Help us build our first LOGOS CAN-STRUCTION!

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1 Issue 1 February March 2016 Knox Waterloo ~ the church with a smile! Laura VanderVleuten Knox to Sponsor Syrian Refugee Family: See page 12 for more information on the sponsorship of Eritrean refugee, Helen Gebregziabher, as well as the latebreaking news that the Knox Session has just approved a Global Partners initiative to sponsor a Syrian refugee family. Giving thanks Directory World Day of Prayer Sunday Themes Transitions Lenten Prayer Room Ministers Messages Events & Save the Dates Christian Education Update Special Feature: The Power of Language Retirement Home Ministry Pneumonia Vest Ministry LOGOS Refugee Sponsorship Update PWS&D Update Knox February March Calendars Photo Gallery Please send announcements & photos to ACross the Pews Sue Senior, Editor acrossthepews@gmail.com Due: March 15 th for the April May Knox Waterloo CKWR FM 98.5 Sunday 10am Livestreaming Sunday 10am Podcasts available at: knoxwaterloo.ca On the international front, donations to PWS&D through Knox marked for Syrian Relief will now be matched by the Government of Canada until the end of February. Since the outset of the crisis, PWS&D has been responding through their partners at the ACT Alliance and Canadian Foodgrains Bank. They are providing basic food items, hygiene kits, shelter, clothing and essential non-food items. Partner staff on the ground are providing psychosocial, medical and educational support for children and youth living in refugee camps. For information on Waterloo Region s local efforts to welcome and support refugees go to: Help us build our first LOGOS CAN-STRUCTION! In the spirit of having our children involved with helping our neighbours, the grade 4-6 LOGOS kids will be collecting canned goods for the Food Bank. They will build them into a structure for our own "LOGOS CAN-STRUCTION" on March 3rd. Please donate cans of food, during the month of February and help our kids learn how they can make a difference in our community - while having lots of fun. They'll need lots of cans - and only cans for the building materials. The Food Bank's most needed canned foods Are meat/fish, beans in sauce, stews, chili and fruit. Can-struction Edmonton 2015 PCL & IBI Group Visit the completed CAN-STRUCTION project on Sun. March 6 th at Knox. ~ Sharon Feldmann ~

2 Knox Waterloo 50 Erb Street West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 1T1 (519) Ministers: Rev. Brooke Ashfield Rev. Linda Ashfield Ministers in Association: Rev. Walter McLean Rev. Mary Whitson Office Administrator: Ruth Song Finance Officer: John Scace Christian Education Director: Laura Vander Vleuten Music Director/Organist: Terry English Coffee Hour Coordinator: Shirley Carter Greeter Coordinator: Gordon Coyne LOGOS Director: Glenda Ribey Rozomiak Multimedia Coordinator Andrew Church Retirement Home Ministry: Ellen Yessis Tech Team Coordinator: Eric Gaudet Usher Coordinators: Barb & Brad Tucker Knox: contact Ellen McIntosh Welcome Desk Coordinator: Nancy Matthews Website Administrator: Trevor Bain Clerk of Session: Deb Schlichter Lawrie Carter Heather Cawsey Gordon Coyne Sharon Feldmann Marg Johnston David Matthews Ian McLean Ruling Elders: David Ogram Barb Prysnuk Vaughn Sauve Sue Senior Greg Sennema Ken Vander Vleuten Jennifer Yessis WORSHIP SERVICES Worship Communion Sunday February 7 10am Lent 1 - Truth Lent 2 Justice Lent 3 - Peace Sunday February am Sunday February 21 10am Sunday February 28 10am Lent 4 Freedom Communion Sunday March 6 10am Lent 5 - I am Sayings of Jesus Sunday March 13 10am Palm Sunday Sunday March 20 10am Maundy Thursday LOGOS Service Thursday March 13 6:45pm Good Friday Friday March 25 10am EASTER Sunday March 27 7:30am Outdoor Service meet at Knox to walk together to Waterloo Park 8:15am Pot Luck Breakfast Knox main hall 10:00am Easter Worship Sanctuary Worship Guest Dr. Kennon Callahan Sunday April 3 10am Across the Pews: six editions published each year Feb/Mar, Apr/May, June/Summer, Sept, Oct/Nov, Dec/Jan Monthly Deadline for Submissions Articles, Photos, News Items, Reports & More Due on the fifteenth of the month prior to distribution COMPASSIONATE ENGAGED JOYFUL 2 WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL

3 Transitions In Remembrance Our condolences to Chris & Nancy Tippin. Chris father Malcolm (Mac) passed away with his family at his side at St. Mary s Hospital on Thursday December 10 at the age of 91. Thinking of You and Prayers for Jill Beeksma, Grace Flewelling, Jan Hayward, Shelley Holmes, Helen Hoskinson, Ken Jessop, Bob Kipp, Usha Lutchamn - Dileonard, Barbara McLean, Allie Moroz, Stephanie Prysnuk, John Putman, Hugh Simpson, George Watson and Mary Whitson. Congratulations Greg Morsink and Yvonne Nguyen on the birth of baby Hayden. Welcome to eighteen new members at Knox Waterloo! The congregation officially welcomed 18 new members November 29 and December 20, Please seek out and introduce yourself to the newest members of our Knox family: Cheryl David-Ragoonanan [adult baptism], Beth Dodds, Helen Fagan, Matt Fagan, Chuck Fazzari, Bob Fletcher, Dorothy Fletcher, Rachel Gondosch, Rob Gondosch, Lorrie Hopf, Kathy Kiggins, Deb LaCoste, David Oillie, Mike Marchand, Debbie Song, Ben Song, Lizzie Song and Ruth Song. Lenten: Prayer Room at Knox a Once again during the Season of Lent, Knox Church will have a Prayer Room set aside upstairs in Room 200. Anyone is welcome to visit during weekdays when the church is open and, of course, on Sundays before/after worship and when here for a church program. Many LOGOS groups, church school classes and junior/senior high will also make use of the prayer room during Lent. There will be sign up sheet on the door for LOGOS and Sunday School classes to book the room for a minute visit before heading back to their regular class. There will also be a very small study guide for teachers, should they want to use it for conversation. Please speak to Laura Vander Vleuten or Linda Ashfield if you would like a copy of the guide. Many people have found the Prayer Room to be a place of quiet, reflection and an opportunity to strengthen their prayer life and their Lenten Journey. Room 200 can be accessed by the elevator or the Dupont Street stairs. GOD S LOVE INCLUDES EVERYONE

4 Minister s Message Linda Ashfield Throughout 2015 the bad news was relentless: war in Syria, a refugee crisis in Turkey and Europe, earthquakes in Nepal, terrorist attacks in Paris, mass shootings in the US, and floods in India. There was environmental degradation, international migration, political extremism and economic inequality. We know that far too many people live in extreme poverty, that six million children still die every year from preventable diseases and that hundreds of millions cannot exercise basic freedoms. As people of faith, this brings great sadness to our hearts. Each week in worship we pray for forgiveness (for we know so much of our world s sorrow has been caused by humans) and we pray for our world in the pastoral prayer. We are people of hope, but where can we find hope in our world today? On December 26 th the Globe and Mail ran an article entitled, The World Is Much Better Than It Seems [ and the British national morning newspaper The Independent published the article, 11 Ways The World Got Better in 2015 (December 27 th ) [ Both articles focus on statistics and agencies who report that more children now have access to formal education, global poverty is down, and more people have access to clean water. Malnutrition rates are down, which means child mortality is down again (for the 43 rd year in a row). More people have electricity and access to the internet, and violent crimes in North America were also down. Polio is all but eradicated, AIDS deaths were down for the 15 th year in a row and malaria deaths are also at a record low. While 2015 will be the hottest year on record there is a feeling of hope with the signing of the Paris Agreement. The bees have had a comeback and it turns out that coffee and wine (in moderation) are good for you. It s easy to be sceptical and feel that nothing is ever getting better, but the empirical evidence also shows there is much to be grateful and hopeful about. Governments, agencies and church groups have done a lot to encourage us to work co-operatively and to meet the human challenges of relief and development. Here at Knox we not only support many local initiatives, but Knox s contributions to Presbyterian World Service and Development have helped directly with malaria, AIDS, education for girls, human rights, access to potable water, farming and small businesses to name but a few. The Independent article closes with these words: We now have a window of opportunity to create the greatest era of sustainable progress in human history. Doing so will not be easy, just as it has not been in the past, and it will take courage, sacrifice and strong leadership. Let us continue to pray that justice, healing, peace and freedom will be seen in our world. Happy New Year! Image: December 27, Retrieved January 22, 2016, from news/world/ politics/11-ways-the-world-got-better-in-2015-a html COMPASSIONATE ENGAGED JOYFUL 4 WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL

5 Minister s Message Brooke Ashfield THANK YOU. Knox Waterloo is blessed with a tradition of generosity. Individuals and families have made this tradition with each gift and sacrifice. I know many stories from each decade of ministry that are inspiring, moving and transformational. We are in the midst of one of these stories today. This year Knox Waterloo faced a serious financial reality in May. We were more than a little behind our givings for the past two years, on a year to date basis. Each year our plans include growing ministry and growing generosity. Beginning on May 24 th, the Session and leadership of Knox Waterloo began to communicate more regularly and sought to request the generosity of the people. The wonderful news is that together we decided to be more generous. And we were. Thank you. We had a significant shortfall to make up. Beginning on the last Sunday in May our givings trended upward. Our givings for the month of December were an amazing $43,827 more than budgeted. Even with this outpouring of generosity we did end our year with a deficit. By God s grace, and your generosity, this is a manageable deficit. Many people chose to give an extra month's offering. Thank you. Each year we also continue to pay down the principal of our mortgage. We have now reduced this by over $300,000. Thank you. The financial figures for the year-end and the fine-tuning of a budget for 2016 are not finalized as I write this article. Full information will be in our Annual Report for 2015, which will be available well prior to our Annual Meeting on Sunday February 21 st at 2pm. We will meet in the Knox Room upstairs. During 2016 we will share stories of generosity. Our Generosity Team is preparing to communicate and inspire. In April we are hosting the most respected North American speaker and author on church finances and giving. A daylong seminar occurs Saturday April 2 nd in our sanctuary. This Presbyterysponsored event with Dr. Kennon Callahan will cost just $20 per person and this includes lunch, all snacks and a wonderful day with a worldclass speaker. Dr. Callahan was with us in 2013 and it is a privilege to welcome him again. This just confirmed; I am excited to announce that Dr. Kennon Callahan is preaching at Knox Waterloo on April 3 rd the Sunday after Easter. As we approach the Lent-Easter Season, we wait to again embrace the power of the resurrection in our lives and in our church community. Together we share vital stories of liberality from the past, to celebrate the current outpouring of grace and prepare for the future that God has in store for us. Thank you. GOD S LOVE INCLUDES EVERYONE

6 SAVE THE DATES EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Sharon Feldmann with Spuddy & Sweet Matthews - Potato! House of Friendship Potato Blitz Saturday, February 6 th - Sharon Feldmann 24 volunteers needed to assist with collecting potatoes & cash donations during two hour shifts at Valu-Mart [Uptown] and FreshCo. [University & Bridge]. This will contribute to the goal of collecting 300,000 pounds of potatoes to support our neighbours in need. Sign up on the bulletin board or contact Sharon Feldmann at sharonfel@gmail.com or at You may also help by bringing your potato and cash donations or by texting SHARE to to donate $5 towards the cost of potatoes and send your best #SpuddyUnselfie Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Tuesday February 9 th 5-7pm in the hall at Knox $10 Adults; $8 Students/Senior $25 Family of 4 Tickets available at the door Proceeds will help support the Winnipeg Inner City Mission and the Youth Mission Trip Women Together Mondays February 1, February 29 & March 21, 7:30-9pm Knox hall. Women of all ages and stages are invited to join us for an evening of fellowship, conversation, learning and fun. Watch the bulletin for the topic of each evening s theme. Bring a friend, mom, sister, neighbour, co-worker! See you there. Mark your calendars, April 29-May 1 is the Women Together Retreat at Crieff Hills. More information to follow! Christmas Bazaar Update and Planning for 2016 We had another successful Christmas Bazaar this year raising over $ This total brings us close to $10,000 in four years! We would like to express our sincere thanks to the people who helped with set up/take down, white elephant table, craft table and bake table as well as all those who came to shop. Over the past year the church staff have been able to use funds raised from the bazaar to purchase some much needed things for the church (see the annual report for a detailed list). We are looking ahead to 2016 and planning the 5th annual bazaar. In order for its continued success in support of the church we need help in the planning. We generally start the basic planning in June with the majority of the work happening in September/October. If you are interested in playing a small part in any of the following areas please contact us for more information. 1. General Planning 2. Baking - Lisa Jackson has been organizing but could use some help (it is always more fun with others) and we are looking to have some bake days in the fall. 3. Promotion & Advertising - Help us to get the word out Heather & Lynelle hpurdy333[at]yahoo.ca or knoxcraftsale[at]gmail.com COMPASSIONATE ENGAGED JOYFUL 6 WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL

7 Photo: Sue Senior VBC Photos: Jennie Wiebe A CROSS THE PEWS FEBRUARY MARCH 2016 Collective Kitchen University/College Students join us for Collective Kitchen on Monday Feb 22 at 4pm in the kitchen at Knox. We are making a main course meal which we ll eat together and then send you home with packaged meals for another time. Please bring your own containers. No charge, but let us know you are coming through our Facebook group or contact Laura (laurav@knoxwaterloo.ca). Vacation Bible Camp July 18-22, 8:50am-noon for kids finished JK-Gr 8. Join us for a week of Bible stories, games, crafts, music and fun!! Bring a friend and be part of a small group that travels through the church learning about God s love. Register online soon at Adult and youth volunteers are needed to help make snacks, lead a group of children, teach youth a craft, or lead a Bible story. Donations of grocery gift cards are gladly accepted to keep the cost of snacks to a minimum. Contact Laura [laurav@knoxwaterloo.ca] for more information. Submitted by Laura Vander Vleuten Confirmation classes For youth in grades 9-12 Sundays April 3, 10, 17, 24 from 11:30am-1:30pm in Room 205. Confirmation Sunday is May 15 during worship. Anyone interested please contact Laura V or Linda Ashfield. Upward Ball Hockey For kids in grades 1-6 Tuesdays Jan 19-Mar 29 (*includes March Break) 6-8pm in the Gym at Knox Cost is $75 includes t-shirt, mini stick and season end celebration Sticks are provided please bring your own helmet with face protector & gloves Youth coaches welcome Please contact Vaughn Sauve or Laura V (laurav@knoxwaterloo.ca) GOD S LOVE INCLUDES EVERYONE

