Who are You? Who are You?

…for God’s sake …for God’s sake

The first ‘Men’s Festival of Faith’ in the Maritimes was held Who are you? . . . for God's sake. Good question! in 1980 at Mount Allison University with over 350 men in And that is what we hope to have answered when we attendance and was a great time of fellowship. It was gather for our sixth rally, the format of which we began followed by similar events throughout the 80’s, leading some ten years ago to reach out to men of faith in the directly to the establishment of the Cape Breton Men’s across the Maritimes. What Conference at Mira Pines and the Christian an interesting theme that should be! And we believe Men’s Retreat. The Stanhope Men’s Conference in PEI we have just the man to help provide the answer to it, also received revitalization from the Festival experience the Rev. Dr Rob Fennell from the Atlantic School of and in recent years, the Digby Christian Men’s Theology in Halifax. Retreat has also been established.

We have been so blessed with the line up of speakers Once again we come together: to encourage, to share, to we have had over the history of these rallies. How can worship, and to celebrate our faith in Jesus Christ.

we ever forget the inspiring message from our last Rally. So plan now to come and join us! The Executive feels we will be further enriched by Rob's message. Rev. Dr Rob Fennell ------Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax, NS. And to add to the event, we have the son of Tim O’Neill, A Decade of Rallies our very first Rally speaker, to be our chaplain. The Rev. ------Dr Andrew O'Neill. So I feel that something very special 2002 is in store for us at Trinity-St Stephen’s on Saturday, Rev. Dr Rob Fennell teaches Historical and Catch the Vision, Share the Spirit April 28th, in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Systematic Theology at Atlantic School of Theme Speaker: Tim O’Neill Theology (AST) in Halifax and has served in 2004 Also, our chaplain from 2010, the Rev. Peter Smith, ministry with congregations in Saskatchewan, We have an Anchor will be returning as Director of the event. And we are Ontario, and Nova Scotia. He has also served Theme Speaker: Moderator, Peter Short also pleased to welcome the return of our music team: with General Council on projects relating to 2006 Lloyd MacLean, with his magic fingers on the keys, the renewal of worship; the understanding of Firm Foundations and Barry Snodgrass leading us in singing praises to the sacraments; and the intercultural ministry. Theme Speaker: Phillip Dallimore our God and Saviour. So this should all contribute to 2008 another powerful and spirit-filled day. What we need He, and spouse, Rev. Sally Shaw, who is the Jesus Calls Us is for everyone who has been here in the past to United Church Formation Director at AST, have Theme Speaker: return and bring someone for the very first time. two sons, aged 15 and 11. If he had a superpower, 2010 That is our challenge to you! Rob would like to be able to teleport. His favourite For Such a Time as This pastimes are canoeing, hiking, chopping wood, Theme Speaker: Russ Daye Since we will be in the same location as for our past and seeing movies with family and friends. 2012 Rallies, I don't need to remind you of the wonderful Who are You? . . . for God’s sake. hospitality we can expect from the staff at the church Rob is also an author. His recent book (co- Theme Speaker: Rob Fennell who will again have coffee and treats available on edited with Ross Lockhart) is entitled Three your arrival and a very tasty knife-and-fork menu for Ways of Grace: Drawing Closer to the Trinity, DVD’s of these Rallies are available through AVEL our lunch break. with over twenty United Church ministers as contributors. Current projects include writing So, on behalf of the Executive, I, again, invite you to a book on Biblical interpretation; editing a book ------join us and make this the largest and most memorable on visions of the intercultural church; and writing Rally we have had so far. What a way to get the shorter pieces on theological understandings of spring off to a warm and inspirational start. what it means to be human in an age of runaway materialism, crisis, and change. It is from this Vision Statement of Maritime May God bless your journey. last area that this year’s Rally theme is drawn. Conference United Church Men

Who are You? . . . for God’s sake. “To lead men to an understanding of the work and witness of the church, that through commitment to Christ, Bob Bartlett, President ------they may fulfill the ministry to which they are called, in the Maritime Conference United Church Men home, in daily work, in the community and in the world.”