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Breakfast Club News

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On October 31st, Sheila Morrison, one of the two Breakfast Club coordinators at Verdun Elementary, came to church to report on what is happening in this third school year of the pandemic.

The model has changed quite a bit from the days when between 40 and 75 kids would sit at tables in the Mission eating food served directly from the kitchen. Last year, with the introduction of “classroom bubbles”, it became clear that the only way to feed the “breakfast club kids” was to send their (pre-packaged) meals in bins to their classrooms. Sheila and Sue (Purcell, the other coordinator) immediately recognized the awkwardness of feeding only certain children; they asked Breakfast Clubs of Canada if it would be possible to expand the program to cover all 200+ students at the school, and the answer was yes! As you will see in Sheila’s report below, that model has continued into this school year.

We were able to present Sheila with quite a few dish towels we’d collected, as she said the program was in need, including a large number of colourful dish cloths crocheted by our own Marge Cooper-White. What a wonderful example of how, as a community, we have still managed to reach out to each other even in a pandemic!

Breakfast Club Report, October 31, 2021

We prepare bins every morning for all 16 classrooms in Verdun Elementary School, for a total of about 220 children. Teachers and/or the children come to the kitchen and pick up their bin and take it to class.

We get an order from Breakfast Club every 2 weeks based on our ordering the week before. We try to make it as appealing to the children as possible, we like to make colourful bins. We make bagels and cheese for them once a week and toast the next. We also receive WOW butter (substitute for peanut butter and jam). They love their fruit. That is why, as Dennis mentioned last week, we have set up a deal with the new fruit store on the corner of Desmarchais and Verdun ave. We just had bananas delivered this past Tuesday and the kids loved them. 

When we were at the mission, we were only feeding approximately 40 children, whose families were supposed to pay, but it was a hit or a miss at times. Children who came on busses would arrive too late to eat in the Mission so we would prepare bags for them to eat in their classrooms. We had pancakes, scrambled eggs, eggos, (some were donated by Southwest). We even would have from time to time casseroles with sausage, egg etc. When there was a special occasion such as Easter or Christmas we would serve something applicable with the occasion.

It was brought to my attention a short while ago that the Breakfast Club of Canada is hopeful the Liberal government will follow through on a campaign promise and create a national food program for students faced with food insecurity. Daniel Germain, Breakfast Club of Canada founder and National School Food Program Advisory Committee Chair, says funding could be on the way, as the re-elected Trudeau government promised a five-year billion-dollar investment.

“A re-elected Liberal government will work with our provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders to develop a National School Food Policy and work towards a national school nutritious meal program with a $1 billion investment over five years,” states the Liberal Party of Canada platform, which formed a minority government in September.

So we all look forward to a better year ahead for our children’s stomachs!

Respectfully submitted,

Sheila Morrison

Just a few of Marge’s dish cloths.

Beryl's Blog: Changing With The Times

Having just set our clocks back one hour last weekend, it seems everything changes, especially in November, and Remembrance Day seems to bring about nostalgia, as it should.

Taking part in the service in Verdun last Sunday, I got to thinking about traditional music and marching bands and one particular tune, though no longer played, echoed in my head.

I come from a military family; Uncles, Aunts, and Grandparents were highly involved in all aspects of military life – both social and professional.

As kids, we were dragged (sometimes kicking and screaming) to armory functions such as kid’s parties, dances, adult bingos but, especially to parades.  My dad did not attend worship of any kind, but he knew, by heart, Onward Christian Soldiers!  He had a great singing voice and that hymn frequently came up in his repertoire of 30’s and 40’s “oldies”. As kids, we knew it by heart before we even started Sunday School.

The well-known hymn was written by S. Baring-Gould (1834-1924) and has been an anthem sung by generations of Christians. And Carl Price offered a little insight about the origin of this hymn in One Hundred and One Hymn Stories:

In Yorkshire, England, where Doctor Baring-Gould was stationed as curate of Horbury, it is the custom to observe Whitmonday as a day of festival for the school children. In 1865 his school was invited to march to a neighboring village, there to join the children of another school in the festival exercises.

As he could not find a suitable hymn for the children to sing while marching from one village to another, he sat up late into the night to compose a hymn; and out of those midnight hours came the lines, “Onward, Christian soldiers,” to which the children marched toward their festival and to which hundreds of thousands of Christians have marched in the decades since it was written.

“With the cross of Jesus going on before” refers to the cross, borne at the head of the procession; while the many banners, following it, are pictured in the line, “See His banners go!” It was published in the Church Times in 1865.

The hymn with its stirring tune, written later by Sir Arthur Sullivan, makes an ideal processional and has been widely used, not only in places of worship, but also upon a great variety of other occasions. Allan Sutherland, in Famous Hymns of the World, describes the wild rejoicing in Philadelphia on election night, 1905, when to signalize the victory of the Reform Movement thousands paraded the streets, singing this hymn; also its use in cheering Christian Japanese soldiers, starting for the war of 1904.

