S P R E A D T HE N E W S Produced in Upper Nappan Nova Scotia ISSUE #74 JUNE 2017 Contact Jean Smith 902-667-8748 cjsmith@eastlink.ca "What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." Quoting Gertrude Jekyll, a British horticulturist, garden designer and writer, who created gardens in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. Died in 1932, age 89. June... Half a year is gone. RALLY DAY...Come and gone; Memories remain Even amid the rain that continued during the June 17 UCW and Friends visit to Bouctouche, NB site of the Irving Plantation, Memorial Chapel, The Barn and the Elizabethan Gardens, there was no evidence of a damping of Spirit, enthusiasm, hospitality and gratitude. Several pages in this issue of Spread the News from various contributors sharing pictures and comments cover the event well. Thank you to all who sent your stuff. Although we could not walk the paths, including Weeping Willow Road and White Lilac Path, our women from Amherst took a car tour around some of this beautiful well appointed 20 acre sanctuary, and took heed of the inscription on leaving the area Haste ye back. We all agreed we would return to further explore this place when and if opportunity comes knocking again. Thanks to all the organizers, well done! I apologize for the lateness of The Spread this month. It was agreed that it would be readied following the Rally to allow content from that event to be included. Several days spent waiting for material to come in to my inbox to save...and then life got in the way of the E zine s production has there ever been a busier week? It s been days filled with meetings, celebration closings of church groups, and then there s the flock. Charles and Jean Smith have been busy separating the lamb crop from the mothers, moving out some 30 ewes to settle in new homes with new owners, shearing day for the few ewes chosen to stay with us. We have decided to venture out into uncharted places, to become shepherds to almost unheard of breds of sheep in the Maritimes Painted Desert Sheep and Barbados Black Belly Sheep, expecting they will be more easier maintained, easier for these old bodies to handle. So, we anxiously await the arrival of the truck coming from Alberta on July 6 to bring to us our eleven new charges. It should be fun! Jean Smith
June 2017 - P2 Many thank-yous to those involved Spring Rally Day gets an A+ Submitted to The Spread by SHERI GOULD Rally Organizer On behalf of McKee s Mills United Church, I would like to extend a BIG thank you to all the ladies that attended the Spring Rally in Bouctouche on Saturday June 17th. Despite the rain, I quickly realized that the sun was not needed to have a successful Spring Rally or to enjoy the company of so many wonderful ladies! Hats off to all those who helped make this day so fantastic. The day would not have started off as perfect as it did without the help of all the ladies that prepared the tea and coffee, muffins and other treats. A special thank you goes to Betty Kay, Karen Mitton, Deanna Atkinson, Judy Steeves, Linda Price, Jo-Ann Hicks, Janice Carter, Sheila Steeves, Myrna Ward and Doris Brown. I would like to extend a very special thank you to Karen Mitton for arranging the details which allowed us the opportunity to celebrate together at the Irving Memorial Chapel, The Barn and the Irving Arboretum/Elizabethan Gardens. A gracious thank you to Mrs. Irving for allowing us to use this beautiful spot for the day! Our day started off with a warm and sunny greeting from Anna Peters, thank you Anna! Karen Mitton did a spectacular job educating us all on the fascinating history of the Irving Memorial Chapel, thank you Karen! This was followed by Janet Coates inspiring and Spirit-moving reflection on Searching for Inner Peace. Thank you once again Janet for sharing your gifts and spending the day with us. Morning reflection was followed by a Hymn Sing. Who could forget the Hymn Sing? We did not miss a beat, note or a second. Wonderful hymn selections were made by the ladies and I am certain we could have spent all day just singing. A special thank you goes out to Gloria Jackson who played the organ and to Barb Sinclair who spontaneously and gracefully played the piano for us. You two ladies did an amazing job. I m not too sure how many of the ladies went to the Farmer s Market in the rain, but I do know of some that drove through the Gardens and some who went to the Open House at Kent Homes. I hope you all found something memorable to do during the free time despite the rain. I also hope that you found something that sparked an interest to come back and visit beautiful Bouctouche, NB. The buffet at Le Pays De La Sagouine was AWE- SOME! WOW! I think we can all agree that the food and staff were fantastic. Thank you to Anna Peters who lead us in a melodic blessing Grace to the tune of I se The B y That Builts The Boat. Once reassembled at the Irving Memorial Chapel, Rev. Keller wrapped up our day with a beautiful benediction, thank you Rev. Keller! Once again, thank you to those who provided support, helped in any way and most of all to those who attended the Spring Rally. It was so nice to put a face to names and meet you all in person. My hope is that we meet again soon! Blessings, Sheri Gould The rally planning team (not all are in the photo) from McKees Mills, Rexton and area.
