August 8, 2025 Newsletter

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Vacation Bible School (VBS) was a truly Magnified week! As we look back on VBS 2025, Magnified: Seeing the Bigness of God in the Smallest of Things, we are filled with gratitude, joy, and awe at the outpouring of participation, energy, and enthusiasm from everyone involved. Thanks to the Daughters of St. Andrew’s for supporting this year’s VBS which has not only touched hearts but has also left an enduring mark on our church community.

Over the course of the week, we welcomed 14 children and 4 teenage volunteers. From the very first day, our church hall was alive with laughter and song, filled with the bright faces of children eager to learn and grow. Our VBS would not have been possible without our volunteers. A huge thank you to Margo Collins and Deb Smith for running the technology that provided our music and videos and to Reverend Kukkola who taught the children how to pray using the Five Finger prayer guide and then joined Desmond for setting the foundation of our learning each day with their role play skit; Marnie Nelles and Judy Allan for leading our Craft Station, Matthew Avery for leading our Music station, Vernon Avery for our Recreation station, Evelyn MacKinnon for helping in Bible Study and Lynn Davis, Cathie Caverly, Kathy Lepp & Andre Kuyntjes for being wherever they were needed. We so appreciate David and Donna Chatland, who donated and prepared the snack for the children and volunteers each day, with the assistance of Heather Sinclair. Every corner of our church space became a place of discovery, fellowship, and learning as we were “Made to Magnify God” through creative lessons, stories, and activities. Jane Avery

MORTGAGE FUNDRAISING SUCCESS

We are delighted to share some wonderful news with our congregation. Thanks to the commitment, generosity, and collective spirit of our community, we have successfully raised an impressive $51,000. This remarkable sum was applied directly to the church mortgage as a lump sum payment. We are also pleased to announce that the mortgage has been renewed with a fixed interest rate of 4.99% over a 3-year term. Any additional funds received for the mortgage appeal will be held in a designated account and earmarked solely for the purpose of next year’s lump sum mortgage payment.