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GREETINGS December 1st, 2016
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"CELEBRATING MARSHALL: ACTIVATING HOPE"
(This is the second in a series of reports seeking to capture the spirit of what was shared at a congregational event on Sunday, October 16th as we heard stories from Marshall Memorial's history).
A Congregation Flowers
1964 saw the release of Bob Dylan's "For the Times They Are A-Changing", and they were. Through to 1974 the radical 60s rolled through good news and bad. America and her friends were still processing the assassination of John F. Kennedy after November 1963 when the war in Vietnam got front page press. Shockwaves rippled again in 1968 as Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy would both be gunned down by assassins. Student protesters were killed on the campus of Kent State university in 1970 and the Watergate scandal erupted in 1972. That same year, the Beatles broke up. The better news in this decade of time included Dr. Christiaan Barnard's first successful heart transplant and Canada's Centennial celebrations in 1967, and the historic landing of a man on the moon on July 21, 1969. That summer flower children would gather en masse for an extended love-in known as Woodstock.
Rev. Ben Morwood came to serve as the called minister at Marshall Memorial for this ten-year period. The congregation continued to grow as did the community of Ancaster (even though most of its water supply was still provided by septic systems). There was little or nothing septic about Rev. Morwood's ministry that was characterized by stimulating preaching, family house meetings where Scripture was studied, a variety of music ministries with choirs for children, youth, and adults, and a focus on mission: "What can the church do for the world?" was a question the congregation sought to answer. Ben had established a strong ministry in youth programming at Zion United in Hamilton, where he served previously. He brought that to Marshall and it blossomed profusely even if all the participants weren't totally flower children. The congregation remained rooted in families and a sense of belonging to a wider family. One person's memory was: "People came out and everyone participated". Everyone felt safe and spiritually fed.
It was a decade in which a number of "firsts" occurred. Mohawk College in Hamilton granted its first graduate degrees. Lincoln Alexander became the first black man elected to our Canadian parliament. Star Trek first aired on television in 1965. In 1972, viewers got their first tastes of M*A*S*H. The first version of a Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth rolled out in 1973 (Yeah! Boo!). Well, at least that meant sewers and storm drains would come to Ancaster. The Evangelical United Brethren denomination became the United Church of Canada's newest partner in 1968. Elsewhere in the church at large interfaith dialogue was becoming de jour. So was liberation theology with its Latin American roots. Social justice would move to the heart of the United Church's identity and raison d-être as Luke 4:18-19 became its basic mission statement and mantra:
"The Spirit of God is upon me, because God has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and liberation for those who are oppressed, to declare the acceptable year of the Sovereign God."
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In our
thoughts and prayers are Berna Aslan, Geoffrey Parkinson (nephew of Patricia Bradshaw)
Ellen Sawesky, Judy VanDuzer, the Gales family, Jack Wishart (8 months old with a rare disease) requested by Jason Kovacs and Patty Cheshire's niece Melissa, and Janet & Ken Hockley and Eric & Rose Winger invite us to pray for their niece Louise as she undergoes a stem-cell transplant.
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This is a novel about a young rising rodeo star, Tyler Stedman and his family and friends set in a small town in turn-of-the millennium Alberta. It was written by Rev. Harry Disher and has just been released into publication. $25.00 will get you a signed copy during the refreshment time following our Choir's Christmas concert on December 11th.
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"Time Out with Trees" will NOT happen this coming Tuesday, December 6th. Rev. Disher will be out to lunch elsewhere that day.
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Meet with Rev. Disher Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Coach and Lantern pub to talk about faith, life, church, sports, quilting, whatever you wish. It's a chance for you to connect and share something of your story.
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Again this year Marshall will be presenting a Christmas Pageant on Saturday December 24th at 7pm. This year we will only be hosting one pageant, (we will not be holding the Children's 5:30 service), however anyone interested in participating in the 7pm pageant is more than welcome. The opportunities to get involved with this production are endless. It takes many hands and minds to make this production a success. Some of the positions that we are looking for help with are as follows:
* cast members,
* ushers,
* costume assistance,
* props,
* some big strong and burley folks for stage set up and tear down, and anything you would like to assist with to make the Pageant a success.
There will be a sign up sheet in the foyer for anyone interested in helping. Please see John Mitchell, Patty Cheshire, Leslie Johnston, Lynn Townsend, and Rick MacKenzie for more information.
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Bring your groceries on December 11th to support the Living Rock Ministries.
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The Outreach Committee will be selling their irresistible chocolate bark on Sunday, December 11th, before and after services. All proceeds will go to the White Gift Fund. Due to the increase in product prices, a bag of bark will be $6. These festive bags make great hostess gifts and stocking stuffers.
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White Gift Sunday is TODAY. There are White Gift envelopes available for donations (please make cheques payable to the church). All proceeds will go to the White Gift Fund which is supporting The Living Rock.Thank you for your generous support.
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The annual Choices Lunch will be held here on Friday, December 9th. We will need kitchen help in the morning, servers and a cleanup crew. If you would like to be part of this joyful afternoon please contact Landra Smith 905-648-8356 or landra.smith2@gmail.com. Donations for the gift bags for our guests would be appreciated. Many thanks!
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After the service today Prayer Partners invite you to take a white ribbon from the front of the Christmas tree, and write a name on the label for someone you wish to pray for over the Christmas season.
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The Christmas luncheon planned for Wednesday, December 7th HAD BEEN CANCELLED.
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Marshall Men - Breakfast & Jam
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Just a reminder to the guys... on Saturday, December 10 the Marshall Men will enjoy breakfast at Bowman United Church.
Location: Bowman Church, 888 Garner Rd E (near Bennett's Apples)
Time: Meet 8:15 a.m. in Bowman Parking Lot
Cost: $9 per person
Hope you will join us for this December outing.
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| Sunday, December 11th at 3pm will be the choir's annual Christmas Concert. The cantata"Jesus! The Advent of the Messiah" will be presented along with special guests and orchestra. Appetizers and wine will be served following the concert. |
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Families are welcome to join in the fun on Christmas Eve at 5:00 in the hall. Heather Franca and Patty Cheshire are preparing a Birthday Party for Jesus. Dinner and activities will be included. Children are asked to wear a costume from the nativity scene.
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