REPORT OF THE

JOINT NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE

 TUPPERVILLE PASTORAL CHARGE

2008
 
 
 
 



 

 

 


***********

Zion United Church,
Tupperville
 
 

Letter of Introduction

 

The following Joint Needs Assessment for Tupperville Pastoral Charge has been created in response to the newly amalgamated two-point charge of Lindsay Road United and Zion United.  This amalgamation process took place effective December 31, 2007.  Through a change in boundaries, the two Pastoral Charges of Chalmers and Tupperville were amalgamated into one two-point Pastoral Charge to be known as Tupperville Pastoral Charge. 

 

During the time that it has taken to create this report, these two churches have been actively involved in occasional joint services and other special events allowing them to become better acquainted.  Both congregations consist of families who have been with each of their respective churches through many generations. As well, many of the members have known each other through other social connections. 

 

The Joint Needs Assessment Committee is pleased to submit the following document for use by Presbytery and the Pastoral Charge as they search for the personnel to lead this Pastoral Charge.

 

The following people have served on the Joint Needs Assessment Committee:

Neal Craven – Chair – Lindsay Road United

Edie Moyes – Secretary – Zion United

Doug Cameron – Lindsay Road United

Norma Hunter – Lindsay Road United

Bonnie Harvey – Zion United

Harold Park – Zion United

Carol Daly – Zion United

Rev. Curtis Marwood – Presbytery Representative

Lynda vanLeeuwen – Presbytery Representative


COMMUNITY PROFILE

 

Tupperville Pastoral Charge is a two-point charge located in the Municipality of Chatham – Kent in Southwestern Ontario. We are part of Kent Presbytery within London Conference. Tupperville Pastoral Charge is comprised of Zion United Church, located in the village of Tupperville, and Lindsay Road United Church, located 12 kilometres due south in a completely rural setting, between Dresden and Chatham.  

 

Tupperville is situated on the Sydenham River between the towns of Wallaceburg (pop11,000) and Dresden ( pop 2,700).  It is 30 kilometres from the city of Chatham (pop 43,000), and 50 kilometres from Sarnia (pop 60,000).  It is approximately a ninety minute drive to the cities of London and Windsor, and 3 hours to Toronto.  A year-round ferry to the United States is only 20 minutes away.  Bridges to the U.S.A. are in Sarnia and Windsor. 

 

These two churches sit in the middle of one of the richest agricultural areas in Ontario. The only commercial activity of the village is supplying services to local farmers. The majority of the residents work elsewhere.  

Maps

Location of Churches in Tupperville Pastoral Charge

Location and distance between  Zion United and Lindsay Road

United Church

(12 kilometres)
 

Dresden
 

Zion United Church,

10 John Park Line
 

Lindsay Road United Church
25154  Lindsay Road
 

 

Location of Tupperville Pastoral Charge in Southwestern Ontario
 

Tupperville Pastoral Charge
 

Health Care

                                                  

Area residents are served by the Chatham Kent Health Alliance with hospitals located in Chatham and Wallaceburg.  There are several long-term care and retirement residences located within the municipality.  Like many other areas, Chatham Kent is classified as under-serviced in the number of family doctors available.

 

Link to Chatham Kent Health Alliance http://www.ckha.on.ca/

 

Education

 

The Lambton-Kent District School Board offers a wide variety of programs. Elementary and secondary students are bussed to schools in Dresden, Wallaceburg or Chatham.  French immersion is offered in some schools from kindergarten to grade 12. Southwestern Ontario is home to many first rate post secondary schools such as the University of Western Ontario in London, University of Windsor, Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph, Fanshawe College and Westervelt College in London, St. Clair College (Chatham, Wallaceburg and Windsor) and Lambton College in Sarnia.

 

Link to Lambton Kent District School Board http://www.lkdsb.net

   

Cultural – Social – Recreational

  

There are many recreational activities available. Several golf courses, sports fields, arenas, pools and fitness centres are nearby. 

 

With Rondeau Provincial Park and the Great Lakes so close, there is ample opportunity for picnicking, fishing, camping and pleasure boating. Mitchell’s Bay provides access to Lake St Clair and has a marina. Kenesserie Camp, a United Church camp, is located on Lake Erie and is home to about 600 campers of all faiths during the summer. 

