The Session

At St. John’s Presbyterian Church the Session is comprised of elders elected by the congregation and ordained by God to service within the congregation. Elders are responsible for the administration and spiritual oversight of our congregation. When they meet monthly with the minister, who is their moderator, they are called a Session. Through the office of ruling elder, men and women are ordained to share with the minister in the leadership, pastoral care, and oversight of the congregation. The Session is not some kind of executive; rather it is a group that gives leadership to the congregation as servants of Christ. Elders have a responsibility for the pastoral care of the entire congregation directly by telephone, visits, or other forms of personal contact.

Church Elders

1970 ~ Edgar Lloyd
1980 ~ Ross Elliott
1990 ~ Christine Simpson (Representative elder to the Presbytery of Oak Ridges)
1995 ~ Dr. D.D. Scott ~ (Moderator)
1997 ~Marilyn Compton
1997 ~ Leila Lloyd
2005 ~ Klaus Hintz (Clerk of Session)
2005 ~ Mark Summers
2006 ~ Lenore Poppe
2006 ~ Jim van Voorst
2009 ~ Aileen Edwards
2009 ~ Janet Maslak

Session members assist the Minister with pastoral duties by visiting members of the congregation who are shut in and/or who are residents of nursing homes and other care facilities. Their responsibilities extend to the elderly; the isolated; those in crisis because of illness, bereavement and loss; and those persons who are undergoing difficult changes in their lives. Elders work to make God’s presence visible in definite and tangible ways.

Our Session needs support, affirmation and nurture in order to grow in its ministry and to continue to use the gifts of its members. Although everyone is not able to be in a leadership position on Sunday morning, every member, including children and youth, can be involved in encouraging all who are serving and leading. To accomplish this we must:

encourage our leaders as people, not just in what they do;
remember each of the ministries in prayer;
provide adequate resources;
inquire about joys and challenges and, if needed, help address their concerns;
vision new ways of doing things;
be quick with encouragement and slow with criticism.

Our mission statement defines the people of St. John’s and provides a blueprint for future activities.

Our Session does its work in these major areas or ministries:

Congregational Life
Christian Education
Mission & Outreach
Worship

The Session authorizes and gives direction to those involved in each of those ministries including areas of responsibility, accountability, its composition and responsibilities.

Congregational Life Ministry – The purpose of this ministry is to provide opportunities for all ages of the congregation to participate in the events of the church. The areas of responsibility include fellowship events such as church meals, after worship fellowship time, study groups, and greeters. The planning and conduct of congregational meetings is an important aspect of this ministry. Our Minister moderates the Session at its regular meetings and also attends regular meetings of the Oak Ridges Presbytery, the body that oversees all congregations in this area of Ontario. Our Minister’s main responsibilities include preparing for and conducting the Sunday worship services, pastoral care, counselling, marriages and funerals, and church wide programming. He also represents St. John’s on a variety of local and community based groups.

Christian Education Ministry – This ministry area provides sound Biblical background and strong spiritual development for all ages of the congregation. The responsibilities include Sunday School, adult education, confirmation classes, the library, and the provision of opportunities for those involved in conferences and other learning situations.

Session Mandate… Christian Education Committee

The Session is responsible for providing for the program of Christian education for persons of all ages in order that they may be confronted by the gospel, may grow in faith, participate in the life of the Christian community, and be active witnesses to Christ in the world (Book of Forms 112)
The Session is responsible for the administration, oversight, support and evaluation of the total Christian education programme of the congregation with the confessed doctrine of the church (Book of Forms 112.1)
The Session is responsible for ensuring the education of the entire congregation in its witness to the local community and in its witness to the world and for encouraging members both individually and corporately to share the gospel with others (Book of Forms 112.2)
The Session is responsible for the recruitment, appointment, training and support of teachers and leaders, the selection and approval of resource materials and programs which will be used in Christian Education (Book of Forms 112.3)
The Session is responsible for setting before the persons under its care the obligations implied in their having been baptized, the claim which the Saviour has upon them to make public profession of faith, and for providing opportunities for instruction in preparation for that public profession (Book of Forms 112.4)
The Session is responsible for providing instruction for persons requesting the Sacrament of Baptism for themselves, their children or their wards (Book of Forms 112.5)
The Session is responsible for the support of parents in the nurture of their children in the Christian faith by encouraging Christian family living, and by providing organized opportunities for their children within the structure of the educational programme (Book of Forms 112.6)

Accountability

The worship committee is accountable to the session.
The elder will bring the recommendations of the committee to the session for consideration.
The session will not unreasonably den the recommendations of the committee, nor will it attempt to do the work of the committee.

Composition

An Elder (to act as chair or co-chair)
Minister (ex officio)
Representative from the Sunday School
Representative from the Children and Worship
Representative from the small group programme
Representative from the Nursery
Representative from the youth group

Reponsibilities

To assist the session in fulfilling its responsibilities for Christian education.
To provide recommendations related to Christian Education for consideration by the session.
To consider and approve program and program modifications.
To recruit, train and supervise teachers, leaders and helpers.
To coordinate the schedules of the various groups and programs.
To encourage participation in Presbytery and Synod Christian Education Events.

Mission and Outreach Ministry

This area provides opportunities for the congregation to participate in mission in our immediate community and throughout the world. The responsibilites include the emergency aid fund, support for families in need, special offerings, and mission beyond our local community.

