Newcastle Pastoral Charge

Newcastle Ontario

Annual Report 2007

My outreach Ministry in Newcastle around the region of Durham is fascinating and unbelievably rewarding due to the varied interests and requests I field from those I minister with on a daily basis. They come to me for assistance and receive pastoral care, counseling and prayer.

Social Justice Youth Outreach.

My primary focus this year is a large number of youth in conflict with the law who I work with in a very unique project called “BEEN THERE – found the wonder of myself”.  I teach youth at risk live skills. Most enjoyable is the gardening component. A very real project in life skills training around a 3 acre site situated beside an Art Gallery.

Restorative Justice.

I sit on the Restorative Justice Committee of Durham and am qualified under the Ministry of the Attorney General to work in Restorative Justice Conferences with youth offenders.

Pastoral Counseling is important in this work. I am also a Board member for “Champions for Youth” – a program sponsored by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board to provide mentors for young children in conflict with the law.

Adult Pastoral Care and outreach.

I visit in two nursing homes during 2007 – one in Toronto and another here in Newcastle. Again I work with folks who have no church connection and I visit frequently.

Counseling extended to the many marriage preparation and pre baptism courses I give.

I provide pre-wedding conferences, baptism instruction and I presided at many funerals last year for the same reason.

Outreach to the non churched.

If folks here are not members of certain denominations or families who have no church connections it is hard to find someone to officiate at a funeral, wedding,  baptism or find family counseling. All Seasons Church provides that opportunity here in the Durham region.

My pastoral outreach work in this area is very popular as most folks enjoy my humour and my very broad understanding of the true meaning reflected in “the love of God”. I assume that every pronoun in the scriptures mean all of us. My religious philosophy comes out of a design that gives all of us a space – all of us a place and the idea that we are all necessary to the fabric. Important in all of this is we are all loved and have the options of forgiveness all about us if we want it.

Acceptance and Patience are key words in my youth work and with folks who know I will help them. That is the secret of my All Seasons’ understanding. “How may I help you?” I consider my work part of a wider community ministry.  I am also a licensed school teacher and am called frequently to substitute in all grades thus I make my witness there.
Some folks whistle in the rain and other carry an umbrella. 
Kind Regards
Rev David C

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