Love Grows Here

"... so we, who are many, are one body in Christ..."

Re-establishing the ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada at St. Andrew's in Pender Harbour has been a cooperative, community endeavor from the beginning. It remains so.

From the First Sunday of Advent - our first Sunday here, we have been impressed by the eagerness of parishioners to help make things happen. Kate Walker and Carrie Shaw kept telling us we needed to paint the Hall and then, of course, we needed a new floor to go with it. They researched prices, picked out and picked up supplies, chose colors, and got us going. Dorothy Harrowing is the queen of hospitality, while husband Stew checked out our sound system and whether or not we had a moisture problem with the Hall carpet. Edmund Arceo set up our web site and invited the Downton Singers, a group he sings with, to perform here. Pamela Barclay offered her skills as communications coordinator and reader and sides person. Nancy Howell did the kitchen make over. Penny Lang worked away in the grounds and sang at worship on several occasions. Penny Govett cleaned the church, mowed the grass, and planted flowers up the cliff behind the altar. And who can forget Peter Ward firing up his chain saw to do some necessary pruning? Keith Shaw was lead hand for the laminated floor installation in the Hall. Edith Troup has been riding her bike up from Sechelt on Sunday mornings to play the organ. Alan and Margaret Skelley, Denise Mackay, and Heather Forward have helped wherever they could.

On Holy Saturday we had a workday and in that very special in-between place, while we painted the Hall, worked on the grounds, decorated the church for Easter, and laughed and talked over lunch together, we became aware of the new life springing up among us.

It was a long, tiring day and when it was done St. Andrew's was transformed. Heather, a long time resident of Pender Harbour, said it for us all "I've never seen the church look so lovely."

Indeed. Something is happening at St. Andrew's. We cannot say where it is going or even whether it will survive, but we do know where it comes from. It comes from the love and dedication of a great many Christians from various levels in the church each doing the ministry to which God has called them.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Sprit for the common good."

It is these various services and activities, these different ministries activated by the same Spirit, this new beginning in ministry, that we are here to celebrate this afternoon.

Shalom!

Celia & Bob

The above is an excerpt from the bulletin published for the Celebration of New Ministry held on July 16, 2006

view the bulletin in PDF

.......................................................................................................................................................................