Session Mandate… Mission and Outreach

1. The session is responsible for all aspects of… mission… within the congregation (Book of Forms 113)
The session will keep before the ongregation the life and work of the church around the world, encouraging participation in that work through prayer, service and gifts (Book of Forms 113.1)
The session is responsible for seeing that the congregation develops and maintains programs o mission and outreach both related to its immediate community and beyond (Book of Forms 113.2)
The session will arrange for outreach to children, youth and adults in the community by encouraging them to participate in worship and programs of education and fellowship, and by nviting them to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (Book of Forms 113.3).
The session will seek to ensure that the congregation in its commission to spread the gospel among all persons is contributing according to its ability, both for the maintenance of its of own witness and ministry to the community and for the mission of the whole church (Book of Forms 113.4)

Accountability

The worship committee
The elder will bring the recommendations of the committee to the session for consideration.
The session will not unreasonable deny the recommendations of the committee, nor will it attempt to do the work of the committee.

Composition

An Elder (to act as chair or co chair)
Minister (ex officio)
Representative from the Sunday School
Representative from the Children and Worship
Representative from the small group programme
Representative from the Nursery
Representative from the youth groups

Responsibilities

To assist the session in fulfilling its responsibilities for Christian education.
To provide recommendations related to Christian Education for consideration by the session.
To consider and approve programs and program modifications.
To recruit, train and supervise teachers, leaders and helpers.
To coordinate the schedules of the various groups and programs.
To encourage participation in Presbytery and Synod Christian Education Events

Worship Ministry

The purpose of this ministry is to plan, coordinate and oversee, along with the Minister, the worship of the church. The responsibilities include regular Sunday morning and special worship services, baptisms, communion, weddings, funerals, music, ushers, and bulletins. The Session directs the appearance of the sanctuary.

Session Mandate .. Worship Committee

The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Book of Forms gives the following direction to the Session

The session is responsible for regulating the hours and forms of public worship and for arranging special services. The session determines the appointed times and provides for the administration of the sacraments (Book of Forms 111.1)
The session is responsible for the appointment of the organist and other leaders of the service of praise, whether voluntary or salaried. It should satisfy itself of their Christian character and behaviour, in as much as they are subject to its discipline (Book of Forms 111.2)

Accountability

The worship committee is accountable to the session.
The elder will bring the recommendations of the committee to the session for consideration.
The session will not unreasonably deny the recommendations of the committee, nor will it attempt to do the work of the committee

Composition

An Elder (to act as chair or co chair)
Minister (ex officio)
Representative from the Choir
Representative from the Worship Team
Two or three from the congregation

Responsibilities

Arrange for the rotation of organists.
To work with the minister on special themes for the worship services and to make suggestions with respect to special music, banners, drama, etc.
To recruit, train and supervise greeters and ushers.
To coordinate the special service décor.
To assist the session in fulfilling its responsibilities for worship
To provide recommendations related to worship for consideration by the session

Instructions for the Ushers

Thank you for your help in serving as ushers for St. John’s Presbyterian Church. Being a church usher is a very important ministry. Very often the usher is the first person the worshiper meets when entering the church — you make the first impression on those arriving in our church — make that impression a good one.

Instructions

At least six ushers are needed — two serve as greeters and the other four to usher members of the congregation to their seats. All six ushers are needed to receive the offering.

Before the Service

Arrive 20 minutes early.
Check with the minister for possible changes or special instructions
Preparations:
• Turn on all sanctuary lights: switches are in the sound booth
• Turn fans on: switches are in the sound booth
• Change the numbers on the hymn board
• Place a glass of water on the pulpit
• Ensure there is a bulletin on the organ and pulpit
Check to see if nursery attendants are needed. If needed, ask for help from congregation – two attendants are required. One attendant must be an adult.

Greeters should welcome people as they enter the church building. Two should be at the front doors and two at the back doors. Point out the location of the washrooms, nursery, etc. Take guests with young children to the nursery and introduce them to the caregiver.

The ushers should:

• stand at the entrance to the sanctuary
• greet worshippers as they arrive
• hand them a bulletin
• usher them to their seats

When the minister reaches the front of the sanctuary, please close the sanctuary doors and request that latecomers wait until the singing of the first hymn.
Two ushers should sit at the back of the sanctuary in order to assist latecomers. Provide them with a bulletin and usher them to their seat.

During the Service

Count the congregation during the first hymn by walking down the aisles. Write count down in folder
Receive the offering — all six ushers are needed and should work in this fashion:
a. two ushers down the center aisle, one down each side aisle, for a total of six
b. pass the offering plate all the way down the aisle to the other side
c. two ushers bring offering forward during the doxology
d. return to seats

After the service

Attempt to introduce newcomers to people seated around them and encourage them to sign the guest book or a pew card
Invite guests for coffee time
After congregation leaves, clean up:
• Rearrange Bibles and hymnbooks to ensure they are straight
• Turn off lights, fans
• Please remain on duty the entire service–you can sit in the back once everything is underway.

Important — When you get your schedule, please check the date you agreed to serve. If you are not able to serve on your scheduled Sunday, please check with other people on this list to see if you can switch Sundays. When you switch, please notify Aileen Edwards so that the bulletin may be changed.

Remember — You are the “Host or Hostess” for our church — especially for our guests. It is a very important ministry. Thanks again for your willingness to serve.