Page 14 - Presbyterian Connection

14
PRESBYTERIAN
FALL 2022
presbyterian.ca
By Janet Smith, Clerk of Session, Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church in North Saanich, B.C.
On Sat., June 4, the congregation of Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church in North Saanich, B.C., held a parking lot party in cel-
ebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We advertised the event on the community notice boards, and the local newspaper wrote a half-page article about the up- coming festivity. The party was all set up in the parking lot and was scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. Sadly, the rain came and every- thing had to be moved inside.
Around 150 people took part in the event. We decorated with Union Jacks, balloons and bun- tings—red, white and blue was the colour code for the afternoon.
We began by singing “God
Save the Queen,” accompanied by a musical ensemble who played throughout the afternoon, and so we were also able to sing, “I Vow to Thee My Country” and “Jerusalem.” The party ended with the singing of “O Canada.”
A lady from the community offered and lent us her silver tea service, all beautifully polished.
There was a mass of English goodies, including cucumber sandwiches, scotch eggs, trifle, scones with strawberry jam and cream, just to name a few of the delightful treats we all enjoyed.
Our church supplied the basics and the guests brought different things to share, just like they did at the street parties in England for the Queen’s coronation (it rained that day, too).
“Her Majesty” also was pre- sent for the celebration, in the form of a cardboard cut-out, as seen in some photos. The cut-
out of Her Majesty was probably photographed more than anyone else on that day, not to mention during the weeks preceding the party as she greeted everyone to
the church.
The event was a lot of work but
a great deal of fun for all who at- tended, and it was very much ap- preciated by everyone.
Connection
NEWS
Celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee in Saanich, B.C.
Growing Hope in Bracebridge
Losing the Kitchen in Quebec City
By the Rev. Dr. Heather Malnick, Knox Presbyterian Church in Bracebridge, Ont.
The Mission Committee at Knox Presbyterian Church in Brace- bridge, Ont., is thrilled to be able to provide fresh produce to supplement the menus of local residents. In April 2020, the com- mittee began an Emergency Food Box program to address the issue of food insecurity in the region. The program provides healthy food products along with basic household goods to anyone who may be in need. The committee had hoped to one day be able to supplement the boxes with fresh produce, and thanks to a Com- munity Enhancement Grant from the District of Muskoka, eight raised-bed community gardens were built, and the first seeds were planted this spring.
Local residents are tending and harvesting four of the gardens, while the Mission Committee is caring for the other four gardens,
Cindy Chilton, chair of the Knox Mission Committee, along with member Sharon Veitch.
By the Rev. Dr. Katherine Burgess, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Quebec City, Que.
What to do when your church loses its kitchen?
Due to the extensive renova- tions being carried out at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Québec City, Que., we have tem- porarily lost the use of the Kirk Hall, which was our gathering place for coffee after worship on Sunday mornings. However, we are nothing if not resourceful, and we agreed that, as soon as Covid restrictions permitted, we would figure out a way to have post-
worship fellowship.
Since there is available space
behind the pulpit, we are putting that to good use as a temporary storage area for coffee and sup- plies. We thought that we had a working refrigerator, but after leaving cream in it for a week, we realized that maybe it wasn’t keeping things cold. Fortunately, there is always powdered coffee creamer, which works just fine.
The next thing to do is to retire our coffee urn, since we no longer need to brew 30 cups of coffee on a Sunday morning. We will put it away safely until it will be needed once again.
using the produce to supplement the Emergency Food Box program while also donating some items to the Manna Food Bank.
Visit knoxbracebridge.ca if you’d like more information about the Emergency Food Box ministry or the Community Garden Project.