 

Theatrical experiences and cultural opportunities are available throughout the municipality.  Chatham and Wallaceburg both have museums.  Dresden is home to Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historical Site, a link on the Underground Railroad.  Fairfield Museum, near Thamesville, is the only museum owned by The United Church of Canada. It is a museum of the Moravian Mission. 

 

 Link to Chatham Kent Municipality Website http://www.chatham-kent.ca

 

PASTORAL CHARGE PROFILE

 

Tupperville Pastoral Charge is a newly amalgamated two-point charge as of December 31, 2007, comprised of Zion United Church, and Lindsay Road United Church.  Each church is the only church in its immediate vicinity. 

 

Two services are held each Sunday morning with rotating worship times of 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. There is a 15 minute drive between churches.  The congregations have joint services on occasions such as anniversaries, Christmas Eve, and Good Friday.  Both churches use Voices United and have several copies of More Voices.  Several church related events provide opportunities for our families to get to know one another better.  Each church continues to remain the centre of community in which it is situated. 

 

The joint official board of the charge meets 4 times per year (or more if necessary) to address the business and spiritual growth of the church.  Each church has its own structure of Session, Trustees and Stewards.  Due to our aging membership and declining number of young people, filling these positions with new people is often difficult. 

 

Our challenges on Sunday morning are sports, youth working, and declining rural population.  These realities also are dominant factors in the limited potential for growth in attendance and programs. However, even though the communities are comprised of various ethnic and religious backgrounds, the United Church in each of our communities is regarded as a stable and nurturing presence for both pastoral and social needs.  Each is recognized as an oasis of security to meet needs in times of distress and crisis.  A strong sense of bonding and support brings families together. 

 

The Pastoral Charge Secretary works up to 8 hours per week, preparing and printing the bulletins and any other church tasks as necessary. 

 

The Pastoral Charge is registered with the United Church of Canada Centralized Payroll. 

 

 

HISTORY AND RESOURCES

 

ZION UNITED CHURCH

 

Zion United Church in Tupperville began in 1874 as part of the Sydenham circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first parsonage was built in 1887 and still exists today. However our present manse was erected in 1918.

 

The Tupperville Pastoral Charge was formed in 1878 as a three-point charge, Salem, Shiloh, and Zion. The first brick church was constructed in Tupperville in 1902. On June 6, 1931, disaster hit the community when the church was struck by lightning and burned. With courage, faith and strong determination the congregation didn’t hesitate in replacing their church. Seating capacity is 180 plus a choir loft and balcony. The church is equipped with an excellent sound system, along with personal hearing devices, and a TV/VCR.  A full basement has seating for 100, with a well-equipped kitchen and kitchenette.  In 1978, as part of our centennial celebrations, the addition of Hardy Hall was built and includes washrooms, small kitchen and a room for meetings, with necessary office equipment.  A wheelchair ramp has been added to improve accessibility to the sanctuary. 

 

In 1963 Shiloh decided to disband, with several families joining Zion.  In 2001 Salem congregation decided it would be best to amalgamate with Zion. In 2007 when Lindsay Road expressed a desire to seek a sister church, Zion was very receptive to becoming part of a two-point charge.  This became official on December 31, 2007. 

 

Zion has an attractive, comfortable manse built in 1918 and remodeled over the years as necessary.  It has a fully equipped kitchen, living room, dining room and a two-piece bathroom on the main floor. Three bedrooms, study and full bathroom are upstairs.  The basement has been newly renovated in 2003 and includes mud room, small family room, laundry and storage room.   The manse is heated with a natural gas furnace, as well as a gas fireplace in the living room.  It also has central air conditioning.  There is a single car detached garage, with automatic door opener.  The manse is located three doors to the west of the church.   

 

 

Tupperville’s Manse located at 16 John Park Line, Tupperville, ON

 

 

  

Today, Tupperville Zion United Church is an active church with 156 members and 144 households.  Average weekly attendance is 50. Our congregation is comprised of a few members and adherents from the village, but most come from the surrounding area.  A broad age group of worshippers attend our services.  We have several willing leaders and are especially fortunate to have a certified lay worship leader as part of our congregation. Like most farming communities, our population is aging and undergoing changes; farms are being sold and we are losing members. 

