Please see this update that was published on September 22, 2020.
September 8, 2020
Dear Friends:
We are delighted to let you know that the Session has extended an invitation to the our preferred candidate (“Our Candidate”) to preach for the call to be Minister at Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church. Our Candidate was the unanimous recommendation of the Search Committee after considering over 25 potential applicants from across Canada and overseas.
Preaching for the call will involve Our Candidate leading worship on Sunday, September 27, at 11:00 AM, a service which will also be simulcast on-line via streaming media. On Saturday, September 26, at 2 PM, Our Candidate will take part in a simultaneous in-person and virtual (the latter via Zoom video conferencing) question and answer session that will allow members of our community of faith to interact with her.
Following the service on Sunday, September 27, there will be a simultaneous in-person and virtual (the latter again via Zoom video conferencing) meeting of the congregation to vote on whether or not to extend the call to Our Candidate. Assuming the meeting votes in favour of extending a call, members and adherents will be asked to sign a list signifying their agreement with the call.
In order to maintain current distancing requirements, in-person attendance at the question and answer session on September 26 and the worship service and congregational meeting on September 27 must be restricted. If you wish to attend either of those functions, you must RSVP to Office Administrator Lisa Milroy at the church office by telephone at 416-261-4037 (office hours 12:30–4:30 PM, Monday–Friday) or by email. Only those who have been confirmed by the office in advance will be allowed to enter the church for those two functions.
The Q&A session, worship service and congregational meeting as noted all will be available on-line for those not able to attend in person. Details on connecting will be provided via our e-mail newsletter Tidbits the week prior. If you do not currently subscribe to Tidbits, please sign up.
For the question and answer session we are asking that you submit questions for Our Candidate in advance; they can be communicated through Lisa at the church office, or by emailing them (if emailing, use the special email address set up for the purpose in the preceding link; click or use “[email protected]”). There will not be an opportunity to present questions in-person; please make sure your questions are submitted in advance.
These events mark significant progress in our search for a new minister, and your participation in the process is vital. Please participate as you are able, and pray for Our Candidate, for our community of faith, for our Search Committee and our Session as we make these decisions.
In the continuing uncertainty in which we are living, let us accept God’s guidance, wisdom and peace through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Bob and Helen
Revs. Bob and Helen Smith – Interim Moderators
A version of this letter first appeared in the September 11, 2020 edition of Tidbits.