History Project 2

Have you seen these photos before? They belong to a series taken in November 1947 at the laying of the cornerstone of Crawford Park United.  This was at the completion of the lower story of the building. The “superstructure” including the current sanctuary, was completed in 1952.
There was a Salvation Army band present for the ceremony and in one of these pictures, the assembled ministers and dignitaries are clearly singing - a hymn, we presume! Somewhere in the records, it probably says what they sang, but I haven’t found it out yet. Apart from the musicians who are not identified, we know that the gentlemen pictured are (left to right)

Rev. J. I MacKay, United Church Superintendent for Eastern Canada.
Rev. J.C. Downing, who had been appointed Minister of Crawford Park Church the previous summer, and had just moved in to the newly-built manse next door.
Rev. J.K Brown, who had been a Supply Minister for the congregation over the previous four years as they worshipped in the schoolhouse.
Edward Wilson, Mayor of Verdun from 1939-1960, wearing his trademark bowtie.
Rev. R. Purvis-Smith, another of the supply ministers from the schoolhouse years
Mr. G. Tetreault, who is mostly hidden here, is a bit of a mystery. At first I thought he was the bricklayer who appears in the other picture. And there is a masonry company in Verdun today with the name Léo Tetreault. However, there was also an alderman (sort of the equivalent of today’s borough councillors) in the 40s named Gérard Tetreault, so it could be him.
Rev. Morrison, Past Chairman of Montreal-Quebec Presbytery.
Rev. Dewitt Scott, Presbytery Secretary.

The cornerstone can still be seen to the right of the front door of the church. It reads “1947”.

Beryl's Blog: The Storms of Life

Our third Sunday in the Season of Creation is Storm Sunday.  Again, to quote from Seasons of the Spirit:

“In ancient times people of most cultures, not understand­ing the intricate workings of things such as weather or health, tended to see God at work in all of it. If someone got sick, it was punishment from God for something. If there was “bad” weather (which could be almost anything), it was seen again as God’s punishment. Nowadays, many of us tend to be reluctant to do that, for we can more readily under­stand the logic behind air pressure, or bacteria, or the other factors that so easily influence the weather and our health. One might even wonder, who needs faith? Except that faith doesn’t really have any connection to such things, other than the solid awareness that God is with us, no matter what.”

Our reading this Sunday is from the Gospel of Luke (8:22–25). A storm suddenly appears and the disciples are filled with terror as the boat begins to take on water.  Meanwhile, Jesus sleeps peacefully and, on awakening, cannot understand what all the fuss is about!  Jesus asks his disciples “where is your faith?”

In life, storms happen.  Faith, more faith, better faith, stronger faith, the right kind of faith do not eliminate the storms of our lives. 

Faith does not change the storm.  Faith changes us.

Faith does not take us around the storm, but through the storm.

Faith allows us to see and know that we are not alone.

Faith is what allows us to be still, to be peaceful, in the midst of the storm.

What is faith to you?

Join us on Sunday to hear the story and see that even the disciples, Jesus’ closest friends and followers, struggled with faith and doubt.

We are indeed in good company as we journey together, in faith!

Beryl

Holly Tea: Silent Auction

SouthWest will kick off the Christmas season this year, as so many years in the past, with a Holly Tea, to take place on Saturday November 30th. Along with the usual refreshments and crafts for sale, we will be trying something a little different: a Silent Auction.

We are asking your help in finding new items to auction off. They don’t have to be big ticket items, but we suggest a minimum value of $20. Do you have a business, or know someone with a business that might be willing to donate something? Gift certificates - for restaurants, hairdressers, gyms etc. - could work too. Are you an artist or artisan willing to donate a work? Everyone who donates something to the auction will be thanked in our promotional materials and on our website.

Get in touch with the office by phone 514 768-6231, or e-mail, southwestunited@gmail.com.

Swap Corner

From time to time, we will post about items that people are looking for or items they have to give away. This week, one of our friends is offering an almost-new single mattress and a wooden kitchen set (table and four chairs). The table is round with a leaf that when it is put in makes it oblong. There is also a rocking chair that matches the set. These are to be given away, but if interested, you will have to arrange pickup yourself. Contact the SouthWest office before September 25th (Wednesday). 514 768-6231.

Passages: Bill Buchanan

We regret to announce that Bill Buchanan passed away on Monday at his home in Ville Emard at the age of 104. Pastor Beryl will lead a celebration of his life at SouthWest United this Saturday, with eulogy by Rev. Linda Buchanan, Bill’s grand-daughter. The family will welcome visitors in the church hall on Friday, September 20th from 6 to 9 PM. The funeral will take place Saturday, September 21st at 2PM.

Read the obit in the Montreal Gazette here

Bill in his WWII uniform.

Some of the “Bridge Gang” at SWU in 2011 : Bill Buchanan, Myrtle Buchanan, Margaret Craig, Helen Cameron, Matthew Craig, and Marvin Smith.

