Rector's Report
In 2007, members of forty households joined the ministry of St. Jude's as newcomers. We welcomed into our common life and ministry twenty-six people, most of them young children, baptized in our midst during our Sunday morning celebrations. We made room for twenty-two weddings in our common life, many of them strangers when we first encountered them. Every Monday night (including Christmas Eve), the Oakville Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous gathered in Victoria Hall as our guests (though they know their way around the kitchen so well they feel like part of the family). For twelve weeks beginning in January, the people of God at St. Jude's provided space and trained and compassionate leadership to offer "Rainbows", a ministry with children who have experienced loss through death or divorce in their families.

More spontaneously, the greeting of a familiar face, a thoughtful concern for the health of another, the celebration of milestones and accomplishments, including a spirited singing of "Happy Birthday", the time taken to sit beside a friend or stranger in worship "just to keep you company" are all part of the way God makes welcome to those who gather here.

All of this is a ministry of "radiant hospitality" in which we, who have been made welcome guests in God's household, become hosts as well as guests, and welcome others. Each of us once came to this community for the first time. Some arrived a short while ago, and others have been part of the ministry of St. Jude's for many decades. And because we gather around "the table at which God is host and all are welcome guests", we are called to be both glad guests and attentive hosts. The fact that, in French, both "guest" and "host" are the same word, "l'hôte", suggests that the abiding mystery of hospitality, its radiant transformation of the guest into the host, has deep roots in the human soul.

This radiant hospitality welcomes us not only to a household, but also to the purpose we share. It offers us a tradition and then leaves us free to shape it so that it will serve us well as we turn to serve others. It offers us a ritual meal that reminds us of the presence of Jesus in the breaking and sharing of bread. It offers us a compelling basis for hope, and ways to put that hope into practice, to make it more than wishful thinking. It offers us the human story in a form that invites us to see ourselves, not as "merely human", but as "in God's image and likeness" and sharing in God's purpose. And in that same story, God's radiant hospitality provides a way for us to account for our failure and flaws without our having either to explain them away, blame them on others, or carry the weight of them permanently.

This radiant hospitality comes to us most fully in the life and ministry, courage and compassion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The creating Word (host) becomes human (guest) and takes up the power the Spirit offers to become host and guest in the table fellowship of sinners and tax collectors. He proclaims a kingdom "of God" as a choice for this moment, and anyone who wishes to enter that kingdom and live by its ethic, he welcomes to share in his ministry. He heals the sick, breaks down the barriers that define who is 'in' and who is 'out'. He takes up the challenge of the prophets to honour God by practices of justice, compassion, and self-giving love. He undermines, at every turn, the notion that any person is entitled to any thing by virtue of their status, wealth, or accomplishment, then turns and offers the whole thing to any who can receive it "as a child". Nobody outside unable to scrounge up the price of admission. Nobody inside feeling entitled to the benefits that insiders expect. Instead, a people with a shared conviction that God's promised future of peace, justice, healing and reconciliation is not a silly dream about an impossibly distant future, but something that can start as early as today.

In the coming year and years, God invites us to join the ministry of our church more and more deeply to the mission of God, to God's offer of the future, now. Looking ahead, a number of initiatives in our common life are responses to that invitation.

In January, thanks to Doug Field, we began to offer a concrete response that can express our hope for the future of earth and for justice in the marketplace. Fair trade coffee, grown in conditions that preserve rainforest and return a fair wage to producers, is available for our enjoyment together, and for use in our households. In the coming year, Justice and Servant Ministries will focus on developing more opportunities for us to express our hope in concrete ways, because to practice hope is to deepen it.

Over the past year, Sandra Hilliard has worked with others to renew, refocus and extend the ministry of our website, www.stjudeschurch.net, to offer God's radiant hospitality to those who seek us on the internet. Clear and inviting, dynamic and easy to use, a website can truly be a welcoming resource by which welcome guests become thoughtful hosts. And what do we call the person responsible for maintaining a website? The host, of course.

This year's proposed budget includes income from the Endowment fund, whose purpose is "in promoting parish programmes and ministry development", to found a new position at St. Jude's - the Parish Health Coordinator. In consultation with the leadership and participants of "Sharing in Caring", it has become clear that the work Margaret Brockett has contributed to the coordination of pastoral care, to health promotion and awareness, and to education and advocacy, cannot be duplicated by a volunteer. We will be seeking to employ, half-time, a health professional to ensure that the work undertaken over the past several years under Margaret's leadership will not only continue, but develop and flourish. We are called to offer resources that strengthen the health of persons and households - health of body, mind, spirit, and relationships. Coordinating this work, and equipping us all to share in it, the Parish Health Coordinator will strengthen our extensive ministry in this area.

In the fall of 2008, the "Fourth at Four" worship through music series will expand to at least three and possibly four "Sundays at Four", with "Jazz Vespers", "Messy Church (an intergenerational exploration of the central themes of our faith, developed in the Church of England) that will take place in Victoria Hall, and an expansion of the choral traditions of Evensong and of the cantatas of J.S. Bach. A fourth gathering, featuring artists and their art (growing out of the wonderful impact of the Advent "Day of Reflection") is under consideration. The minor additional expenses associated with this growth are reflected in the budget that Vestry will consider, but most of the "expense" will be in terms of additional work by leadership and staff teams. They are part of our commitment, to offer more and more diverse opportunities for the encounter with the holy, with the radiant Source from whom all welcomes flow, by whom all guests are welcomed, and all hosts commissioned.

You will notice that the expenses we anticipate to sustain and develop the ministries of radiant hospitality at St. Jude's are significantly higher than in 2007. Some of those expenses are offset by the use of income from endowments. But we are also acting in faith that, as a body, the people of God at St. Jude's will provide more financial support than was the case in the past year. That increased support may come from a number of directions. In some cases, those already supporting the ministries of St. Jude's Church will discover a desire to contribute more, as those ministries grow in their range and in their impact on lives. In some cases, those not currently supporting these ministries financially will undertake to do so in 2008. The budget comes to you with the enthusiastic endorsement of your Parish Council. And it comes in faith that God, who invites us to grow in our common life and ministry, will invite generous participation in the financial support of that growth.