8 The Power of Language Sean Jackson In the weeks leading up to the Christmas season, the energy in the hallways of our high school grows exponentially as the holidays get ever closer. Students, naturally, are excited about their upcoming holidays. Some lunch hours would seem, to an outsider, like a bit of a zoo. Loud voices, screeches, students clustered in various groups, mowing down prepared lunches. Running, jumping. It s fun. One day, upon returning to the science office after my usual supervision duty, a colleague asked how it went. I responded casually, Well, the natives are restless today! Another colleague and good friend looked at me and shrieked: What. Did. You. Just. Say? That s incredibly offensive. She was shocked and appalled and genuinely hurt by my poor choice of words. And I was confused. Never, at any point during my life, had I even considered this phrase to be offensive. I d heard it growing up; I just had never considered the context. Once I did, oh my goodness my shame. I share the story above to make a few points in regard to our use of language and to help supply some context. First, the words we use can have an impact on the people around us: our family, our friends, our coworkers and others. It s not about being politically correct. The use of inclusive language is about our desire not to offend the people in our lives. Second, we all make mistakes. Sometimes things we know that are offensive slip out; other times we may be saying something that we didn t even know was hurtful! Take a deep breath it s okay. And now take another deep breath let s talk about all of this in regard to the LGBTQ community. As our Presbyterian church (both Knox Waterloo & the broader church in Canada) inches closer to the full inclusion of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and questioning people, it was suggested that a primer on language might be helpful. Although the newly released PCC study guide Body, Mind and Soul contains a glossary of terms, it doesn t suggest which terms might be best to avoid in conversation, and which are good to go. Here is a place for us, at Knox, to start. This isn t an exhaustive list, but it ll get the ball rolling. Offensive terms to avoid and alternative ones that are inclusive & respectful Term to avoid Try instead Reasoning Homosexual Sexual Preference Gay Lifestyle Hermaphrodite That s so gay! Gay, gay man, lesbian Sexual orientation, orientation, sexuality Lifestyle, gay lives Intersex Silly, ridiculous, irrelevant The term homosexual has a clinical history and is aggressively used by hate groups to suggest gay people are somehow diseased or disordered The term preference draws attention to falsehood that one s sexuality is a choice and can be changed There is no one gay lifestyle. LGBTQ people lead as diverse lives as their straight counterparts Is an outdated medical term used to describe someone who is intersex [person with sexual anatomy or genes that don t fit within the typical labels of female or male]. It is considered to be derogatory and inaccurate. It is not appropriate to use gay disrespectfully or mean something is bad. Simply put, the word gay describes people who are attracted to persons of the samesex. Gay can also refer to being lighthearted or carefree. COMPASSIONATE ENGAGED JOYFUL 8 WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL

9 So if those are some of the phrases and words to avoid, we should also talk about a few good phrases to embrace. Partner while not all of us will feel comfortable referring to our spouse, husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend as a partner, it can be a very helpful term in conversation. For example: If you are standing in the church hall as you ask a gal if she has a boyfriend, it may put her into an awkward spot if she identifies as lesbian. Basically, she s got to come out to you right here, right now. Maybe she d rather wait until coffee hour is over. The reasoning for why you might use the term partner is twofold: it gives you a gender-neutral term to consider as a go-to in conversation and, if you use it to describe your own relationship (gay or straight), it can indicate to others that you are sensitive to LGBTQ issues. Until we live in a world where everyone can identify his or her sexual orientation without judgment, this is an easy way to level the playing field. LGBTQ it s tough to know how to refer to people. It s difficult to know what to call an entire community. Sexuality is a spectrum and the collective community of gays, lesbians, bisexual, trans and queer people is as diverse as Canada itself. Probably best to avoid saying things like the gays are taking it to the streets again and try the LGBTQ community is taking it to the streets again. Family & Parents/Caregivers as families are changing ( Hello Modern Family!) so must our language when we talk to kids. One way we can avoid making the children of LGBTQ people feel uncomfortable is to talk about families as opposed to the binary mom & dad. Some kids have two moms, some have two dads, some have one mom and one dad. Some kids come from single parent homes. Some kids live with Nana and Papa. We all have families (biological or chosen). Confused yet? Hopefully not. Remember that this process of LGBTQ inclusion is a journey for Knox Waterloo and for the PCC. Just remember what I mentioned in the introduction: Don t follow someone else s agenda and feel like you have to be politically correct. It s not about that, it s about our hope to include, rather than exclude. It s about being respectful. Mistakes are going to happen and that's okay. Learn, apologize and help to enlighten others. Language is something that people listen for, especially young people who are in the process of coming out or identify as allies or have friends/family members who are LGBTQ. They listen to everything you say very carefully. They want to know that you are a safe person to talk to. They want to know who might be the first person (or the next person) they can come out to. That s why I consistently use inclusive language. It s also why I have a rainbow flag in my classroom. I want my students to know that they are all accepted and that they are all welcome in room 220. Sean is a high school educator at KCI (Physics & Math), coach (Football & Rugby) with the WRDSB, and a member of Knox s Inclusion Initiatives Team. Save the Dates Come join Revs. Linda & Brooke Ashfield, Heather Cawsey, Lawrie Carter and Sean Jackson for guided conversations around the PCC Study Guide: Body, Mind and Soul Available at our church office from Ruth Song or online at the PCC website. Monday April 25 7:30-9:00 in Room 205 Monday May 2 7:30-9:00 in Room 205 Monday May 9 7:30-9:00 in Room 205 GOD S LOVE INCLUDES EVERYONE

