Whew! I feel like things are finally settling down from the holidays and year end affairs. And now, here we are smack dab in the middle of Lent. I know I might be a bit premature, but I sure do long for spring - that first warm breeze, and the sweet smell of the season's first flowers. But for now we'll have to keep putting on the boots, sanding walks and keeping those extra blankets handy each night. Soon though, soon.

Gosh there is a lot happening at the church these days! This month I'd like to let you know just some of the things we're up to here on the park in Canton:

• We now have a FULL session as of March. That's right 15 elders strong & ready to lead this church into the future.
• Ever faithful at visiting the sick and homebound, our deacons are beginning to expand their ministry of care even more - visit by visit, person by person.
• In February we received 12 new members into the church's life & ministry !
• Plans are underway for a compete renovation of the Church and Community Program office space and clothing store. Our church and the CCP board (The Seven Churches of Canton) are working together with SLU's Habitat for Humanity group, students from St. Thomas More Campus Ministry, Presbytery's Ministry In the North Country (MINC) to make real these long needed changes.
• The church is on the Internet - cantonpc@northnet.org, and plans are in the works for our own custom web-page!
• Worship attendance continues to grow, averaging about 120 people, with new folk coming in all the time. (If every one came all at once we'd scarcely have room to seat them all!)
• Our newsletter continues to expand in response to the church's growth. Currently we have over 300 households on our mailing list.
• The Spirit of God in our midst is palpably evident, and the love between us here on the Park continues to grow, every Sunday, person by person, song by song, prayer by prayer.

And that my friends, is a bit more of the Big Picture - Rev. Mike