Together with friends and representatives of the Bruce Presbytery, the Letterbreen Pastoral Charge celebrated an Act of Covenanting on Sunday afternoon, and welcomed Robert Parr as lay minister.
“We come together to mark a new relationship between you, the Letterbreen United Church and the Presbytery,” opened Bruce Presbytery Chair Rev. Keith Reynolds of Southampton. “May the God who has given us the will to do these things give us the power and grace to perform them.”
Rev. Reynolds said, in baptism, we are called to a ministry of worship. Among us, some are called to lead the people in praise and prayer, and to preach the Gospel of Christ. He said the members of Letterbreen are now called to join Robert Parr in worship, prayer and action.
As new minister, Mr. Parr promised to believe in God, to believe God is calling him to the work of a designated lay minister, and to be faithful in prayer and the study of scripture that he may know the mind of Christ.
“Each one of you today has been chosen to clap and cheer,” Cheryl Fitch said to open her sermon. “Let us encourage one another, and spur one another on to good deeds.”
Ms. Fitch said a covenant is the Bible’s most important agreement. It is a holy promise and personal commitment that is not to be broken or entered into lightly. She said a covenant takes a group of people and binds them into a congregation.
A church family shares a special bond, she said, sharing its joys and sorrows, triumphs and mistakes. It becomes perfected as one body by love and, by walking side-by-side, a congregation becomes a church that serves the Lord together.
 “We have all been chosen, so let the applause begin,” she said.
Presbytery and congregation members then presented Mr. Parr with four symbols of ministry. The new lay minister received a cross from Holstein to honour history and lead the church forward; a baptismal bowl to baptize in the name of God; bread and cup to care for those who hunger and thirst; and a local map to help the church be a leader in the community.
“Let all these things be signs of the ministry which is ours and yours in this place. Amen,” concluded Rev. Reynolds.
The service of the table and passing the peace of Christ completed the special Sunday afternoon service, and the congregation and friends convened downstairs in the church hall for fellowship and a reception.