Chalmers News

We have prepared 200 Warm Winter Wear Packs for for the colder weather, which we have begun to distribute. The packs contain thermal socks and mitts or gloves, toque, toiletries, hot packs, and treats, along with a Tim Horton’s gift card for the men and women who come for assistance to the Benevolent Program.

Did you Know?

This Sunday’s advent reader is Jane MacEwen. She is a member of the Inreach Circle which is concerned with supporting ideas that help the Chalmers congregation to be connected.
For example, they recently created the Gentle Walking Group that has spent the last few months exploring beautiful corners of Kingston. Another idea is the upcoming potluck Christmas dinner on December 23rd.

Please join the next circle to help connect to your congregation.

United Marketplace Tour Nov 19 10-2

Book Table

If you are done with some of your current, favourite novels, donations are gladly accepted at church house, Tues – Thurs between 11 and 4pm

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Cookie Table

Bakers are baking!

Buyers now needed!

Plastic bins of Christmas cookies, ready for the freezer, will be for sale at the bazaar. To get your cookies come on the 19th!  If you are not able to be there but want cookies call Joan at 613-545-1099.

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Requesting Donations for the Nearly New Table

Do you need a ‘new home’ for once loved ‘treasures’?

This is your opportunity to have someone else enjoy what has given you pleasure in the past! Donate your ‘tenderly used’ jewelry, trinkets or memorabilia to the Nearly New Table for Chalmers’ bazaar!

Contact Rosalie – to arrange pick up or drop off.

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Gourmet Gifts to Go Mixes

Thanks to the worker bees at our very successful session last Sunday, we will be selling yummy mixes for different soups, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, hot chocolate and mug cakes. Come to MacCallum Hall after church to see the jars and maybe even some samples!

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Craft Table There is still a little time to donate a piece of your creativeness to this table at our bazaar! We would be pleased to accept it in MacCallum Hall Friday, Nov. 18^th 10:00 am – noon. Contact Jean Sills

Coats for the Community
Do you have warm winter coat that you haven’t worn lately, is too big or too small,  is “gently used”, in your basement or storage unit? At the back of your closet?

Two Coat Drives:

1. The United Way’s third annual Coats for Community drive is underway!
Coats must be washable only; no leather or heavy wool.
The donated coats will be distributed through agencies serving people in
vulnerable circumstances. You may drop off your coat at the following Kingston
locations:

• United Way KFL&A Office:
417 Bagot Street
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Calvin Park Branch Library
88 Wright Crescent
Mon-Thu 9: 00am to 8:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm
• Central Branch Library
130 Johnson Street
Mon-Thu 9:00am to 8:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sun 1:00 to 5:00pm
• Isabel Turner Library
935 Gardiners Road
Mon-Thu 9:00am to 8:00pm; Fri-Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sun 1:00 to 5:00pm
• City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm

2. St Mary’s Cathedral Coat Drive
St Mary’s Parish Centre 260 Brock St.
Coat Drop Off: Mon – Fri 12pm to 3pm
Starting: Oct 28
Coat Pick up: Mon – Fri 1pm – 3pm
From: Nov 15 – Dec 23 and Jan 2 – 14

Book Table
If you are done with some of your current, favourite novels, donations are gladly
accepted at church house, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays between 11 and 4pm
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Cookie Table
We need bakers to make cookies by Nov. 17 for the Bazaar on Nov. 19. If you
haven’t been contacted already, please call Joan at 613-545-1099 to let her know your commitment.
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Gourmet Gifts to Go Mixes
Worker bees are needed to fill the jars with the ingredients
for yummy soups, cookies and more.
Come join the fun! Our first session will be after church on Nov. 6.
Contact Linda Steinberg
if you can join us or would like to help at a different time.
The more the merrier!

Warm Feet for the Street
Providing a brighter Christmas for those who need it, through Chalmers’ Benevolent Program.

