St. Marys Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 247,147 Widder Street East,
St. Marys, Ontario N4X 1B1
(519)284-2620;(519)284-0367 (fax) stmaryspreschurch@on.aibn.com
Connect to Presbyterian Church in Canada
Helping Hands
Next meeting, Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
The Helping Hands hold nine monthly meetings each year on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Each meeting has a theme, program, possibly a speaker and a lunch. They are responsible for staffing and supplies in the church nursery. They provide funds for the Junior Choir, Camp Kintail registration, mission projects, shut in gifts at Christmas and Easter, "Stepping Out" meals, and support of church functions. They are a lively group of women who welcome newcomers into their fellowship.
Helping Hands
The Helping hands, first known as the Young Helpers, were formed in 1974 by Pauline Tozer, the wife of Rev. Vern Tozer. We began as a group of young women and mothers for religious study, staffing the nursery and social time. Over the years our roll in the church has changed as the Ladies Aid disbanded and the Friendship Auxiliary found it more difficult to cater to events.
In 2011, we have a membership of nineteen ladies. We have volunteered to be responsible for staffing the church nursery, cleaning the kitchen, arranging lunches for Anniversary Sunday and the Annual meeting Sunday. Since 2007, we have prepared and served 34 funeral lunches for members of our congregation and community. We cater to small weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, banquets and special occasions held at the church. With the monies from these events and the help of husbands, we supplied and painted the fellowship hall, bought tables and new chairs, a new stove and refrigerator and supplies for the kitchen. We also donate money to the church for church maintenance, such as window repairs. The Salvation Army, House of Blessing, Change Her World, Camp Kintail and individuals have received donations from our group.
This year I was fortunate to be a commissioner to the 137th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, held in London the first week of June. Our former minister, Rev. Dr. Rick Horst was inducted as the Moderator of the 137th Assembly. In June I shared with the congregation and our group my experience and information about the assembly. At the September meeting I spoke about Presbyterians Sharing and showed a short video. In October we joined with the Friendship Auxiliary to learn more about the Women's Missionary Society from Lois Horne, Presbytery President. For the February 29 meeting we will be studying Presbyterian World Service and Development.
Our meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the lounge. If you feel the call to help the church in a large or small way, perhaps you could help in the nursery, donate food for the luncheons, help with a program or in the kitchen. Friendships are formed as we dry dishes together.
Rev Gwen (PG’s Catering), with the help of Riley Richardson, have graciously offered to prepare the Christmas Banquet for the Friendship Auxiliary and the Helping Hands as well as any other ladies of the church. Carol Hamilton and Linda Willis will speak on their trip to Africa for Change Her World. Most of the $14.00 cost of the ticket for the meal will be donated to a Catholic Mission in the Dominican Republic that Riley visited last year. Reserve a place by calling Doris Webb 519 284 3023 or Lois McIntosh 519 284 1156
Submitted by Lois McIntosh, Helping Hands
Friendship Auxiliary
Next Gathering - Tuesday, January 17, 2:00 p.m. (Home of Willy Drost)
The Friendship Auxiliary hosted the Fall Rally of the Huron-Perth W.M.S. Presbyterial. It proved to be a wonderful event with 55 people attending. We had many good speakers including our own Rev. Gwen Ament, who spoke about the seven areas of Native Ministry, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church. A panel of six women, who attended the National Presbyterian Women's gathering in Richmond Hill last May, had enthusiastic reports of this meeting. They each talked about a different speaker or workshop they took part in. There will be another women's gathering in the future and they encouraged us to consider going , as it is a marvelous opportunity for all women of the Presbyterian Church to come together for an exciting time of faith and learning. 550 women and a few men came from all over Canada, so watch for the next one!
submitted by Willy Drost, secretary of the Friendship Auxiliary.
The Struggles of an Aging W.M.S.
Written by W. Drost
Most of the local groups and Presbyterials
are suffering from the same chronic conditions.
Aging members, trouble attracting newcomers
and difficulty filling executive positions.
The right time for meetings is hard to get.
Afternoons are better for older members,
evenings better for the younger set.
‘Changes’ and ‘restructuring’ are words we hear a lot.
Promote W.M.S. to all, not just older women.
OLDER WOMEN??? Let me get something perfectly clear,
Surely, they couldn’t mean any of us here!
For older women, we sure get around.
All over the map, we can be found.
We go to Presbyterials,
And we go to Synodicals,
For there is strength in numbers –
yes, we make sure no one tumbles.
A variety of programs we present,
A biblical Fashion Show was one event!
We study and learn about current affairs
Like the sex trade and slave trade, all things to beware!
We laugh and we learn, we sing and we pray,
Building great fellowship all along the way.
Our W.M.S. helps so many people,
The middlers, and elders and younger ones too!
To give you idea of things that we do,
I’ve taken the time to list just a few.
We make dancing streamers for children in Peru,
We knit pneumonia vests and tiny caps
For babies in Malawi, so they don’t shiver during their naps,
We make prayer shawls for boarding homes people indeed,
Comforting them in their hour of need.
Our W.M.S. is willing to serve, no matter who, no matter where.
And you can be sure, that the W.M.S. will remember you in prayer.
Ladies' Aid
The mandate of the Ladies’ Aid Society has been to support our Church. Recently $1,500 has been given to the Board of Managers for the General Fund of the Church, the Sunday School has also been remembered as well as The Memorial Fund in memory of four Society members who have recently passed away.
This disbursement of funds bring to a close the Society known as the Ladies' Aid Society of St. Marys Presbyterian Church as of 2007.
We are very appreciative that the Helping Hands Group have graciously taken over the organizing of after funeral luncheons.
THE LADIES' AID
The old church bell had long been cracked;
Its call was but a groan;
It seemed to sound a funeral knell
With every broken tone.
"We need a bell," the brethren said,
"But taxes must be paid;
We have no money we can spare . . .
Just ask the Ladies' Aid."
The shingles on the roof were old;
The rain came down in rills;
The brethren slowly shook their heads
And spoke of "monthly bills".
The chairman of the board arose,
And said, "I am afraid
That we shall have to lay the case
Before the Ladies' Aid."
The carpet had been patched and patched
Till quite beyond repair,
And through the aisles and up the steps
The boards showed, hard and bare.
"It is too bad," the brethren said;
An effort must be made
To raise an interest on the the part
Of members of the Aid."
The preacher's stipend was behind;
The poor man blushed to meet
The grocer and the butcher as
They passed him on the street;
But nobly spake the brethren then;
With slopes of ease on either side,
The path 'tis hard to keep;
We cannot climb the heights alone,
Our hears are sore dismayed;
We ne'er shall get to heaven at all
Without the Ladies' Aid."
Author Unknown