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Feeding Neighbours Experiencing Homelessness

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Every Saturday for several months, Donna Cobb and Keith Wood have been dropping off sandwiches, or fruits and vegetables, or whatever they can manage that week, with a volunteer team that takes the food downtown to distribute to people experiencing homelessness. They are part of an effort started by Lisa Witt of Dollard-des-Ormeaux to distribute ready-to-eat food to people in city parks such as Cabot Square and Parc Emilie Gamelin, as well as to shelters like Benoit Labre House and Accueil Bonneau. Every week, a van arrives at pick-up spots in The West Island, Cote-St-Luc and Lasalle before heading downtown jam-packed with good things.

“We don’t have a lot, but we have enough,” Donna says. “It doesn’t cost a lot to make a tray of sandwiches.” When doing their grocery shopping, she and Keith keep their eyes open for bargains. They know where to get the best deals on things like bread and meat.

Donna found out about this initiative through a Facebook group called Montrealers Helping Montrealers. It is a group where people post about all kinds of things; most Saturdays, Witt posts photos and a brief description of the day’s rounds. Unlike food banks, which mostly collect and distribute non-perishables, this group is literally collecting perishables - fresh food items to be eaten the same day.

Witt, who has been doing this every week since last October, will be taking a well-deserved break for a few weeks as of June 12th, but plans to return to it later in the summer. That still leaves the next three weeks for anyone who is interested to get involved.

If you would like to donate sandwiches, baked goods, or anything that is ready-to-eat, the van will be doing pick-ups May 22nd and 29th and June 5th at 10:00a.m., in the parking lot beside 7040 Allard St. in Lasalle (it’s an apartment building just below Newman Boulevard).

image: Donna Cobb on Facebook

image: Donna Cobb on Facebook

Beryl's Blog: What is Pentecost?

At his Last Supper, Jesus legendarily instructed his 12 disciples to go out into the world to minister and heal the sick on their own. It was at that point that they became “apostles.” Fifty days after Jesus’ death, as the story goes, the Holy Spirit (part of the Holy Trinitity — God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) descended onto the apostles, making them speak in foreign tongues. This “Pentecostal” experience allowed the apostles direct communication with God, which signaled a major shift in the religious landscape and laid the foundation for what would become Christianity.

Pentecost is also celebrated as the Birthday of the Church!!

In keeping with my quest to find meaningful theme music, I would like to share with you today something both written and sung by William J. and Gloria Gaither.  This gospel hymn has been instrumental in getting me through some “tough” spots on my journey and I hope the words will be of comfort to you in times of need.

 

Come Holy Spirit

Refrain:

Come Holy Spirit I need you, Come sweet Spirit I pray
Come in your strength and your power, Come in your own gentle way

 Come as a wisdom to children
Come as new sight to the blind
Come Lord as strength to my weakness
Take me soul, body and mind

Refrain

 Come as a rest to the weary
Come as a balm for the sore
Come as a dew to my dryness
Fill me with joy evermore

Refrain

 Come as a spring in the desert
Come to the withered of soul
Oh, let your sweet healing power
Touch me and make me whole

Refrain

May the power of the Holy Spirit bless you and be a guiding force in your life.

Pastor Beryl, DLM

 

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Montreal Gospel Choir Online Concert

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A bit of shameless self-promotion from me. You’ve probably heard me sing at church, but did you know I’m also in a Gospel choir?

In the midst of Covid-19 restrictions, Montreal Gospel Choir, under the direction of Carol Bernard, has recorded a live concert featuring nearly 60 singers – myself included – and a band. We recorded the performance in a beautiful church outside Montreal and are feeling proud and excited to share it with you on Saturday, May 15th (tomorrow)!