Spread The News JUNE 2017 - P3 Bouctouche NB UCW Rally Snap-shots Oodles of photos were sent to The Spread captured by camera and cell phone owners at the day-away UCW Rally in Bouctouche, NB, June 17. It was a difficult task to select a few from the many! Pages 3, 4, 5 rally photos submitted by Sheri Gould, Jean Smith, Linda Sweezey. Morning refreshments and fellowship gathering in The Barn near the entrance to the Irving Plantation. (Pictured clockwise), Salisbury arrives! Ralliers come from Bridgedale, Shediac and Amherst. And thank you to those dear folk who graciously serve the many shown here Sheri Gould and Karen Mitton.
Spread The News JUNE 2017 - P4 RALLY DAY SNAPSHOTS Pictured above, inside the Irving Memorial Chapel, ralliers gather for singing and to hear site information from Karen Mitton and a meditation by Janet Coates. Right: Gloria Jackson, Rexton, NB organ player, waits in the lobby of the chapel for the arrival of the 60 or more who gathered. Left: Karen Mitton and Myrna Ward, members of the rally organizing team. and a painting of the chapel on a lower level wall.
Spread The News JUNE 2017 - P5 SISTER REUNION Photo by Linda Sweezey Four sisters met up at the UCW Rally. Pictured with Olive Ritchie (centre) are sisters Alice Baxter, Carol Paige, Leola Dewolfe and Gwen Mahoney. The photo was taken inside the Irving Memorial Chapel. FINE DINING EXPERIENCE AT LE PAYS DE LA SAGOUINE The noon luncheon on Rally Day in Bouctouche brought the 60 women to Le Pays De La Sagouine Restaurant, where they were served up a buffet of French dishes, along with the great hospitality of the staff. St. James in Petiticodiac was one of the largest groups to attend, pictured right are some of the women of their UCW. Below, the diners found a walk about the site following the meal was a good idea. Shown here, below, the Amherst women out on a stroll-about, and from Bridgedale Pastoral Charge (left) are Linda Sweezey and Diane Wood.
