Can we ever go home again?

I have a favourite Bible: the Contemporary English Version.  It is ragged and torn, with many notations hand written on the pages over the years.  It was given to me by a beloved and active supporter of SWU – someone who, unfortunately, is no longer with us - Shirley Turner. I wonder if she knew when she gave it to me that it would travel to many places and yet find its way home again?

As I thought about my return to SWU after six years leading worship in different congregations, I remembered some words circled in that Bible and found in Matthew 8:  Jesus replied “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests.  But the Son of man doesn’t have a place to call his own.”  I wondered if Jesus was reminiscing about his home temple and thoughts of his life before he began his public ministry? You see, I too have sometimes asked myself if I had a church to really call my home? 

I have missed SWU and the community it serves.  SWU was where, at a somewhat “later” stage in life, I finally found the courage to fulfill my life long dream of serving.

SWU was the church family which supported me through my journey; first as a Licensed Lay Worship Leader in 2008 and then encouraged me in the discernment process towards my recognition as Designated Lay Minister which began in 2012 and ended in St. Andrews College in Saskatoon in 2016.

And now, Spirit has led me full circle: back to the place where it all began. Back to my “home” church.

Life is a journey with many stops and starts, leading us to places where we never imagined we would go. With faith, perseverance and, yes, a little luck, most of us  travel relatively unscathed, loving and being loved by those God places on the path with us, supporting and being supported by those who believe in us and whose beliefs we share.

I am truly blessed to be “coming home” to the church and community in which I lived until 2017.  With God, all things are possible and I embrace this opportunity to share the on-going journey with you. 

In humility, I give thanks and ask God’s blessing be upon us as we walk together to wherever Spirit may be leading us.

Beryl

Dawson Mini-Market July 9th

The Mini-market runs from 12:30 to 5PM at Dawson Boys and Girls Club, 666 Woodland ave. here are next week’s prices:

PRODUCE                                                 LBS.                 KGS.               EA

CARROTS                                                  .72                   1.60

CELERY                                                                                                       2.82

ENGLISH CUCUMBERS                                                                       1.00

WHITE MUSHROOMS                    2.83                 6.25

TOMATOES HYDRO                               1.38                  3.05

CHEF WHITE POTATOES                         .58                  2.27

TURNIP                                                     TBA

QUEBEC GARLIC                                     TBA

LEEKS                                                                                                         1.73                             

CABBAGE, GREEN                                   TBA

APPLES GOLD DELICIOUS                                                                    .59

BANANAS, TURBANA                                .77                  1.71

CLEMENTINES                                                                                         .26

LEMONS                                                                                                     .55

ORANGES                                                                                                   .33

Performers in our Midst

Curious about the theatre group that has been using our space to rehearse these last weeks? Here’s what we can tell you: It’s a young company called Just Right Productions, and the musical they are preparing is called Firebringer. It will be performed August 15 to 18th at Mainline Theatre, located at 3997 Saint Laurent boulevard, in the Plateau. The show was originally produced by Starkid in Chicago in 2016, so it’s a very new musical. This is not just the Montreal premiere but the Canadian premiere of the show!

A brief synopsis, provided by the company, is as follows: “Firebringer is a musical comedy about a tribe of cavepeople. They are led by the almighty Jemilla. When the tribe dreamer, Zazzalil introduces them to fire, everything changes. This show is lighthearted and hilarious but also deals with status and power and the privilege (and responsibility) that comes with it along with the issues it creates. “

The three founders of Just Right productions, and producers of this show, Callan Forrester, Alicia Magliocco, and Lucas Amato, met while working on shows with WISTA (West Island Student Theatre Association), a company that has received lots of praise for its full-scale productions, most recently the musical version of 9 to 5.

Firebringer is directed by Mathieu Roy. The cast includes Callan Forrester, Alicia Magliocco, Robin Kravitz, Joel Bernstein, Kaysey Ayoola, Emily Brayton, Kyle Tannahill, Lucas Amato, Camila Fitzgibbon, Julianna Astorino and Nour Malek.