It was the battle song of Roosevelt’s Progressive campaign in 1912. In the World War it was a prime favorite, and was sung by General Feng Yu-Hsiang’s Eleventh Division of Chinese Christian soldiers as they advanced to battle before Peking in May, 1922.”

While so many of us  are uncomfortable with the militaristic themes and the historical use of this hymn, it is important to note that Scripture itself contains a great deal of warfare imagery (such as the Armor of God). While combining the purposes and goals of the state with those of the church–especially in regards to war–is problematic, the hymn itself is a helpful encouragement to believers as we “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12).  I am often hesitant to reflect on lectionary readings containing themes of violence.  If I can, I prefer to change or omit them entirely.

Most of you know that The United Church of Canada omitted Onward Christian Soldiers in the 1996 publication of Voices United. If we want to be "theologically correct", then there are a whole lot of hymns that we grew up with that should be omitted.

For me personally, November nostalgia is a real thing.  It is a time of remembering and I think, for the most part, some us find Onward Christian Soldiers to be familiar and even comforting – we remember our fathers, uncles, aunts and grandfathers.  It brings to mind nostalgic memories of childhood; a time before Facebook and iPhone when families actually got together for Sunday dinner, for anniversaries and birthdays, Christmas and Easter.  Or, perhaps we just like the tune but we do not subscribe to or agree with the words.

Whatever your views are, time moves onward and things change.  Seasons follow seasons as life’s realities unfold. But cherished childhood memories remain frozen in time.  As we approach the third and fourth quarters of our own 100 years, it is still nice to remember “the good old days”, or what we have left of them.

In peace

Pastor Beryl, DLM

Beryl's Blog: November 5, 2021

What is it about November?

Perhaps it is thoughts about setting back clocks, the shortening of days, the falling of leaves which have come to the end of their time, the parting call of geese as they leave for warmer places, the journey unknown?

November, if nothing else, is a time for remembering.  It is a time for settling, a time for thoughts of cocooning for the long winter days to come.  Even creation knows that it is time for self-care as instinctual survival memories kick in.

But there is something else about November and that is Remembrance Day.

I think of the words “all gave some, some gave all” first uttered by Howard William Osterkamp, a Korean War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient who continued to fight for his country (USA) even after his leg was broken. He was acknowledging the fortuitous fact that he made it out of Korea with his life; whereas, approximately 36,574 soldiers did not.

This Sunday, the second part of our reading from the Gospel of Mark speaks to giving all one has:                       

Mark 12: 41-44 - The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Is it serendipitous that this particular reading from Mark should touch us as we prepare for Remembrance Day? 

I think not, for Scripture has the power to touch us both in the most unexpected of ways and at the most opportune of times. 

Perhaps there is no better time than November for remembering; for thinking about social injustice, racial inequality, refugees seeking some sort of peace in far off places, the safe journeying of migrating birds, the industrial de-greening of the planet and yes, hope. Hope that will come to us at the end of the month as we begin our Advent journey back to the stable.  That place of light and living hope for all.

Welcome November!  Touch us, open us, guide us to that place of new birth as we begin our journey through the dark of winter.

In peace,

Pastor Beryl, DLM

Remembrance: Alexander George Mavor

How many times have you walked past his name written on the stained-glass window at the back of the sanctuary? How many times have you heard it read aloud as part of the Honour Roll on Remembrance Day?

As the years go by, the two World Wars slip further and further into the past. It can be hard to remember that each name we read represents a young man (so young, most of them!) from our community who had a family, who had hopes and plans for his future.

I am able to share the following information about Alexander Mavor due to the genealogical research of his great niece, Dianne Nolin.

The son of Alexander Mavor and Rebecca Campbell, Alexander George Mavor was 22 years old when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 31 October 1914 at Montreal. He was assigned to the 23rd Infantry Battalion.

On 2 February 1915 he sailed for England aboard the Missanabie. After some training, he embarked for France on 26 April 1915 and was transferred to the 4th Battalion. Alex had fought in the trenches at Festuberg and Messines.

Alex was engaged in the Second Battle of Ypres, positioned at "The Bluff". While on duty in the trenches on April 10th 1916, he was wounded by a bullet that glanced off a periscope and entered his stomach. His wound was dressed and he was taken to NO.17 Casualty Clearing Station at Remi Siding where he died the following day.

Alexander George Mavor was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, near Poperinge Belgium, grave reference VI - B - 8A

His name was also entered on the family gravestone in Mount Royal Cemetery, along with his parents.

