Page 31 - Presbyterian Connection

Connection
CONGREGATIONAL NEWS
Recovery of St. Andrew’s Celtic Cross
presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2021
PRESBYTERIAN
31
By Joan Rivard, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, Ont.
When thinking about the recent theft of St. Andrew’s Celtic cross, I am really struck that a story about loss contains so many things to be thank- ful for.
The first Celtic cross was brought to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, Ont., by a member of our congregation, who thought it might look nice in our eastern garden. We are appreciative of caring members like this, those whose gestures add so much to the life of our church community.
Immediately, it was obvious that this was a good fit. It just felt like the cross was where it was meant to be. I worked nearby and had walked by that garden hundreds of times. I al- ways enjoyed catching sight of the cross standing among the tulips or perennials or saddled with snow. The little garden was tended by our great custodians and by volunteers from the church, who literally got down in the dirt beside a busy downtown intersection to plant and prune and pluck. How lucky we are for all those
who give their time and energy to beautify St. Andrew’s.
But in the spring of 2021, we dis- covered that the cross was missing. It must have taken considerable ef- fort to wrestle it out of the ground in which it was so firmly embedded. We reported the loss to the Ottawa Po- lice, and the information was picked up by the Ottawa Citizen, which ran articles reporting on the incident in May and June. The cross is the sym- bol of our faith. We are in a prominent location. In these unsettled times, there was the real possibility that this was more than a simple theft. Perhaps it was part of a larger state- ment, a threat against our church community or even against our faith. It was disconcerting.
The ar ticles generated an immedi- ate response from the Ottawa com- munity. Offers of help came from with- in and beyond the congregation. All of these kind offers touched our hear ts. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, owner of Lau- rin Monuments in Ottawa, quickly got in touch with the Rev. Karen Dimock. Mr. O’Shaughnessy offered to cre- ate and donate a replacement cross for us. He’s not a member of St. An-
drew’s, but simply felt moved to help. He said that he believes that the best way to handle theft or vandalism “is to just fix it,” as quickly as possible. We are so grateful for Patrick and his unequivocal generosity.
It’s wonderful to have a Celtic cross again in the church garden. This cross is sturdy, having been carved from heavy granite. It will be there for as long as we are.
In the meantime, someone walk- ing along a pathway by the Ottawa River came upon our original cross. It was not damaged, and Ottawa Po- lice were able to retrieve it and return it to us. Whatever caused its loss, we were thankful for its return. It’s now gracing our Atrium, and when I see it I can’t help wondering about its journey while away from us. What thoughts did it provoke in passersby on that river path?
So, at its core, this is a story about a loss that caused us some distress here at St. Andrew’s. But the heart of our community shines through every part of it. This loss brought out the best, the kindest and the most chari- table impulses of our congregation and our neighbours. We are grateful.
A Moderator visit is an important activity in the life of our denomination
Continued from page 30
near Montague and the historic St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Bel- fast. The visit to Wellspring with the Rev. Dr. Atkinson and the Rev. Dr. Son was a particularly important piece of the moderator’s itinerary as he was able to see first-hand how the amalgamation of four small country
churches can be done in a way that pays homage to their past while at the same time growing their congre- gation in a new multi-purpose, mod- ern facility. Lessons learned from this visit will no doubt be shared with other churches across our denomi- nation who have not yet taken the
bold move that is necessary for their ongoing survival. Under the direction of former interim moderators, the Rev. Bill Dean, the Rev. Dr. Lonnie At- kinson and Wellspring’s current lead minister, the Rev. Dr. Donghwi David Son, Wellspring, now debt-free, is a shining example to our presbytery
and the entire denomination. Completing the moderator’s visit and in sharp physical contrast to Well- spring, the moderator travelled to St. John’s in Belfast to meet with the Rev. Roger MacPhee who has been serv- ing this congregation for over three decades. The facility and the incred- ible surroundings of this large rural church are breathtaking before even entering the historic and unique sanc- tuary. A jewel among all churches on Prince Edward Island, the history is so well reflected in its architecture and through the presence of the thou- sands of former members resting within its acreage. The Rev. MacPhee reflected on his time at St. John’s, Bel- fast, and the unique and unexpected challenges that exist in a rural con- gregation. The blend of a more musi- cally modern style of worship within the physical environment of one of the earliest churches in the province leaves a lasting impression on all who attend. Dr. Scott was moved by the Rev. MacPhee’s gentle and thoughtful approach to leading his congregation. Great things are happening in Bel- fast and throughout the entire pres- bytery. Through this visit, Dr. Scott has been able to see these wondrous
works first-hand and share the les- sons learned with others across this country.
With there being no rest for the travelling moderator, Dr. Scott’s final visit took place Wednesday evening when he likely should have been at his hotel packing for his next flight. The moderator made a return visit to Zion Church as the choir was re- hearsing and he wanted to drop by and thank them in person for their contribution to Tuesday’s Presbytery service—an effort that was highly appreciated by those in attendance.
A visit by the Moderator of The Presbyterian Church in Canada is an important activity in the life of our de- nomination. Not only does the mod- erator glean ideas and concepts from the places he travels to so they can be shared countrywide, but those he visits learn and appreciate the di- versity of our denomination and the far-reaching work that The Presbyte- rian Church in Canada continues to do. Presbyteries and congregations are encouraged to invite our current and future moderators to their homes so that together we can learn, grow and better carry out the glorious task we’ve been assigned.
The Moderator at Wellspring Church near Montague, P.E.I., with the Rev. Dr. Atkinson and the Rev. Dr. Son.