Annual Reports Due
Non-financial reports due 15 January
Financial reports due before 28 January

Committee reports are due as soon as you can get them to Keith Lindsey. We have a deadline to place them in both churches two weeks in advance of the first congregational meeting. A more pressing deadline is to have the full charge report masters ready to print by 29 January. Our resource who is printing the charge report has to start by the 29th.

We realize receipt of bank financial statements are not available early in January, but we hope authors of financial reports will be able to enter almost all other information in advance. Then when the statement is received the final information can be entered and the report finalized and submitted.

The preferred method for submitting reports is electronically to Keith Lindsey. If you need to know his email address, contact him at 838-2868.

Minister to be on Sabbatical
26 December 2011 to 9 April 2012

As part of United Church of Canada policy, a minister who has been in a Charge for five years is permitted to take a sabbatical leave for up to six months. Rev. Gallinger has given notice to the Official Board that he would like to take advantage of this arrangement.

In the absence of Rev. Gallinger worship services will be conducted by different people. The schedule is shown on the worship schedule page on this site. A number of people have volunteered to take services and we are having lay and guest preachers for some. Please feel free to join us at any service.

During the sabbatical phone messages and email messages will be monitored. The two supervising ministers will help arrange any pastoral care needs that arise. Rev. Grant Dillenbeck of Stittsville United Church is the supervisor for Ashton. Rev. Brian Copeland of Glen Cairn United Church is the supervisor for Munster United Church.

Study Group

We meet at 10:00 a.m. Mondays in Ashton (except holiday Mondays). Details about our group are found farther down on this page. Study Group has finished for this church year. We will start up again when Rev. Gallinger returns from his sabbatical.

Youth Group

Meetings will take place every second Thursday at Munster Elementary School from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Youth group is open to anyone Grade 5 and older and new members are always welcome. Youth Group will meet next on Thursday, 12 January. New people always welcome.

The Ashton-Munster Pastoral Charge is and active organization. In addition to both Ashton and Munster Churches conducting weekly worship services, having adult choirs, and Sunday School, Pastoral Charge activities include two study groups, a youth group, and an annual end of church year picnic at Saunders Farm.

Presbytery Meeting Information Available
A summary of the most recent Presbytery meeting is available on the bulletin board in each church. Our representatives are Carmen and Tim Thompson.

Worship Services
As noted, both churches conduct weekly worship services. Once annually each church has an 11:00 a.m. anniversary service (Ashton in June and Munster in October) when the other congregation joins the celebrating congregation in worship. Christmas Eve services are conduced in both churches. You will notice from our service schedule page that service times alternate between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. for the churches. We also alternate between 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. for the Christmas Eve services. Munster United Church is also used for the annual service of the Munster Union Cemetery.

Study Groups
   Morning Study Group, Mondays, 10:00 a.m. in Ashton United Church
The morning study group meets every Monday from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Ashton United Church to discuss the readings of the Sunday past and any other subjects that arise. It is an informal drop-in affair and no sign-up is necessary. Everyone is welcome to come, drop in whenever they can, and discover what it's about. The worship orders of service include information on the morning study group activities and when the group is not able to meet. NOTE this group will meet next following Rev. Gallinger's return from his sabbatical.

   Evening Study Group, Mondays, 7:30 p.m. in Munster United Church
The evening study group is our second study group. Meetings take place Mondays. If you are unable to make it to the morning study or if you wish to take in both study groups, you are also welcome to join this group. This second study group was started by popular demand. The study discussions take place every second Monday in Munster United Church. Timing and cancellations for this group are also included in the announcements in the worship orders of service. NOTE THIS GROUP IS NOT MEETING AT THIS TIME. When they resume getting together regularly you can read it here or if your prefer, contact Matt.

Youth Group
The 'More Youthish Group' is a group for members of both communities in grades 6, 7, and 8, and their friends. We meet every second Thursday at Munster Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested, contact Matt Gallinger or Liz Hale. The date of recent meeting appears near the top of the page and you can figure the schedule from there for subsequent weeks. Occasionally we meet at a different location (e.g. Munster United Church) for a special event or occasion and you would be advised to check with Liz or Matt if you are interested in coming out.

Rev. Matthew Gallinger
Rev. Matthew Gallinger, works in the church office at Munster United Church several days a week. If you would like to meet him or would like to have a pastoral need, then visit or call Matt. Of course, you are welcome to join us in worship Sunday morning and meet Matt.

E-mail of Newsletters
We (actually, Rev. Matt Gallinger) have started to use email messages more often as a means of periodically conveying Congregational and Charge news and events. If you haven't sent your email address to Matt or if you aren't sure you have, send it to him and he'll add it to the list.

Church Membership
If you are not a member of the congregation (either Ashton or Munster Churches) and would like to be, please speak with Matt. You might find it's as easy and straightforward as arranging a membership transfer from another church where you hold membership.

Pastoral Care
We are a caring charge and pair of churches. We make many efforts to stay current and support and assist members of the congregations and communities in times of need. Occasionally we don't hear about news of someone's change and we rely on you to keep us up to date. If you know of anyone who is ill, in hospital, or in need of a pastoral visit, please let us know (613-838-3047). Telephone messages are a great help for Matt to keep up with the latest happenings. We do appreciate hearing about people in need of a visit, attention, or care.

Publications

A Faith Journey This book, a compilation of photos and histories of the 95 United Churches in the Ottawa Presbytery, is available for purchase through the Regional Centre (613 224-5318) or from the editor Mike Nyenhuis (613 592-2470). The cost is approximately $30.
Waymarks and Guideposts, Ashton United Church   A very interesting book about the history of the Ashton Pastoral Charge; Ashton, Munster, and Prospect United Churches; and other area churches is available for $40 through Irma Willoughby at Ashton United Church. Compiled by Dorothy Lewis, it covers much more than just these churches. Great if you are researching your family tree or area families.
The Early Ministers This publication was written in part to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the Munster United Church congregation (2003). It coincided with the 300th anniversary of the birth of James Wesley, the founder of Methodism. It looks at the early ministers of the Rideau and Richmond Circuits and the Munster Methodist congregation. It also presents a brief study of the development of Methodism in Canada with the influences from British and American Methodism. Included is a transcription from the scroll at the back of Munster United Church of the names and dates of ministers who served our congregation from 1823 to 1923. The cost is only $8.00. All profits to go to Munster United Church. To purchase a copy, contact Keith Lindsey at Munster United Church.
Munster United Church Women Cookbook The cookbooks arrived and the first and second printings were quickly sold out! Our third printing is nearly sold out too. The cost is $10 each and all profits go toward the fine work of the UCW. To arrange your copy, contact a member of the UCW (e.g. Fern Sample, Sandra Tubman, etc.). The book covers many type of foods and dishes (dips and snacks; soups and salads; meats; game meats; potatoes, pastas, and beans; eggs and fish; vegetables; breads and doughs; pickles and relishes; cakes; pies; squares and desserts; cookies; muffins) and includes a special section with special recipes from our ministers, present and past. These books make great gifts for newlyweds, birthdays, someone starting out in a new apartment or house, someone going off to college or university, someone's birthday or anniversary.

Wondercafe.ca
You'll find the home of open-minded discussion and exploration of spiritual topics, moral issues, and life's big questions here. Brought to you by the people of the United Church of Canada. Start exploring this site today. Web address is http://www.wondercafe.ca.