On July 15, 2018 SouthWest Congregation gave its approval for a half-time minister. Rev. David accepted this decision which offers the gift of time (financially) for SouthWest to discern thoughtfully and faithfully its future as a worshipping congregation within the community.
On August 19, 2018 Emmanuel United in Cowansville voted unanimously for a half-time minister, and agreed to call Rev. David to their congregation.
This is our new reality, actions, and a state of being. SouthWest and Emmanuel United are linked with a half-time minister each, sharing a ministry with a spirit of generosity. A small team from SouthWest and Emmanuel "broke bread" and drafted an overview of 2018-2019.
On the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, Rev. David will lead us in worship at SouthWest. (Exceptionally, this September he will be present on September 9 and September 23). During the week, Rev. David will be formally available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to SouthWest; Thursdays and Fridays at Emmanuel. The remaining Sundays each month will be led by our worship team and other sources within our community.
The priorities for his time are worship, pastoral care and preparing the way for a more independent Mission.
SouthWest executive, worship and Intouch teams are meeting to establish structure, responsibility and accountability with our Minister in his half-time role, and to understand what sharing our Minister with Emmanuel United means locally, within our community and Presbytery.
Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses but powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we are all in this together. We are in movement towards a redefined future.
Yes, with a generosity of spirit and open-heartedness that flows freely and touches anyone who can feel it.
Not manipulative
No strings attached.
Gospel filled.
- Darlene Halfyard, Chair of SouthWest Council
Minister's Message: Bearing Fruit
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16)
It is the season when we look to the fields and gardens for harvest. The seeds were planted many months ago and we worried over the heat and lack of water. But now we are entering the time when local produce will fill grocery shelves and even our own Mini Market.
When I graduated in 1981 from Eastern Pentecostal Bible College in Peterborough, Ontario a theme verse was chosen for our class, John 15:16. It says that we have been chosen to bear fruit, lasting fruit, that will benefit the world. Our purpose is woven to God’s love and generous giving, in the same way as Jesus was sent into the world we are called and sent to be agents of change. It sounds simple and outward looking. But my experience is that Christians seem more self focused and interested in inviting the world into their churches, cathedrals and places of worship than being a harvest in the world, accessible for those who need us wherever they are found.
I walked in Pte Claire Village recently and visited the historic Paroisse St. Joachim on the waterfront. As you leave the church you face a golden statue of Jesus blessing you. I liked that Jesus was outside the church and that his blessing was to be on ministry of Christians to the world outside of church.
We are a harvest bearing fruit that so many need, signs of hope, love, generosity and life.
As Jesus was sent we are also sent, into the world.
Enjoy the harvest this summer and be the harvest for people around you.
Rev. David
Worship to be Relocated in September
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
You may have heard words similar to these in a song recorded by Pete Seeger in the 1950s, but they are originally from Ecclesiastes 3 in the King James Bible. This is SouthWest’s season to pluck up and be planted, re-potted, prepare for the seasonal change.
We will be exploring new directions and transformations, relocations and rethinking worship and ministry. Our culture is shifting.
The roads are definitely shifting!
To reach a shifting culture, the way we see Church needs to change rapidly!
We don’t need to change the message of love of life, grace, faith, integrity and hope, just the method!
With road construction to begin shortly on Clemenceau severely limiting access to the church for about 2 months, this is our opportunity; so SouthWest is shifting temporarily its worship time, place, and ministry.
As of Sunday September 9:
11:15am Worship
(Doors open at 11:00am)
at SouthWest Mission
631 Melrose avenue
Light lunch fellowship to follow!
Carpooling is encouraged.
Taxi sharing too (taxi-chits will be available)
Yes it is:
Risky
Radical
Uprooting
Disruptive
BUT it is also
Exciting
Renewing the spirit
A vision of body, mind and spirit.
What will it look like?! Whatever we choose it to be!
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)reads,
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Darlene Halfyard,
Chair of council
Minister's Message: Cornerstones
Cornerstones: the symbols and realities of faith!
Last week, I walked by the the former Verdun United Church that was sold in 2007 to the Buddhist Benevolence Association. It has since been resold to another Temple and continues to be used for worship. It is no longer ours; we have moved into a new reality of worship and ministry over the last 11 years. I paused and looked at the cornerstone:
UNITED CHURCH
VERDUN
A-1930-D
That memorial stone is still there and remains a witness to the work of our forefathers and mothers who built that building, worshipped and lived their faith. There are many local cornerstones of our history: Chalmers (Church Ave), St Lawrence (LaSalle), Eglise Béthanie (Wellington), St Paul (Cote St Paul) and Crawford Park now SouthWest.
