Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada
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Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada Retirees and Jubilarians 2015 Saturday, May 30, 2015 5 p.m. Royal Canadian Legion Sackville, New Brunswick Thank you for taking part in this time of recognition and celebration. We hope that you will take pleasure in reading, and keeping, this beautiful and powerful accounts of ministry in the name of Jesus the Christ. Retirees Rev. Ron Frampton Rev. Joy Noble Rev. John Fraser Rev. Pamela Reidpath Rev. Gayle MacDonald Mr. Keith Selwyn-Smith Rev. Brenda McKay Rev. Anne Dalziel Singer Rev. Gordon Murray Rev. Jeanne Stright Jubilarians 50 Years Rev. Garth Caseley Ms. Nancy K. Fraser Rev. A. Ross MacDonald Rev. Hugh C. MacLean Rev. Dr. J. Allan McIntosh Rev. Thomas G. Whent 55 Years Rev. Morley P. Bentley Rev. Heber G. Colbourne Rev. J. Raymond H. Corbett Rev. Ray A. Francis Rev. Dr. Harold J. King Rev. Ian K. MacDonald Rev. Donald S. MacDougall Rev. Eric W. Pace 60 Years Rev. Dr. Robert A. Wallace 65 Years Rev. H. Gilmour MacKenzie Rev. Herbert W. Reid Rev. Morley P. Bentley Jubilarian Morley's early years were spent in Upper Stewiacke. In 1949, he graduated from Normal College, Truro, and taught in several Nova Scotia schools. In 1960, Morley graduated from Pine Hill Divinity College and was ordained the same year. His first charge was North Highlands, followed by Cavendish, PEI, St. Andrews, NB, Port Wallis, NS, and Wentworth-New Annan Pastoral Charges. Following full time retirement, he served as part-time in several charges, the longest being Harmony-Camden for seven years. While studying for the Ministry, he served several Student Pastoral Charges in the former Amherst Head and Lawrencetown Pastorates. Rev. Garth Caseley Jubilarian Garth Caseley was ordained by the Maritime Conference of The United Church of Canada in June, 1965. Following ministry in four pastoral charges in New Brunswick and one in Nova Scotia, he and his partner Lucille retired to Fredericton, New Brunswick in January, 2001 where they have enjoyed gardening, photography, reading, music and travelling. Early in his retirement Garth began as a volunteer to design and maintain web sites for a number of churches and other non-profit organizations as well as several sites for friends. For a number of years he administered the Maritime Conference web site, and still maintains about a dozen and a half such web sites. Garth and Lucille attend Wilmot United Church in Fredericton. Rev. Heber Gordon Colbourne Jubilarian Heber Gordon Colbourne was born in Little Brehat, a small, isolated community on the N.E. Coast of Newfoundlsand. It was there that his theological education was started with the choice of being 10 miles, or ten minutes from the end of the world. It was also there that he acheived the previously unheard of accomplishment of passing Grade Eleven CHE exams. He attended Memorial University for two summers for teacher training, and taught school for three years. He then served the church as a probationary minister for two years. Then it was off to Mount Allison University for a BA, and Pine Hill Divinity Hall for a MDiv. He served the Newfoundland Conference for nine years in pastoral ministry before starting his nomadic journey in ministry in such distant places as Elmsdale, Cushing (PQ), O'leary, Sydney River, and Kemptville (On), from where he retired in 1995. He continued to serve as Supply Ministry for six years. In 1958 Heber and Thelma Mattinson, B.A, BEd. were married. Their family now consists of 2 daughters, 2 sons, (and spouses), four grand children, and one great grand child. They continue to live happily ever after in Pugwash, where he is honoured to present the Minute for Mission each Sunday. Part of the happiness for Heber is not having to prepare and make weekly theological proclamations in the turmoil of these times. Rev. J. Raymond Corbett Jubilarian Rev. J. Raymond Corbett, B.D., S.T.M., born Falkirk, Scotland, 1931. Beloved wife Irene Whiteford (deceased 2011). Educated at Dollar Academy, and emigrated to Canada as and Industrial Chemist. On call to ministry, attended United Theological College and McGill University, Montreal, and was ordained in 1960 by Montreal and Ottawa Conference. Pastoral Charges served include: Escuminac (Gaspe); Christ Church (City of Two Mountains, Que.); Crawford Park and Verdun United Church- combined charge (Montreal); Beacon United Church, 1979-1995, (Yarmouth, NS.). Minister Emeritus 1996. Elected Chairperson of the Montreal and South Shore Presbyteries. For two years, 1970-1972, served as a Church of Scotland minister at Wishart Memorial Church in the Dundee Presbytery. Rotarian. Main pastimes are Philately and Golf. I have a particular interest in Church History and some years ago (1970s) the Montreal Presbytery kindly published and distributed for me a study guide (mainly for Confirmation classes) “What Do You Know About the Church?”