Church Notes

Is it me, or did anyone else find January loooooong?

Well, we’re into February now, and it’s a short month, so it should fly by, right? Don’t forget to go to Bingo tomorrow in the church basement. There’s some snow in the morning forecast but temperature-wise, things are going to be a little better over the weekend.

As you know, Saturday, February 2nd is Groundhog Day. This little fella’s praying for sunny skies and cleared streets by Sunday!

There’s a special guest and worship leader for this Sunday’s service: musician and lay minister Stewart Burrows.

Next Week:

The Board of Stewards are finally meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 6th at the church, 1:30PM. Welcome back to Vernon Turner who has just about shaken the pneumonia.

Sunday Feb 10 will be a Soup Sunday and “treat drive” for Manna. Looking for donations of pre-packaged dessert items, especially for Valentine’s Day. 

Looking ahead: Rev. David is back in action Sunday, February 17.
SouthWest Council meets Tuesday February 19, 6:30 at the church. 

The following comes to us from our friend Liz Colford:

Recherche d'emploi de rêve / looking for a dream job
français suivra

Greetings friends and colleagues,

I'm writing to ask for your help in my search for new opportunities. As many of you know, a few years ago I made a big career shift and went to cabinetmaking school. Then I went and got a job in a doors and windows company. But I always knew that I wanted to bring those skills back into an educational context. I'm looking for opportunities to lead woodworking workshops, or to be a technician in a school or museum wood shop.  

So if you hear of anything bringing together woodworking and education, please think of me and let me know. This isn't an urgent request so even if you see something in 6 months, I'd still like to know about it. Thank you so much for thinking of me!

Salut ami.e.s et collègues,

Je vous approche en demandant un coup de main dans ma recherche de nouvelles opportunité de carrière. Comme en sachent beaucoup parmi vous, il y a quelques années que j'ai fait une grande transition en allant à l'école de l'ébénisterie. Et par la suite je suis allé travailler dans un atelier de portes et fenêtres. Mais je savait dès le début de cette transition que j'allais retourner en éducation avec ces nouvelles habiletés à partager. Je cherche maintenant des postes d'animer les ateliers en bois ou des postes de technicien dans un atelier de bois d'une école ou un musée. 

Je vous demande si jamais vous entendez des postes en lien avec le bois et l'éducation de s'il vous plait me partager ces infos. Ceci n'est pas une recherche urgente alors même si vous voyez de quoi en 6 mois, j'aimerai savoir. Merci de penser à moi et je vous souhaite une magnifique 2019 plein de rêves qui se réalisent!

Liz 
438-824-5499

Mini-Market Welcomes You!

At SouthWest Mission, Wednesdays are all about community. All sorts of people drop by during the day to see what Sheila and Maurice have for sale at the Mini-market. The list of this week’s fruits and vegetables is below, but what the order form doesn’t tell you is that there is often delicious home baking for sale as well. Visitors can also browse through white elephant tables and used books, everything at low low prices.

Wednesday is also the day chef Léonore and her Dream Team whip up a fantastic multi-course community meal. They try to incorporate what they can from the morning’s market delivery in preparing a nutritious, delicious, and frankly, filling lunch! Peoplecome back week after week to meet friends old and new and soak up the community atmosphere. Be there by 12:30. Please donate according to your means.

The market goes from about 10:30AM to 3:30PM, so any VES or Riverview parents picking children up after school, consider dropping in and picking up some veg for supper!

Celtic Musician Stewart Burrows to lead worship this Sunday

Stewart Burrows is a singer-songwriter from Quebec who writes and performs his own brand of Celtic-Canadian folk music in English and French.  He has performed at festivals and venues across North America and Europe, and is currently a regular on the Montreal Celtic music scene.

You can add lay ministry to Stewart’s list of accomplishments; he is much in demand for pulpit supply in the Rockburn-Huntingdon-Southern Quebec region.

 This Sunday, February 3rd, Stewart will lead worship at Southwest United at 10AM. All are welcome. Bring a friend!

 Stewart Burrows est musicien-chansonnier Québécois ainsi que compositeur et performeur de son style personnel de musique celto-canadienne en français et en anglais.  Ses voyages musicaux l’ont mené à travers l’Amérique du Nord et en Europe. 

Breakfast Club News

The information that went out in the Friday newsletter was not quite correct. Riverview students will be moving in to VES for an unspecified period of time, but only the Kindergarten to Grade 4 children. Grades 5 and 6 will be housed at Beurling Academy.

