Sawyerville UCW

March 2, 2018: The World Day of Prayer. The service came from the Republic of Suriname, “an ecological region within the Amazon” and belongs to both Caribbean and South American organizations. The official language is Dutch while Sranan, which is a creole language that originated with slaves, serves as the common language. There is a wide variety of ethnicities providing a rich, diverse culture. The World Day of Prayer committee put together a very nice service. Some of the hymns we sang, familiar to us as well, were How Great Thou Art and For the Fruit of All Creation. Seventeen people took part in our service and stayed for refreshments - sweet breads and cookies with coffee and tea. It was a lovely afternoon that began at 2:00 p.m. and ended around 4:00 p.m.

March 21, 2018: At the meeting, President, Bonnie Fowler, welcomed us all and gave a thank you to all who helped make the World Day of Prayer a success. Bonnie had an Irish blessing: May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night. A spring quote: Spring is here, We’re so excited That we’re wetting our plants! and something for Easter: At Easter our father and mother took us to a different church every year because we had to wear the same clothes!

Devotions began with another Irish Blessing: Wishing you a rainbow for sunlight after showers / Miles and miles of Irish smiles for golden happy hours / Shamrocks at your doorway for luck and laughter, too; And a host of friends that never ends / Each day your whole life through.

Our first hymn was Shall We Gather at the River from the Voices United Hymnbook. Doreen Cairns continued with a story from a Chicken Soup book called A Mother Is Waiting and an Easter poem. Here is the first half of the poem: Easter is a promise; that God gave to you; A promise of eternal life; A season of renewal; As the scent of roses fills the air / and blue jays sweetly sing; Remember that God is with you; And guiding you this spring. We had a prayer and said the Lord’s prayer.

My offerings were a few little stories from Catch The Irish Laughter by Dave Abbott. Here is one: During the cold war a top Russian KGB agent was given a difficult undercover mission. He was to travel deep through enemy territory, managing to stay only a step ahead of the CIA and MI6 who were hot on his trail. He was to meet with Murphy, the Irish spy, off the West Coast of Ireland, who would give him further directions. The agent was told he would recognize Murphy by saying “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain,” to which Murphy would reply, “Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.” After several hectic weeks, the KGB agent eventually rows his small dinghy ashore into the harbour of a small Irish village. It is 5 a.m. and there is no one around except the milkman. He approaches him and asks “Is there a person by the name of Murphy here?” “Oh yes, indeed,” says the milkman. “Sure there’s Murphy the school teacher, Murphy the policeman, Murphy the fireman, Murphy the doctor, Murphy the postman, Murphy the carpenter, and I’m Murphy the milkman.” At this the spy says, “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain,” to which Murphy the milkman says, “Ah, you’ll be looking for Murphy the spy.”

We sang The Old Rugged Cross for Easter.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

Secretary, Doreen Cairns, read the minutes of the last meeting. They were approved as read. For Stewardship, Reverend Tami Spires spoke of our adopted daughter, Divine, who is already 16 years old. She also told of her Mission and Service Challenge - several containers with different coloured lids that anyone can put money in and the one or ones with the most money is the colour that Tami will streak her hair.

Theda Lowry spoke of things to come in the Church - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Sunrise Service at the Eaton Comer Lookout followed by a potluck breakfast back at the Sawyerville church and then a joyful Easter Service at Trinity United Church in Cookshire.

For Cheer, Bonnie Fowler sent out two birthday cards. Theda mentioned that there are still a few apple pies for sale by the Stewards. Theda also reported sending three cards out for Cradle Roll and several more to send. Tami Spires, for Church In Society, said that our moderator, Rev. J. Cantwell, has been in Australia, listening to aboriginal peoples telling stories quite similar to the residential school stories in this country.

The next Presbytery meeting is at Auberge Bromont on April 28th. The last business meeting for the Montreal/ottawa Conference will be on May 12 and there will be a day of celebration on May 26 - both in Hudson, Quebec.

Wendy Mackay gave the Treasurer’s report. World Day of Prayer donations added up to $85! “World Day of Prayer offerings provide grants for projects that benefit women touched by injustice and fund materials for World Day of prayer 2019 Slovenia.”

For New Business, we decided on a donation for the Island Brook United Church marker in memory of Mabel (Alden) Mackay.

We closed with the Mispah benediction: May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent, one from the other.

Four guests arrived to share our potluck supper of delicious casseroles and tasty desserts. Suppertime is always a good mix of conversation and laughter, shared by all.

Until next time… Submitted by Marlene Lowry