10 Retirement Home Ministry Ellen Yessis Over the past few months several changes have taken place in our Retirement Home Ministry. So it's time for an update. We'll review each of our locations for our Retirement Home Ministry and those who deliver the program and some of our people who receive it. Beechwood Manor 2nd Friday, 2pm. The ministry continues here with Nancy Matthews, George MacAskill and Agnes Steffy leading the services. Ken Jessop of Knox now lives at Beechwood. Waterloo Heights 4th Friday, 10:45am. The services here have Barb Prysnuk, Lynn Allen and Gordon Coyne leading. We're happy to have Eula Mae Myers, David Oille and Don Connor living at Waterloo Heights and able to attend the services. Lanark Heights 3rd Wed. 10:30am. Mary & Frank Whitson and Ellen Yessis continue to bring the services to Lanark. Parkwood Mennonite Home last Thursday, 9:30am. Betty Geddes and Agnes Steffy lead the services at Parkwood. They are pleased to bring our message to Jack Geddes, Betty's husband who lives at Parkwood. Clair Hills first Wed. 2pm. Connie Graham and Carolyn Culp bring the services to Clair Hills. Attending the services from Knox, we have Don & Anne Moffatt, Lyle & Reta Spencer, Barend & Maria Van Veldhuizen and Fred Worton. Terrace on the Square 4th Tuesday, 9:30am. The services are provided by Lynelle Purdy, Bill Simpson and Mildred Seibel. Bankside: Agnes Steffy and Cheryl Meyer bring services to Bankside on the 3 rd Sunday, 2pm. Katherine Rempel who has attended Wednesdays at Knox, now attends services at Bankside. Pinehaven closed in November for rebuilding and will remain closed for at least 2 years. Many thanks to Betty Geddes and Cheryl Meyer for providing these services over the years. The Westhill 2nd Wed. 10:30am Frank & Mary Whitson and Cheryl Meyer have been delivering the services here starting last October. Thank you to Evelyn Hayes for bringing us to the attention of the administrator at The Westhill. University Gates Sundays at 2:30pm. This latest in our nursing homes operates their pastoral program with a chaplain, Ingrid Loepp Thiessen, setting up services with different providers from different churches each week. We will be doing services on April 3, July 3, and October 2. Thank you to Cheryl Meyer, Bovas Abraham and Andrew Song for volunteering to bring our services to University Gates. From Knox, Reta and Ed Bain live in this home. Our services are written each month by members of Knox and are set up with the format of a church service with a short homily. The writers are Nancy Matthews, Mary Whitson, Ellen Yessis and Brooke Ashfield. Brooke & Linda Ashfield also bring communion to each of our nursing homes in October and the month of Easter. Thank you to Janice Randall Simpson and Andrew Song who are willing to substitute for us when the need arises. Thank you to everyone participating in our Retirement Home Ministry. The residents who attend the services are invariably pleased to see us and frequently express thanks for the meaningfulness of our ministry in their lives. Pneumonia Vests Ellen Yessis Mary Johnston from St. Andrews Presbyterian church kindly sent pictures of the packing of pneumonia vests being sent to India. We are happy to include two photos here. The postage on the bale amounted to $ Last year Mary Johnston began to wonder about the cost of sending the bale and whether there would be a more economical way to deal with this mission. When some visitors from India came to visit here, Mary inquired if it would be possible for us to send the money and for them to make the vests. The woman explained that this would not be feasible because the location where the vests go is quite isolated. Suitable yarn would not be available. Even if yarn was brought from some of the major cities, it would not be of the same quality as our yarn and the vests would not be nearly as useful or as long lasting. This is the reason for sending the bales in the fall and spring. The medical personnel find the vests to be of great value in preventing pneumonia during the cold nights. We feel that the expense of sending them is a small price to pay if the vests can be of so much use. So please, keep knitting the vests and supporting the mission with donations for the bale which can be a cheque made out to Knox Presbyterian Church with the bale designated as the destination for the money. COMPASSIONATE ENGAGED JOYFUL 10 WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL

11 THE LOGOS COMMITMENT! Glenda Ribey Rozomiak LOGOS is a vibrant midweek, intergenerational ministry at Knox Waterloo. Ever wonder what we do here every Thursday night? Why we do it? How it works? Our ministers, families and congregation, children and youth have all made a commitment to this ministry. This year we have approximately 85 adult participants and 66 children and youth! Hats off to our kitchen teams who keep us fed every week! LOGOS requires a team commitment similar to the energy that we make to our sports teams, and other extracurricular activities that our children and youth are involved in. This weekly commitment allows for time to build meaningful Christian relationships and acts as a bridge between weekly worship services. Every week, everyone participates in Bible Time, Worship Skills (vocal & instrumental music, skits, presenting), Recreation Time (crafts & activities) and Family Time (meal & table games). Each week builds on the foundations from the previous week. The one rule of LOGOS is: Treat everyone as a child of God. No one is to treat others as if they do not matter. In order to participate in LOGOS a commitment to participate in the program by a parent or caregivers is required (both parents/caregivers would be awesome). Parental commitment sends a strong message to our youth that building a relationship with God is important. God calls us, equips us and is present with us as we use our gifts to serve God in ministry to our youth. LOGOS is supported by fees paid by participating families (assistance available). Once a financial commitment is made it is more likely to have a commitment of heart, body and soul. We are fortunate at Knox as we have many adults that participate in the program even though they may not have children involved. This contributes to the relationship building and intergenerational aspect of LOGOS. In Worship skills everyone is part of the worship team and is important to the group s offerings. Sunday morning worship is not just for adults. Regular attendance at LOGOS is essential for the development of excellence. Such choices force us to make some decisions that may be seen as counter culture. We believe that Christian nurture of our young people is one of the most important things we do as a church. LOGOS seeks to strengthen the commitment of youth and families to their faith and worship. There is ongoing clergy leadership and participation in our LOGOS program at Knox which communicates to the congregation and the young people the importance of this weekly ministry. This year Brooke continues to entertain us as the Dinner Dean during Family Time, Linda is leading the Jr. High Worship Skills program and is a Jr. High Table Parent. Our Ministers believe in the LOGOS program and are actively involved in this program Thursday evenings. LOGOS requires a great deal of commitment of parents, young people, clergy and the congregation. In the LOGOS arena, adults and young people intentionally practice developing Christian-like relationships. Living together week after week provides time to learn and experience the Christian Faith. Thursday evenings at Knox are loud, fun, chaotic full of energy and love and I for one, wouldn t trade that night for anything. GOD S LOVE INCLUDES EVERYONE

12 Knox Refugee Sponsorship Update Grant Birks You may have read in the last edition of ACross the Pews that Knox is preparing to sponsor an Eritrean refugee. Helen Gebregziabher [right] is the cousin of our church custodian, Mulugeta Beraki, and, after fleeing Eritrea because of extreme domestic violence, is temporarily living in Cairo, Egypt. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed that a return to Eritrea would threaten Helen s life and has granted her official refugee status. She has left her two children in the care of her mother back in Eritrea. While it may be very difficult to bring the children to Canada later, we have made provision for this in our sponsorship application which is now complete. The application package has been submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and we are awaiting further information as to the next steps. We have heard that because of a backlog of applications at Canada s Cairo consular office, it may be months, if not years, before Helen s case will be processed. We hope that the wait time will not be this long but we have no further information at this time. Helen s application is entirely separate from the current Syrian emergency refugee sponsorship that is being advanced by the Canadian government. Many in our community are responding to this tragic situation. The Global Partners Committee discussed with our elders at the Jan. 26 th Session meeting how Knox could come to the aid of a Syrian refugee family. Session supported expanding Knox s refugee outreach to include sponsoring a Syrian family of five through the PCC once sufficient funds have been raised. More information will be available shortly, but it is estimated that we will require about $31,000 to support a family for their first year in Canada (including funds for Helen when she eventually arrives) as well as volunteer time and energy. Voices of Relief in Pakistan PWS&D ~Submitted by Kathleen Forde~ In 2015, heavy rains battered the district of Sajawal in Pakistan. Monsoon flooding brought homes to the ground, washed away roads and devastated livelihoods. The floods took away all hopes. We lost everything. We were at the verge of hunger, shares Rano, a young farmer from the district. But families like Rano s, hardest hit by the floods, are getting the support they need to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D), in partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Community World Service Asia, is providing emergency food packages for five consecutive months to over 2,000 families affected by the flood. The timely support helped to ensure food security for our families, says a smiling Rano. In addition to food aid, farmers are receiving wheat seed to bring life back to their plots of land. With quality seed for next sowing season we can secure quality food for our family, says Haji. Training is also offered to teach farmers how to protect their crops and seeds from adverse weather. In other villages, the same sense of relief is alive and present. Before the floods, Mrs. Dino s crop of sweet melon was thriving. When the monsoon destroyed her fields, she worried about supporting her family. With this assistance, however, she is meeting her nutritional needs and is thankful knowing she will have food for the future. We would have missed this growing season if we would have not received wheat seed. We are grateful to those who supported us. Your Gifts Make a Difference! Your generosity is helping families in Pakistan have nutritious food and peace of mind during this difficult time. With your support, we can continue bringing relief and life-saving assistance to those affected by the flood. COMPASSIONATE ENGAGED JOYFUL 12 WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL

13 ~Wednesdays at Knox~ As our Canadian winter gently settled in around us, we started looking ahead to 2016 and another year of amazing presentations, yummy food, and wonderful fellowship. Note: If schools are closed due to inclement weather, is "closed" as well. Please listen to the radio (CKWR 98.5, or CBC 89.1) in the morning for closures that day. This weekly event is open to everyone (although we don't provide child care), so if you find you have a lunch hour free, please join us in the church hall, starting at 11:30 on Wednesdays, for coffee and fellowship, followed by devotions, lunch for $5, and a different presentation each week. We adjourn at 1:00. If you have any questions, phone Ellen McIntosh (519) or e mail: emcintosh1130@rogers.com. Kevin Thomas: Waterloo Region Museum Photo: Sue Senior Feb 3 David Gascoigne (Ornithologist): A Cheep Lunch Part II David s October presentation about local birds was so popular, people have been asking ever since when he ll be back. Whether or not you caught Part I, you won t want to miss this continuation of a very entertaining and informative look into the world of Waterloo Region birds. Feb 10 Valentine Luncheon Featuring: The Bearded Baritones Tickets for this hot lunch are $12- in advance. Be treated to Valentine's Day Love Songs by The Bearded Baritones. For those of you who watched Josh Matthews grow up here at Knox (and those who didn't), come and be amazed! Feb 17 Kevin Thomas (Waterloo Region Museum Historian): Unmentionables So how did a woman achieve the ever-changing fashionable figure when she didn t come by it naturally? This talk will take a look at some of the devices that women used in the last 150 years, in order to keep up with fashion trends. We're excited to have Kevin, who works in public programming, bring us a new "unmentionable" presentation! Feb 24 Joanna Rickert-Hall: Humanity and Hardship: Tales of Early Black History in Waterloo County Social historian, museum curator, and lecturer, Joanna will share the stories of notable early black settlers and their contributions to this community. We will be provided with a rare insight into the challenges that refugee slaves faced when they bravely left the chains of slavery behind for the unknown hardship of a new country. Mar 2 Rev. John Lougheed: Spiritual Care Director & Chaplain for Grand River Hospital in K-W John serves along with four staff chaplains, an administrative colleague, 30 volunteers, four interns, and over 350 local faith community leaders, as well as pastoral visitors. John will give an overview of the history and development of the Spiritual Care program at GRH since the 1940s and looks forward to some Question and Answer time. Mar 9 Mayor Dave Jaworsky : Reflections as Mayor since 2014 Dave represents the city on regional council as well as on a number of boards of committees. We ll hear firsthand some of Dave s reflections about his role of fostering prosperity and promoting this vibrant city. Mar 16 Stephen Todd & Friends: Celebrating All Things Irish Stephen and his musical friends will play for us and show us a variety of styles and instruments that contribute to the folk music of Celtic traditions. Since this is the day before St. Patrick's day, come ready for a celebration! Mar 23 Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser: Our KW Symphony - A Young Conductor's Experience Daniel has been in KW since September, 2014, when he was appointed Assistant Conductor of the KW Symphony. Mar 30 Laura Ashfield and David Neigh: Highland Steps & Lowland Ballads Come and enjoy a lively mix of traditional Scottish music, fiddle tunes and favourite songs. This is a reprise from an evening at McDougall Cottage where Dave is Musician-in-Residence. Apr 6 Kim Hayes (The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada): Dispelling the Stubborn Donkey Stereotype Kim will explain the history of the sanctuary s beginnings and the special care the donkeys there receive. Donkeys characters, the common perception that they are stupid or stubborn, the differences between horses and donkeys, and human relationships with animals will all be explored. GOD S LOVE INCLUDES EVERYONE

