Page 15 - Presbyterian Connection – Spring 2021

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SPRING 2021
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HISTORY
PRESBYTERIAN
15
Ringing the Peace Bell in Kincardine
By Bob Geddes and Mike Chreptyk, Knox Presbyterian Church in Kincardine, Ont.
Two years ago, on Nov. 11, 2018, Knox Presbyterian Church in Kincar- dine, Ont., participated in a remem- brance event of community signifi- cance that has carried on to this day, despite pandemic restrictions.
On Nov. 11, 1918, bells rang out from churches across Canada to an- nounce the end of World War I. Cana- da went into the war with a population of about eight million people; some 650,000 men and women served during the next four years at war. By the war’s end, 66,000 Canadians had died and 172,000 had been wounded. What a price was paid in the name of peace and freedom.
On the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I in 2018, as part of the
Bells of Peace commemoration initia- tive endorsed by the Royal Canadian Legion, bells rang out across Canada once again—100 times. Knox Pres- byterian Church in Kincardine joined in on the commemoration.
A year later, Knox continued this witness within the community with a short evening ceremony inside the church. The “Peace Bell” was rung 101 times. Veterans, school children and parishioners all took a turn. The sounding of the Bell was augmented with music performed by a local high school choir and two community bands. Many from the community took in the event. The early evening setting doesn’t interfere with remem- brance ceremonies earlier in the day, and it provides an appropriate and fit- ting way to close out the day by hon- ouring the sacrifices of our military in the name of peace and freedom for
all Canadians.
Because of the pandemic, the
Peace Bell ceremony for 2020 was simplified and held outside the church. Organ music was brought outside by speakers. Organist and choir leader Andy Fraser provided prelude and postlude music, along with the ac- companiment for the singing of “O Canada” and verses of “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by soloist John Low. In addition, there was a stirring rendition of “Highland Cathedral,” with organ and bagpipes, also provided by Andy Fraser, with the help of the re-
OUTREACH
cording capabilities of the church’s newly digitized organ console.
The Peace Bell was rung 102 times. The service was presided over by a Colour Party from the Royal Canadian Legion, who stood on the front steps of the church. The breeze that day was blowing nicely for their flags. At the same time, video foot- age of gently swaying red poppies was projected on to the front of the church. The Rev. Bob Geddes, serv- ing as interim moderator along with the Rev. Peggy Kinsman, closed the service with a prayer.
Members of the church and the community were appropriately dis- tanced and masked, and stood on the sidewalks and lawn along the south and east sides of the church. Others drove by slowly. Technical duties were capably handled by Rick French, and the event was hosted and organized by elder Mike Chreptyk.
This unique remembrance cer- emony is now part of a new, an- nual tradition for Knox Presbyterian Church, and has been warmly re- ceived by the community, who look forward to a 2021 version, whether it be indoors or outdoors.
Read more about events in Kincardine on p. 18.
Sharing the Joy of Christmas in Victoria
Staff at Our Place receiving the Share the Joy of Christmas gift bags from St. Andrew’s.
update, This Week at St. Andrew’s, which was sent to every person con- nected with the church. The Share the Joy campaign was highlighted in this email update frequently, with instruc- tions that detailed how to donate us- ing e-transfer, the Canada Helps app or regular Canada Post mail. The con- gregation was up to the challenge and contributed more than enough money to meet the campaign’s costs.
Share the Joy of Christmas is a two-pronged program. We provide several turkeys to the kitchen at Our Place, where they are cooked to be part of a special Christmas meal for those in need in Victoria.
The second prong is giving gift bags to the 45 residents (15 women and 30 men this year) who live in rooms on the top three floors of the Our Place building. These folks are pulling their lives back together and are committed to working toward independent living. The Share the Joy gift bags are often the only items that the residents re- ceive on Christmas morning.
Each bag includes a winter toque, lined gloves, at least two pairs of warm socks, toothpaste and a tooth- brush, shampoo, hand cream, razors and shaving cream, soap, antiper- spirant, a pocket calendar, pens and pencils, a paperback book, a puzzle or Sudoku book, Christmas treats such as chocolate bars and truffles, and a
Christmas card from St. Andrew’s. Two Committee members bought these items mostly during sales at Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart to keep costs down. At one local store, Mountain Warehouse, three staff members were inspired to donate their staff discount to help make the purchase of the toques and gloves less expensive. They saved our cam-
paign over $500!
Twenty turkeys, over 10 kilograms
each, were purchased from Fairfield Thrifty Foods and delivered free of charge to the kitchen at Our Place. Thrifty Foods also donated the sturdy reusable grocery bags that we used to hold the gifts for the residents.
Usually, the Sunday School children would help wrap some of the items in- cluded in our gift bags on the Sunday before the bags are delivered. With that not being possible this year, one of the Committee members, Patricia Shuckburgh, volunteered to wrap 90 presents (two for each resident; one with socks and the other with a toque and gloves for each person)! She also wrote a warm Christmas greeting in each Christmas card.
The gift bags were delivered on De- cember 22 to Our Place staff member, Erin Gesner. Shortly afterwards, she sent an email of thanks to all at St. An- drew’s for the joy and happiness that our gift bags gave to the 45 residents
Share the Joy Christmas gift bags were gathered for 45 residents of Our Place community centre.
as they opened their gifts.
In the past, the Christmas dinner at
Our Place has several hundred people sitting down at once to enjoy their meal. Volunteers, politicians and other community representatives would be on hand to serve the meal. However, due to the restrictions, the dinner was served cafeteria-style this year with turkey, stuffing, gravy and all the other fixings, to feed the working poor, the homeless and those far from home, creating a time of community and warmth at this special time of the year.
The people who attend St. An- drew’s Presbyterian Church in Victo- ria carried on their grand tradition of Sharing the Joy of Christmas in 2020!
Bah, humbug on COVID-19!
By Debra Verwey, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Victoria, B.C.
For several years, the members and adherents of St. Andrew’s Presby- terian Church in Victoria, B.C., have suppor ted a campaign called Share the Joy of Christmas every Advent season. The church coordinates the program with Our Place, an inner-city community centre that serves Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable people, in- cluding those struggling with home- lessness, mental health challenges and substance abuse issues, the working poor and the impoverished elderly.
During the months of November and December 2020, the people at St. Andrew’s met the challenge to con- tinue this charity campaign, in spite
of the obstacles that the pandemic raised.
The Mission and Outreach Commit- tee began adver tising in St. Andrew’s monthly newsletter, The Link, at the beginning of October. In previous years, folks would make donations to Share the Joy in their offering en- velopes during the weekly services. During Advent Sundays, members of the Mission and Outreach Committee would dress up as Christmas Elves and solicit donations at the Share the Joy of Christmas Store in the Kirk Hall during the post-service coffee hour. Needless to say, this was not possible during the strict COVID-19 lockdown, which star ted in British Columbia on November 19.
So, Plan B was put into action. St. Andrew’s star ted a weekly email