Finally, let me reflect briefly on the privilege of serving this community, on the gladness that overtakes me when I witness the generosity, imagination, care, and faithfulness of those who make up this people of God at St. Jude's. I work with a dedicated and gifted team of staff, and in the midst of a dedicated and gifted community of faith. If I begin to thank people by name, where do I stop? If I begin with the wardens, what do I say about the anonymous donor of a new oven for a household in our town who had none? If I include the Ministry Coordinators and the Council of Ministries, do I not also include the parade of casseroles that circulates in times of crisis? If I say "thank you" to Wendy Hart for her work with the Gloria Choir, and Tom Bell for his with the Senior Choir, what do I say about the voices of the congregation, lifted in the song that lifts our human spirits? If I thank Paul Garrick for his tireless and uncomplaining work moving furniture and installing the stage for pageants, concerts and special events, what about those who pitch in at the end of an evening gathering, or Vestry itself, to put the chairs away? If I mention Julie Hudak's incredible willingness to serve the ministries of St. Jude's and those who undertake them, am I leaving out the unseen volunteers who count the collection, stuff the newsletter envelopes, and organize the Servers? If I thank Eileen Tobin for her patience and skill, and welcome (with delight) Amy Levett as a gentle and effective presence in our staff, can I overlook Chuck Havill, who relentlessly calls us to faithful stewardship of the resources entrusted to our care for God's purposes? In reflecting on God's invitation to this community to grow in the ministries of radiant hospitality, I cannot avoid the conclusion that God's challenge comes to us because, in our midst, there is already so much evidence of love, work, and service. The vibrancy and care we bring to our common life and to our ministries in daily life is, I believe, the very basis for God's invitation to take up the further challenges ahead of us.

I once complained to a good friend that what I was doing at the time was very hard. Georgia looked me in the eye and said, "Do you think you have these gifts so God can give you easy things to do?" Thank you for being the kind of community that makes me want to tell you that story. I hope it encourages you as much as it did me.

Yours with a glad and hopeful heart,

Michael Thompson, Rector and friend

FROM THE CURATE
The Reverend Aaron Orear

Just as church life begins to return to normal following the joyful chaos of the Christmas season, Epiphany has already run its quick course and we're on to the next event. If you're thinking we spent very little time catching our collective breath between major seasons, you're right. Easter is about as early as it can possibly be this year. The green vestments and altar hangings, stashed away since November, made the briefest of appearances before once more heading into storage. Out comes purple, the colour of Lent.

As Advent is to Christmas so Lent is to Easter, a time of preparation and self-examination in which we make ourselves ready to receive Jesus. In Advent we prepare for the child in the manger and the eventual return of the king. In Lent we make ready to receive the risen Christ. True to the Christian contradiction of victory through defeat, we also ready ourselves for the painful journey to the cross, the necessary death before the glorious resurrection.

As part of this journey, the church for centuries has offered a devotional practice designed to join our steps with those of Jesus, walking through sorrow to joy, through the crucifixion on our way to the resurrection. The source of this prayer is very ancient, and comes from the city of Jerusalem.

In 381 a Spanish woman named Egeria journeyed to Jerusalem on pilgrimage. In the letters she wrote home she described what is now known as the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows or Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross. It is a route through old Jerusalem that is believed by many to be the actual path walked by Jesus on the way to his crucifixion. Along the route are stops, called stations, that mark various events from scripture and tradition. As long ago as Egeria's time, and to this day, Christian pilgrims have walked these steps to join their own lives to the life that was freely offered on the cross.

Since following Egeria's pilgrimage was (and still is) beyond most people's ability, the devotional practice known as Stations of the Cross was created, possibly by St. Francis of Assisi. A series of stations, often images or crosses, are placed in the church. Each station belongs to a station along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, marking an event along the road that Jesus traveled. A "pilgrimage" is made by walking the stations, hearing a part of the scriptural story and praying at each stop. It is a form of prayer that is physical, visual and verbal, and it can be a powerful Lenten devotion.

This Lent we will be praying the Stations of the Cross at St. Jude's after every Wednesday night adult education session. The education sessions begin at 7pm every Wednesday, from Feb. 13 through March 12, and we will begin the stations around 8:45pm. The stations take approximately 15-20 minutes to pray.

Considering the stations, a humble method of following in Jesus' footsteps, I am reminded of the prayer attributed to St. Richard of Chichester:

Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly
,love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen.

May we follow him more nearly, indeed. Please join us in this ancient prayer, a way of entering the journey toward Easter, a journey that ends in joy but must first pass through the Way of the Cross.

CONGRATULATIONS to first time grandparents, Margaret & Drew Bucknall on the birth of TWINS to their daughter Clare and husband Adam. Julia Margaret (5lbs 11ozs) and Dylan John (6lbs 10ozs) were born on January 12.

NEWSLETTER Deadline will be Friday, February 29th. Submissions and reports should be in the office on or before this date for insertion in the Easter Newsletter. Thanks.

2007 INCOME TAX STATEMENTS - Tax statements are NOW available for pick up from the Church office.
Help us save postage! All statements not picked up will be mailed February 20th

Pledge card return analysis as at Jan 23rd

Total cards issued 780
Total cards returned 210
…for a total of $324,425.

We have received 50 fewer cards back than this same time last year. If you have returned yours - Thank YOU!

SUNDAY PARKING
If you are one of the people that pick up and drive another person to church and have difficulty in finding parking, please feel free to use the church staff parking lot. Staff members have been asked to park in one of the Town lots in order to accommodate the need for these situations.

THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL VESTRY MEETING will be held on Sunday, February 17th following a combined 10:00 am service
This public meeting is very important for the election of officers, approval of financial records, and approval of budgets. Detailed audited financial statements will be available for pick up after February 14th.

Budget and plans for the year 2008 will be discussed. Please sign the sheet posted on the office window if your children will be staying. This will help us plan for lunch and programming. Thanks. All baptized Christians, who are 16 years of age, who have been worshippers and financial contributors, and who have not voted in the Vestry of another congregation in the preceding six months are eligible voters.

ACW Sock Monkeys

Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Christmas - it's a jungle out there when you're shopping. Beat the rush, stop panicking. St. Jude's ACW has the answer. Come and get your special one a special monkey.

ARCHIVES

History is the accumulated activity and experience of individuals, groups, cultures and nations. Out of history comes records of all that was thought, said and done. The collective noun for all such material is 'archives'.

They are important because they identify the peoples who produced them, give a sense of who they were, what they accomplished and indicate the direction in which they were going. Here at St. Jude's we have archival material which falls into 19 separate classifications. For example, Parish Council Minutes, Financial Records, Architectural and Property Descriptions Building Committee, Organ & Choir, Memorials, Statistics and Photos.
Some of the archives are simply items of historical interest but others are of legal interest and therefore of practical application. Such archives are Parish Registers-Records of Births Baptisms, Confirmations, Deaths and Burials. The originals are kept in the Diocesan Archives at McMaster University. Materials from 87 parishes are kept there. The University micro films the records and copies are sent to the parishes concerned. This saves handling the originals some of which are in very fragile condition.

Apart from the Parish Registers, we have other archival material which is of considerable age which is kept here. One example is the title Deeds the earliest of which is dated 1833 predating the founding of our parish by seven years. A more substantial artifact is the trowel used in the laying of the corner stone of the present building in 1883. There is also a collection of Financial Statements covering a period of 61 years- 1890 to 1951. The format had not changed during all those years. There is also a Book of Accounts where the entries are in pounds, shillings and pence from 1845 to 1863 and then changes to dollars and cents and continues to the last entry of the book in 1866.