 

We are responsive to community and world needs, such as the Mission and Service Fund, Dresden and Wallaceburg Food Banks, Salvation Army appeals, local youth programs, and specific appeals of the National Church as they arise. 

 

 

Session 

The Session is responsible for worship. Tupperville is a friendly church, open-minded and willing to try new approaches to worship, including music and drama. Involvement by children, youth and adults is appreciated.  Communion is served both in the pews and at the rail. A Marriage Policy was adopted in 2007, with a motion for it to be reviewed in three years.  A yearly schedule for door greeters assures that everyone has a turn for welcoming the worshippers as they arrive. 

 

Stewards

The Stewards look after the finances, the manse and the church property.

We operate on a budget of approximately $90,000 per year.  The Stewards serve breakfast after our Sunrise service, host a B.B.Q. during our outdoor service in June, and spearhead the fall canvass. 

Financial statements are available upon request. 

 

United Church Women

The U.C.W. is a group of very busy women. The beef suppers, that are a major fundraiser, are held twice a year, and serve around 300 people each time. Every June the U.C.W. participates in the annual village yard sale, selling everything from glassware to hotdogs. This event is not only a fundraiser, but a great opportunity for community outreach.  Always available when asked, the U.C.W. provides many church lunches and funeral receptions.

 

Sunday School

The Sunday School is active with 25 on the roll, but average attendance is usually under 10 children. Because of the small numbers and a wide age range, we follow a one room curriculum.  They are an enthusiastic group who willingly participate in intergenerational services. 

 

Pastoral Care Team

The Pastoral Care Team visits the sick and shut-in of our church family and extended community.

With the help of the Zion Link on the internet, many are informed of the happenings and concerns of our members. 

 

M&S Enthusiasts

These three members initiate special projects, keep people informed through Minutes for Mission and encourage givings. The church is faithful in supporting the Mission and Service Fund.

 

 

Choir

Our faithful choir and organist provide regular music ministry.  Several others share their talents on occasion. There is a Rodgers Organ, and a piano in the sanctuary, as well as a piano in Hardy Hall meeting room.  Zion United Church has had a Men’s Quartet for over 100 years.  The latest quartet has released three CD’s.   However, with the death of one of its members, they are now performing as a trio. 

 

The Tupperville Friday Nighters         

The Friday Nighters are a social group of people around the age of 40. They gather together a few times a year to have fun and fellowship doing such things as pool parties, BBQ’S, bowling, theatre and an annual canoe outing on the Sydenham River from Dresden to Tupperville. They are often seen helping at fundraisers.

 

Decorating Committee

Eleven groups of four or five families take turns decorating the sanctuary on a monthly basis.

Sanctuary of Zion United Church

HISTORY AND RESOURCES

 

LINDSAY ROAD UNITED CHURCH

 

Lindsay Road United Church was built in 1874 with the adjoining hall completed in 1950.  We were formerly a congregation of Chalmers Pastoral Charge.  Our two sister churches, Chalmers United and French’s United closed in the summer of 2007.  We joined Zion United Church to form a two-point charge known as Tupperville Pastoral Charge in December 2007. 

Lindsay Road United Church seats approximately 120 people.  The church is well maintained with hardwood floor and pews which have been recently refinished. It has stained glass windows, raised choir loft, organ and piano, and an excellent sound system with a portable microphone.  The hall, on the same level as the church, seats over 100 for meals.  It has a well-equipped kitchen, stage, piano, TV/VCR and hardwood flooring.  The church at this time is not wheelchair accessible but is only two steps above grade level.  The bathroom is also not wheelchair accessible.  We are investigating improvements to this building to accommodate people with special needs. 

Our congregation is very friendly and family oriented.  We have an average attendance of 35-40 people for Sunday worship and fewer than ten children who attend Sunday School.  Many descendants of the original worshippers are still in the community.

 

Sunday School

Our Sunday School, with other volunteers, serve an Easter breakfast, a Toonie lunch, decorate the church windows for Thanksgiving, and raise money and collect food for the local food banks at Christmas.

 

Choir

Our adult choir provides music every Sunday with the help of a dedicated choir leader.

