Minister's message: Generations

Mother Canada stands at the top of the Vimy Memorial overlooking a significant battlefield for Canada of WWI. She looks elegant, compassionate, caring as she broods over the 60,000 fallen Canadians entrusted to her care.
My mother, Joy, is visiting from Guelph and we are sharing our experiences of family pilgrimage to Vimy Ridge last spring. I have gone through many photos and put together a presentation for eight LBPSB School assemblies in Verdun and LaSalle organised by Mary Anne Fyckes, spiritual life and community animator. What a privilege to have my Mom in good health, and to share these moments together.
When my grandmother's son William 'Billy' Geddes died over the English Channel in WWII, Myrtle was given the Silver Cross on behalf of the government of Canada. My mother is wearing it to these many assemblies, a part of our family history.
Remembrance is very personal, it weaves the past to the present. When I see the films 'Saving Private Ryan' or more recently 'Dunkirk' it is not only as a movie watcher. The soldiers portrayed are my Father, Grandfather, Uncle, great Uncle, and Neighbour. When we experienced Remembrance and Hope last Sunday at worship, reading the honour roll of SouthWest, it was deeply moving and personal. It also roots us in a prayerful collective memory from which we are inspired  to act as peacemakers in our world today.
As I look to Mother Canada, remember my Grandmother Myrtle and experience remembrance with my own Mother I remember the words of hope that the prophet Isaiah spoke to the people: 'You will be like a child that is nursed by its mother, carried in her arms, and treated with love...I will comfort you...as a mother comforts her child.' (Isaiah 66:12-13).
God who comforts, shows compassion, caring and keeps watch over all of us.
This is an image that speaks to me and can inspire each of us.
 

Rev. David

In Memoriam

On November 5th, after Sunday worship, a scattering of the ashes of Graham Walker, husband of Kathy O'Halloran, took place at the Bird Sanctuary (Parc des rapides) in LaSalle.

A memorial service celebrating the life of William (Bill) Lothian will be held at SouthWest United Church on Friday, Nov. 10th at 3:30; visitation from 2:30.

We are sad to announce the untimely passing of Bonnie Dobson on November 2nd in Ottawa. Bonnie was our Breakfast Club Manager at SouthWest-VES for the 2012-13 school year. The funeral will be held at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, November 12th at Laurent Thériault funeral home, 512 de l'Eglise, Verdun 514 769 3867 (Parking lot and ramp available). The service will be followed by a reception at SouthWest  Mission, 631 Melrose (corner Verdun) from 5 to 7 p.m.

When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds.
Miss Me But Let me Go!

- Anonymous

Lunch and Learn

RECLAIM Literacy invites you to a special Lunch of Remembrance with Special Guest Speakers, Rev. David Lefneski (SouthWest United) and his mother Joy Lefneski who will share experiences from their recent pilgrimages to the battlefields of Europe (photos show Mrs. Lefneski, Rev. David and his son Luke Lefneski).

The menu will be roast pork, potatoes and veggies followed by dessert and coffee. Sponsored by Verdun Legion #4.

When? Thursday, November 9th at 12 noon

Where? Church of the Epiphany, 4322 Wellington, Verdun (corner Galt)

Suggested Donation: $2

For more information: info@reclaimliteracy.ca  (514) 369-7835

Un plant de tomate a la fois: Partnership

(See a Personal Thank You from Lauren at the end)

The 'Un plant de tomate' initiative was born out of a series of community conversations many years ago. I remember the dream of healthy eating and wanting to place a tomato plant in every window of houses, apartments and senior residences in Verdun, including SouthWest Church and Mission. 

Lauren was hired through a Emploi Québec grant that pays minimum salary for up to 30 weeks and encourages both individuals and organisations in mutually beneficial projects. 

Recently some of the team gathered at a Welcome Wednesday luncheon to say thanks to Lauren for her contribution to this growing season. 

In the photo they are Normand Baril, project liaison officier, Julie Langlois, animator, Réal Bonneville, co-ordinateur, Lauren Aghabozorgi, animator, Pietro Bozzo, Director at Centre Dawson's. Although unable to attend the payroll officer for SouthWest, Doug Hastie, has contributed greatly to the success of this project. 

