2010 ALTAR GUILD REPORT

Another year has flown by, and each Sunday during that year, the church has been prepared for its worship by an Altar Guild team.  That team continues responsibility during the following week, for preparation of the church for weddings and funerals, as well as the weekly Thursday service of Holy Communion.  Currently the Guild has 15 members who work in teams of 2 or 3.  We are hopeful that our membership will grow during the coming year.

As members gather to decorate the church for festivals, we have welcomed the help of members of the congregation. In particular we thank Aline Aubin and Kathy Van Allen, who for quite some time have managed the arrangements in the many sconces.  Six of our young people joined us on Christmas Eve.  Their help was huge in carrying manger parts from upstairs storage, preparing of candles for late service and the hanging of sconces. Thank you to each one, that help truly shortened our work time on a busy day.

Each week, the ordering of flowers is handled by Brenda Battersby.  These flowers may be donated by any member of the congregation, in thanksgiving or in memory of a loved one.  A sign-up sheet hangs on the wall opposite the flower room.  The suggested donation is $40.  If you cannot quite manage this amount, give what you can afford. If you are able to afford a larger donation, this would be very gratefully accepted.  Beacher and Bernice Wilson continue to organize the weekly delivery of flowers to those who are ill, while Doug and Veronica Shillito handle the distribution of festival flowers to the sick and shut-ins.  We thank them for looking after this ministry.  While members handle the laundering of church linens, we depend on Shirley Campbell to do the work of fine stitching and mending.  We appreciate her doing this special work.

The annual pot luck lunch took place in October following a corporate communion service.  Lunch was great fun with dishes always a surprise and very delicious.  We appreciate our rector, Neil, joining us each year as well as invited guests.  That date happened to be Barb’s last working day in the office and so a perfect opportunity to celebrate her retirement and wish her happy times ahead.

In February, Barb Cederlund will start a 1 year term as assistant co-ordinator until Feb. 2012, when she will assume the position of Altar Guild co-ordinator.  My sincere thanks to Neil for his ever helpful guidance, support and good humour. This is very much appreciated by our membership.

Respectfully submitted
Priscilla Archer