. I have one other publication, “Under Linings”- an anthology of Daily Devotional Readings. Throughout my ministry, thankfully within the United Church, I have tried to affirm my faith in the terms of the Ancient Creeds of the Church, the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, and in the earliest Christian Creed of all, “Jesus is Lord”. Rev. Ron Frampton Retiree Rev. Ray A. Francis Jubilarian Ray A. Francis was born in Halifax, NS, and received his early education in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton. After graduation with a BA in philosophy and psychology from Mount Allison University, he received a Masters of Divinity in 1960 from Emmanuel College in the University of Toronto. In June of that year, he was ordained to the ministry of The United Church of Canada. From 1960 to 1980 he served congregations in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick: – Maitland, Hants County; Glen Falls, Saint John; Yarmouth; and Bathurst. In 1980 he became the Superintendent of the Children’s Training Centre, Digby, NS, a developmental centre for mentally challenged children, operated by the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services. Upon its closure in 1992, he continued in the service of the Department as an Adult Protection Worker for southwestern Nova Scotia until 1997. In November of that year he returned to the full time work of the United Church as Interim Minister of the Wolfville Pastoral Charge till June 1999. Following that, he served as Minister of Canard United Church, Kings County, until retirement in June 2005. Since retirement, he has served as Retired Supply at First United, Bathurst, New Brunswick, Woodlawn United, Dartmouth, NS, and West Cornwallis Pastoral Charge, NS. In addition to the offerings of the ALL Program of Acadia, his continuing education over the years has been taken at Theological Seminaries at Bangor, Maine; Union, New York; and Princeton, New Jersey. Believing it is important to be involved in the community where one lives and works, Ray was a member of the Board of Police Commissioners for the Town of Kentville for the past three years. He is the father of two children – Jean Francis-Snyder and John Francis. He now resides in Kentville with his wife Sheila. Rev. John W. Fraser Retiree I was ordained by Maritime conference on May 26, 1985. In the five years leading up to ordination I served the Welsford Pastoral Charge and then the Maitland Pastoral Charge. I thought, at that time, ordination was just a formality but the Sunday after ordination at Maitland one of the elders said there was something different, “you preach as one having authority”. I remembered my ordination and Rev. Stretch M. presenting me with the Bible and commissioning to go with authority and proclaim the good news of the Gospel. I have tried to be faithful to that commissioning. My first charge after ordination was the Norton pastoral charge; and then to O’Leary- West Cape pastoral charge, Quispamsis United Church, St. Mark's United Church, and then retiring from the Newcastle pastoral charge. I have had the privilege of journeying with many people in many different situations and always there was the awareness of the presence of the living Christ. What a wonderful privilege and opportunity to walk with the family and household of God. I have much to be thankful for, especially my wife Barb, who would pack up and move when I said I feel led by the Spirit to move. I thank my children Tanya, Christina, and Marc who also endured the nomadic life of a minister. I think my parents, and my family for their support during all my life and I am proud and honored to be part of this family. What lies ahead in this time called retirement is in the hands of the living Christ as I continue to pray, study Scripture, and witness to the Gospel. Living with Christ is fun –like the apostle Paul says in 1Corinthians 9:24-27-a great race. Ms. Nancy Fraser Jubilarian I was drawn to diaconal ministry through Christian Education activities at Trinity United Church (my home church) in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and numerous summers of CGIT Camp at MacLennan Memorial Camp (Trinity’s own at the time) where I learned about the diaconal work Ruth Stewart was doing at Brunswick Street United Church in Halifax and decided to prepare for diaconal ministry. After completing secretarial science studies at St. Francis Xavier University followed by employment with the Canadian Red Cross Society in Halifax, I was enrolled at Covenant College in Toronto where I studied and worked to become a deaconess with The United Church of Canada. Following graduation from Covenant College and designation by the Maritime Conference 50 years ago, I ministered in various churches across Canada, worked with the Ecumenical Institute of Chicago for a time and served in The Department of Stewardship for a number of years.