This is a thumbnail sketch of what the archives at St. Jude's are all about. The bigger the Institution the more documents will be available and larger the storage area and greater the number of staff. One last point - Libraries and Archival depositories are two completely entities. The work of the library is to see that their books go in and out of their hands as much as possible. The work of the archivist is to protect and preserve all the material that comes in his /her direction and strictly control the accessibility to the records in his/her care. They are not items of curiosity to be handled carelessly or indifferently. They are precious and must at all times be treated with deference and given constant protection.

W. Steers, Archivist

News from The Brockett's
The Abbeyfield Adventure

Margaret and Andrew Brockett would like to thank everyone at St. Jude's for their generous good wishes and prayerful support as they begin their time at Abbeyfield, Burnaby in BC.

Lots of people have asked to know more about Abbeyfield.

The Abbeyfield movement began in 1956 in England. There are now more than 1100 Houses operating in 17 different countries. The Abbeyfield Houses Society in Canada aims to provide accommodation and companionship for lonely older people within their own local community. There are 40 societies active with 29 houses already established, most of them in BC. Abbeyfield Houses offer affordable, supportive care Houses in which a group of ten to fifteen residents live like a large "family". House ownership and care support is undertaken by a not-for-profit society of community volunteers, often with help from service clubs and churches. The Abbeyfield pattern is to involve local volunteers in setting up and managing each house where the residents pay their share of the running costs. Each household has its own housekeeper to look after the house, to provide meals and care generally for the residents. Residents have private rooms furnished to their own taste where their privacy, and their right to have visitors, are assured.

Abbeyfield Burnaby (www.abbeyfieldburnaby.com) began in 1993 as a project to celebrate the 60th anniversary of St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church. With some seed money from a bequest left to The Lions' Club and, after some persuasion, support from the Diocese of New Westminster, the first house was built adjacent to the church and opened to residents in 1997. A second house, which is a mirror image of the first and joined by common areas, opened two years later. Recently, Abbeyfield Burnaby has encountered a number of challenges in adhering to the Abbeyfield pattern. One of the factors is, perhaps, the result of their success in that the residents are living on but with increasing limitations that make it difficult for them to be involved in the local community. The Abbeyfield pattern does not, typically, provide organized activities on site but with 93 as the average age of residents this has become desirable. When Margaret and Andrew were looking for a volunteer opportunity, this need seemed to be a neat fit with their backgrounds and the St. Margaret of Scotland Abbeyfield Society has welcomed their involvement.

Given the demographics of our Canadian society, care of older people will be an increasing challenge in the years ahead. The Abbeyfield pattern sounds attractive but could an Abbeyfield House be a sustainable option in Oakville in 2010 and thereafter? Margaret and Andrew have the opportunity to examine the history and development of such a project now fifteen years old, with all its ups and downs, and will return home at the end of 2008 with their assessment of the Abbeyfield pattern as a viable means of caring for older people in Oakville.

Wednesdays in Lent: The Mission of God in story, song, and sacrament.

During Lent, our Wednesday evenings will explore the mission of God as the foundation of the ministry (service) of the church. Beginning with a shorter gathering after the Ash Wednesday evening service, the series, led by the Rector, Michael Thompson, will explore the following:

Wednesday, February 6, 8.15 pm (following the 7 pm Ash Wednesday worship)
Missio Dei, the mission of God. We will explore the emerging understanding of God as "God-in-mission", and of mission as "God turning to the world in love". And we will probe "ministry" as serving God's mission. What is God's mission, and how do we (as persons and as convivial community) respond to it with ministry?
Wednesday, February 13, 7.30 pm
The mission of God in the stories of creation. We will explore four creation narratives from scripture (Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Job 38, 39, and Psalm 104), and one from T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone for what they disclose about God's mission and human response in creation. We will focus on creation as a continuing work of God, and on ministry as serving and participating in God's creating work.

Wednesday, February 20, 7.30 pm
The mission of God in the stories of Israel. We will engage the stories of Israel at four points: The Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob); the Exodus (from Egypt to the land of promise); the Exile in Babylon; and Ruth, in search of insight into the mission of God and the ministry response of God's people.

Wednesday, February 27, 7.30 pm
The mission of God in the stories of Jesus. Focusing on Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God and his embodiment of its ethic, we will explore the life of Jesus as a teller of parables, and as a parable himself. "The Kingdom of God is like…"

Wednesday, March 5, 7.30 pm
The mission of God in the song of the church. Reading and singing hymns, we will explore the variety of ways in which the church's song gives expression to the mission of God and our human response of ministry (service) to that mission. (Wendy Hart will lead the singing.)

Wednesday, March 12, 7.30 pm
The mission of God in baptism and eucharist. We will explore the Baptismal Covenant as an expression of divine initiative and human response, and the Eucharist as what Elizabeth Newman calls "the primary ritualized place in which we learn to be guests and hosts in the Kingdom of God." How do our primary sacraments illuminate the mission of God, and what is the ministry response to which they call us?

Faith in Daily Life
I'm a Christian…So What?
Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, 7-9pm

Does Sunday in church have anything to do with Monday at the office, on the factory floor, in school or in the home? How do we live our faith once we leave the pews? What is the difference, if any, between the "sacred" vocation of the church and the "secular" labour of the workplace?

This February, St. Jude's launches a small-group series centered on faith in daily life, specifically in the jobs we do in "the world". To give the small groups some common vocabulary, we are holding four sessions at the church, every Thursday night of February from 7-9 pm, in the Helen Poole Memorial Library Hall. One and all are welcome, and guests are heartily invited.

Fair Trade Coffee
St. Jude's is now serving organic, shade-grown, Fair Trade Coffee. Shade-grown coffees are grown in jungle environments. The coffee bushes are grown under a shade canopy made up of a variety of trees and there are often companion plantings of tropical fruit trees. This means the plantations can support great local and migrating bird populations. The coffee is also certified organic. No pesticide or artificial fertilizers are used. The coffee is also certified under the Fair Trade standard. This means that the farmers receive better than market returns for their coffee and support from the Fair Trade organizations.

Fair Trade Coffee at Home

If you would like to order our Fair Trade coffee, an order form is available in the kitchen. The packaging will be customized with a beautiful photograph of St. Jude's, in 70g, 140g, 300g and 1kg packages. Use it at home - it also makes a wonderful gift!

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

In the last quarter of 2006, the Monday morning Women's Study Group took on the ministry of knitting prayer shawls. This practice originated in the U.S. and has spread rapidly through North America and other parts of the world. The shawls are made praying for a person who will receive them. The shawls are blessed by the clergy and then are given to people who are ill, dying, grieving, or those recognized for particular contributions to the community, etc. Those who have received them have found them very comforting.

The first two shawls made were for Florence Trahair and Ann Lind - these were made by each knitting member taking a turn so that many hands were involved for each shawl and consequently, many prayers. The requests for these shawls have risen dramatically so that individual members are making the shawls. 58 shawls have been made - 1 sent to Spain, 2 to England, 1 to Ireland and the remainder to B.C., Manitoba, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.

The pattern for the prayer shawl is very simple and has been adapted so that all types of yarn may be used. A border of garter stitch is knit and then the main stitch used is called the Trinity Stitch - (k3, p3 for three rows and then reversed causing a checkerboard effect). The length is between 42 and 45 inches and drapes simply around the neck and over the shoulders.

