SEAGRAVE by Barb Martyn

A year ago, our lives changed. We have endured many changes… isolation, our habits, and our means of communication, and we are still walking alone. On the positive side, we are now experiencing long daylight (daylight saving begins March 14th), some beautiful sunsets, slowly-rising temperatures, and even some new growth in our flower beds. And very importantly, vaccinations are on the horizon. It is important to cling to hope and look forward to changes for the better.

The Greenbank Seagrave Pastoral charge invites the communities to participate in making butterflies. This is a project well suited for all members of the family. Bring your butterflies to either church on Easter Sunday, April 4th, and they will be placed on the branches and surrounding areas representing the transformation of new life. Rev. Stephanie Richmond will be at the Seagrave United Church to greet you from 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and at the Greenbank United Church from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. All the children will receive an Easter goodie bag. There are three websites listed with instructions for making butterflies, on the churches websites listed below. For Easter Sunday, you can submit a memorial for a loved one which will be virtually viewed. You can take a picture of yourself with a spring flower, or submit a picture of your loved one. If you do not have a flower, one will be provided for you. Remember to submit the names of your loved ones to Rev. Stephanie at gspastoralcharge@gmail.com or text to 905-718-8086 no later than March 23rd.

Sunday, March 7th, was the last day of the Who’s That Baby contest. There were over 70 participants, and an encore week was added from four to five weeks. Thank you for participating.

Happy March birthdays to; Barry Lee on the 13th, Ethan Cannon on the 16th, and Carol Coleman on the 17th, which is St. Patrick’s Day.

Friday, March 5th was the World Day of Prayer. The country represented was Vanuatu, which is an island country consisting of 83 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, with Australia to the east. The service can be viewed on our website.

Sunday, March 7th was the 3rd Sunday in Lent. The third candle of Lent was extinguished and the scripture reading was from John 2:13 -22. Rev. Stephanie did a monologue, reflecting the experience of the young man with his family at the temple in Jerusalem, at the time of the Jewish Passover. You can view this interesting service on YouTube, or websites seagrave-church.com or greenbankchurch.com.

Sunday March 7th was a very busy day; with the virtual Sunday service, virtual coffee time at 11 a.m., and at 1 p.m. a zoom baptism at the Seagrave Church. The child baptized was Easton Jessie Foreter, child of parents Britney Paula Foreter and Jessie Thomas Foreter of Little Britain. Carol Coleman a session elder, represented the Seagrave session and congregation, and welcomed the family. She presented them a baptismal candle and a baptismal certificate.

If you wish a virtual prayer or visit, grocery or medication pick-up, to review Sunday services, to submit photos for coffee time, upcoming dates for virtual gatherings, contact Rev. Stephanie at gspastoralcharge@gmail.com or phone or text 905-718-8086. If you wish to make a donation to Seagrave Church, contact Carol at cc.coleman@sympatico.ca or 905-243-4628.

CORRECTION: Unfortunately last week’s news did not appear in the Standard, so this correction is a repeat. The Reflections of the Past was mistakenly mentioned as being written by Enid Belair, when in fact the excerpts in the Standard were actually written by Enid’s mother, Anne Clements. Thanks, Pat, for bringing this information to my attention.

Excerpts of the past, dated March 9th 1967, written by Anne Clements (deceased). “Little Jeanette Sturman of Raglan had a wonderful week with her cousin Carol Anne Sturman”. “Mr. Gordon Lloyd was ordained as elder and Messrs. Ken Short and Don Crosier were installed as stewards”.

If you have news for this column contact Jean at grammiejean2010@hotmail.com.

We can all learn to grow, share our love, and patience, and to look forward to brighter days.

#seagravenews #shorelines