 

UCW

The UCW is very active.  They hold regular monthly meetings with guest speakers or planned activities.  Some of these include a soup and sandwich lunch, coffee parties, sewing and quilting classes, making baby blankets for the Salvation Army Christmas baskets, and providing financial assistance to many organizations, both locally and beyond. 

 

Community Events

Many community events are held at the hall, such as shuffleboard, Hallowe’en party, showers, 4-H and family Christmas gatherings.

 

Outreach

Our church is very strong in community and world outreach.  We are an ardent supporter of Kent Presbytery’s church camp, Kenesserie Camp, providing money and man-power for its many projects.  We are also excellent supporters of the Mission and Service Fund.

 

Session and Stewards

Our church structure is based upon Session and Stewards.  

We operate on a budget of approximately $40,000 per year.

Financials statements are available upon request.   

 

 Sanctuary of Lindsay Road United Church 

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

Tupperville Pastoral Charge is seeking a full-time ordained, diaconal, or recognized designated lay minister. 

 

In our desire to continue to promote community involvement, we wish the minister to live in our manse located in Tupperville.   

 

Worship

·        Responsible for the worship life of the congregation, including Sunday
      services and special services

·        Provides children’s time during Sunday services

·        Facilitates involvement of adults, youth and children

·        Plans and coordinates a worship schedule which provides a variety of styles

·        Promotes the coordination of worship and music ministry

·        Administers sacraments; conducts weddings and funerals

 

Pastoral Care

·        Responsible for pastoral care in emergency situations and serious matters

·        Supports and encourages the Pastoral Care Team

·        Gives priority to the spiritual needs of our parishioners, but is also available to the community-at-large for pastoral care, especially in emergency situations

·        Refers people to appropriate counselling services when deemed necessary

Administration

·        Provides direction and support to various boards and committees in both churches, as well as to the Joint Official Board

·        Assists the congregations and boards in clarifying their mission, and identifying goals and objectives

·        Ensures records are maintained for baptisms, marriages, deaths, confirmations and memberships. 

·        Regularly attends the meetings of the courts of the Church

·        Encourages and enables the congregations to be involved in the community and in the courts and committees of the Church

 

Christian Development

·        Is attuned to and supports the work of the Sunday School

·        Conducts “preparation classes” for marriage, baptism, confirmation, and membership according to the policies of the congregations

·        Provides opportunity for adult learning, such as Bible study

·        Supports and encourages endeavours to involve children and youth in the life of the church

 

Personal and Professional Development

·        Maintains a program of professional and personal development

·        Recognizes that the Ministry and Personnel Committee supports the minister’s need for personal time

·        Seeks out counsel, support and assistance as needed

 

Accountability

·       Responsive to the congregations in partnership with the consultative and supportive agency of the Ministry and Personnel Committee, and is under the ultimate authority and discipline of Kent Presbytery

  

 

 

SKILLS

 

Possesses a spirituality that can help others in their faith journey

·        Helps others to grow in their knowledge and understanding of their faith

·        Is able to incorporate modern day life in faith teachings

·        Exemplifies personal growth and challenge in action and attitude

·        Encourages and supports our stable and nurturing status to the whole community

 

Preaching ability

·        Prepares and leads worship services that are easily understood and meaningful to the whole congregation with its varied ages

·        Relates to the children with an appropriate message

·        Speaks clearly and distinctly so all can hear and understand

·        Teaches and explores the meaning of the Bible in easily understood language.

 Skilled in Pastoral Care

·        Welcoming and supportive in a compassionate manner

·        Able to work in partnership with the Pastoral Care Team for the most effective and supportive pastoral care of the church family

·        Able to deal with, support, and provide solace to those who need pastoral care, especially in critical situations

  

Warm, friendly personality

·        Comfortable with and enjoys interaction with all age groups

·        Outgoing and has a positive presence as a spiritual leader in the community 


Ability to work with a variety of ages

·        Encourages and involves various age groups in worship
·        Able to work co-operatively and supportively with staff and leaders

·        Able to provide guidance to groups of all ages

TERMS

 

Salary

 

Continuing Education

 

Travel Allowance

 

Vacation

 

Housing

 

Secretarial

 

All other terms as per United Church Manual