Installation of Rev. Rinas in new dual parish

L to R: Rev. Saar, Rev. Maher, Rev. Rinas, Rev. Bublitz, and Rev. Dunlop

HANOVER, Ont. – After discussions commenced in May 2022 between the two congregations, an agreement became effective on January 1, 2023, for the new dual parish of St. John’s in Clifford and First St. Matthew’s in Hanover. 

Neither congregation is new to the multi-point parish model. For some 35 years, St. John’s Clifford was in tandem with another congregation; first with Kurtzville and then later with Mount Forest. 

In the last decade, First St. Matthew’s Hanover became part of a tri-parish with Southampton and Kincardine. This was reduced when Kincardine closed in 2020. Much earlier, Normanby had joined with Hanover, so—like St. John’s—for approximately 35 years, First St. Matthew’s was linked with another congregation. The Normanby parish has closed and the Southampton parish is in the process of negotiating a dual parish agreement with Desboro.

On January 8, the people of Hanover issued a call to Rev. Jody Rinas, who was already serving Clifford. Bringing the planning to a completion, an installation was held at Hanover on February 5, during their regular Sunday afternoon service, and 43 attendees came to make it a day to celebrate. 

The parish thanks Regional Pastor Marvin Bublitz for conducting the installation, Circuit Counselor Rev. Ken Maher (Collingwood) for serving as liturgist and preacher for the divine service, circuit pastors Rev. Brian Dunlop (Desboro) and Rev. David Saar (Mount Forest) for serving as lectors, and Anthony Rinas (Clifford) for supplying the music. 

Rev. Maher preached his sermon on the day’s Epistle, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, with the theme, “Nothing More and Nothing Less.” After the service, the ladies of Hanover hosted a lovely lunch with an abundance of pie during a time of fellowship in the church basement.

May God in His mercy and love now be pleased to bless this new arrangement.

Warren Dickert, Elder 

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