Committees
Worship Committee
The Worship Committee is made up of a group of lay people from the congregation who, along with the clergy and music director, help to decide how our worship services take place.
What We Do:
-Meet monthly with our minister and music director to offer support and direction
-Keep abreast of congregational issues and concerns about worship
-Plan worship services, in collaboration with ministry personnel
-Recruit ushers and greeters for Sunday morning services, lay readers, volunteers to prepare communion
-Support our A/V tech team
-Find substitutes for the pulpit, the music director and tech support, in case of absences
-Look after flowers or other decorations in the Sanctuary
-Approve any other uses of the Sanctuary
-Support the music program at MacKay
-Help negotiate and administer contract with Music Director
Pastoral Care Team
The Pastoral Care Team is comprised of both the Core Team, which works with the Minister, Rev. Peter Woods, to stay in touch with members of the congregation experiencing illness, grief or stress. In turn, the Core Team is supported by members of the congregation who help by emailing, phoning, visiting, and driving members to appointments, or otherwise supporting members during times of particular difficulty.
What We Do:
-Email, phone, visit, drive and generally provide spiritual and collegial support to members of the congregation during trying times
-Provide a “flower ministry” several times a year for those unable to easily get to church for important holidays
-Sponsor various educational initiatives for the committee and congregation
-Organize special church services for those finding celebrations difficult
Working Groups from our Retreats
2025 Retreats and Ongoing Working Groups
The Church Council viewed the celebration of MacKay's 150th anniversary as an ideal time to look more closely at what we are doing in terms of our worship and work together, and to plan for the future. With this in mind, Council planned a series of retreats, open to all members of the MacKay community, over two separate half-days in September 2025.The hope was that these retreats might assist us in
· Reminding ourselves of the core values of MacKay that we wish to preserve and promote, whatever we decide to do.
· Clarifying our specific aims and objectives for the next 3-5 years, including being open to new ways to support MacKay Church and its congregation, always with a mind to tapping into new sources of enthusiasm and energy for the work we are doing.
· Examining what makes us a community, what blocks us from succeeding in our goals, and what practical solutions can be found to take us forward.
The two retreats covered all of this and more. What was most striking was the amount of positive energy that was injected into so many interactions, the wisdom that could be heard in so many voices, and the commitment, across a range of ages, interests and perspectives, to work together to ensure that MacKay continues to be a loving light for all of us (and for members of our community whom we have yet meet).
The next task was to do our best to ensure that all the wonderful energy, wisdom and commitment that we witnessed in the September retreats was converted into worthwhile action.
Ongoing Working Groups:
Spiritual Fellowship
There was an impressive array of suggestions at the retreats that in different ways were aimed at encouraging members of the congregation, and members of the wider community, to come together in fellowship. Proposed themes for the gatherings were varied (for example, family-friendly activities, lectures, music, film, Bible study, prayer groups, exploring themes already introduced in Peter Woods' sermons, progressive causes, good food, sharing of expertise, arts' hubs, etc.). For the purpose of ongoing discussion, we gave these suggestions the label Spiritual Fellowship.
The Spiritual Fellowship working group was sub-divided into a first group focusing on spiritual exploration, led by Tanis McKnight, and a second group focusing on community fellowship, led by Mary-Ruth Endicott. These working groups have already begun to generate ideas and excitement.
Sustainable Stewardship
It would not have been right to ignore one of the toughest and most important toughest issues that was raised a number of times during the retreat, and that has featured frequently in previous Council discussions: something that we now refer to as
Sustainable Stewardship. Discussions regarding this issue ranged from practical suggestions around creative fund-raising and partnerships to more radical proposals regarding real estate.
The second ongoing working group, Sustainable Stewardship, is devoted to addressing these financial issues. Both words of this working group's name are important: "stewardship" in the sense of sharing the resources that we have so that we can ensure that the Church pays its bills and continues to do its important work; and "sustainable" in the sense of trying to ensure that solutions we consider are workable in the medium to long term. This working group is made up of Eleanor Bates-Dunn, Jeff
Bell, Mary-Ruth Endicott, Peter Oliver and Susan Pitt.
Property Team
The Property Team cares for the church building, grounds, and shared spaces so they remain safe, welcoming, and ready for worship, ministry, and community use. Through practical service, planning, and stewardship, the team helps create an environment where people can gather, serve, learn, and grow in faith.
What We Do:
-Oversee regular maintenance and upkeep of the church property.
-Identify repairs, improvements, and safety concerns.
-Coordinate seasonal tasks such as grounds care, snow removal, and general cleanup.
-Work with church leadership, volunteers, and outside contractors when needed.
-Help plan for long-term care, improvements, and responsible use of church resources.
Recent Projects:
-Masonry restoration of the Bell Tower and Steeple roof
-Replastering and painting of the Sanctuary, retiling floors
-Accessible entry doors to Memorial Hall and Washroom
-Volunteers plant and maintain gardens, trim hedges and trees
Get Involved:
Whether you enjoy hands-on repairs, gardening, organizing projects, or simply lending a helping hand, the Property Team welcomes volunteers with a variety of skills and experience levels. Serving on this team is a meaningful way to care for the church and support the ministries that take place here each week.
Trustees
The roles of the Trustees are prescribed by the United Church of Canada.
Trustees are appointed by the congregation. There must be no fewer than 3 and no more than 15. MacKay has seven, including the Minister who serves ex officio.
What We Do:
-Trustees own the church’s property, and is in charge whenever property is acquired or sold.
-Trustees ensure that the church is properly insured.
-Trustees monitor the church’s financial situation, taking a long term view.
Recent Projects:
-The biggest project in the last 20 years was the sale of the Manse in 2012. Ministers no longer wanted to live in the Manse, for valid reasons.
-Changing the insurance agent and insurance company in 2025
-Monitoring the new owner’s severance of the Manse property to create a new lot on Avon Lane.
Involvement:
Trustees are normally long time members of the congregation who care deeply about the present and the future of our church.