Bingo!

It has been a long wait, but Bingo will be back at church on Saturday, February 2nd. Barring any more surprise roadwork or terrible weather, it will be held on the first Saturday of every month through the winter and spring. If you have anything lying around the house that you think could make a good bingo prize, please bring it along. $5 entry. Doors open at 12:00. Light refreshments available. 1445 Clemenceau street in Crawford Park.

Mini-Market January 30

UPDATE: Here is the price list for this Wednesday’s Mini-market. Voici la liste pour cette semaine.

Yes, there will be a Mini-market next Wednesday. Exceptionally, the price list is not available yet, but it will be uploaded to this space early next week. Our prices are more than competitive, so plan to come by the Mission between 10:30 and 3:30 on January 30th. Community lunch as always served at 12:30.

Minister's Message: Between Jesus' Birth and Baptism

People sometimes look at babies with fondness as they remember their own children's early years. They may say: enjoy them while you have them for they grow up quickly.

When I think of how the Sunday lectionary reading races quickly from Jesus' birth to baptism following Ephiphany it feels like the post-birth years are not important, that the only focus is on Jesus the adult. It seems disrespectful of the hard work of Mary and Joseph, the growing spiritual awareness that leads Jesus to affirm later in his life vocation and call, and the great numbers of people who cared for him in his formative years.

The years of care, love, protection, the exposure to another culture, religion and language are all foundation blocks on which Jesus' ministry will be based.

I invite you to read some of the post-manger stories from Jesus’ early years. They are not chronological and are differing episodes of his early years that each gospel writer wanted their readers to hear. You sense the influence of so many on his life, the 'village' that raised him:

• the wise ones find Jesus on Mary's lap in their rented house, in his 'terrible two' phase, Joseph supports his family as a carpenter. (Mathew 2:1-12)

• he is circumcised a week after his birth and given the name Jesus. (Luke 2:21)

• Jesus is presented in a ceremony of purification in the Temple where an offering was made. Two elderly people, Simeon the priest and Anna the prophetess spoke incredible words about him in their prayers and blessings. Mary was told he would be a sign of God for others but bring her much sorrow. (Luke 2:22-38)

• the holy family escapes the tyrant Herod and flees into Egypt for Jesus' formative years in a different culture, language and religion. (Matthew 2;13-14)

• after God speaks in a dream Joseph brings his family to Nazareth. (Matthew 2:19-23)

• when Mary and Joseph return to Nazareth Luke writes that : 'the child grew and became strong, was full of wisdom, and God's blessings were upon him.' (Luke 2:39-49)

• Jesus went to Jerusalem at Passover where he had his Bar Mitzvah at 12 years, becoming a man and reading the Torah in public. He engaged the Jewish teachers with questions and listened to them. Mary and Joseph were astonished at this. When they returned home Mary treasured all these things in her heart. 'Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favour with God and with men.' (Luke 2: 41-52)

As I read these growing up stories:

I pray for all families, parents and children.
I pray that we can together be the village that raises them well.
I pray we listen to Jesus' early years and appreciate the many who influenced his life and later ministry.
I pray that we continue to follow this one we call Light of the world, Mary's Child, Saviour.

Rev. David

To bring hope to every task you do, to dance at a baby’s new birth,
To make music in an old person’s heart, and sing to the colours of the earth!|
'I am the light of the world, you people come and follow me.'
If you follow and love you'll learn the mystery of what you were meant to do and be.
(Jim Strathdee, 1967)

Verdun Vigil planned for 2nd anniversary of Quebec Mosque shooting

On January 29th, it will be two years since six men were gunned down in their place of worship in Ste-Foy, Quebec. Many events are planned across Canada to commemorate the tragedy. Here in Verdun, a vigil is planned, just as it was following the shooting, in front of Verdun metro station (right next to Verdun borough hall), on Tuesday, January 29 at 5:30PM. This day is being named a day of Action Against Islamophobia and Racism. You are invited to bring your own candle in a show of solidarity among communities.

This week (Jan. 25-31) has been named the first annual Muslim Awareness Week in the Montreal area, with a number of interfaith events planned. the goal is simple: Getting to know each other/ Apprendre à se connaître.

