Action Day on School Nutrition

SouthWest Kitchens will be preparing some 275 healthy lunches for the students of Verdun Elementary on Thursday, September 20th. Wow!

The action is being undertaken by a collective of Montreal-based community organizations and NGOs who are calling on provincial parties to commit to providing healthy lunches that highlight local and sustainable products in all schools in Quebec. Bilingual press release below.

Meet the Candidates/ Rencontre avec les candidats

ENGLISH BELOW

Derrière les partis politiques, il y a des hommes et des femmes engagés. Qui sont-ils? Qui sont les candidats de Verdun aux élections provinciales? Qu’est-ce qui les animent et quels sont leurs enjeux prioritaires? Voilà ce à quoi veut répondre cette rencontre d’idées le 19 septembre à 18h30 à la Mission du Sud-Ouest.

Les 6 candidats de Verdun seront assis chacun à une table et par « tranche » de 12 minutes de petits groupes pourront échanger avec eux sur divers sujets. C’est presqu’un « speed dating politique »! L’idée est de vous donner réellement la chance d’échanger, d’argumenter et surtout de mieux connaître chacun des candidats. Vous pourrez ainsi faire un choix éclairé pour les élections!

Cette événement est ouvert à tous les Verdunois: familles, aînés, franco/anglo... les enfants sont les bienvenue! (Baby friendly)

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Behind the political parties, there are committed men and women. Who are they? Who are #Verdun's candidates in the provincial elections? What drives them and what are their priority issues? That's what this meeting of ideas means to answer on September 19th at 6:30PM at SouthWest Mission.

The 6 candidates from Verdun will each sit at a table and small groups will be able to discuss with them on various topics for 12 minute "slices" of time. It's almost a political speed dating! The idea is to really give you the chance to exchange, to argue and especially to better know each candidate. You will be able to make an informed choice for the elections!

This event is open to all Verduners: families, seniors, franco / anglo ... children are welcome! (Baby friendly)

Minister's Message: Revealing What is Hidden

In the metro heading home I looked around and saw that everyone was using their cell phones, either for emails, texting, games or music. Younger, older, students, teachers, people of all cultures: all with their heads lowered. There were no exceptions!
People appeared tuned out of their immediate surroundings and tuned into other places via the internet. As for me? I looked up, observed this reality and returned to my draft blog post (on my device)!
Remember the buzz a few years ago, that the internet would bring us together? It has, all around the world, but not necessarily to those who are next to us on the metro, bus or even our neighbours next door. Like most things, there is an up side and a down side.

The gospel of Luke (8: 16-18) has the following words of Jesus:

‘No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be known and illuminated. Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.’

As a community of faith we are all about relationships. With God, through Jesus, with ourselves and others. We are lamps uncovered, not hidden, shining into various situations and lives. It is light that reveals what is concealed and illuminates hearts and minds with grace and hope. At the core of this text is an exhortation as to how we listen and observe.
My experience in the metro is repeated daily for all of us whether in our primary relationships, at the grocery store or when out for a walk. There is less engagement with people; cell phones lower our eyes and we protect ourselves from others. It is a great challenge to look people in the eyes and be present to them as light, in a common humanity and with openness. If we cannot find the way of being light inviting others in relationship then even what we have may be taken from us. For as followers of Jesus we are called in a fundamental and basic way to listen and observe, engage and share, and in seeking authentic relationships to be a compassionate presence to others. What a challenge this has been and remains for all of us.
Risking being light in the metro means lifting my head, putting away my cell phone, and at a minimum, holding in prayer the needs of those surrounding me.
My human gaze, my smile, my openness to engage are conduits of light. 
Are you nervous yet? I am.
Following Jesus is for those courageous disciples who want to live the intersection of faith and everyday life. If there is hope for ‘church’ it is in seeking out and living human contact in the every day. It is in sharing the story of faith.

Bless O God, our human regard, our eyes with compassion and our hearts with the willingness to be present to those lives intersecting with us everyday. 
Grant us courage to be present to others and ourselves.