ANY KNITTERS INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT WITH THIS MINISTRY SHOULD CALL LOTTIE GRANT AT (905)-844-6651. PATTERN, YARN AND NEEDLES WILL BE SUPPLIED.
VESTRY REPORTS 2007

Warden's Report 2007
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
…from the Baptismal Covenant

At Vestry last year, the St. Jude's community approved a new Governance model. Two councils were formed. The Council of the Corporation to be more formally connected to the Corporation, and the Council of Ministries positioned to be innovative and supportive of the spiritual life of St. Jude's. The change was made largely to create an environment where the two different types of activity in the Parish Council Mandate could take place more effectively. More importantly, it supported the St. Jude's vision and core values rooted in the Baptismal Covenant.

We are pleased to report that this change to our Operating Guidelines was successful in meeting the goals set forth by Vestry, and significant accomplishments have been made in every aspect of our common life. These success stories are reflected in the more detailed Ministry Reports submitted by the Ministry Coordinators and we encourage you to read them.

The Council of the Corporation began discussions regarding the importance of longer range planning related to capital spending and potential property enhancements. Chris Manning joined the Council, as the Coordinator of Financial Development and we have had several productive conversations on defining the most appropriate process to create the infrastructure to augment the endowed funds through Major Gift donations and Planned Giving.

The five ministry areas of the Council of Ministries echo the promises of our baptismal covenant, and reflect our commitment to supporting our members in living out that covenant. Some highlights from 2007 include:
" Liturgy and Worship
Advent Reflections - Our doors were opened and we invited the community to come into our church for a time of quiet contemplation. It was a chance to see and feel Advent, the season of "Blue", the time of hope, love, joy and peace. Although covered with snow, the garden was alive through the voices of poets, and the vision of artists and photographers filled our halls.

" Christian Formation
Living the Questions" - a twelve-week exploration gave us the opportunity to reflect on questions that sometimes get swept under the ecclesiastical carpet. Exploring themes such as creativity and the stories of creation", "evil, suffering, and a God of love", "restoring relationships", and "social justice" was an important part of our spiritual formation

" Justice and Servant Ministries
Through the month of February, our youth worked, in conjunction with other Anglican youth groups in Oakville, to raise awareness and gather non-perishable food items for a food drive. On Saturday March 3rd they delivered the food donations to St. Matthew's Place in Hamilton where they met with Canon Wendy Roy, the Director of SMH. This initiative provided our Youth with an opportunity to learn about the brokenness in the world and to see and hear about some initiatives and acts of compassion within our wider faith community.

" Stewardship Development
In addition to planning the Annual Giving Campaign the committee has been focused on deepening our sense of Stewardship through education. In late October small groups met in the homes of facilitator-hosts, and participants had the opportunity to build friendships, grow in understanding our call to "care for" the things entrusted to us, and pray together.

" Ministry of Communication and Public Witness
This committee has prepared a proposal to re-design and enhance our church website. The new website will accomplish ministry as well as directing visitors to church activity.

Our guest speaker at last's years Vestry (and at a subsequent workshop) challenged us with the concept of "Radical Hospitality" To seek and understand the stranger and to meet the needs of our community. In discussing this concept of "radical hospitality" we realized that it was consistent with living our baptismal covenant. Furthermore, at St. Jude's we were already engaged in many activities directed at hospitality. In 2007 we set out to be more intentional in making our church a welcoming place, as well as providing a caring environment for our members and guests. Many of these activities center around the diligent work of our:
" Our Greeters
" The Newcomers Committee
" The Sharing in Caring Team
" The Garden Guild
" The ACW
" Our Rainbows Facilitators
" The Monday and Friday Prayer Groups
" The Organizers of the Monthly Parish Luncheon

Our Rector, Michael Thompson continues to provide tremendous leadership and is a wonderful teacher. Thank you Michael for your guidance and for providing the opportunities for us to learn, to grow in our faith, to share of ourselves, but mostly to grow in our understanding that we are 'Beloved Children of God'. Thanks as well to Aaron Orear, our Assistant Curate, and to Martha Tartarnic, currently on maternity leave. We appreciate your commitment to the spiritual life of St. Jude's, and your time spent with, and caring for our Youth. We are also thankful to Mervyn Russell, our Ecumenical Honorary Assistant whose role has added a new dimension to our worship.

We would like to thank our staff and the many, many volunteers. Thanks to all of you who give faithfully, quietly, and often without specific recognition. Your contribution is critical to our common life, and we appreciate all you do to make St. Jude's a vital and lively community.

As you can see, our St. Jude's community has made some excellent strides in 2007. Let's keep up the momentum!

Your Wardens,

Ross Connell Cheryl Hudson
Rector's Warden People's Warden

THE SHARING IN CARING PROGRAM

As the body of Christ to express the love of God by sharing in caring for each other and the members of our community.

With change around the corner, the Corporation of St. Jude's and the Sharing in Caring team have spent significant time exploring new directions for 2008. The culmination of their discussions is a proposal to hire a person in the role of Parish Health Care Coordinator based on the parish nurse model but retaining the importance of every member of the parish being involved in "sharing" in our "caring" for others. This feature of our parish life is illustrated in the different ways in which the program's objectives for 2007 have been accomplished.

Objectives for 2007

To facilitate the expression of God's love for all people by people caring for one another in practical ways that recognize our human and spiritual frailties. Specifically, through:

1. Continuing to support older people who live in their own homes and those who choose to live in retirement homes; through visiting, arranging transportation to church events and the sharing of our many resources e.g. tape ministry, flowers, the Pantry.

The support given by our team of visitors has been supplemented by members of the Altar Guild who have delivered flowers, by countless drivers who have offered rides and by an army of cooks who have willingly supplied the pantry with good food. The ministry to those who have been bereaved has been especially rewarding.

2. Identifying and training a number of people to take the Eucharist to people at home.

Eight people have undergone training and will take up their responsibilities early in 2008.
3. .Building the number of Parish Visitors by offering a further Training Course in the spring.

Ten people participated in the Training Course. This means that, even with some folk stepping back, 13 Parish Visitors were commissioned with the Home Eucharistic Ministers on September 30.

4. Organizing a second Care for the Caregiver Course that will be accessible to people still employed in the workplace.

A Saturday morning series was fully subscribed and included a number of people who were unable to attend sessions organized during the working day.

5. Making the most of the links with other groups within the Parish to ensure that care is made available in a timely and sensitive manner.

Members of The Garden Guild, the two Fellowship groups, the ACW and Altar Guild have willingly cared for parishioners associated with their groups.

6. Identifying ways and means of meeting the transportation needs of our parishioners who are not independently mobile in getting to church events.