Here’s just one event:
“Montreal City Mission & St. James United Church are organizing a public talk with Montreal youth leaders for Muslim Awareness Week. The panelists come from diverse backgrounds and are involved in concrete projects that respond to needs in our community. They will share how they replace the mind set of exclusion with one that embraces the 'other' as friend.”
Sonali Kamick from the CBC Radio show 'All in the Weekend', will be their mistress of ceremonies.

Find out more here:

Job Offer: Agent(e) de milieu TCFV

Sandra Bustamante, who has held the position of Agente de milieu with the Table de concertation famille de Verdun for the last year and a half, is moving on to a position with the Centre Social d’Aide aux Immigrants. Sandra has been a frequent presence at the Mission, whether at Welcome Wednesday, Meli-Melo or the Halte allaitement on Fridays, all in the interest of getting to know our families and their needs. We will miss her but wish her all the best in her new position. We look forward to working with whoever takes over as agent(e) de milieu. Could it be you?

Sandra Bustamante quitte son poste d’agente de milieu à la Table de concertation familiale de Verdun (TCFV) pour occuper un poste au Centre social d’aide aux immigrants. Sandra a été fréquemment présente à la Mission, que ce soit au repas communautaire Mercredi M’attend, au Méli-Mélo ou à la Halte allaitement de vendredi, dans le but de mieux connaître nos familles et leurs besoins. Elle nous manquera, mais nous lui souhaitons le meilleur dans ses nouvelles fonctions.
Nous sommes impatients de travailler avec la personne qui prendra la relève en tant qu’agent intermédiaire. Sera-ce vous? 

La Table de concertation Famille de Verdun (TCFV) est un regroupement de partenaires issus des milieux communautaires, institutionnels, municipal, scolaires et des services de garde de Verdun. Ces partenaires se sont mobilisés autour de la mise en place d’actions préventives visant le bon développement global des toutpetits et le soutien aux familles vulnérables dont les enfants ont moins de 5 ans.

PROFIL DU POSTE : Sous la supervision de la coordonnatrice, la personne agente de milieu aura les responsabilités suivantes :
➢ Connaître et travailler en collaboration avec les ressources de Verdun ;
➢ Identifier et investir les lieux de fréquentation des familles ;
➢ Rejoindre les familles isolées et/ou vulnérables sur le territoire ;
➢ Déterminer avec elles leurs besoins et les soutenir dans leurs démarches pour y répondre ;
➢ Orienter et référer ces familles vers des ressources et, si nécessaire, les accompagner ;
➢ Accueillir ces familles lors d’activités et les soutenir dans leur intégration ;
➢ Participer aux réunions et comités lorsque demandé ;
➢ Représenter la TCFV lorsque mandaté ; ➢ Réaliser toutes autres tâches connexes à la fonction.

EXIGENCES :
➢ Domaine d’étude et d’expérience en lien avec l’emploi ;
➢ Expérience en intervention familiale et animation de groupe ;
➢ Grande capacité d’écoute, beaucoup d’entregent et de respect ;
➢ Sensibilité aux problématiques sociales ;
➢ Capacité à intervenir en contexte multiculturel ;
➢ Bilinguisme obligatoire ;
➢ Autonomie et aptitude au travail d’équipe ;
➢ Connaissance de la suite Microsoft Office et d’Internet ;
➢ Permis de conduire et voiture : un atout
➢ Connaissance du milieu communautaire de Verdun : un atout.

CONDITIONS : Contrat débutant dès que possible et renouvelable annuellement
Horaire variable de 28h par semaine comprenant des soirs et fins de semaine.
Salaire de 20 $ à 23 $ de l’heure selon expérience et compétence.

Veuillez faire parvenir votre lettre de motivation ainsi que votre curriculum vitae au plus tard le 3 février, à l’attention du comité de sélection, par courriel : coordination.tcfv@gmail.com . Entrevues dès que possible.

Veuillez noter que seules les personnes retenues pour les entrevues seront contactées.

Mini-Market January 23, 2019

Here are the items that will be available from next week’s market at the Mission. Call ahead if you want to be sure to get your items. The market is from 10:30 to 3:30 on Wednesday. Consider joining us for community lunch at 12:30 the same day. Suggested donation of $5.

Voici les produits qui seront disponibles à notre marché la semaine prochaine. Pour être sur d’avoir les items que vous voulez, appelez à l’avance. Vous pouvez passer entre 10H30 et 15H30 pour faire vos achats. On vous invite également à partager notre repas communautaire à 12H30. Don suggéré de 5$.