January 2012

New: How to Read the New Testament - Online
Our next online course is How to Read the New Testament, written and taught by Rev. Dr. Harris Athanasiadis, offered April 16 to May 25. The cost: is $100.Register soon to be sure to get in. For more information about online courses or to register, visit our website: www.eldersinstitute.ca.

Question of the Month
Do pastoral visitors or ruling elders at your church use a prayer booklet during their visits? Leslie Walker and a group of pastoral visitors at Grace Church, Calgary, are putting together a prayer guidebook for the Elders' Institute. There is a lot of interest in this project. If your church already has a prayer booklet, we'd like to see it. If you have ideas about what you'd like included, let us know.

Chat with Elders Across Canada On Facebook (aka "Elder Chat")
The Elders' Institute Facebook group now allows you to see who else in the group is online so you can chat with them. If you wonder how other elders deal with an issue, just ask them. Recent discussions include prayer booklets, closing congregations, and small group ministry. Be sure to "like" the Elders' Institute page on Facebook.

PAW 2012: Basics for a Changing World
Corrie Stewart (St. Andrew's, Sydney Mines, NS) wins the prize for being the first person to register for PAW 2012. The congregation that has the most registrants and the person who travels the farthest to attend will also win prizes. This year, our Pre-Assembly Workshops (PAW) will be at St. Andrew's,Scarborough, in Toronto, on Saturday, June 2. Join with other Presbyterian elders from across Canada for a day of workshops, worship, lunch and refreshments. For more information and to register, visit www.eldersinstitute.ca or phone Kathleen toll-free at 1-866-794-8888 (Vancouver: 604-882-0071). Register early to save $10.

Demand Increases for Online Courses
We had so many registrations for Serving as a Clerk of Session: Boning up on the Basics this winter that we're running this course again in March. That class has also filled up, so we have a wait list now. Let us know if you'd like to take this course. When we have enough interest, we'll run it again.