return
J REPORT OF THE MINISTER (eZN|

let me begin by saying that-1977 was not a spectacular year,
but a good year, By that I mean, while no part of the churchts
work stands out, some progress wes made on all fronts. ‘

In the Church School, there seemed to be a strengthening. On
the first Sunday of my arrival in February, 1975, there were six
children in the Senior Church School. Today, at our lowest, we
would have three times that. While this is nothing to be elated
about, it shows steady improvement.

1977 again saw the Daily Vacation Bible School a great success,
the last week of August, with approximtely 100 attending.

Our Christmas Concert was the best ever, with a large congre-
gation present at the concert and at the party following.

411 in all, the success of this part of our work is attribu-
table to the consistent efforts of the Church School teachers -
junior and senior - plus all those others who help at special
times.

We benefited by having our church open all summer last year.
The Church School continued to operate on a modified basis and the
overall effect was to strengthen our work in the fall. We did not
have to "get back to church" because we had never been completely
away. Once again, the increases were not spectacular but showed
improvement.

Financially, we showed a steady progress on the black side of.
our envelopes, and also on the. red - again, not in a spectacular way
but the direction up was the right one. :

In fellowship, I sensed a growing together, and an increasing
attempt to integrate new people into the congregation. Much of the
credit for this goes to Mrs. Irene Locker who, together with her
helpers, served tea and coffee following the morning. service. The
numbers attending were small at first but have gradually increased
until we often have 25-30 attending. This has surely been the mini-
stry of the one talent which has borne a rich harvest.

The choir has grown in number and has produced increasingly
beautiful choral work.

From this, we gather that, while God my not work a great
miracle for us, He is working a miracle in us - and as we give our-
selves to Him and let His Spirit work through us, the miracles will
grow as we give of our talents to the common cause of Christ's
Church.

K. J. Wilson
Minister

return