Dianne Nolin’s grandfather, Herbert, was Alexander George’s younger brother. The window at the back of our church was dedicated by the family to Alexander George and to his father, also named Alexander. The only known picture of “Alex” shows him at about five years old.

Remembrance: Across the Country, and right here in Crawford

The Poppy is 100!

Madame Anna Guérin, later christened "The Poppy Lady from France", inspired by John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields", had an idea: to adopt the distribution of the Poppy on Armistice Day as a way to raise money for Veterans' needs and to remember those who had given their lives during the First World War.

In July of 1921 the Great War Veterans Association (which in 1925 would unify with other Veteran groups to form the Canadian Legion) adopted the Poppy as the flower of Remembrance.

Since then, the Legion and its members have upheld this tradition of Remembrance.

source: Legion.ca

Thanks to Joyce Crandall, our connection to the Verdun Legion, poppies will be available at church as of this Sunday.

Meanwhile, the pedestrian path that runs between Queen Elizabeth Park and Ouimet street (next to the Sikh temple) has been officially designated “the Poppy Trail.” Legion #4 President Stand Kirkoff and other Legion members, along with representatives of the borough, inaugurated the site earlier this week in honour of the Veterans who founded Crawford Park.

Food Drive November 7, 2021

UPDATED NOVEMBER 2ND

It's almost time again. We will be collecting food for Dawson Food Bank (formerly Manna ) on the first Sunday of November, which is the 7th. You are welcome to contribute any non-perishable foods, but this time we thought it might be nice to focus on proteins.
Rather than buying a ton of items, why not bring a few cans of tuna (or ham, or chicken)? It’s best if they have a pull top, because we can’t assume everyone has a can opener.

Last week I suggested canned beans and lentils, but after speaking with Roxanne at Dawson, it seems those things are not in short supply. They do appreciate receiving mixed vegetables in cans, as well as crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, and canned soups. Pasta and rice are always good.

Some other prized items:
- small tubs of peanut butter
- milks that have a long life unrefrigerated: oat milk, almond milk, and even cow’s milk come packaged this way - ask at your local grocery store if you don’t know where to find them. Cans of evaporated milk are a good choice too.
- Jars of baby food
Another thing nobody ever thinks to give is spices. Imagine trying to cook with donated food and not even having salt and pepper in your kitchen, let alone cinnamon or oregano!
We’ll be collecting once a month for the foreseeable future. Let’s try to be creative and thoughtful in our giving!

Beryl's Blog: Halloween

It’s almost here and I have so many memories of this special time of year.

Growing up in Crawford Park there seemed to be so many competing traditions. 

The night before was always dubbed mat night and involved “borrowing” a neighbor’s front door mat and replacing it with a “borrowed” mat from another neighbor.  It had a more sinister side too as I remember the older boys cutting down clothes lines and tying tin garbage cans onto the back of the old 52 bus which passed through the “Park” as it was referred to.

On mat night, it was also common to visit the local grocery story (Doucet’s) on the way home from school and pick up a bar of Ivory soap – the best there was for soaping or writing on neighbors’ windows.

It was also the night for ringing doorbells and running away as quickly as possible.

If you were lucky enough to have a dad who fished, you had easy access to black fishing line.  This was the main item required for frightening unsuspecting neighbors who liked to walk in the evening.  Two people were necessary for this to be successful.  One would stand behind the bushes on one side of the street while the second person would unroll the fishing line and cross over to the other side, then hide themselves and wait for someone to walk by.  As goal was to pick up the fishing line as the strollers passed, hopefully between their legs, and frighten them half to death.  It was imperative that you run as quickly as possible as you almost fell over yourself with laughter.

This coming Sunday, October 31st, is Halloween, or All Hallows Eve as it was once known – and is the day before All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints' Day in the Christian calendar.  The name derives from the Old English 'hallowed' meaning holy or sanctified and is now usually contracted to the more familiar word Hallowe'en.

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This coming Sunday, in place of our usual Gospel reflection, we will take the time to honor and remember those who have touched our lives in so many ways; grandparents, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings and even neighbors…… 

The congregation will be invited to light a candle in their honor, lift their names and give thanks for lives which have been lived in love and service to others.

After recognition and thanks has been given, prayer will be offered.  At home this Sunday, you too are invited to honor those who have touched your lives with a candle and a prayer:

 

For all the saints who went before us,
who have spoken to our hearts,
and touched us with your fire,
We praise you, O God.

 For all the saints who live beside us,
whose weaknesses and strengths
are woven with our own,
We praise you, O God

For all the saints who live beyond us,
who challenge us to change us,
and change the world with them
We praise you, O God.

Amen

                   (From Celebrate God’s Presence, A Book of Services) 

May your memories of Halloweens past and the memories of pumpkins which lit your nights cheer you as we head into the season of shortening days and longer nights.

 Pastor Beryl, DLM

 

 

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