A LETTER FROM CAMP Hello Ladies, It was an awesome but a long meeting at camp last night so I will fill you in on some of what is happening. Camps are starting to have registrations come in, we have had some water leaks and toilet problems but all are being fixed and ready for Family Camp next weekend, June 30th to July 2nd. Still time to pack up a grandchild and head off to a weekend of fun camping and Canada Day celebrations. I hear there is also going to be cake and fireworks as well as lots of other fun camping stuff. There s a new colorful design for camp tee's this summer and new benches for the fire pit. Thanks so much for all the UCW groups donations to camp for sponsorship s, regular funds and for our bathroom makeover. Plans are in the works and we have a quote of just under $1,000 with a bit more for some added niceties to finish it off. Our thanks also to Doris Brown for the new curtains in Sand Castle, beautiful material and they look delightful on the windows. More next month ladies as camp gets underway. Check out our camp Facebook page lots of interesting stuff and pictures to enjoy on there. LOIS BUDD, YOUR UCW CAMP TA WA SI REPRESENTATIVE JUNE 2017 - P6 The Spread heard from our Bouctouche ralliers There was, I am certain, a lot of commentary, descriptive narratives and simple Wow, that was a great day! expressed around when those who travelled to Bouctouche NB for the Spring UCW Rally met again, and I am sure those who were not able, but wanted to be there, were remiss on their absence on hearing the retelling of this great Saturday for our Presbyterial women and their friends. Spread The News did receive a couple of written messages from the Salisbury women to share: Jackye Colpitts wrote: It was a lovely Rally and Janet Coates was her awesome self. She is so good at spiritual events and sermons. She can turn a good story into a great story and she has such great presentation. I could attend one of her services every day of the week. And Doris Brown wrote: Three of the ladies that came with me, are not UCW members, but enjoy attending various functions that the UCW have, and this time, on the way home, as well as on Sunday morning, everyone seemed to be talking about it, and one of the top discussion was the practice of colouring prayers. Everyone seemed to really enjoy Janet s presentation. With the many requests for it, perhaps Janet Coates meditation and instructions on centering and intersessional praying in colouring may be made available to publish in an upcoming summer issue of The Spread. Building the Irving Memorial Chapel a task of love The Irving Memorial Chapel in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, was dedicated in June of 2004. It has been built to be a replica of a Scottish Kirk to reflect the Scottish heritage of the Irvings. People are awed by its interior beauty of stone and wood. The large beams are douglas fir trees which were shipped from British Columbia and help to give the illusion of the inverted hull of a boat. Cedar, cherry and oak are the woods that play a part in the construction of the interior. The images in the stained glass windows reflect lessons from God's Word. The window is in memory of Mr. and Mrs. K.C. Irving by their three sons and their families. The roof tiles are slate and the outside walls of the Chapel were hand-picked field stones from various places in New Brunswick. Wallers from Wales and Scotland built the Celtic stone walls, without mortar, that surround the perimeter of the Plantation. The Chapel is non-denominational and worship services are held throughout the summer from mid June until Thanksgiving at 10 am and everyone is welcome to attend worship. A time of fellowship precedes worship from 9 AM to 10 AM each Sunday in "The Barn". The gardens are also open throughout the summer months and worth taking a drive through. Submitted by Karen Mitton
JUNE 2017 - P7 United Church Women gather for a time of fellowship Photos submitted to The Spread by LINDA SWEEZEY Bridgedale Pastoral Charge The Lower Coverdale UCW and women of the Bridgedale Pastoral Charge joined the Hillsborough UCW for an evening of fellowship on June 6 at the Chocolate River Restaurant, Route 114, Albert County. In the photos are those who gathered for a very enjoyable evening: Mary Jessiman, Olive Ritchie, and a friend. Adrienne MacKay, Barb Thurrott, Joan MacKay, Carol Mullin, Linda Sweezey, Diane Wood, Betty Myles, Jan Nickerson. NEWS FROM SALISBURY On behalf of the Salisbury UCW and their guests, we would like to thank all who put on the retreat in Bouctouche on the 17th. There was not one thing that we could possibly complain about including the rain, as it was not cold nor did it prevent us from having a great time. We would also like to invite you all to our Annual Strawberry Festival on July 12, from 6 8 PM at the Salisbury United Church on Smith Street. Enjoy strawberry shortcake, strawberries and cream or ice cream or however you wish to have it, along with tea, coffee or punch. Adults $7, children under 12 - $4. Hope to see you there. From our pastoral charge info, there will be a special service held at Coverdale United June 25th to mark the closure of this historic church. The service will be held at 2 PM with Reverend Danny Compton presiding. As well, we are excited to welcome Rev. Jennifer Brown who will join us at the beginning of July, as we also start a new venture joining with Trinity United of Riverview. Janet and Doris CHURCH SUPPER The Ladies Aid Society of Zion United Church, McKee s Mills will be hosting their annual ham, potato salad and strawberry shortcake supper on Saturday, July 15th, 4 to 6:30 pm at the Community Hall, 5204 route 115 McKee s Mills. Cost: Adults - $12.00, Children (6 12) - $5.00, under 5 free. ALLOCATIONS REMINDER UCW allocations are due by June 30, 2017 at $5.00 per member. Please make cheques out to "Chignecto Presbyterial UCW", and mail to: Ruth Anne Waddy, 5004 Route 895, Colpitts Settlement, N.B. E4J 1M7.