Visit and Like Just Right Productions on Facebook for more information.

SouthWest Strawberry Social, July 7th

The weather’s warm, the berries are in season, and we’re celebrating a fresh start at SouthWest! Come for Pastor Beryl’s first service, stay for the strawberry shortcake!

Il fait beau, c’est la saison des fraises, et nous célébrons un nouveau départ ici à SouthWest. Soyez des nôtres pour une fête aux fraises! Dimanche, le 7 juillet, toute suite après la célébration.

Félicitations, Jean-François!

Vous l’aurez possiblement croisé à l’église en compagnie de sa femme Geneviève et de leurs deux fillettes. Mais saviez-vous que c’est Jean-François Major qui est responsable du «design» de notre site web, ainsi que notre logo et l’ensemble du «branding» de SouthWest?

C’est un gars talentueux qui, même s’il continuera à faire un peu de conception pour des clients existants, vient de se transformer en «rédacteur gentleman».

Depuis plusieurs années déjà il rédige des articles pour certains clients. Récemment il a décidé de se consacrer à ce métier à temps plein, ou presque.

Si vous avez accès à un iPad out une tablette, vous pouvez lire les contributions de Jean-François à un cahier récent paru sur La Presse + consacré au 40ième du Festival international de jazz de Montréal. Il a interviewé l’auteure-compositrice-interprète Montréalaise Charlotte Cardin.

Pour d'autres exemples de sa rédaction, vous pouvez visiter son nouveau site web ici.

---

You may have met him at church with his wife Geneviève and their two little girls. But did you know that Jean-François Major is responsible for the design of our website, as well as our logo and all the SouthWest branding?

He is a talented guy who, while continuing to do some design for existing clients, has just transformed himself into a "gentleman writer".

For several years now he has written articles for certain clients. Recently he decided to devote himself to this job full-time, or almost.

If you have access to an iPad or a tablet, you can read Jean-François’ contribution to a recent special section published on La Presse + dedicated to the 40th Montreal International Jazz Festival. He interviewed Montreal singer-songwriter Charlotte Cardin.

For other examples of his writing, you can visit his new website here.

It Only Takes a Spark

What an incredible experience this Tuesday evening: the campfire lit at the end of a super soggy rain-filled day. Songs of praise, fun, belonging and joy. Deep laughter and exuberance. I was at the Camp d’Action Biblique near Richmond, QC feeling the vibes in chapel worship and then the campfire at United Spirit Camp Esprit Unie.

Wonderful moments. Incredible stories. Deep bonding.
There is a campfire song from my youth:

 It only takes a spark
to get a fire going,
and soon all those around
can warm up in its glowing:

That’s how it is with God’s love,
once you’ve experienced it:
You spread God’s love to everyone,
you want to pass it on.

(Kurt Kaiser, 1969, VU 289)

Have you heard the questions: where have our youth gone? Why are they not in church? Where is the next generation?

We all live the constant of change. Each generation can tell the following the things that evolved in machinery, food production, communication. In a lifetime there is so much that is different. We all have stories in our families of grandparents, great great Uncles and Aunts telling of the struggles of their youth, of the Great Depression or times of War. Remember the two dollar bill, the penny? I learned the internet and the power of smart phones as an adult; new generations learn this from birth.

Faith creates sparks and songs or rituals that are adapted for different ages. Faith lives church and hope around a United Spirit Camp Esprit Unie campfire where almost one hundred people: counsellors, adults, 66 children and youth sing a benediction. Do they see in the flames what Moses saw in the burning bush: the presence of the Holy, the Unexplainable, the Mystery of Life and Interconnectedness (Exodus 3)? Do they hear the voice of God, the great I AM, of Jesus and Spirit in the incarnation of faith in the lives of leaders giving the incalculable hours, talents and enthusiasm that lets camping happen? Do they feel the Spirit of celebration and belonging, the same that was present at their baptism years before? Camp experience is filled with the Holy, the Presence of Jesus and of Spirit!  Do our youth see, hear and feel? Yes they do!!!

