Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the parishioners of this parish will be held on the 22nd day of February at 11:30 am in the sanctuary of St. Mary of the Incarnation for the purpose of presenting the 2026 budget for approval and electing members to parish council and lay delegate to synod.
All are welcome to attend.
In order to vote at the meeting, one must be a parishioner of at least 16 years of age and have been in regular attendance at a church in the diocese for a period of three months immediately preceding the meeting, unless unable to attend due to health or other reasonable causes. (Note: One cannot be a voting member of more than one parish.) An elector who is unable to attend a meeting in person may in writing appoint another elector to attend and vote on their behalf by proxy, provided that no elector may hold more than one proxy at any meeting. A proxy is valid only for the one meeting to which it refers.
Please prayerfully consider nominating someone to serve on parish council, this includes yourselves. Parish Council should be between three and twelve members in addition to the ex-officio members (Clergy, Wardens, Treasurer and Secretary).
Positions on council for nomination and election include:
We are grateful for those who currently serve, and we are also aware that God is always calling new voices, new hands, new hearts into the work of beloved community. Some of these roles are visible; many are quiet and faithful. All of them matter. Many hands make community. In the coming year, we are especially seeking people who feel called to:
- Parish Council – to pray, listen, discern, and help shape the life and mission of St. Mary’s with wisdom, patience, and love. We are looking for a minimum of three additional members of Parish Council. You can find the Guide for Parish Council HERE:
- Wardens – to share in the stewardship of our parish’s well-being, caring for its people, property, and resources in collaboration and trust. Both Blaine and Joel are stepping down, and we are seeking two new wardens. Please note that Blaine wears at least 5 hats in our parish, so don’t think that the Warden’s role is everything that Blaine does! I know that’s a strange word, but it comes from hundreds of years of history. The word “warden” comes from the Old English weardian, meaning to guard, watch over, or keep safe. From its earliest use, a warden was someone entrusted with care, oversight, and protection rather than command or control. In Anglicanism, this preserved a distinctive balance:
- Clergy were responsible for spiritual leadership and sacramental life
- Wardens were responsible for the temporal and communal life of the parish
- Both were accountable to the bishop
This balance is sometimes described as “mixed governance”—a system that honours ordained ministry while affirming the vital leadership of the laity. You can find the Warden’s Handbook HERE.
- Lay Delegate to Synod (nominated and elected by the parish): This role joins the biannual synod meeting and represents the parish, voting on their behalf. They are permitted but not required to attend parish council and have voting rights at council.
- Alternative Lay Delegate to Synod: (nominated and elected by the parish): In the event that the elected Lay Delegate is unable to attend synod.
Positions appointed include:
Treasurer (appointed by the incumbent and churchwardens with the consent of the parish council): This role is currently filled by Jane Hammond who has agreed to stay on for 2026.