MacNeill Baptist Church
News and Notes
Church Moderator: Sonia Rogers
Minister of Worship and Pastoral Care: The Rev. Dr. Susan St John
Director of Music: Monica Admiral
Custodian: Sandy Palin
Associate Ministers in Spiritual Care: Garry Blinch, Robert Bond, Claire Gosselin, David Jones, Felida Toledo
Pastoral Care: When you would like someone to pray with, to request a pastoral visit, or to publish a prayer request please contact
Susan St John at 905-512-9897 or sstjohn.macneill@gmail.com
Pastoral Care Team: Heather Hobbs, David Jones, Bruce Papky, Feli Toledo and Beverly Woods.
Your continued financial support of our congregation is appreciated. Donations can be mailed to the church, or made through e-transfer at donations@macneillbaptist.ca, or from the Donate Now link our website. Thank you for your continued generosity.
Baptism Preparation
We are hosting a ‘Baptism preparation’ program during May and June for those who would like to explore a call to follow Christ in your life. We will meet weekly, 6 – 8 times in May and June with a goal of Baptism near the end of June. Please talk with Rev. Susan if you are interested. NO experience required … training is on the job and the job is FOR LIFE.
To the Easter Breakfast Crew
A heartfelt thanks to those who arranged tables and chairs, set the tables, and prepared a sumptuous Easter feast. You fed 68 people. The custodian, in particular, wishes to thank those who washed dishes, cleaned the children’s tables, put away tables and chairs, took home tablecloths to wash, swept the floors, and rearranged walls and daycare furniture. Thank you, too, to those who came to eat. Without you it would have been a tragic waste of pancakes.
MacNeill Council Meeting Dates– Please take note.
Council: April 15, Sept 23, Nov 25. Semi-Annual Meeting: June 7.
Water Flowing- April 19 at 3 pm
As Earth Day approaches, MacNeill’s resident chamber choir Strata Vocal Ensemble presents a program to honour the beauty around us, including Brahms’s Schaffe in Mir, Gott, ein Rein Herz (Make Me a Clean Heart, O God) and Funf Gesange (Five Songs); and Britten’s Five Flower Songs. The theme of water emerges in lovely motets by Victoria and a favourite by Palestrina, and continues in Water by Hamilton’s own Katerina Gimon, and Eric Whitacre’s touching Seal Lullaby. Arrangements of Loch Lomond by Jonathan Quick and Flow Gently Sweet Afton by Sarah MacDonald round out an afternoon of songs to welcome spring and celebrate the exquisite and fragile beauty of Earth. Tickets: $25 ($15 for under age 35) are available from Garth, Bev, Paula, Brian, or Monica A or cash at the door.
Offering Envelopes
New offering envelopes are available at the back of the church, for those who prefer to donate by cash or cheque. Take home as many as you like. If you use cash, please put your name on the envelope.
Prayer Group
A small but faithful group at St. Cuthbert’s, with folk from St. Paul’s, have been praying together every Monday morning at 6.30 for the past 3 years using the Common Prayer liturgy. This liturgy is roughly based on Anglican matins liturgy and is largely sung or chanted. We at MacNeill are invited to join. For more information please contact Scott Innes, (905)527-8455.
The Niagara Hamilton Association AGM will take place on Saturday May 23 at North Burlington Church. MacNeill is permitted three delegates. If you are interested in serving as a delegate or in attending this AGM as an observer please notify Sonia or Garth. The names of delegates will be presented to and approved by a congregational meeting to take place the next Council meeting on Wednesday April 15 at 7.30PM.
Movie Night at Burlington Baptist- Saturday, April 18 at 6 pm.
We will be watching ‘1946 – The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture’. It will be a free event with popcorn and drinks provided and we would love to have more churches join us! See the poster in the hallway for more info.
Advance Notice: The Gathering of Baptists Spring Assembly
the Spring Assembly will be Saturday, May 2, 2026, at First Baptist Church Guelph, and will feature Rev Dr. Mike Wood Daly.
Across Canada, many churches face declining attendance, aging congregations, and uncertain futures. This worship invites congregations to move from survival anxiety toward faithful discernment and renewed mission.
Please register by April 24- email Kin Sweet at GatheringRegistrar@gmail.com
$30 in-person with lunch, $20 on-line or meeting only without lunch
E-transfer to above e-mail address your fee.
Advance Notice: PEACE CAMP
The Summer Conference of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America is coming to Canada this summer! It will be held on the campus of the University of Guelph, July 13 to 18, 2026. This is BIG news! Follow the URL for early bird registration by Feb 28. https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E350288&id=11
CBOQ Assembly 2026- June 4-6
Registration for CBOQ Assembly is open! We’re excited to gather again at Brock University to worship, learn, and pray together as a family of churches. Please note that early bird registration is available until April 17 and the last day to register is May 5. Please speak to Sonia for more info if you are interested.