New strategies have made it possible for a different group of people to share in this responsibility by 1) linking the needs geographically to lay assistants and readers scheduled to help with services and 2) providing rosters drawn from parishioners living either close to those in need of transportation or coming from further afield in the same general direction. This approach has been facilitated by the office making available a parish roll organized by postal code. Responsibility for transportation is now being undertaken by a triumvirate which includes Michael Nightingale, Bill McGaw and Keith Penfold. Since most of the requests received for help from the Casual Corps have been for rides to appointments, it has been agreed to amalgamate the two lists of volunteer drivers and to abandon the Casual Corps at this time. The efforts of Bob Stone and John Harvey in this regard are recognized.

7. Considering other models of coordinating pastoral care that will make the most of our current and future human resources.

It was proposed that caring might be better organized geographically and that the parish might be divided into quadrants, north and south of the highway and east and west of Sixteen Mile Creek. This delineation shows that most of the needs still exist in the southern parts of Oakville but that there are challenges to accommodating care north of the town. It has also become evident that "coordinating roles" are difficult to fill even within smaller areas, but there is a willingness to take on clearly delineated tasks. The overall task of coordination is time consuming and warrants consideration as a paid position.

This account is merely a sample of the caring offered in our parish and there are too many people involved to name as deserving of appreciation without risking omissions. Jean Ross and I are stepping back from the roles and responsibilities of coordinating the Program. We are grateful for the support of many people and for the opportunities to serve this parish over a number of years. We look forward to witnessing new directions and positive developments in the months ahead.

The Sharing in Caring Team aims to prevent or to break down the barriers that isolate people from the practical and spiritual support and friendship offered in the parish of St. Jude's through its various services and programs. Members of the team are asked to befriend one or more individuals and are supported in their efforts through an orientation process to the Sharing in Caring Program and by regular meetings with others who give of their time in a variety of ways. A key responsibility is to alert members of the clergy to any special needs that arise for those they visit.

Parish Visitors are members of the Sharing in Caring Team who have voluntarily completed a comprehensive training program and who are willing to undertake special tasks on behalf of the clergy. For example: establishing and maintaining contact with a person who has been bereaved in recent months;
o accompanying the clergy on home visits to administer communion;
o visiting parishioners who are thought to have special needs to determine if they would appreciate regular contact with St. Jude's through the Sharing in Caring Program.
.
Where there is a person in need, it is expected that the Parish Visitor will direct concerns to the person's family or to appropriate community resources. Parish Visitors support and complement the work of the clergy within the parish.

Margaret Brockett (January 2008)

Stewardship Report for 2007

Working together with the gifts God has given us for the work God is calling us to do.
Stewardship Development at St. Jude's continues to focus on how we can be good stewards in every aspect of our lives rather than focusing only on our financial commitment to our shared ministry. We have been encouraged to become better stewards of ourselves, of our relationships, of the earth and of our resources. In other words, we have been encouraged to think more deeply about how we use all of the resources entrusted to us by God for the advancement of his mission in the world.

In September, Michael focused on each of these four elements of stewardship in his "From the Rector" letter for four consecutive Sundays. In October, small group sessions took place in people's homes to continue looking at these four elements of stewardship. These discussions were very thought-provoking and those that participated came away with new insight into how to be better stewards.

One of the ways we demonstrate that we are good stewards is by becoming involved in the life of St. Jude's. On the back of the Commitment Card that was included in the annual mailing, we asked each of you to not only consider your financial participation in the ministry we share, but to identify one of the five ministries at St. Jude's in which you would like to become more involved:
- Communication and Public Witness
- Christian Formation
- Liturgy and Worship
- Justice and Servant Ministries
- Stewardship Development

A summary of the activities of these five ministries has recently been included as an insert with the weekly bulletin, and we encourage you to consider becoming involved in the area that interests you.

We are so blessed at St. Jude's to be a congregation to which so many people contribute their time in addition to making a financial commitment. Thank you to all of you.

We are grateful to all households who have returned your Commitment Cards. We hope that those of you who have not yet done so will consider how you, too, can contribute to the ministry of St. Jude's as we move forward together to serve God and God's world.

Judy McCracken, Coordinator, Stewardship

Pantry Report 2007
The pantry has been very successful again this past year. There were 34 separate recipients receiving 145 items from the pantry including soups, casseroles and desserts. Donors kindly preparing these items were 22 making 204 individual pieces.

Our Christmas cakes are also a very important part of the pantry. Eight ladies made 19 - 9" X 13"cakes that were cut into 6 and 12 bars. These were individually wrapped and decorated to be taken to the shut-ins and the nursing homes over the holidays.

Our pantry remains well stocked at all times and ready for the caring and sharing group to deliver.
Susan Garrick - Pantry co-ordinator.

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC - Vestry Report

Thank you to everyone who has assisted with the music at St. Jude's over the past year. Whether a singer, instrumentalist, or listener, your support and kindness has enabled the music at St. Jude's to continue to flourish over the past year.

Although the activities of the Gloria Choir are listed elsewhere, I should like to record our appreciation for their many ebullient performances under Wendy Hart's spirited and dedicated musical leadership. We thank them all.

The Senior Choir has grown numerically but also in the quality of the music that has been delivered each Sunday. Its members have been an absolute delight to be with on Thursdays and Sundays; their loyalty, mutual support and unbridled enthusiasm for singing is infectious! I look forward to future growth throughout the year and thank them most sincerely for their hard work.

It has been a privilege to have Andrei Streliaev as an assistant organist. His professionalism, thoughtfulness and gentle humour are qualities we witness week by week, and which were in evidence during his captivating piano recital in October.

The '4th at 4' evening services have been a stimulating and musically eclectic series. Bach Cantatas with orchestra and soloists, Jazz Vespers with Nancy West, Intrada Brass, and the Holden Evening Prayer have all been featured. The range and quality of music presented has been a treat for everyone.

The very presence of the Celebration of the Arts contributes much to the music programme at St. Jude's. This year the Senior Choir sang with the Mississauga Children's Choir and the Gloria Choir in a concert which concluded with Paul Halley's Freedom Trilogy. The Senior Choir looks forward to presenting a concert of music by Bach on May 4th 2008.

Finally I should like to thank my fellow staff members Michael, Aaron, Mervyn, Wendy, Amy, Julie and Paul, whose unfailing humour and good spirits have been a pleasure to experience throughout the year.

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Bell

WEEKLY PRAYER GROUP VESTRY REPORT

The prayer group began with four participants on January 17, 2005. It has met for one hour almost every week since that time and there are now, regularly, seven to nine participants. It has become an integral part of the Sharing in Caring Program and a means or reaching out to those who are open to being reconnected with the church.

The practice is to review prayer requests and to inform one another of updates that allow us to pray with intent, and then we follow a simple liturgy that includes prayer requests for "acceptance, healing and the possibility of new life" for those who are named. We pray for those who suffer pain and ill health, for those who are very frail and dying and for those who suffer in mind and spirit. We remember before God those who live amidst division, chaos, disaster, injustice and violence across the world and in our own country. We remember the different communities of which St. Jude's is a part and our participation in mission both in Oakville and within the wider networks of faith. We ask for courage and peace for those who struggle with addictions or abuse as well as for those who have died and are bereaved, and we name before God other concerns that have been brought to our attention.