Central United Church Women celebrate 55th Anniversary JUNE 2017 - P8 Submitted to The Spread by ANN BATEMAN, Central United UCW The UCW of Central United Church gathered at The Camden Park Terrace Tea Room on Wednesday, May 10th. for a time of celebration, fellowship and lunch. President, Laura Whitmee welcomed the thirty-five women and guests present. Audrey Burrill and Lila MacLean wives of former ministers of Central, Jane Bulmer sister of Susan Steeves, Wendy LeBlanc and Heather Kennedy daughters of Betty Buchanan and Karen Foreman daughter of Jessie Donaghy were introduced as our guests. Judy Kendall led those assembled in Grace. A time of fellowship and catching up with each other followed the ordering of lunch. The service of Celebrating the Fifty-fifth Anniversary of UCW entitled "Celebrating Spirit", written by Betty Turcott of Hamilton Conference UCW, took place after lunch. We were led by President Laura Whitmee, with many UCW members taking part. We chose this service because it was so UCW! More celebrating took place as Betty Buchanan, Jessie Donaghy and Susan Steeves, members of the St. Mark Unit, were presented with UCW Life Memberships. It was nice that family members of each of these women were in attendance for the presentation. Dawn Jarvis, of the St. Mark Unit will soon be moving to St. Andrews and Etta Reid presented Dawn with a gift from the unit. Incidentally, Dawn still carries the UCW Membership Card that was given to her when UCW came into being. As you can see this was a wonderful time of celebration for Central's UCW. To finish the time together on an exciting note the Rev. Sandy MacLean came to pick up his wife Lila and Audrey Burrill. It was a great time of reunion. PHOTOS: Lila MacLean, Dorothy Gaskin and Audrey Burrill cutting Celebration Cake Life Membership Recipients Jessie Donaghy, Susan Steeves and Betty Buchanan Etta Reid presenting gift to Dawn Jarvis
Spread The News JUNE 2017 - P9 Piano recital in Rexton NB Photos submitted to The Spread by DORIS BROWN UCW Contact Person for Areas One & Two Gloria Jackson s piano students, twelve in all, were ready for their spring closing recital program with performances for family and friends at the St. Andrew s United Church in Rexton, NB a few weeks ago. They were well practiced with musical pieces such as Birdling s Serenade, Hymn of Praise, Journey By Train, Cops and Robbers, Dutch Dance, Pomp and Circumstance, Greensleeves and others. Doris Brown of Salisbury has been attending these annual recitals for the past few years. When asked if she went to support a family member she explained: Several years ago, when I was delivering the N.E.W.S. to Gloria, she said, I teach music, so come early, and you will hear some of my students. One of her students, Christina, was there, and after her practice, she played a few selections for me, one being a selection I played as a music student. So each year I go back (with a friend) when recital time is held. Gloria goes all out for these children. Each child gets a nice card, with their picture of it, this year with a gold musical note attached to it. A lunch is held after, and there are cookies with musical notes on them. And this year, midway through, Gloria got everyone up to do the "Hokey, Pokey". It was a lot of fun. Gloria and her students has group pictures taken just outside the Church, before the lunch. As each students gets up to play their selections, Gloria has a nice little story to tell about them. Some of these children are two and three in a family, and they all play. She really loves the children, and you can tell they love to play for her, and for their parents. One student told how her mother will set the clock, and she practiced till the alarm rings, it was cute.
