Encouraging News from the Churches in Quebec!

New pastors, a family retreat and a birthday

It has been a while since we’ve written to you and we have a lot of encouraging news to share. Last year – 2011, was marked by the passing of a dedicated servant, Reverend and Professor Christian Jean Adjémian. Reverend Adjémian died at the age of 64, having been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. He had been Dean at Institut Farel Thelogical Seminary in Montréal and a great support to l'Église Réformée St-Jean in Montréal since 2010. It is worth mentioning that Pastor Jean-Guy DeBlois has considerably decreased his workload for health reasons. On a positive note, we would like to highlight Winston Bosch’s ministry at l'Église St-Paul in Repentigny, 25 miles east of Montréal. Winston, who grew up in a Canadian Reformed Church family, has pastored in Repentigny since 2011. The congregation is blessed by his teachings and the youth are more and more involved in the church. In May of this year, Pastor Satoshi Kawachi, a PCA missionary, was installed as pastor-evangelist of our ERQ church in Charny, a small congregation near Quebec City whose future had been uncertain. The church in Charny has become vibrant once again, since the arrival of Pastor Kawachi and a few other families who have the mission of the Quebec City's south shore reformed church at heart. In obedience to our Lord and Saviour, we continue to make disciples of all the nations which the Lord sends to us in the province of Quebec. While the vast majority of our members are “pure laine” Quebeckers (dyed-in-the wool), we minister with thanksgiving to a growing population of French-speaking immigrants. The welcoming and integration of these “new Quebeckers” presents particular challenges as we learn to appreciate cultural differences within the common bond of one faith in Christ Jesus. At the same time we are seeking to reach out to other immigrants who do not know Christ Jesus. Our urban congregations in Montreal and Quebec City are both exploring the possibility of reaching out to the Muslim communities. Pastor Kawachi, as well as a second PCA missionary, Pastor Keith Kanavel, will be dedicating some of their ministry time to this Muslim outreach. With respect to significant decisions made by the ERQ synod in the past two years, we would like to mentionthe following:

• The ERQ synod of November 2011 unanimously adopted a liturgy for the profession of faith and baptism of adults.

• The delegates interacted with a report from NAPARC concerning the goal of cooperation and organic union of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches in North America.

• In 2011 the Ministerial Committee of the ERQ presented a draft proposal for the examination process of men for the pastoral ministry as well as the reception of pastors from sister churches. While our church order provides some broad guidelines, we have never defined the particular steps to be followed. In order to write their proposal, the committee examined the

Family Fall RetreatThis fall, the members of the different ERQ churches gathered for a family retreat. The retreat, which was held on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, was an opportunity to spend quality time getting better acquainted, and encouraging each other. The theme was “being truly thankful” and t h e g u e s t s p e a k e r w a s F a r e l seminary's new dean, Jason Zuidema. Being thankful is not as easy as it seems. Sure, we could be grateful to the church on Thanksgiving Weekend or to our neighbour for their help, but we underestimate its importance in our lives, especially as followers of Christ. It does not make sense to concentrate on minor blessings and forget the greater ones. This is true in our walk with Christ.

Why is this true? Why is being thankful so important in a Christian’s life?

This conference he lped us bet ter understand why true gratefulness is a challenge and why it is essential to the gospel. Using Psalms and the letters to the Apostle Paul, we begin to understand how it is central in the message of our Lord’s Kingdom. Thanks to a close study of these texts, we can be encouraged to be truly grateful!

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procedures followed by sister churches. Local councils and the synod have provided some comments for improving the proposal. A final proposal is expected in the near future.

• An ad hoc committee has been mandated to propose an official liturgy for the ordination of pastors and elders.

• The synod is currently discussing a revision of our standing rules for synodical meetings.

For many of us, the summer is a time of rest before the fall, and all its activities. We are very pleased when our brothers and sisters from outside Quebec come to visit “La Belle Province”. Many of you have visited and we love it. Your presence is as encouraging as your prayers and your financial support. We give thanks for your interest in the work God is doing here in Quebec. Thank you for your prayers, your support and your presence when possible.

Marc DrouinElder at l'Église réformée St-Marc de Québec

News from l’Église réformée St-Paul (Repentigny)

Celebrating 25 years!

In November of 2012, l’Église réformée St-Paul in Repentigny will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Believe it or not, we started in 1987! We began with a different name: Église chrétienne réformée de la Rive-Nord. In 1998, after reflecting and discussing, we adopted our current name. Since our beginning, God has provided four shepherds who, one after another, worked towards the edification of the Lord's kingdom in Repentigny. I had the privilege of being taught and led by pastors with different gifts and different personalities. They helped develop our spiritual gifts. Francis Foucachon (1987 to 1994), David Craig (1994 to 2001), Jason Zuidema (2005 to 2009) and Winston Bosch (2011 to present) have succeeded each other.

Our history, you might have noticed, has been marked with many departures, each followed by a period of mourning. Sometimes, also followed by the feeling of failure. As members of the congregation, we have felt distress, incomprehension, discouragement and anger (in my case). Since Jesus is the resurrection and the life, our church has resisted death, and it breathes and walks to this day. This is also true because God keeps his promises. He chose us as his collaborators and he doesn’t let us down!

Turning 25, or rather celebrating 25 years is also an opportunity for retrospection, and being surprised, with joy, by all that has been accomplished. The joint work of our Creator and His creation provides miracles in the making! The tears made way for joy and instead of mourning, we are welcoming new brothers and sisters. Our hearts, our hands and our feet are guided by his grace and his force. We are very thankful to Him! I end this letter with a text from John Henry Newman. It speaks to each believer on a personal level. I also think it speaks to each congregation since we, as the Church, are His beloved bride. God beholds you. . . He calls you by name.He sees you and understands you as He made you.He knows what is in you, all your peculiar feelings and thoughts, your dispositionsAnd likings, your strength and your weaknessHe views you in your day of rejoicing and in your day of sorrow.He sympathizes in your hopes and your temptations.He interests Himself in all your anxieties and remembrances, all the risings and Fallings of your spirit.He encompasses you round and bears you in His arms. . .He notes your very countenance whether smiling or in tears. . .He looks tenderly upon you, because He loves you.

Anne Goudreau

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