Open Air Coffee Hour with Local Councillors / Café-rencontre plein air

FRANÇAIS CI-DESSOUS

This invitation comes from Marie-Andrée Mauger, one of our borough councillors. The piece of land being discussed is right up the block from the church. Come by on September 21st and have your say!

On Saturday, September 21st, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., join Sterling Downey, Luc Gagnon, and myself in the green space at the intersection of Ouimet and Clémenceau Streets in Crawford Park for an open-air coffee hour. There are plans to develop a public place in this overlooked spot which connects to Queen Elizabeth Park via a pathway. It's a forgotten jewel that needs some TLC! We'll also canvass local residents on the possibility of a "Play in the Street" initiative for Foch, Lloyd George, and Dunver Crescents. Join us to share your visions for Crawford Park. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Le samedi 21 septembre entre 13h et 15h, Sterling Downey, Luc Gagnon et moi-même vous invitons à un café-rencontre en plein air dans l’espace vert angle Ouimet et Clémenceau dans Crawford. Un projet de placette publique est envisagé dans cet espace oublié qui connecte au parc de la Reine-Élizabeth via un sentier. Un joyau de Crawford à mettre en valeur. Aussi, avec la volonté des résidents, une initiative «Jouer dans la rue» pourrait voir le jour dans les croissants Foch, Llyod-George et Dunver. Venez nous parler de vos idées et souhaits pour le secteur Crawford. Au plaisir!

Beryl's Blog: Flora and Fauna Sunday

Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. - Genesis 1:11-12 

This Sunday marks our second Sunday in creation and, once again, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some thoughts from Seasons of The Spirit.  “This world is a fragile thing.  In the song The Stories of the Street, Leonard Cohen wrote We are so small between the stars, yet so large against the sky.  Such a truth reminds us that we can feel at one moment large and important, and at another small and insignificant”.

 This week, our Scripture readings challenge us to see ourselves as a part of God’s created world, as part of the fauna, dependent on the flora, or this amazing thing we call the world.

We will be encouraged to ask ourselves some hard questions:  Where do we fit in?  How does the things we do – and think – and say – affect the world around us?

In our inflated sense of self-importance, it is hard to see that Creator God has things in hand - if only we would get out of the way and recognize that God’s plans for the universe are better than ours!

Some sobering and humbling thoughts as we watch the ice caps melt and the rain forests burn.

 Please join us for worship this Sunday.

Beryl

Chez Doris seeks donations

As you may have heard in the news, the downtown women’s shelter Chez Doris is in dire need of donations of clothing for the growing number of homeless women who use their services. In particular, they are seeking new women’s underwear in all sizes, as well as footless leggings. They will take used clothing as long as it is clean and undamaged. The same goes for bedding.

If you have items to donate, let’s collect them in the trusty box in the church entrance (yes, the one with the Christmas wrapping!) and I will bring them to Chez Doris towards the end of September.

Amy

The History Project 1

UPDATE: Thanks to Sandra Allen and others, we think we have all the names! This was a UCW luncheon for senior members given by “junior” members, in December 1995.

Front row: Louise Smith, Myrtle Buchanan, Bunny Craig, Gladys Bush, Mary McDowall(?), Phyllis Dearn (?), Marg Bowker

Back row: Vera Leszkowicz, Agnes Ackerman, Jean Gillebrand, Hazel Long, Jean Gallup, June Pettes, Pauline Anderson, Doris Purcell, Lina Ludlow, Iris Allen.

Here at SouthWest, we have a lot of history! We can trace it all the way back to 1899 with the founding of Verdun Methodist Church. A lot of paperwork was recently sent to the National Archives, but we still have heaps of photos lying around that are not labelled. The image above just says “1995” on the back, but none of the ladies are identified. It was taken in our church hall (Crawford Park United at the time) and the matching corsages suggest the ladies were being honoured for something. With your help, I’m hoping to put names to as many faces as possible. Call or e-mail the office if you can help! 514-768-6231. southwestunited@gmail.com

Also, a few weeks back, along with an interview, I ran a wedding picture of Dorothy and Dennis Brown, with Rev. Jones at Verdun United. It seems that wedding couples were often posed in a similar way as they signed the register. The picture below recently came to light. Can anyone identify the couple? Do you have your own wedding photo to add to the collection? I’d love to hear from you.

Amy

Breakfast Club needs a stove

Having our office and Mission located in Verdun Elementary School for twelve years, we formed ties with the staff and students there, ties that remain even though we are no longer a daily presence. Our commitment to VES can be seen in the School Supplies drive undertaken this August.

The Breakfast Club program at VES was always a partnership between the school and the Mission, and we are happy that it will continue in the space. Although we are no longer there, feeding schoolchildren is still a cause the SWU congregation feels strongly about. We will continue to support the Breakfast Club as we are able.

That said, we’ve been informed that one of the two stoves the Breakfast Club uses is kaput! They are looking for a donation of a second-hand stove in working order, preferably with delivery, but that can be discussed. Their wish list also includes new or next-to-new cookie sheets.

If you or someone you know is getting rid of an old stove, please get in touch with the SouthWest office. 514 768-6231.

Thank you.