I had the joy of being with the six Emmanuel campers: Logan, Nolan, Elisha, Beauty, Peter and Esther and also the great pleasure of affectionate hugs from both Georgia and Theo whom I knew at SouthWest. I took a selfie like Georgia did when she was baptised at age 16, including the circle of friends around the campfire. Can it get better than this?

This was lovely, simple, heartfelt and inspiring. I was blessed to be a part of these moments, as are these youth to be part of this transformational week.

Where are our youth?

Around the campfire bonding with God, Jesus and friends.

Where are they next week?

Telling the stories of this life-changing experience.

What will we do?

Listen to their joy, their songs and let the their sparks of enthusiasm ignite the flame within us and our communities of faith!

This is change church needs: letting our youth lead us into the bonding of the campfire and Spirit flame in our midst!  Flame that consumes the unnecessary and glows bright as a beacon for all to see. It only takes a spark: pass it on!

Alléluia!

-Rev. David

BBQ a good time for all!

A big thank you off the top to Dorothy Brown for organizing the food for SouthWest’s annual St-Jean barbecue last Saturday. Thanks also to Dennis (who somehow missed getting his picture taken) and Frank for manning the barbecue. And to everyone else who pitched in to make this SWU tradition a success. The weather was fine and the turnout was strong!

Beryl and Koji

Lil, Ethel

Dorothy

Frank, Sandy

Phyllis

Thanks to Helen Pantridge for the pictures.

Summer worship: it's on at SouthWest!

SouthWest United Church would like everyone in Montreal and the South Shore to know that we are open all summer long. Join us any Sunday at 10am at 1445 Clemenceau in Verdun. It’s a beautiful drive from the West Island along the Lakeshore and LaSalle Boulevards. Why not pack a bathing suit and plan to spend the afternoon at the new Verdun beach?

June 25 Mini-market

Tuesdays between 12:30 and 5PM, drop by and say hello to Sheila and Maurice at Dawson Boys and Girls Club (666 Woodland ave.). Here’s what the Mini-market will have for sale next week, June 25th.

PRODUCE                                          LBS.           KGS.          EACH     

CARROTS                                     .72               1.60
CAULIFLOWER                                                                    2.58
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS                                                        .83
GREEN ONIONS                                                                    .56
SPANISH ONIONS                      .77               1.69
RED PEPPERS                          2.15              4.73
CHEF WHITE POTATOES          .58               1.27
TOMATO HYDRO                      1.29               2.85
WHITE  MUSHROOMS             2.84               6.25
GRANNY SMITH APPLES                                                    .55
BANANAS, TURBANA              .77             1.71
CLEMENTINES                                                                     .26

National Indigenous Peoples Day

Friday June 21st, is National Indigenous Peoples Day. As you know, the final report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women was issued earlier this month. It is a monster of a report, some 1200 pages. Out of that, unfortunately, some of us have heard only one word, “genocide”.

It is upsetting for us to hear our country – and ourselves, as Canadians – accused of such a crime. But we must try to remember that this report is not about us and our hurt feelings. It is about communities from coast to coast to coast living in intolerable poverty, lacking medical care, and still suffering the fallout from Residential Schools.

What does all of that have to do with Missing and Murdered women, you might ask; shouldn’t the report have stayed focused on them? I believe the writers of the report could not honour those women and girls without putting their stories into the larger context.

Instead of squabbling over a single word, can we take the opportunity of this Indigenous Peoples Day to simply acknowledge that we as a country need to do better? By the way, nobody is saying that Indigenous peoples have a monopoly on suffering, but they have had collective experiences that most non-Indigenous Canadians have not. If you don’t believe me, next time you meet a First Nations, Inuit or Metis person, ask them if their family has been touched by murder or violent death. I can almost guarantee you the answer will be yes.

Find out about the United Church of Canada’s commitment to Reconciliation and Justice as well as other social justice initiatives of the church here.