We have cause to give thanks for answered prayer and for the many special celebrations and blessing enjoyed by parishioners at St. Jude's and we are encouraged when we receive feed-back from people who have felt supported through our prayers.

If this is a ministry to which you feel called, you should contact Aaron Orear (905.844.3972 or curate@stjudeschurch.net).

Submitted by Margaret Brocket, (January 2008)

REPORT TO VESTRY 2007 DIRECTOR OF FAMILY PROGRAMS / GLORIA CHOIR

Happy New Year
St Jude's!

JANUARY 2007-
MONDAY MORNING WOMEN'S STUDY GROUP. On Monday mornings from 10:30 to noon YOU are invited together with 18 or so women to read, sing, pray, and study the Bible or books relating to scripture. In 2007, we read and experienced a trip of the Camino Trail in Spain in a book, Walk in A Relaxed Manner by Joyce Rupp. We enjoyed a personal visit with Gloria Busse who actually walked this Camino Trail of pilgrimage and prayer. The second study was of the Gospel of John, which took us to December 2007. We give a weekly offering which we decide as a group its destination with in the church such as crisis relief funds, and pantry needs. The group also knits and organizes a Prayer Shawl Ministry.

JANUARY 2007- RAINBOWS
The mural outside my office is testament to the 2007 Rainbows Program at St. Jude's. The words, colors, and expression of children's experience at Rainbows at the "Celebrate Me" evening that concludes our Rainbows term is a tribute to the program. Rainbows at St Jude's is a 14 week program for children from January to April. In 2007 we registered 14 children who were living with divorce, death or loss. The children are guided by facilitators who are trained here, at St. Jude's, by Rainbows Canada. In 2007 we trained five additional facilitators in preparation for our 2008 program.

FEBRUARY 2007- COMMUNION CLASSES
In the Anglican Church of Canada, any person may receive communion, and the only practical restriction is the ability to receive the bread in their hands. When children reach age six
or seven, we encourage their parent(s) to take advantage of Communion Classes for Kids at St Jude's. The classes take place during Sunday School at the 9:30 service. Each child is accompanied by a parent. The classes will begin in January
and continue for six weeks concluding in February. There
is a study book required (cost $25 per book). Homework,
10-15 minutes per week, is part of the course. Thank
you to Janice Ilines who made Communion Classes
2007 a meaningful and fun experience for our families.

APRIL 2007- SUNDAY SCHOOL
Children of all ages gather to celebrate Jesus risen from the tomb. Song, Bible stories, drama with costumes and crafting table decorations of faith, of Easter grass and hand-made lilies to take home have all become part of family tradition. Our Sunday School Program is growing. Our average attendance is 32 children. We have a dedicated staff of 18 teachers and nine youth helpers. The teachers meet four times during the curriculum year to discuss special events, schedules, and curriculum. In the summer of 2007 the Sunday School teachers committed to teaching Summer Sundays at St Judes, a multiage level class. THANK YOU TO OUR DEDICATED TEACHERS! The children's ritual of processing Bible, Candle, Offering basket and Cross while singing "We are Marching in the Light of God" is a wonderful transition from family worship to Sunday School.

MAY 2007-GLORIA CHOIR
The birthday of the "Church" is becoming a popular celebration at St Judes. Red is the colour of the day. It is a wonderful celebration that features both of St Jude's choirs at one service. The Gospel of the day is read in English, French, Swedish, German, Swahili, and other languages represented by St Jude's members.
The Gloria Choir participated in the combined choir of Pentecost, a Spring Choir Party and Aaron Orear's Ordination on the same day in the Spring! What a great day! The choir took part in a mass choir in May, performing "Trilogy" with the Mississauga Children's Choir. Thank you to all of our families and their gift of leadership at the 9:30 Worship Services at St Jude's!

JUNE 2006-PARISH PICNIC
Memories of the garden picnic, the smell of BBQ hot dogs with fresh onions and tomatoes, potato chips, ice cream, games, prizes, sunshine, folks in lawn chairs enjoying our beautiful garden. This is a wonderful picture to get us through the winter. At our 2007 Picnic we enjoyed Dave and his wonderful Summer Gospel jazz band! Old time hymns were enjoyed by children young and old.

AUGUST 2007 OH - ELIJAH!

We welcomed Aaron Orear, Curate, in August, to the staff at St Judes. We appreciated his fun and love of theatre immediately, with our Vacation Bible School Production of the Musical - OH ELIAJH! He taught us theatre games and helped us through production and rehearsals. The children welcomed the congregation to church in September with our presentation and song of a wonderful week learning the Old Testament Story - Elijah. So many "hands" made light work of this very full week of preparation. Young people, Sunday School teachers, children, parents, grandparents, and more youth! What a great team!

SEPTEMBER 2007- WORSHIP
Come to the Feast! A second annual weekend for the St Jude's household to continue conversations of worship and music. Children took part at the celebration and had time for discussion about worship also. A "Trees of the Field" Banner was created with children's hand painting onto seasonal trees to be used for Song of Blessing at the 9:30 service and Sunday School. What a Feast!

DECEMBER 2007
"A Christmas Pageant for Advent"… was the title of our original pageant. This was such a special pageant presenting some extraordinary talents of many of our members. Dancers, soloists, artists, writers, singers, seamstresses extraordinaire! The music was unusual and was a most special presentation. Thank you to all of the children and the parents who supplied snacks , made costumes, and persevered through the storm of the day of presentation.

It is a privilege to be part of Ministry at St Jude's. Thank you, especially to Michael, and also Aaron , Tom, Andrei, Julie, Amy and Paul and all that pitch in to lift the ministry activities that we offer here in the Church. Wendy Hart

ANGLICAN CHURCH WOMEN
2007 VESTRY REPORT

The ACW - Anglican Church Women, which I fondly like to think of as The Active Church Women, a small group of hardworking and dedicated ladies who accomplish so much. In 2007 it was certainly a very busy and successful year with many events filled with laughter and friendship.

Our Fund Raising events were very successful and well attended. Spring and Fall rummage sales and, in November our Fall Fair, was wonderful with the introduction of the St. Jude's Monkeys. We also held a raffle of a beautiful hand crafted Nativity Set donated by Margaret and Peter Robinson which helped the ACW to donate $9,500 to Missions, $2,000 to the St. Jude's Crisis Fund and $700 for new Hymn Books. A complete breakdown of our donations can be seen on our financial statement.

In February, we helped with the Annual Vestry Meeting, supplying cookies and squares and the set-up for the meeting. At our March meeting, Ardyce Warren was our guest speaker and gave an interesting and informative talk on the Breakfast Program in schools, which provides breakfast and snacks for children. In April, the ACW was first introduced to the St. Jude's Monkeys made by a group of ACW ladies, which were sold at our Fall Fair and were a great success. May is gardening month and our guest speaker Stephanie Morris treated us to a floral presentation on container gardening which had everyone excited to start their gardening early. In June, our Potluck supper was held at Helen Ford's home, where good food, and fellowship was enjoyed by all. Our guest speaker, Sue Channen spoke of her visit to Kenya and her fund raising efforts for the Church there. In September, our guest speaker, Aaron Orear, gave a wonderful talk filled with humor and read several pieces of scripture where women were highly visible as disciples of Jesus' Ministry. In October, the ACW received an invitation to visit St. Andrew's CWL at their meeting and again in December to their Advent Service.

