Update on St. Catherine's

Hello St. Laurence, 

I will be leaving for a month tomorrow on vacation, but before I go I wanted to give an update on where we are at in our conversations regarding merger with St. Catherine's.  So far our Parish Councils have met together for two retreats, and each Parish Council has met individually to assess the needs of it's own Parish.  Much of this has been simply laying a foundation for future conversation, beginning the process of creating trust and relationship.  So far, I am encouraged by the fact that there is more congurence in our values and aspirations than difference.  We both value good liturgy and music.  We both have a desire to do outreach.  And we both want to grow intellectually and spiritually.  That's a solid foundation.  

The challenge of course has been that we haven't been able to meet in person.  You need that to really develop friendship and understanding.  

Towards that end, St. Catherine's is inviting St. Laurence to a joint worship service and picnic on Sunday, August 8, at Lion's Park in Port Coquitlam.  We will begin gathering at 10am.  Worship at 11am.  Bring your own chair and picnic, which we will enjoy after worship.  More information on this will follow later.  So, save the date!  

In conversation with the St. Catherine's Parish Council and Wardens, we have decided to stop having a seperate St. Catherine's service.  From now on, St. Catherine's will be invited to join in St. Laurence's in-person worship.  And in the fall, when we begin having a 9am and 10:30am service again, many of the St. Catherine's folk may attend the 9am service, as they have been meeting at 8:30am for two decades.  But you will find new faces at all our services, so please reach out and introduce yourself.  That person maybe from St. Catherine's.  Or that person may have found us on-line and is now just joinging us for the first time.  It's great that there will new people to meet when we begin attending church again together!  And as you introduce yourself, you may just discover that that person you didn't know has been going to St. Laurence for years now.  

We will resume conversation around our merger in the fall, when we've had a better chance to get to know each other.   I will update you more then. 

Until then, have a blessed summer. 

Peace, 

Rev. Eric Mason