The Quarterly News-Letter
Winter Edition December 2008
Trinity-Providence United Church Pastoral Charge
How to reach us.
Mailing address
40 William Street P/O box 426
Bobcaygeon K0M 1A0
Office phone 705-738-5135 Fax 705-738-1894
Minister’s Phone 705-738-5136
Church phone 705-738-6887
Editor phone 705-738-3689
e-mails and website
Allan Reeve allan@trinitybobcaygeon.ca
Sue Zilke Ward mailto:07sue@trinitybobcaygeon.ca
Editor bmboysen@sympatico.ca
info@trinitybobcaygeon.ca
www.trinitybobcaygeon.ca
From the Minister’s Desk…
Allan Reeve
Hurry up and wait! While our Christmas culture sends us scurrying to put our money where our hearts are - in churches we get the message to slow down and wait. Wait for the advent of something new.
Expect the unexpected! While we get busy with the well worn routine of Christmas preparations - spiritually the whole thing is really about a change. How can we prepare ourselves for this new “happening”, while we’re so preoccupied with family, church, & cultural traditions?
So often, truth is found in the midst of such contradictions. In the effort to arrive at a balance between seemingly opposing poles, we can come upon that “sweet spot”. In a silent moment, or out of a song or a story, or even out of a box - the universe speaks.
Here’s my recipe for cooking up that sweet spot. First, take a deep breath. Very deep. Don’t’ just fill your lungs (let that one go). Draw the air deep down into your belly so that it sticks out to it’s full potential. Now, look down and take note. That’s what you’re gonna look like on New Year’s day. Stop kidding yourself about it and just expect it.
All that extra oxygen in you from that deep breath (you can exhale now) is gonna help you relax and let go of the stress of trying to meet all those expectations. Repeat this breathing procedure often. At least once on the hour – and every time you feel like you’re losing balance.
Okay, once you’ve got a grip on the whole “feasting – not feasting” thing the next ingredient is to Shop local. Everything you’ve ever wanted can be ordered through our local retailers. It might take some extra time but there still is time enough - if you hurry. (Take another deep breath here.) Shopping locally is like spending your money twice. Not only do you help employ your neighbours but they’ll spend their wages and municipal tax dollars in your community.
Finally, the special ingredient for opening your heart to hear the angels sing in that sweet holyday moment is – are you ready – be a part of changing the world. You thought I was going to say “give to the needy” didn’t you? Giving to those in need is part of what’s expected at Christmas isn’t it? Isn’t that what God did in that stable?
Now wait just a minute. (Deep breath.) Are people in need not in need every day of the year? Are there not more people in need with each passing year? You can check the facts with our food banks.
That whole decade of prosperity that just went by also produced more people in need right here and around the world. And the one who suffered the most was Mother Earth.
So, what was it that happened in that stable that changed the world for all time? What was it that put our calendars into B.C. and A.D.? What is it that makes it possible for any and all of us to find balance – Peace - in a world of extremes?
That’s what you’ve gotta wait for.
If you’re sure you know it – you’re sure to be surprised.
If you don’t have a clue – you’ve forgotten what you once knew.
Wait and watch and hope for a gift that is truth for the whole world - and creates no “us and them”.
Providence Church news On the 118th anniversary on 14 September 2008 the Providence Church celebrated this day in a marvelous fashion.
The weather was marvelous and the church was packed with the regulars and also some visitors from Trinity and some new faces.
The group “Crossbeats” provided special music and of course Betty Knox was playing the organ.
Rev. Walter Murray provided an interesting performance to celebrate this special service; it was called “The ghosts of Providence”. The scenes were the minister’s study on Saturday night, later that night, and again later that night. The minister first rang the church bell and told us that he had to have a sermon for the next day but didn’t know how to start, and decided to have a snooze first. A ghost appeared in his dreams and stated that this was the ghost of Providence past, she gave us a great story of all the thing that had happened since 1890 when the church was first build and all the people who started this congregation and the building if the church. After waking up and thinking about that story he fell asleep again and a second ghost appeared. This was the ghost of Providence present; this story was all about the activities in this small congregation each summer with the farmers, Lake People, anglers, retired people and working people. It was quite phenomenal what all happened in this summer period.
Rev. Walter woke up and was very surprised what was happening and decided to have a small snooze to refresh his memory. Then the third ghost appeared and gave us a long, interesting story on all the wishes and hopes they have. Such as having a well, a hall, Toilets, skating ring, playing fields and much more. After the service all people had refreshments and left very satisfied. It was a good church service. We thanked all congregation people and went home satisfied.
Thank you, Providence.
If you are interested to get the full stories. Ask and you will be given.
Pass your name and address to Marion MacKenzie..
Mike Boysen, Editor and reporter
REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE
Our thanks to Stanley Gilpin for providing us with new landscaping and an improved recycling area outside our kitchen. You can help us keep our kitchen neat and tidy by making sure that you take everything that you brought from home back with you and putting all recyclables outside in the correct bin. The bins are just outside the back door and are very easy to use. Thank you for your co-operation.