When Jesus said: I am the bread of life, the bread that God gives is he who comes from heaven and gives life (John 6: 33,35) he invited people hearing him to go from the Manna they received in the desert to hearing him, God’s Son, as living bread. It is not an easy thing to see beyond the symbols to a living faith that leads us from our past histories into an ongoing and living relationship.
The old Verdun United building still stands at 650 Woodland ave.
When some bemoan the state of the church, the changes to our institutions or losses we experience I look not to the brick and mortar of buildings but rather a living Christ inviting us to journey together in faith.
I look from the cornerstones of our history to the one who is the Cornerstone of our faith, Jesus Christ. (see Acts 4: 1-10, 1 Peter 2: 4-8, Romans 9:33).
Samuel Stone wrote a hymn in 1866, The Church's One Foundation, that Laurence Stookey adapted in 1983. It affirms that faith is what remains always vibrant, alive and moving forward through the ages. Faith roots us in the changes of addresses or buildings.
The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord,
We are his new creation, by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought us, that we might ever be
his living servant people, by his own death set free.
et en français:
L'église universelle a pour roc Jésus Christ;
elle est l'oeuvre nouvelle que sa parole fit.
Habitant le ciel même, il vint se l'attacher,
et, par un don suprême,mourut pour la sauver!
Blessings on each us in a growing, sustaining faith.
Rev. David
Passages: Joyce Healy
HEALY, Joyce (nee Tainsh) 1932 - 2018
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joyce at the age of 86, peacefully, with family by her side. Wife of the late Gerry Healy, she will be missed by her children Julie, Michael and Dawn (Gareth), her brother Bill (Nora), sister Heather (late Stan) and sisters-in-law Tippy (late Jimmy), Noreen, Jeanine (late Jimmy) and many nieces and nephews.
The family welcomes family and friends for visitation on Thursday, August 9, 2018 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at : Yves Légaré Lasalle, 7200 Boul. Newman, LaSalle, H8N 1X2.
A celebration of Joyce's life will be held on Friday, August 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at SouthWest United Church, 1445, Rue Clémenceau,Verdun ,Qc with a reception to follow.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the Lachine Hospital for their wonderful support and care. A donation to SouthWest United Memorial Fund would be appreciated.
Footnote: Joyce was the secretary at Verdun Elementary School for some 10 years and started the clothing room there which for the last ten years has been run by SouthWest Mission.
Minister's Message: Summertime
For some the summer starts when you can take walks in the coolness of the evening at the end of day. Or when the first produce is ready from your garden. It could be the great variety of birds at your backyard feeder.
My favorite summer hymn is:
For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping,
Future needs in earth’s safe-keeping, thanks be to God.
(Fred Pratt Green, 1970, VU 227)
The image of silent growth reminds us of all the many things that happen behind the scenes that give life taste: from the cooking in the kitchen, the weeding of the garden, the laundry hanging on the clothesline. That work brings a satisfaction of produce, meals, fresh clothes. It is the hard work that lets us sit at the table and enjoy the sharing and blessing together.
And at the meal we say: thanks be to God.
Amen.
Rev. David
Minister's message: What children can teach us
Which choice will we make?
It’s a difficult story to hear: King David, the exuberant lover of God, the writer of prayers and psalms, has feet of clay. He sees a married woman, follows his lust into a web of adultery, deceit and even the murder of her husband, a loyal soldier in his army. (2 Samuel 11: 1-15). When David messes up, he does so big time and destroys lives, Bathsheba and Uriah’s among them.
The gospel story in John (6: 1-15) of the feeding of the 5,000 has a twist: the food to feed the multitudes comes from an unusual source. When asked how to feed so many people the disciples were at a loss. They did not have the necessary resources. There was however a boy who had a lunch: five barley breads and two fish. Jesus blessed this simple meal and distributed it to the multitudes. There were even twelve baskets left over.
These stories are unconnected but both appear in the lectionary for this Sunday.
I wonder if King David had seen a child if he would have paused to realize that what he was about to do was wrong? When I approach a traffic light and wait for the pedestrian walk sign I often will ignore the red light if there are no cars and go ahead. If there is a child present, however, I wait, as I don’t want to be a ‘bad’ example. Children in our midst give us pause in our reflecting and decisions. They remind us of the best of what we and the world can be. They need our examples of living for justice and resisting evil. We need their innocence. They need us to validate their generous actions and temper their willfulness. When their innocence is lost because of adults' self-indulgent and destructive behaviours it is often impossible to retrieve.