14 FEBRUARY Black History Month Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Worship 10am Food for Thought 6:30pm Women Together 7:30pm (from postponed gathering in January) 2 Knox Quilters 10am Daughters of Christ 1:30 Upward Sports 6pm W@K 11:30am *RHM Clair Hills 2:00pm 4 Fitness & LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45 FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 6 House of Friendship Potato Blitz 7 Worship 10am Communion Wellington Winds 3pm Food for Thought 6:30pm 8 Lunar New Year 1 Knox Combo 7:30pm 9 Shrove Tuesday Knox Quilters 10am Pancake Supper 5 7pm Circle of Care 7:30 10 Ash Wednesday *RHM The Westhill 10:30am W@K 11:30am Inclusive Initiatives 7pm 11 Fitness & LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45 12 *RHM Beechwood Manor 2pm FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 13 Renaissance Singers Concert 7:30pm 14 Lent 1 Valentine s Day Worship10am Food for Thought 6:30pm 21 Lent 2 Worship10am *RHM Bankside 2pm Annual Congregational Meeting 2pm Food for Thought 6:30pm 28 Lent 3 Worship10am KW Chamber Orchestra 3pm Food for Thought 6:30pm 15 Family Day 22 Collective Kitchen 4pm 29 Women Together 7:30pm 16 Knox Quilters 10am Upward Sports 6pm Finance Mtg 7pm 23 *RHM Terrace on the Square 9:30am Knox Quilters 10am Upward Sports 6pm Session 7:30pm 1 March Knox Quilters 10am Daughters of Christ 1:30 Upward Sports 6pm 17 *RHM Lanark Heights 10:30am W@K 11:30am 24 Knox Knitters 9:30am W@K 11:30am Book Club 1:30pm Knox Stampers 7pm 2*RHM Clair Hills 2:00pm W@K 11:30am 18 Fitness & LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45 25 Manna Day at Crieff Hills Fitness & *RHM Parkwood Mennonite 9:30am LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45 3 Fitness & LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45 19 FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 26 Ayyám-I-Ha 2 *RHM Waterloo Heights 10:45am FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 4 FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 20 Men s Knox 8am KW Community Orchestra 8pm 27 5 Inshallah Concert: Singing With Our Neighbours 7pm [admission: free will offering ] *RHM ~ Retirement Home Ministry Multicultural Observances & Festivals: 1. China, Taiwan 2. Bahá í COMPASSIONATE ENGAGED JOYFUL 14 WELCOMING PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUAL

15 Music of Heart and Home 2:30 [fundraiser for Syrian refugees] Food for Thought 6:30pm International Women s Day 2 Knox Quilters 10am Presbytery of W loo-wellington St. Andrew s Kitchener Circle of Care 7:30 15 Knox Quilters10am Upward Sports 6pm Finance Mtg 7pm MARCH 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 6 Lent Shiva Ratri 1 9 Knox Knitters *RHM 12 Daylight 9:30am Beechwood Worship 10am Fitness & Savings Time Manor 2pm Turn clocks Communion AHEAD 1 HOUR at bedtime! 13 Lent 5 Worship10am Food for Thought 6:30pm 20 Palm Sunday Worship 10am *RHM Bankside 2pm Food for Thought 6:30pm 27 Easter 7:30 am Outdoor Worship Waterloo Park 8:15 am Potluck Breakfast Church Hall 10:00 am Worship in the Sanctuary 14 Knox Combo 7:30pm 21International Day: Elimination of Racial Discrimination 3 Nowrúz 4 Women Together 7:30pm 28 Easter Monday 22 *RHM Terrace on the Square 9:30am Knox Quilters10am Upward Sports 6pm Session Meeting 7:30 29 Knox Quilters10am Upward Sports 6pm *RHM The Westhill 10:30am W@K 11:30am 16 *RHM Lanark Heights 10:30am W@K 11:30am DEADLINE ACross The Pews April May Edition 23 Knox Knitters 9:30am W@K 11:30am Book Club 1:30pm 30 W@K 11:30am Collective Kitchen 4:30pm Knox Stampers 7pm LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45 17 St. Patrick s Day Fitness & Choir 7:45 24 Maundy Thursday Purim 5 Fitness & LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45pm 31 Fitness & *RHM Parkwood Mennonite 9:30am LOGOS 4:30pm Choir 7:45pm FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 18 FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 25 Good Friday Worship 10am *RHM Waterloo Heights 10:45am FOCUS 6:30 AA 8pm 19 Men s Calvin 8am KW Community Orchestra 8pm 26 1 April 2 Dr. Kennon Knox *RHM ~ Retirement Home Ministry Multicultural Observances & Festivals: 1. Hindu 2. International 3. International 4. Zoroastrian 5. Jewish GOD S LOVE INCLUDES EVERYONE

16 A CROSS THE PEWS FEBRUARY MARCH 2016 Wellingtons Winds Concert at Knox: Mark Culp Tone Chimes: Mark Culp Pageant: Glenda Ribey Rozomiak Book Club: D. Goldbeck Upward Basketball: Laura VanderVleuten Tone Chimes: Glenda Ribey Rozomiak Pageant: Lauran VanderVleuten Pageant: Glenda Ribey Rozomiak Logos Candlelight Service: Mark Culp knoxwaterloo.ca 50 Erb Street West, Waterloo ON. N2L 1T1 (519)