Our Contemporary Service Committee: Bernice Patience, Mary Silverthorn, Tanya Staniland, Darlene Kobelka, Dorothy Sadler and Rev. Kathy Highmoor, work together naturally and lead our church family in or Contemporary Service. We count heavily on our pastoral leader as part of the team. She leads us with copious ideas and never allows us to stray from that particular week's powerful Christian message. The biblical principle is that our people have a diversity of gifts and not a hierarchy of gifts, that can be shared through the Contemporary Service; gifts such as the singing of choruses or solos, the playing of upbeat music, reading, reflections, taking part in dramas, making charts or posters, fixing displays or simply taking part in discussions or listening quietly. We all have a talent. We strive to have the congregation feel that the service includes them in open and encouraging ways and that it is helpful in the discovering ofhope and the grace of God for the week to come.

Our Contemporary Service takes place at 11:30 a.m. on the last Sunday of each month and is followed by a pot luck dinner and much social interaction.

Kassi, our piano player left this past fall to attend Brandon University. Good luck in your studies Kassi and thank you for your gift of music. Linda Gilchrist has been kind enough to travel to Birch River from Swan River to play the upbeat music we require for our Contemporary Service. We appreciate your talent Linda. Thank- You.

Thank you to Jane Dale for her powerful and beautiful voice in solo and in leading the singing, and to our previous United Church members who travel from Swan River to attend the services and share their talents. Also a thank you to all of our committee members who take part time after time to lead the service. We appreciate all of you.

Leisurely service can be powerful and moving in people's lives. The ability to live and share as a team is one of the competencies of a small strong congregation for which we pride ourselves. We welcome you all to come and join us.

Submitted by: Dorothy Sadler