Rev. David

Mini-market September 12 septembre

With this year's harvest coming in, we are very happy to have Mini-market back at the Mission every second Wednesday. Join us September 12th between 10:30 and 3:30 for low prices on fresh produce. Consider calling or e-mailing your order in ahead of time using the price list (click on the button below).
As always on Wednesdays, a light lunch will also be on offer at 12:30. All are welcome, donations gratefully accepted.

Labyrinth Walk in Montreal West

September Food Calendars

Did you know that every week day, seniors can drop in to a Snack Bar (casse-croûte) at the Centre des ainés located in the Marcel Giroux community centre, any time between 10AM and 3PM? This is just one resource to discover by consulting these monthly calendars put out by Verdun sans faim. One focuses on community meals, the second on markets, food banks and collective kitchens.

Saviez-vous que chaque semaine, de lundi à vendredi, 10H à 15H, les ainés sont acceuillis au Casse-croûte du Centre des ainés localisé au Centre communautaire Marcel-Giroux? Ceci n'est qu'un des ressources alimentaires à découvrir dans les calendriers mensuels fourmis par Verdun sans faim. Où manger vous dirige vers les repas communautaires; Ou cuisiner est votre resource en épiceries à bas prix et cuisines collectives.

Minister's message: Remembering Together

It is one of the things best done in community. Whether a celebration of life service, a candle lighting or gentle prayer, we remember those who die. We pause to give thanks for life, always, and believe that life is sacred both at birth and at death.
Faith expresses itself often through music. One of my favorite hymns was written by Nathalie Sleeth (Voices United 703):

In the bulb, there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

My Mom made a stole filled with images of life, death and rising again: the sun awakening our gardens in the spring, the transformation of caterpillars, the resiliency of nature. I wear it with gratitude and pride. Hope roots our celebrations. Death does not have the final word. Paul wrote: "If Christ has not been raised from death, then you have nothing to believe.//But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised." (1 Corinthians 15: 14, 20). This is our hope.
Over the weekend we remembered together,
Ruth Davie Harrison in a celebration of life at l’Actuelle Funeral home;
John Whitehead in the lighting of a Memorial Candle during Sunday worship by his family;
Baby Noah William Durocher McKeirnon in the presence of those who loved him.
We express our condolences to all families in their time of loss.
We root ourselves in hope and affirm that in the bulb there is a flower!

Rev. David

Un bour-geon cache u-ne ro-se; un pé-pin donne un pom-mier;
les co-cons mé-ta-mor-pho-sent, les pa-pil-lons co-lo-rés !
Dans l’hi-ver et ses froi-du-res dé-jà se tient le prin-temps:
se ré-vè-lent tes pro-mes-ses, Dieu, si mer-veil-leu-se-ment.

Apple picking/ Ride for Refuge: Two Events with Montreal City Mission

Ride For Refuge - September 29th 2018
The annual bike-a-thon is fast approaching.

Once again WE NEED YOU to make our annual bike-a-thon a success!

In order to sustain our services to vulnerable migrants we need the support of our community of friends more than ever!

Please show your support by biking or walking along with us and making a donation.

Neighbourhood Party September 29/ Fête de quartier 29 sept.

Breakfast Club Update

Remember these faces? They will be back at Breakfast Club for the new school year.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, SouthWest/Verdun Elementary will not be able to start the program until September 12th this year. On that day, which is a Wednesday, breakfast will be served in the school cafeteria. You are invited to bring your children between 7:30 and 7:45AM (8AM for bus riders) on that day.

You can download a registration form below to fill out at home or just pick one up on the first day. It is important that we collect these forms from all children participating in Breakfast Club so that we are aware of any allergies and have parents' contact information in case of an emergency.

Breakfast Club should move back into the Mission towards the end of September when all the renovations are finished. We apologize for the inconvenience, and look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces soon!

Please note the form has been updated since last week, and info has been added about volunteering!