South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge

                                                                                           Unforced Rhythms of Grace

“27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.”

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

 Our annual report for 2025 tells a story that reflects on and celebrates the life and ministry of our faith community in the past year. The unfolding story of our shared ministry continues as we ponder the question; How are we welcoming the Spirit to guide, encourage and strengthen us as we seek to embody and embrace the unforced rhythms of grace that Jesus invites all people to experience as we share our lives together in faith.

I would like to share some highlights from 2025 that have stood out for me as  on our journey and to express thanksgiving for our collective witness to the movement of God’s unconditional love for the world we live in.

Even though we have had to say goodbye to some beautiful, faithful, beloved people of our “Faith Family” in the past year, and we lament our loss as we should, we have also met many new friends in our Courtland, Cultus and Zoom Hybrid Church Families this past year and I say welcome one and all I am so thankful for the many ways in which we are growing together as we explore, experience and express our faith. Keep inviting people to church!

Thanks to our Wednesday morning Zoom conversation group who have remained committed to each other and expressed their faith in beautiful ways by being present to each other.

Thanks to Houghton, Port Rowan and Courtland Public Schools for inviting us into their communities to facilitate the Roots of Empathy Program, and to our participating families, and to this Faith Community’s endorsement and support. This is an amazing collaborative opportunity for us to share our love and care with the wider community and to plant seeds of hope.

Thanks to the UCW groups, the Hands of Grace Prayer Shawl group, and the Gypsies for Jesus group for continuing the very important ministries that they engage in.

Thanks to all who invested their passion, faith, time and resources to any and all fund-raising projects as we worked collectively and cooperatively, we blessed the communities around us and met our expectations in relationship to our 2025 budgets. Our fund-raising is really “fun-raising”!

I really appreciate how Courtland and Cultus work so well together in all of our shared “two point” efforts witnessed through our Official Board work, joint services, scheduling and mutual support in fund raising events, shared prayer lists, mutual grief support, hospitality and grace.

Thanks to the Courtland Mission group and participating partners Courtland Firefighters, Zehrs and others for their very faithful work expressed through the Christmas Hamper program where many struggling families were helped through difficult times.

Thanks to our Zoom Church people who arrive on time each Sunday and have offered themselves to our worship experience and community building in so many amazing ways. I would also like to thank our Zoom Tech Crew, Yvonne & Gordon who are there every Sunday keeping us all connected.

Thanks to so many of you who have offered words of reflective response and encouragement to me each week regarding my Friday e-blasts which continues to reach out to over 260 email addresses.

 I would like to thank Rev. Sheena Marini, our Voluntary Associate Minister, for helping us out in many ways throughout the past year.

I am very thankful for all of your love, encouragement and support that has been expressed in the past year. Sometimes the road seems long, and the destination unknown but with the Spirit’s inspiration and empowerment and her pushing and pulling us forward, I continue to find our collective journey a joyful delight! Thank you.

Now a new year is upon us!

Maybe now is a good time to ask ourselves what can really animate our faith in 2026? What can we be excited about as we continue to create and nurture a welcoming home where the Spirit of Life inspires and empowers all aspects of our living. I continue to pray that as this year unfolds, we will embrace and live in our mission statement and freely let our faith, curiosity, yearning for justice, passion for mission and sense of community carry us into a hopeful future as Jesus calls us to “Rise and shine” and be the light and love of God as we continue to follow the Way. The mystery and love of God is discovered and rediscovered when we open our hearts to each other and to God in our daily walk of faith.

May our sense of direction be illuminated by the light of Christ as we continue to journey together.

With love…                                                   PT.

                                                                                   CONTACTS FOR CEMETERY BOARDS

COURTLAND UNITED CEMETERY:        Wayne Cadman   519-688-2345      

CULTUS  CEMETERY:                 Linda Millen  519-875-4657     

South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge...We Are Linked In LOVE!!

CULTUS UNITED CHURCH: Located at  748-6th Concession Road ENR, Cultus, Ontario     WORSHIPS on Sundays at  9:00am        

COURTLAND UNITED CHURCH: Located at 133 Talbot Street, Courtland, Ontario            WORSHIPS on SUNDAYS AT 10:30am           

Our Mission Statement:   The South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge is called to be a Christian community empowered and inspired by the Holy Spirit and to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT US:   EMAIL: swnpc@yahoo.ca                  Office Phone: 519-688-4050

**** FOR ALL PASTORAL EMERGENCIES  PASTOR TED can be reached at  519-861-9273 ****

OUR MAILING ADDRESS:  South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge, P.O.Box 129, 119 Talbot Road, Courtland, On., N0J1E0

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