Our Christmas meeting was held at the home of Amber Foulkes. Following our meeting, Jill Carruthers played the piano for carol singing. The evening finished with delicious food and drink enjoyed by all. For Christmas, ACW members filled bags with toiletries - these were donated to Kerr Street Ministries.

I would like to thank the Clergy, office staff Julie Hudak and Eileen Tobin for their support and help during 2007. To Paul Garrick, who is always available to help the ACW - thank you for all your hard work. The ACW look forward to another successful year in 2008.

Finally, I would like to thank the ACW members for their hard work, support and friendship during my term as President. My best wishes and continued success to our new President and Executive in 2008.
Respectfully submitted

Helen F. Ford

NEWCOMERS COMMITTEE - 2007 REPORT

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
Matthew 25:35

We welcomed 40 new households to St. Jude's in 2007. Our newcomers represented the full range of our membership from young people to retired seniors.

Following a welcoming letter from the Rector, a member of the Committee visited the newcomers. In most cases the visitor took a small gift of flowers, or food from the St. Jude's Pantry, along with a package of information on St. Jude's Church and nametags for household members.

A follow-up call is made one year after the initial visit to obtain the newcomers' impressions of St. Jude's and to offer assistance, if requested, for integrating into parish life.

During 2007, two welcoming receptions were held - May 6 and November 18. This enabled the newcomers to get together socially, to hear more about the history of St. Jude's and its various activities from the clergy and parish council members, and to tour the church including climbing the bell tower and ringing the bells.

We continued to send cards to families who had children baptized, on the one-year anniversary of the baptism.

Most newcomers mentioned during the follow-up call that they found St. Jude's very warm and welcoming. We urge everyone to continue to make St. Jude's a welcoming church by introducing yourself to people you don't know.

Jean Ross, Newcomers Committee

Report of the Worship Committee 2007

Lent 2007
o March 2007 Lenten Study Session in parishioners homes

o 9:30 am service Good Friday: Contemporary dramatic narrative "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?"
Fall 2007
o September 28, 29 and 30, 2007 "Come to the Feast"

This was the second FEAST weekend with guest Ruth M Meyers, Academic Dean and Professor of Liturgics at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Three events were planned; a Parish Dinner, a Saturday Workshop, and a chance to meet and have a dialogue with Dr Meyers after she gave the Sunday sermons September 30, 2007.

The Feast Weekend serves as a parish retreat that accommodates people in the busy reality of modern life. This event was planned to enable all members of the congregation to think deeply about what worship means in living a full purposeful, and God-focused life.

Besides the goal of creating the feast as a delight for mind, spirit and body, another aspect was to celebrate who we are as a community. Parishioners all gave so freely and excessively of their time, their energy and their talents. People contributed beautiful flowers from their gardens; fresh bread; songs of praise; amazingly diverse food in bountiful amounts. We enjoyed laughing, conversing, thinking and questioning, and forming friendships. Ruth guided us with her gifts of clarity and depth.

The number of parishioners who were active participants increased over last year by a significant amount. There were 127 people who came to at least one of the events. That is about 50 more than last year and a good proportion of our congregation

Exploring Worship
o November 4. We visited the Sisters Of St John The Divine convent for a tour, evensong and dinner with the sisters.
o Taize - Participation in this service at St Aidan's the 3rd Friday of every month.
Advent

o December 8, 2007 "Advent Reflections"
(From the Oakville Beaver)"St Jude's Anglican Church will be open to everyone in the community to enjoy a time of quiet reflection leading up to Christmas. "Advent Reflections" is unique in that the content of the art and poetry have been chosen not for literally representing the Christmas story. Instead, the highlighted works illuminate the ideas of Joy, Love, Hope and Peace, which are the themes of the four weeks leading up to Christmas in the time known as Advent."

We highlighted the works of many individuals who enhanced our Advent. Participating were 12 local poets, 10 print and fabric artists, and eight photographers. We also set up a labyrinth in Victoria Hall that was facilitated by Rev Canon Elaine Hooker. Of interest to our committee, was the fact that approximately 2/3 of the participants had never been to St Jude's, or had any affiliation with us. Visitors from the community numbered approximately 100.

We hope to continue to grow the relationships with the artistic community who contributed so much to the richness of our celebration. This is from one of the poets
"I will definitely send in a poem for next year's Advent Season. It was such a beautiful experience to be able to share my poem with you and all the other people who attended yesterday's exhibit. I will take my mother and hopefully my sons to see the poems when they are in the garden. I love St. Jude's Church. It's absolutely beautiful, especially the stained glass windows. I had never been in it and I have lived in Oakville since I was thirteen.
Thank you for allowing me to participate in this wonderful spiritual and cultural event & most of all thank you for your kindness and appreciation of my poetry."

Poetry in the Garden. What blooms in the winter garden? We continued to display the poetry outdoors in the garden for the month of December to enable the Christmas visitors and friends to find unexpected pleasure as they enjoyed the garden "post turkey" walks.

"Lighting the Darkness" An Advent Wreath was placed in the Garden Chapel and parish families signed on to light the candles as the days progressed through Advent. Aaron Orear provided an Advent Liturgy that was also left in the chapel for visitors to read. It was a duty of love this year, as the storms, snow and ice made it quite a trek to light the candles. And who are those spirits who lit the candles, when we were late or when we forgot? Keeping the light shining is important to others apparently. This is a ministry that quietly shares hope with those in the community who gather outside the church walls.

Coming in 2008
o Exploring native spirituality and world view. Events to prepare for our FEAST guest
o June 21 National Aboriginal Day of Prayer
o October 3, 4, 5 Feast Weekend with Bishop Mark MacDonald
o And much more where the spirit moves us!

Respectfully submitted - Jean Anne Farmilo

ST. JUDE'S GARDEN GUILD: 2007
The Garden Guild is a group of about 25 volunteers who look after the St. Jude's Garden. Starting in April each year, we meet for a few hours every Thursday through spring, summer and fall until the last leaves have been cleared in November. We are conscious of what the founding members have passed on to us, and we find it a privilege to work together in such a wonderful setting.

2007 has seen continuing renovation. We have also enjoyed the results of our previous new plantings, especially the border running south from the Sexton's lodge. This year renovations have continued from there to the shed. Also the benefits of the new plantings adjacent to the bell tower are now enjoyed. We have now made a border south of the chapel, which will be planted in 2008 to balance the beautiful displays we have in the 'white garden'. This past year has also seen the arrival of our new composters, and the rejuvenation of the car park west border. Thanks to a number of generous donations, we are now able to consider other areas in need of renovation - a continuing process - as these gardens are now some 24 years old, and many shrubs are becoming old and overgrown.

