St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church

Welcome to the Rice Lake Regional Ministry!

The Regional Ministry is a collaboration that began on July 1st, 2022 between six congregations in five parishes: the churches of St John the Evangelist, Peterborough; Christ Church, Campbellford; St George's, Hastings; St James', Roseneath; St Michael's, Westwood; and St John the Evangelist, Havelock.

It came about as a result of a conversation between the partner churches that began in the Fall of 2019. Given the challenges and opportunities of ministry in the east end of the Peterborough Deanery, the conversation led us to enter into a two-year pilot project working together, sharing clergy and lay leadership and building stronger outreach, seniors, and youth ministries across the Region.

Pictured below are the five existing churches (St James' was destroyed by fire in 2019 and has not yet been rebuilt). From left to right: St John's Peterborough, Christ Church, St Michael's, St George's, and St John's Havelock.

Below, you will find the following sections:

Why Regional Ministry?

News & Announcements

Upcoming Events

Regional Council Minutes

Why Regional Ministry?

It is only through coming together as a Regional Ministry that we will have the resources and energy to continue our beloved traditional ministries and diversify to revitalize and offer programs and ministries that can reach new people through worship, care, and outreach. As a region we will be able to have:

Better programming with more options;

More priests, lay leaders and volunteers to support programs and ministries;

More creativity, more energy, and more resources to do ministry and mission in creative ways. Way which can focus on connecting with new people and people are not being attracted to our traditional ministries;

We can do more effective outreach ministries and have a larger impact on making positive changes in people’s lives;

We can have a stronger pastoral care program, connecting especially with people who are isolated, in care, or homebound;

COVID has shown us that we now need to be able to provide ministry in different ways including online. As a region we will have the capacity to diversify and strengthen ways we can offer worship and other ministry programs;

We would have a team ministry giving our congregations and communities a broader range of gifts and skills for ministry and mission and opportunities for collaboration and collegiality for the clergy;

The team could be specialized to best grow ministry in the area.

It would be easier to recruit priests into a Regional ministry team.

News & Announcements

Check out this section for important announcements (except upcoming events: they're below) and stories about Regional Ministry activities.

Who Should We Be? A Call for submissions for the name of the regional ministry

The Diocese temporarily named our pilot "The Rice Lake Regional Ministry" based on a similar conversation that happened about a decade ago between several congregations in the area. The name doesn't represent all of the congregations that form part of the region now, however, and the Regional Council is inviting submissions for a name for our shared ministry. It might include a reference to a particular Biblical ministry, some of the natural features around the region, or be a description of the various churches. Once we have a name we will use it to create a website (so shorter is better for the web address) and social media pages. Please submit your ideas to the chair of the Regional Council, the Rev. Canon Brad Smith, by calling 705-745-7624 or by email. Submissions will be accepted until Friday, October 6th and the Regional Council will select a short list of possible names to be voted on by the parishes.
Combined Worship and fellowship - JUly 30, 2023

On Sunday, July 30th, Anglicans from across the Regional Ministry gathered in St John's, Havelock, for a combined service. The Rev. Bryce Sangster presided and Janet Marshall, Diocesan Director of Congregation Development, preached. Parishioners from different churches read the lessons, sang in the choir, and led the prayers. After worship there was a Town Hall meeting for parishioners to ask questions and give feedback to the Regional Council and this was followed by a summer picnic lunch and fellowship.

To watch the recording of the worship service and town hall on YouTube, click here.
Easter Vigil and Supper - April 8, 2023

People from across the Regional Ministry met at the Alnwick Civic Centre in Roseneath to celebrate the Resurrection with an Easter Vigil service and potluck supper. Bishop Riscylla Shaw joined us to preside over the liturgy and our regional clergy assisted, with the Rev. Dr. Max Dionisio, Regional Curate, preaching. Approximately 80 people from all 6 churches attended and it was a joyful celebration of both Easter and our shared ministry and fellowship.

To watch the recording of the worship service on YouTube, click here.
CHRiSTMAS CAROL SING - December 11, 2022

Despite the heavy snow, several dozen folks from across the region gathered at St John's, Peterborough on a Sunday afternoon two weeks before Christmas for "Christmas Carol Karaoke". People called out the numbers of their favourite seasonal hymns and sang them to organ accompaniment. After an hour of singing, mulled cider and hot chocolate were served with a variety of baked goods as people chatted and got to know one another better. Merry Christmas!
REGIONAL MINISTRY "GRAND OPENING" - September 25, 2022

On Sunday, September 25th, Anglicans from across the region attended a special worship service and supper to celebrate the beginning of our shared ministry. The congregation of 80 people filled St George's Church in Hastings and everyone enjoyed the choir-led service of Evensong which included the installation of the Rev. Max Dionisio as the Regional Curate (assistant clergy). Following the service, we went into the church hall for a supper provided by members of the various congregations. As everyone ate and mingled, new friendships were formed and we look forward to the next opportunity for worship and fellowship together.

Events

Check out events happening in the churches around the Region. Some are Regional Ministry initiatives and some are from individual congregations. All are welcome to any of the events listed below.

FALL book study

Join our curate, the Rev. Dr Max Dionisio, for a 6-week regional study based on How We Got the Bible by Neil R. Lightfoot. Starts Tuesdays September 26th at St John's Peterborough and Wednesdays September 27th at Christ Church Campbellford both at 1:30 p.m.
How was the Bible put together? How old are the earliest biblical manuscripts? How has the Bible been preserved and transmitted to us? Why are there so many different versions of the Bible? How did early Christians decide which writings to include and which to exclude? If any of these questions speak to you then this might be the right book study for you to take this autumn. We will get to know the story behind the most widely read book of all times. We will also read passages from some of the ancient texts that did not make it into the canon of scripture but were known and widely used.
Come for the conversation, to meet other people in the regional ministry, and to learn more about the history of the Bible!
To sign up for the study, please contact the office at St John's (705-745-7624 or email). Books are available for purchase for $20.00.
St John's Peterborough Fish & Chip Pub Night

This annual social evening returns on Friday, September 29th at 5:00 p.m. Regional Ministry members are warmly welcome to attend. Tickets are $20 and go on sale September 10th. Advance tickets only, deadline is Tuesday, September 25th. E-transfers are welcome to office@stjohnspeterborough.ca. Invite your friends for a night out!
REGIONAL COMBINED WORSHIP

The next Regional Combined Worship service will be Sunday, October 29th, at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Church, 154 Kent St, Campbellford.

Regional Council Minutes

Below you will find a copy of the minutes from each Regional Council meeting. Click on the date to download the PDF. Meeting dates are announced in congregational bulletins and newsletters and all meetings are open for parishioners to attend. If you would like the Regional Council to consider an item at its next meeting, please contact the chair, the Rev. Canon Brad Smith (705-745-7624 x 24 or email).

May 14, 2022 (the last meeting of the Regional Ministry Working Group)