JUNE 2017 - P10 Sackville UCW closes for summer months Photos submitted to The Spread by BRENDA ALLEN Contact for Area Five of Chignecto UCW members and friends of Sackville United Church gathered at Patterson s Restaurant in Sackville NB for a closing for the summer dinner meeting this month. Photos show them together for a great evening of fellowship and food. Regular meetings will resume in the fall. JULY 28-AUGUST 5 - BERWICK CAMP WEEK. REGISTRATION ON LINE AT www.berwickcamp.org THEME SPEAKER: Anglican Bishop Yvette Flunder of San Francisco, USA. THEOLOGY LEADER: Rev. Michael Blair, United Church General Council. UCW DAY AT BERWICK: August 2. BONUS: Half price accommodations for first time campers in Dorms, Tents, Camp Grounds. ------------ SEPTEMBER 16 - WOMEN S RETREAT DAY at CAMP TA WA SI, JOHN- STON S POINT, NB. RETREAT LEADER: The Rev. Dr. Shawn Redden ------------ OCTOBER 26, 9:30 to 12:30 - CHIGNECTO PRESBYTERIAL FULL EXECUTIVE MEETING in Sackville, NB. MARK YOUR CALENDAR CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY & FRIENDS OF... - The late Florence C. Cassidy, Moncton, NB, UCW member at Mountain View United Church and Trinity United in Shediac, where she was UCW treasurer for several years. She was awarded a lifetime membership to the UCW. Her death occurred May 24, 2017. - Our prayers go out to Sandra Dunning of British Columbia. Sandra is a Past President of the National UCW. Her family is grieving the unexpected loss of a son-in-law who was killed in a car accident last weekend in California. Sandra and her husband, Ross, are in San Diego with her daughter and their two young grandchildren.
JUNE 2017 - P11 This & That Bread Not Stones going to Parliament Hill The Bread not Stones project has received official confirmation that UCW s Child Wellbeing Initiative will be hosted, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, by the All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus on November 21st of this year. Along with representatives from the Citizens for Public Justice and Campaign 2000, Linda Woods and Laurel Kenney, co-chairs of Bread not Stones in the London Ontario area will be among other guests at a Breakfast/Panel Discussion, and 338 Dolls of Hope will accompany them. The dolls will be distributed to every MP. This will be in recognition of the UN's Universal Children's Day on November 20th. Government matching donations to Extreme Hunger Appeal On May 29, the Canadian government announced its Famine Relief Fund. All eligible donations to the United Church s Extreme Hunger Appeal made from March 17 to June 30 will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the government. Your donations must arrive at the General Council Office no later than one week after the matching deadline (which will expire in a few days). Check www.united-church.ca for details. New UCW Lifers At Trinity-St. Stephen s United Church, Amherst, NS, Audrey Spence and Bonnie Wilkie have been introduced as its newest UCW Life Members. This honour was bestowed on them June 6 by their Units. The presentation took place at a special gathering for UCW members and special guests including women from Immanuel United, the Rev. Nigel Weaver and the Rev. Jean Ward and women of the congregation, who met for an evening of fellowship and sharing of a potluck meal. Rev. Dr. Catherine Tait-Simpson, from Halifax-based INSPIRED COPD outreach program of Capital Health Nova Scotia, was the evening s program speaker. Relentless/Radical Hospitality, theme for Berwick Camp week The United Church of Canada is often described as an inclusive church. Do we have any idea what this really means? How do we live into this description? This year, in worship and through programs for all ages, campers at Berwick will learn about practicing radical hospitality. Something new this year is Full Camp Gathering when all ages will be invited to begin learning time each day Monday to Friday together in intergenerational worship and expression. Family night theme on Thursday will be Under The Sea, and the VBS team will be Celebrating Living Water themes of how we need, use, share and connect with water with the children. The book club will be discussing All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doeer and Gift of the Hit, a book launched at last year s camp meeting by long-time camper Peter Davison. UCW day at Berwick is August 2, a special day to be at Camp. The pre-camp issue of Hemlock Happenings is out and arrived to its regular campers last week by E-mail. It dosen t seem to have made it onto Berwick website yet, If you have not received and would like to, contact me, Jean Smith at cjsmith@eastlink.ca and I am happy to forward it on to you.