The McDowell United Church Trustee Board has set up a Special Fund to receive donations to replace the Church windows. Donations may also be made to this fund in honour of or in memory of. Please forward your donation to Mr. Berkley Sellars, Treasurer of McDowell United Church Trustee Board. Please indicate on the envelope “Window Fund Project”

     and if your donation is in honour of or in memory of.

The McDowell United Church Trustee Board is in the process of replacing the windows in the Church.  A Window Fund has been set up and as a result the two windows for the front of the Church should be installed later this winter or early spring.  The other windows in the Church will cost approximately $1000.00 each to purchase and install.  We are continuing to raise money and look for support to get these in place.  If anyone is interested in donating a window in Memorial or in Honour please contact any member of the Trustee Board.

Tuesday, Feb. 24^th – 5:00 pm – the McDowell United Church Trustee  Board and U.C.W. will be having a Pancake Supper downstairs at McDowell. Take-outs will be available at 4:30 pm and Eat-ins at

5:00 pm. Ticket cost: Adults $6.00 and children age 12 years and under   $3.00

Also, there will be a person available from the McDowell Trustee   Board   to collect the 2009 Church and Cemetery fees if you wish to pay at this time.

The Ocean View United Church Trustee Board gratefully acknowledges a donation to the “Tile the Floor Project” in loving memory of parents John and Annie Slade from Eric and Rosann.

The McDowell United Church Trustee Board gratefully acknowledges a donation to the Window Fund in memory of Augusta Pearl King from Jean Milley and family

Observer subscription renewal time has come again. If you wish to renew your subscription or begin a new subscription, please contact Isabelle at 598-2943.

Notice to contributors of the Blackhead – Western Bay Pastoral    Charge.

   Effective January 1^st, 2009, the minimum contribution to the     Pastoral Charge budget (to be considered a paid contributor) is increased from $180.00 to a minimum of $205.00

******2009******

     Pastoral Charge Budget minimum contribution     $205.00

     Church & Cemetery minimum contribution                  40.00                                                                                               $245.00

Some contributors make one total contribution and include the full amount in their Pastoral Charge budget white envelope and assume the Treasurer will forward $40.00 to the Local Treasurer for their Church and Cemetery fee. Please specify if you wish for this to happen because the Treasurer cannot assume you want $40.00 of your total contribution forwarded for your Church and Cemetery fee or if you will be paying your Church & Cemetery fee separately.

For information concerning our Food Bank you may contact:

Bonnie Crummey 598-2803 Sophie White   598-2595  Rev. Cole 598-  2943

Please forward items for the Church News to Darryl Butt by Thursday of each week.

Church Leaders

“Zambians love to sing,” writes Doug Varey, a United Church overseas personnel funded by the Mission and Service Fund. Doug has been hired to teach at the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Theological College. He describes the program: “Daily worship routine begins early in Zambia. On campus we meet in the chapel for the morning service at 6:45, and 10 minutes before the service, the chapel is filled with singing in any one of about 12 languages, including English.”

Doug teaches three courses to first, second, and third-year theology students. One is a course on contemporary ethical issues. While the students are more conservative than one might find in a mainstream theological college in Canada, they are aware of the rapid growth of cities and secular trends in Zambia and are willing to discuss issues in an open, sensitive, and intelligent manner.

Doug reports that the students are largely second-career people, and impressive in their achievements. For example, Charity, in third year, is a nurse. Others have been accountants or have run their own businesses. All have been deeply involved in their home congregations and bring a lot of commitment and experience to share.

Through United Church partnership with the UCZ and with grants from the Mission and Service Fund, we are helping to train leaders for the church in Zambia. We are called to be the church; we are not alone.