scarves, mitts, hats, socks) for the local "Community Schools"; etc.
In a survey conducted on Volunteer Sunday in May 2012, folk in the congregation listed 3 volunteer activities in which they engage within the wider community, outside of the church. From these 3 choices, we made a list of 80 (EIGHTY) separate volunteer activities. This is indicative of the commitment of Church Members to the wider community that is our shared home!
The Congregation's major fundraising event is the annual Spring Supper/Silent Auction. It involves the entire congregation, from little children to our most senior members. Some of us note that there might be easier ways to raise the same amount of money, but most of us place a great deal of value on the "community" aspect of this endeavour! There is a unique atmosphere when the entire community gets together to make something special happen!
Several years ago, the Congregation engaged in a study on whether to allow same-sex marriages at Wesley United Church. After several open-mike sessions, where individuals were given the freedom to express their thoughts on the subject without fear of rejection, the Congregation held a vote, and the outcome of that vote was decisively in favour of welcoming same-sex marriages. Since that vote, there have been two same-sex marriages registered at Wesley United Church; both took place in "Cottage Country". We are not yet an "Affirming Congregation" if measured by the official standards set by The United Church of Canada, but we are definitely affirming folk within this congregation.
We miss our youth. One of the realities of the modern era is that our teens are finding part-time jobs and therefore are not nearly as available for youth group activities as might have been the case a generation ago. Another reality is that, with smaller family units, there are not the numbers that make a youth group successful. We see the same challenges in Sunday School, where we do have children, but they are irregular participants; other events (hockey, soccer, etc.) take priority. Nonetheless, we continue to have volunteers who prepare lessons for those who do come on a Sunday morning. Where even only 1 has gathered, there will still be Sunday School!