Hard to believe we are already experiencing winter and cold weather! UGH!
But here we are and with it comes thinking of others, especially those who are on the
street. They will need some additional warmth. As in past years, volunteers assembled Warm Winter Wear Packs for those folks who come to the
Chalmers’ Benevolent Community Outreach Program on Tuesday mornings. Socks will be distributed during
the cold days until the stock is depleted. The Packs are stuffed with a pair of thermal gloves and socks, a toque,
practical toiletry items, treats, hot pockets and a gift card to Tim Hortons. We invite you to make a financial
contribution to this community project online or in church.

NEWS FROM THE CHALMERS COMMISSION – AUGUST 5, 2022
Having received and reviewed my 2021/2022 Commission Report (a copy of which is available upon request to ), the Assembly of Elders for the East
Central Ontario Region of The United Church of Canada has extended the term of my office until July 31, 2023. This extension is intended to provide the Chalmers community
with both needed operational oversight and time to continue development of its capacity, shared sense of mission, and governance structure.

The furthering of the Commission’s mandate recognizes the noteworthy progress made by the congregation over the last 18 months in righting relationships, notwithstanding
there being no resident ministry personnel to assist in the process, and the adverse impacts of the pandemic. It further affirms and celebrates the congregation’s efforts at
having continuous, uninterrupted worship, and its embrace of Restorative Practice as a way to re-establish the opportunity for independent decision making, per our
denominational polity.

With this in mind, and within the next 12 months, I anticipate that the people of Chalmers will:

1. continue their commitment to, and use of, Restorative Practice
2. generally attend to such matters that will further determine and define the faith community’s identity and missional emphasis
3. design and endorse a new governance model (the way of allocating resources and making decisions) that supports implementation of its identity and missional
   emphasis
4. subsequently propose an initial slate of candidates for a governance body (all to be concurred with by this Commission).

Consideration of my recommendations respecting interim future staffing arrangements have been deferred by the Elders pending further discussion with me. This said, the Reference Team joins me in the sincere hope that you are experiencing the reawakening of Chalmers, and the progress made to date in becoming a more restorative community of faith.
To move forward with congregational conversation about future needs and possibilities, the Reference Team and I are scheduling three facilitated in-person gatherings on the
following dates and times:
• August 31st @ 1:00 p.m.
• September 7th @ 7:00 p.m.
• September 14th @ 7:00 p.m.

Each of these meetings will provide a similar opportunity for contributing to next steps; that is to say, each will ask the same questions and have the same format. Please
attend the session most convenient to you! And lastly, I wish to advise that one of the factors that will inform my subsequent report and recommendations to the Region as to Chalmers’ vitality and viability regards the degree of congregational participation in gatherings, especially those designed to consider/plan for Chalmer’s future. I encourage you to attend, to add your voice, and to demonstrate your interest in/commitment to this faith community life. Who, how, and what Chalmers United Church is, or is not, very much depends on the nature and number of those who are engaged in its work, worship, and witness.

Walking alongside you at this opportunity-filled time, I remain,

G. David King, B.A., M. Div., O.M. (U.C.C.), C.G.R.S.
Commissioner

Action Plan Moving Forward
Summer is drawing to a close and it is time for more Chalmers action! We hope you paid special attention to the message from our Administrator David King on his report to the Region. He reported our progress and the Region responded quite positively. Our next task on the list is to go about developing a new model for making decisions and plans at Chalmers that reflects our needs for new ways of doing and being. Please plan to attend one of the three upcoming sessions at MacCallum Hall. Everyone is invited and needed. Please read these background details to prepare for these sessions.
• August 31 at 1:00 PM
• September 7 at 7:00 PM
• September 14 at 7:00 PM

• August 9 – August 12, 2022.
• Tues. and Fri.10 am to 4 pm
• Wed. and Thurs. 10 am to 8 pm
• Opening ceremony is at 1 pm on Tuesday, August 9.