Being in MGC has taken me out of my comfort zone in many ways: learning songs by ear instead of with sheet music, trying different vocal techniques, having to move!! – and for this concert, another first: singing into a microphone. I love it all and I especially love the people I’ve met.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop! will be streamed May 15th at 8pm Eastern time (Greenwich-5) but will remain available for another 48 hours. Tickets are $20 CDN tax included. I understand that money is tight for some people right now, so no pressure and no guilt if that is the case. I do feel confident that those who purchase tickets will feel they got their money’s worth. When you buy a ticket online you will be sent a unique link to watch the concert. Here is a short video from one of our concerts back when live audiences were a thing – as they will be again! Find ticket info at montrealgospelchoir.com

Amy

P.S. Our director, Carol, will be on All in a Weekend with Ainslie MacLellan tomorrow morning at 8:30 on CBC radio.



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In Memoriam: Brian Carleton

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We are saddened to learn of the passing of Brian Carleton on May 2nd. Brian was a familiar face at the Mission and at the church where he sang in the choir for many years. The following obituary that ran in the Gazette is a beautiful tribute to Brian by his sons.

CARLETON, Brian
February 22, 1936 - May 2, 2021

It is with heavy hearts that we announce today the passing of our dad, Brian Carleton. He left us on Sunday, May 2, 2021. His passing is not due to Covid, but simply to him deciding that it was his time to go. He was 85.

Brian was born in the city he loved the most, Montreal, on February 22, 1936. After surviving a difficult childhood, he broke out on this own, joining the Canadian navy before settling into a career in the printing industry. He married and had 3 sons, and, when this marriage ended he went on to meet and marry the love of his life, Colleen. His Irish rose. This marriage lasted until her death, and he carried her in his heart until the day he died.

Our father was a bon vivant in the best sense of those words. He loved all sports from watching to participating and coaching. His favorites were hockey (and his beloved Canadiens), golf, soccer, darts and essentially anything that was competitive. He sang in barbershop quartets, in choruses, he enjoyed travel but most of all he loved people. He squeezed every drop out of life. He was also a regular church goer with a deep faith in God.

We would like to thank our brother Craig for his devotion and in taking on the responsibility of caring for our father in his final years. They were a team. We would also like to thank the staff, doctors and nurses at Manoir Verdun, in particular our father's nurse Nathalie. You are all heroes.

He is survived by his sons, Craig, Jason (Julie) and Eric (Marie Eve and Chase) to whom he always gave understanding, love and compassion. He is also survived by his 3 grandchildren, Dana, Kyra (Michael) and Liam all of whom he loved with all of his heart.

Lastly, sometimes, at the end of our lives, we are stuck in bodies that just won't work any longer. We must remember, for our loved ones, that we know in our hearts that the mind is still there with all of its memories, feelings and passion, waiting for the day to be set free again. Well Dad, you are free now. Free to be with Colleen and all of the other loved ones you know. Now, you can go back to what you do best - laughing, loving and having fun. You will be missed, but we know you are in the best place of all. Heaven.

We love you.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Accueil - Fondation Champlain et Manoir-de-Verdun. Champlain-manoir.org

Published on May 8, 2021

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Beryl's Blog: Prayer

This Sunday, we hear the words of Scripture from John 17: 6-19.  This reading is Jesus’ prayer to his Father and is his heartfelt request that his disciples be protected and loved as he has loved them.  His prayer contained these words “I pray for them, I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours”.

As you know, I have been searching Voices United for theme hymns, especially those which we do not sing on a regular basis – or those which may be “out of style”.

This week, I would like to share with you VU 377 – Holy Spirit, Hear Us

 

Holy Spirit, hear us, help us while we sing,
Breathe into the music of the praise we bring.

 Holy Spirit, shine now on the book we read,
Light its holy pages with the truth we need.

 Holy Spirit, prompt us when we bow to pray,
Speak within and teach us what we ought to say.

 Holy Spirit, help us daily by your might,
What is wrong to conquer, and to choose the right.


Prayer changes us in one of two ways:
Either the storm will be calmed, the sickness healed, the problem solved
Or
It is we who will be calmed, we who will be healed and we will pass the storm in peace, and maybe even a little joy.

That is my message for Easter Seven.  Prayer is powerful.  Let it flow through you.  The words do not matter for God knows your heart before you even ask.

Amen

Pastor Beryl DLM

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