The generosity of a child’s lunch that with Jesus’ blessing feeds multitudes is in stark contrast to David’s willful disregard of others, and destructive actions.
Let us pause before actions or impulses are directed to unhealthy choices.
Let us be examples for children in our midst.
Let us choose life, self control and generosity over taking what is not ours and live in light not darkness.
Let us be the generous gifts to others in their need.
Blessings!
Rev. David
Heat Wave and Remembrance
As the vulnerable succumbed to the extreme high heat this week across Quebec, we pause to remember them, some 33 who died.
We light our candle at worship and hold them, their friends and families in our hearts and prayers.
We ask that neighbours and community show concern for those who are alone, and that our remembrance be a commitment to love our neighbour as we love God and ourselves.
A Heat Wave Prayer:
God of creation,
may the glistening beads of sweat upon our brow, remind us of our baptismal promises;
may the slowing of our paces and practices,
remind us of the sacredness of each moment;
and may the sweltering waves of heated air,
remind us of your Spirit which moves amongst us.
Keep safe those who work and those who play this day, as we tend to our neighbours in need. Amen.
(Diocese of Niagara, 2013)
Rev. David
We're still in for some more hot days. For tips on how to protect yourself during a heat wave, see this pamphlet from the government of Quebec:
Countdown to General Council
The 43rd General Council of the United Church of Canada takes place July 21st to 27th 2018 in Oshawa, Ontario. This is where many decisions will be made about the future of the church, including the election of a new Moderator. There are 10 candidates from nine different Conferences right across the country. Eight are ordained ministers; two are laypersons. You can read their bios on the General Council website:
The first two days of GC43 are devoted to the Festival of Faith, described as "a celebration of our work and witness through the arts".
What’s happening at the Festival?
Music: Experience inspiring performers at multiple stages. Enjoy a DJ, silent dance party and lip-sync competition.
Interactive art: Explore amazing art displays, including stories and images of over 80 projects supported by Embracing the Spirit, a new United Church learning network that you can get involved in. Join a Messy Fiesta and paint a pew!
- Workshops: Be inspired by 25 workshops with leaders from across Canada.
- Spirituality: Discover different ways to express your faith.
- Coffee house: Enjoy the open mic experience, spoken word, poems, songs and more. Everyone is welcome to contribute.
- Artisan market: Explore the market sprinkled with local artisans and social enterprises.
- The Alvin Dixon Memorial Run/Walk: Start your second day of festival on the right foot at 8am with this 5km run / 2km walk event.
Follow the Festival of Faith on Facebook for details and
Minister's Message: Renovations and Changes
The SouthWest Office has physically closed for two months and the Mission for two weeks, until July 16. The office will adapt with the help of internet and function as best as it is able during this period. Be supportive during this change to our office administrator, Amy. Messages will be reviewed daily but there may not be a real live person answering your calls. I am available throughout the summer and include my cell below to facilitate communication during this time. These are significant renovations that will improve the fire safety of the former Woodland School and secure the Mission space more efficiently. As in all renovations there will be a mess! And the hope of getting to the other side one day.
I brought home six boxes of papers, files, and work that needs attention and sorting. I have a terrible habit of putting papers under my desk and losing files. So this is an opportunity to organize myself better I hope.
Shirley Mitchell has been our “office angel” some eleven years now, coming in at least two days a week. She has helped create the office filing system, has maintained our historic registers impeccably, and kept Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals on track. “Officially” Shirley “retires” as of this week. Unofficially she will remain an off-site consultant! She merits the deep, heartfelt gratitude of the SouthWest family for her commitment and dedication that have sustained us. We are grateful for the time and energy she devoted over the years to our Mission project. Your quiet efficiency, caring discretion and thoughtful opinions will be missed. Thank-you, Shirley.
Check out the summer schedule for SouthWest on this Blog (What’s open and closed/ Ce qui est ouvert) and invite friends to sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed of activities and changes.
When we know the start date of construction on Clémenceau you will be notified of our plan. Thank-you Keith and Darlene for attending the Verdun Borough's information session on our behalf.
My Bible inspiration comes from Proverbs 14: 23.
Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table!
For now,I return to the piles of papers needing attention.
And imagine the cleared desk when we return into the office at the end of the summer.
Rev. David
514 567-7756