COFFEE TIME – A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Providing cookies and snacks during coffee time after Sunday Services has been proving difficult for some of our volunteers. After consultation with members of the Congregation, we have decided that in January we will return to our old custom of serving only tea, coffee and juice except on the first Sunday of the month when a Committee or large group is organizing refreshments.
Library news Thanks again to everyone who have been donating books to Trinity’s Library. We have an extensive stock of books for you to choose from to read. Fiction, non fiction, Books for Bible study and to help in Bible Study, Other Religions, Biography and Autobiography and Program Planning.
Red River of North Series written by Lauraine Snelling is about the Bjorklund Family who come from Norway to settle at Blessing, North Dakota and their trials and tribulations and how they cope through blizzards, floods and disease with their faith in God. Following that is another series Return to Red River. And then Daughters of Blessing follow this series.
Other new books are:
Quitting Church by Julia Duin. Why the faithful are fleeing and what to do about it.
Soul Tsunami and Soul Salsa by Leonard Sweet
My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor Ph. D. How she copes with a stroke she has suffered at age 37.
The Shack by William P. Young
Check these books out in the new section under the window.
To take a book out sign the card in the back of the book and leave in the basket by the door and return the book by putting in the same basket.
Thank you
If you need help contact Lillian Partridge, Corrie Hampel or Sandra Keevill.
Environmental Action Committee A presentation was made to our Church Council on 5 November when the progress of our Environmental Committee was given. The Committee grew out of the “Water” theme set by Team Vision earlier in the year.
The seemingly impossible idea of getting a new hydro-power development at the dam on Little Bob Channel became a goal. Now this goal is a lot closer to being realized. In preparation our committee will become a “Not-for-Profit” Corporation. To give us an address, a motion was made at our church Council that allows “Environmental Action Bobcaygeon Inc.” to use 40 William St and P.O Box 426 as the corporate address.
Once a “call for proposal” comes from the Trent Severn Waterway, our group will team up with Gemini Power Corporation of Toronto who will finance the process in getting work started at the dam.
Our Town Hall meeting on 21 October 2008 was a great success and we now believe the community at large is better informed and eager to see the project go ahead.
The “Spirit in Motion” moves us on.
Chairman of the Environmental Action Committee
David Reeve
Worship Committee
Our committee meets once a month. We are actively involved in all aspects of worship.
Thanksgiving Sunday went well. Two babies were baptized and three new members were welcomed. We want to thank all those who participated in any way with the decoration of the sanctuary.
Remembrance-day Service was meaningful with the veterans in attendance recognized.
We celebrated our 148th Anniversary on 16 November with beautiful music and thankful hearts. Our new organ was dedicated. Rev. John Ambrose gave the message and Catherine Ambrose was our guest organist. A pot-luck lunch following the service was enjoyed by all. Our sincere thanks to all of those, who helped in any way, to make this service very special.
Upcoming special services include—
30 November to 21 December, four Sundays in Advent. Special readings and candle lighting.
14 December White Gift Sunday in the morning
Choir Christmas Presentation at 4 pm
24 December Worship in a Stable and communion.
Bethel Bible Study ( intensive course) will begin in January 2009. Please contact Andy Harris or Carol Young if interested.
We wish you a blessed Holiday Season
Co-chairs; Carol Young and Sandra Keevill
Pastoral Care
The team is continuing to be aware of specific needs in our congregation.
The “Cry for help” workshop on 1 November, capably led by Walter Murray helped members be more aware of the listening skills necessary for pastoral care visits.
We are encouraged with the interest generated that day and grateful that this will give us additional visitors to carry on the challenges we meet in this role.
We welcome anyone interested to become involved in this work. Kindly leave your name and phone number with Sue and we will be happy to contact you.
Catherine Junkin
News from Nunavut
A great place to visit—but live there? Work there? In Iqaluit? On Baffin Island?
With polar bears and seals and summer/winter switch of 24 hours of sunlight/darkness?
What were Lorraine and John Bird thinking? As they explained to Trinity friends who gathered at their Mill Street home to say goodbye in the Fall of ’07, Lorraine a lawyer had agreed to practice in Iqaluit and John had some writing he could do there.
Besides, it would be a great adventure.
The talented couple has had a year’s experience in this far-north-of the-treeline land. Their blog “the northern chirp” updates friends and families on their adventures.
Tagging along on a seal hunt in August Lorraine marvels “who knew seal innards taste like calamari?” What happens when an RCMP officer decides it’s necessary to shoot a foraging polar bear? You eat the meat, John reports. How do you cope with midnight sun at bedtime? Foil over the window, and sunglasses.
But some of their new life connects closely with the past. Recall the musical preludes Lorraine played as a substitute pianist at Trinity: It’s no surprise she was coordinator for over 200 volunteers for a music and arts festival that ran for a week and a half in June.
John, a contributor to the Observer magazine and known locally for his Peterborough Green-Up feature on CHEX-TV, has finished his book and is now reporting.
As for composting in rock and gravel, they’re doing it, thanks to departing friends who wanted their 1.000 or so composting worms to go to a good home.