We take pride in the fact that we receive no financial support from St. Jude's. Indeed, this year, we donated $750 towards the Church water bill. Our main income is from the annual Plant Sale in May, a lot of which goes towards paying for services of commercial businesses who fertilize the lawns, care for the trees, and maintain the sprinkler system. Then, to pay for any renovation of the flower beds, we are entirely dependent upon donations, and are indeed grateful for gifts totalling more than $2200 during 2007. As the renovation project continues, you may wish to consider giving some money for a memorial plant in the St. Jude's Garden, or making an undesignated donation towards our renovation project. All donations, if channelled through Julie Hudak in the Church office, are eligible for an income tax receipt, and are most gratefully appreciated.

Maintaining a garden is a lot of hard work, but extremely rewarding, and I know we are most conscious of all the quiet, faithful work that our volunteers put into the Garden week by week. Of course, we love the Garden and find great joy from working together - then gathering for coffee & cookies at the end of our labors. We are always delighted to welcome new members to the Garden Guild - it is a great way of making new friends - and we can promise plenty of satisfaction in working together to maintain this living heritage.

I'm sure we all wish to thank Andrew Brockett for his extremely enthusiastic and successful term as President over the past two years, and wish him and Margaret every blessing in their future.

Respectfully submitted, Michael Lanning

ST. JUDE'S ALTAR GUILD - Annual Report
The members of the Altar Guild continue to give care and devotion to all duties of the sanctuary, linens and vessels. The inventory of wafers, candles and wine are continually monitored.

St. Jude's was beautifully decorated for three main festivals: Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. The Altar Guild would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed their time in decorating and donations.

In conjunction with Sharing and Caring, the Guild distributed flowers to many parishioners weekly and after the festivals. A gift of a credence cloth and altar cloth was given by an anonymous donor.

The Altar Guild is fortunate to have 41 members and 11 honorary members, who do a terrific job.

Respectfully submitted, Gerry Wilson

Youth Group Report to Vestry
The Youth Group is in a period of transition, from one curate to another and from one core group moving on to new members just entering the picture. As with most transitions, ours has been far from painless. One of the symptoms of the transition, and the dominant concern for me, has been low attendance at group activities. Our highest turnout to a group event was five, for the end-of-summer bowling night, and for most activities we had only two students. Many times nobody showed up except the curate and his wife. There are a number of factors that I think have contributed to this.
1. My own "learning curve" of getting to know students, coupled with the fact that most students were away over the summer months, made connecting a slow process.
2. Communication has been a challenge. A number of group members do not receive or read Youth Group related e-mails that are sent out. A full schedule of events was snail-mailed in early October, but it didn't seem to register with most group members.
3. A number of older students, technically still within the designation "youth," have left the group. A number of these students have said they are no longer interested in Youth Group.
4. There is also a significant drawdown due to other activities and commitments. Many students still interested in Youth Group are heavily involved in school or sports activities. Regular events were moved from Saturday to Sunday evenings, to avoid some students' stated conflicts, but this caused conflicts for others.
5. The lack of a mission trip, such as that to Cuba in 2006, has lead to disappointment, which may have contributed toward decreased involvement. We are exploring a mission trip for March break of 2009, though details are not yet finalized.

The Youth Group may have to change to fit the reality of a very busy and fluid membership. Scheduling activities at the church, opening the doors and waiting for the youth to show up is not working. One proposal is that, since our group members are busy with sports and school plays and recitals, we make it a point to attend one another's activities as a group. What better expression of community than showing interest in one another's interests? Akin to that idea, do we need a group at all when there are so many opportunities available through school and community resources? Could we do away with Youth Group in favour of Youth Ministry?

All of these challenges are quite real and can seem overwhelming, but I don't want to paint a totally dreary picture. Though only two or three were gathered together, Popcorn Church and the Alumni Night proved to be interesting and engaging. We had a small but enthusiastic group for two bowling outings, and at least one youth group member helped with set-up for the ACW's October rummage sale. The Youth Group Facebook group has a small but committed membership, and members keep in touch via that new networking tool.

Youth ministry at St. Jude's may have to change and may look different, but the relationships and commitment to a supportive community of disciples will remain the same.

Respectfully submitted, The Rev. Aaron Orear

PROPERTY COMMITTEE REPORT 2007
I would like to start by thanking the committee members - Sam Poaps, the Vice-Chair; Lloyd McCoomb, the Secretary; Bill Shank, Colin Craven, Terrence Lukas, Rodney Box, Mavis Davison and our latest member Kevin King. Again, I feel very proud to have the privilege of chairing a committee composed of such talented and dedicated members.

In the spring, considerable maintenance work was carried out on the heating system, No. 1 boiler, and in December the heat exchanger on the No. 2 boiler failed, but luckily was replaced under warranty. Overall the system is performing as designed, but on very cold, windy days cannot be expected to keep an old draughty building as warm as some would hope or expect.

During the summer, considerable external painting work was carried out on all the entrance doors and railings to bring them up to an acceptable standard. This was followed in the fall by the painting of most of the metal window frames, together with repairs to broken glass.

An automatic opener was installed on the ramp entrance door to make it more user friendly for those in wheelchairs or in any way handicapped. At the same time, the railings leading up to the main narthex entrance were modified to improve accessibility.

The flat-roof above the Parish Council Room and Nursery has been in poor condition for some time and was leaking in several areas. It was repaired in September and this was followed by re-pointing and repairs to the brickwork in various locations. The brickwork is inspected and repaired every few years; otherwise costs could become very expensive.

During the year, it became apparent that the walls in the Men's Choir bathroom were deteriorating badly due to moisture infiltration. As a result the washroom was closed off, and the necessary repairs will be carried out in 2008.

This year the fire drills were carried out during the summer rather than the fall, and the Sexton carried out fire safety training for all staff, volunteers and greeters. This required revisions to the Fire Safety Plan, which has been submitted to the Oakville Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division for their approval.

In November, the Halton Region Health Department required us to have a full mould, asbestos and lead paint assessment of areas used by the Montessori School. This required the opening up of ceiling and wall surfaces for their inspection and testing by environmental consultants. On completion of the examination, no areas for concern were discovered and the school was allowed to re-open on the upper floor.

The Sexton's Lodge received its annual inspection by committee members and some items were identified for repair in 2008. In addition, safety lighting was installed in the staff parking area.

The sound system has been upgraded with the installation of a CD recorder in 2006. This year, thanks to our Curate, Aaron Orear, volunteering to help out, recordings are again being made at many services.

The Property Committee is again looking for additional members, with an engineering, technical or management background, to join the team and act as managers for the various projects. Please get in touch with us if you can offer your services. We are also always looking for anyone with an interest in learning about the sound system.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Julie Hudak, our Business Manager, for her many hours of support to the Property Committee activities and also Paul Garrick, our Sexton, for his considerable contribution.

Nicholas Banton,
Chair, Property Committee