Go Community Go!!!
Alléluia! 

Rev. David

My time as a Garden Animator for Un plant de tomate à la fois with the Dawson Boys and Girls Club, in partnership with the SouthWest Mission has been an enriching experience. I am so grateful for this opportunity that allowed me to begin my career in the urban agriculture sector and discover my passion for working with youth. With the support of the amazing people I have the privilege of calling my team, I have been able to grow tremendously. I especially loved getting involved with several parts of the community, from Verdun and Riverview elementary schools, to the C.A.U.S. farmer's markets, the SouthWest United Kitchen, and the Grand Potager greenhouse. I extend my most sincere thank you to the Dawson Boys and Girls Club,  SouthWest, and the Verdun community at large. It has been an absolute pleasure.

Lauren A.

Things to remember this weekend

Daylight saving time ends Sunday November 5th at 2 a.m. That means when you go to bed Saturday you should set your clocks back one hour. So if it's 11 p.m., change it to 10 p.m. Otherwise, you might be an hour early for church in the morning!

Montrealers go to the polls this Sunday to elect our municipal representatives. You should have received a sheet in the mail telling you when and where to vote. if you didn't and think you are eligible to vote, contact Election Montreal at 514 872-VOTE (8683)

Bingo this Saturday

Every first Saturday of the month, we have Bingo at the church! There's a $5 contribution requested, and refreshments are served mid-way. Starts at 12:30 Saturday November 4th. At SouthWest United, 1445 Clemenceau in Verdun. All are welcome!

Mini-Market November 8th

Every two weeks at the Mission we have fresh produce for sale at wholesale prices. These Welcome Wednesdays are a great time to acquaint yourself with SouthWest. Our Kitchen Coordinator is in the kitchen with volunteers turning out a delicious community lunch to be served at 12:30 (Donations gratefully accepted!); the Market is in swing from 10h30 to 18h30; Rev. David and others are on hand to meet and greet!

Click below to see what will be on offer next Wednesday and to pre-order:

A Prayer for Peace

On this Remembrance Sunday (Remembrance and Hope), with 10h00 worship at SouthWest United, and 14h00 service at the Verdun Cenotaph, and as we support our local Legion through donation to the poppy fund, we pray this prayer:

God, on this day, in our remembrance, listening and gratitude, we determine for these now voiceless:
Dieu, en ce jour, dans le souvenir collectif, l'écoute et la gratitude, nous nous engageons pour ceux qui n'ont plus de voix:

To speak for truth and justice,
To resist evil wherever it is found,
To seek peace always, in our words and in our deeds!
à parler pour la vérité et la justice,
à résister au mal, la où il se trouve,
à toujours rechercher la paix, en actes et en paroles,

Hear our prayer for all here remembered,
Entend notre prière pour tous ceux dont nous faisons mémoire,
Hear our prayer of peace for all peoples of our earth.
écoute notre prière de paix pour touts les peuples de notre terre. 
Amen

Rev. David

In the kitchen this lovely November!

Dear kitchen friends,

My weekly newsletter has just become monthly : that’s less reading for you… and less writing for me, hahha !

ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER

You will find it attached. Or should I write : You will find THEM attached. In effect, there are two calendars (produced monthly by Verdun sans faim, the Verdun food security and urban agriculture concertation ‘table’, excuse my English) : the first lists all the community meals in the area, and the second, all the collective kitchen workshops, markets, and emergency food distributions. The one you want to look up for food related activities at the Mission is the second. You will find my email and phone number on the document, so if you want to register, you know where to find my contact info!

 THE Dream Team Cuisine

I am always looking for volunteers to give a hand in the kitchen. Every Wednesday morning, and every last Friday of the month, the Dream Team Cuisine (supervised by me) transforms food donations into appetizing dishes. These are either served during community meals (every second Wednesday) or frozen and offered at very low prices to the community. These food production sessions are a great experience for all: we learn as we cook, we make new friends, and go home with food for our family. You want to be part of the Dream Team ? Write to me ! I keep lists, so you can register a long time in advance.

