| SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2022, 11AM Join us in worship via zoom. Gathering is at 10:45AM and the service starts at 11:00AM. Checking in Welcome and Call to worship Prelude: Prelude: Noel 3, en musette L. C. D’Aquin Opening Prayer Hymn: VU92 In the Darkness Shines the Splendour” (VERSES 1,2,4) Reading: John 2:1-11 Message: “Surprise! It’s you!” Prayers Offering: dedication, doxology, The Creed (Sung Dedication VU541) Hymn: VU87 “I am the light of the world” Blessing Choral Amen VU974 (Jim Strathdee) Postlude: Noel 4, en duo, sur les jeux d’anches L. C. D’Aquin The link to participate in the service is:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09 Meeting ID: 719 779 7321Passcode: 442730 You may also join us by phone at: (438) 809-7799 |
| ZOOM COFFEE TIME! WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, 10AM Coffee and conversation with new friends and old – how wonderful to see all the mask-free smiles on display! Please join us Wednesdays at 10AM. All are welcome. We will be using Lakeshore Trinity United’s new zoom account: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09 Meeting ID: 719 779 7321 Passcode: 442730 or by phone at: (438) 809-7799 |
| CHRISTIAN ACTION CHRÉTIENNE – CACA FAREWELL TRIBUTE The CAC pantry was cleaned out this week, the last of the food items transferred to West Island Mission and OnRock, and the shelves washed down for the last time. For Doris McConnell and her team of volunteers, this marks a poignant, if timely, end to more than thirty years of service to needy West Island families, from the pantry at St. John’s United. Christian Action Chrétienne (CAC) was begun in the mid 1970’s, by Father Emmett Johns, priest of St. John Fisher Roman Catholic Parish in Valois (also well known for his work with the travelling van, Dans La Rue). Churches usually stocked small amounts of food to give to families in difficulty, but Father Johns recognized that they could serve the needs more effectively by pooling resources. He sought the collaboration of 10 West Island Churches, and the first CAC food bank was set up at St. John Fisher Church. St. Edward the Confessor Roman Catholic Mission, which at that time was already established in the St. John’s United building, was one of the founding members, but St. John’s didn’t actually join CAC for another 15 years. By then some difficulties had emerged with the St. John Fisher location, notably the number of steps leading up to the church. St. John’s first representative to CAC was the energetic and dedicated Des Kelly. Des quickly envisioned a more suitable home for the pantry, just inside the back door at St. John’s. He set about making the proposal to the congregation at St. John’s and setting in motion the process of designing and building the pantry cupboard that has housed CAC to this day. CAC functioned on donations of food and money from the member churches, and also from various community organizations, and occasional food drives by groups such as Scouts and Guides. At St. John’s, one-third of the annual Christmas and Easter special appeals was directed to CAC. The operation was entirely dependent on volunteers. They monitored the phones and assessed requests for help, they did the shopping, packed the orders (an order of food and toiletries aimed to support a client for a week) and delivered to the clients. Des Kelly became the co-ordinator of CAC after the move to St. John’s, Bill Armstrong was the treasurer. Des was succeeded some years later by Al McConnell, when Des’s wife, Ruth, fell ill. Al was just as passionate a proponent of CAC as Des had been. By this time a core group, including Al and Doris McConnell, and Walter and Vera Balleine, had settled into an efficient team, devoting untold time and energy to the smooth operation of the food bank and the co-ordination of the team of volunteers. Doris recalls that, as members came and went in the various churches, and official CAC roles fell vacant, other people would step in to take up the slack. “You do whatever it takes to make it work,” she says with her signature good humour. After Al’s death in 2010, Doris assumed the role of co-ordinator, a position she has held ever since. Walter and Vera also have given countless hours of quiet steady service over the years, even as their physical abilities declined. When working in the pantry became too difficult for them, Walter continued to phone in the weekly meat order, right up to the final one in December 2021. The team at St. John’s has had lots of help. Jim and Marjorie Martin, Bert and Meredith Patterson, Jack and Pam Fraser, Joan Pitcairn, Alice Gibson, Andrew Patterson, Ed Bedard, and Jane Giffen were variously called on for shopping, packing and deliveries. Joan Schrag provided office support. Dianne Tynes-Sithole, the rep from St. Edward’s often took over from Doris when she was away. But it is hard to exaggerate the magnitude of the role Doris McConnell has played in making CAC the lifeline it has become to its clients (numbering about 60). Doris was the face of CAC, the voice on the phone when they called for help when their lives were in crisis. They tell us that she was always sensitive, compassionate, understanding, never judgmental. They could count on her. In recent years, Doris has kept CAC with her on holiday, checking messages and organizing deliveries from afar while on vacation or visiting her children. When some of the clients heard last fall that CAC would be closing its doors, they regretted the end of the food bank, but they were especially sad about the prospect of losing touch with Doris. The CAC clients have all been assisted (by Doris) to establish contact with West Island food banks, OnRock and West Island Mission, and we are all encouraged to transfer our support as well. The needs continue. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to all the volunteers who have made possible CAC’s long and fruitful run, but most especially, we thank and honour Doris McConnell. During our service on Sunday, January 30th, we will take some time to recognize this treasured ministry, and give thanks, not only for all that has been done through CAC, but also that we continue to be blessed with the opportunities to share with those in need in our community. |
| FROM THE UCW- VIRGINIA BRYCE We have not had an active UCW (United Church Women) group in St. John’s congregation for the past several years, however we have continued to collect the following: Used postage stamps (carefully removed from envelopes and with undamaged edges), Pop can pull tabs, Plastic closures from bread wrappers and Discarded bras. We have continued to have our labelled coffee tin on the shelf/pass-through to the church kitchen to receive the stamps and other collectibles. Virginia Bryce will see that your donations get to the UCW. If you have any questions, contact Virginia Bryce at vrbryce@gmail.com. |
| JAMS AND JELLIES, ANYONE? Many in St. John’s congregation have enjoyed the jams and jellies prepared by Ann Gillebrand Magas, and sold at Spring Thing and the Christmas Sale. You may be wondering what to do with the empty jars. Ann would be delighted to have the jars returned to her, so that she can continue to refill them with her delicious products. Please return the jars to the church kitchen with a label attached with Ann’s name clearly shown and she will retrieve them. Thank you. Note: Until the current public health situation improves, the church is not accessible. But please save your stamps and jars and bread ties for when the doors open to us once again. |
| WE GIVE THANKS The e-transfer process is outlined in the Happenings email. Don’t forget to include your envelope number and indicate how you wish to have your offering divided. If not indicated, it will be designated as local offering. For the month of January 2022: Everyone who writes a cheque for their offering should make it payable to St. John’s United Church. Even though the church is closed due to COVID, you can still drop your offering cheque in the mail slot. For the moment there will be no change for people who use PAR*. . *Pre-authorized remittance (PAR) is a way to donate to the church through automatic withdrawals from a bank account or charges to a credit card (the latter not recommended as the service fee to the church is higher). Many of our Dorval-Strathmore friends use this easy method and changes can be made anytime. If anyone is interested in signing up or getting more information, please contact Joan LeVasseur at (514) 631-4455 or jblev@ca.inter.net“ |
| Rev. Steve Gillam can be reached by phone or text at (514) 235-9383 or by email at macduffsdad@hotmail.com. Lakeshore Trinity United Church 98 Aurora Ave. Pointe-Claire, QC, H9R 3G7 (514) 697-6459 email: lakeshoretrinityunited@gmail.com We have a new Facebook page! Check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/Lakeshore-Trinity-United-Church-101331995747334 |