 GRAND POTAGER IN THE KITCHEN

As of Thursday, Nov. 2nd, Grand Potager will be replacing Un plant de tomate à la fois for the evening cooking workshops (5:30-8:30 pm). The concept : let’s get creative with whatever produce is available – and what’s available at the Mission is pretty impressive ! A professional chef – Tifany Hamer, Jocelyne Bourgeois and myself – will teach you how to upgrade your cooking game. You will go home with extra skills and food for you and your family.

More info on Grand Potager’s Facebook page : Le Grand Potager.
Contribution : $10.

OF WOMEN AND MEN

The group Femmes du Monde, from Verdun’s Centre des femmes, is starting it’s collective kitchen session today, at 4:30 pm. Kids are welcome ! There will be someone to take care of them while the mums are in the kitchen. To participate, you need to be a member of the Centre des femmes (the membership is a couple of symbolic dollars) and… well, be a woman. Registration : info@centredesfemmes.org

On Thursdays, a small group of gentlemen come and cook with the GUSTO project, a collective kitchen group for seniors 65+ under the supervision of an ergotherapist. There’re only four of them, but judging by their noise and energy, you would never guess ! Concordia University, who is behind GUSTO, is recruiting for the next session. For more info, phone here : 514 848-2424 # 2247

 OF YOUNG PEOPLE TOO

The cooking class for the 10-12 year-olds (Tuesday evenings) is full. The registration process for the next session, as of January, has started.

The class for the 13+ is not full however. Encourage your teen to join the fun ! This week, I will have the team work on a community project : Riverview’s monthly spaghetti dinner. We will be making tomato sauce (with and without meat), garlic butter, fresh bread and a cheesecake.

Have a great month!

Léonore Pion
Community cook
Kitchen coordinator, SouthWest Mission
leonore.pion@gmail.com | 514 544-5264

Facebook : SouthWest Kitchens / Les cuisines du Sud-Ouest

An Honour to Wear the Poppy

Midnight in the European countryside, carrying all of their provisions, including their rifles and ammo, they waded through an ice-cold river. Then they heard the sudden order to stop and stand still. The order could last a few minutes or a few hours; for some it seemed like an eternity.  Each soldier knew that his life depended on the soldier in front of him, and that each of their actions would define the course of history.

It was a different time then, where “life and death” held more meaning to our everyday lives than they ever could today, and a time when all Canadians became brothers and sisters against one enemy. Trust amongst men was easier to find back then than in today’s wired-electronic times.

At home, the families of our returning injured troops were given a pamphlet, issued by the Canadian Armed Forces, instructing Canadians on how to “prepare” for their return home. The instructions included things like how to knit covers for their amputated limbs, how to “accommodate” for their physical handicaps, how to avoid certain discussion topics, and how to “act” upon their return home. These were the same fathers and sons who had left months ago, returned now with not only their visible scars, but with the scars that only war could bring. Amid broken families, broken hearts, broken spirits, still they found the strength to move on. For many, their return was enough, as many more did not return at all.

Our veterans are the superheroes of our proud Canadian history and are the living icons of our Canadian heritage experience. Our current good fortune is due to their sacrifices, their courage, and their pride as Canadians, to fight for their beliefs and values which our current societies seem to have forgotten. 

The leaves fall softly and silently on the ground; yet unlike our leaves, our fallen soldiers rarely went down in silence. They carried Canada’s dreams and our futures with them. Whether by taking a stand against world dictators, or to protect our own Canadian way of life, all members of our society collectively fought together as one common force.

I proudly wear the poppy each year. There is an honour behind this flower.

Wearing the poppy not only allows us to remember the people we lost in those struggles but also helps to redefine our beliefs in their personal sacrifices.

So when you see our veterans proudly selling poppies, go over and share a smile with them.

Thank them for their service, for their sacrifice of body, mind, and spirit.

Buying and wearing a poppy is the very least that they deserve from us.

Darlene