Sawyerville UCW until year’s end

“Nice to see you out on such a snowy day” said Bonnie Fowler, President of the Sawyerville United Church Women. Indeed! It was quite a blizzard out there but most of us braved the elements for our last meeting of the year. “Winter is the season in which we try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when we complained about the heat!” Bonnie quoted.

Devotions began with a reading from the 1997 Heritage Book. We sang 0 Canada. I read In Flanders Fields. Doreen Cairns read a story Why I Wear a Poppy. This was our Remembrance Day contribution and because we have no meeting in December, we do the second half of our devotions all about Christmas. Doreen read Out of the Mouths of Babes, a story of fiveyear-old Philip, who promised, crossing his heart, that he would not get cranky If he could go with his mom and aunt to the Christmas Eve Service. He watched the older children as they enacted the story of Jesus’ birth, delighting in all of it. At the end, when everyone was holding a candle, the lights were dimmed and a note on the organ signaled time to sing Silent Night, young Philip burst out “Happy Birthday to you”. The congregation “stifled their laughter and quickly joined him, singing “Happy Birthday, dear Jesus ... “

Doreen said a prayer. We all said the Lord’s Prayer. I read a story: A Passage Through Time from A Book of Christmas Miracles (a Chicken Soup Book).

We sang: Go Tell It On The Mountain. We ended with an Advent Prayer (Voices United II): God of all wisdom, our hearts yearn for the warmth of your love, and our minds search for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour, and strengthen us to grow in love, that at the dawn of His coming we may rejoice in His presence and welcome the light of His truth. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Secretary, Doreen Cairns, read the minutes of the last meeting. They were approved as read. Nine members answered the roll call. Wendy Mackay gave the Treasurer’s Report.

Theda Lowry reported that there is Church here each Sunday and White Gift Sunday is December 9, Blue Christmas, December 19, Christmas Eve Service at Trinity in Cookshire at 2:00 p.m. and a joint service would be here in Sawyerville on December 30 and January 6th would be congregation led as Tami would be away. Theda also reported that the Stewards and helpers had made 223 apple pies in all. We decided on donations for the Seamen’s Shoeboxes, Christian Blind Mission, Gifts of Vision and for the Student Suppers in Lennoxville. Bonnie thanked us all for our help in making and serving the lunch after the funeral of Phyllis Smith, a former member and organist of the Sawyerville United Church and the UCW and even though she had moved away to Ottawa, she always kept in touch and informed of all our activities. She will be missed.

We discussed the upcoming senior’s Christmas Dinner. The date was set for December 15 if the Community Center was available (it was) and we decided that we would have different kinds of pies this year, rather than just a choice of two. We would decorate the Christmas baskets on the l0th if possible. These baskets are filled with an assortment of cookies, candies and clementine’s for people who are not able to do for themselves.

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

The food! Have I mentioned before that everyone makes something really delicious and that we eat really well at our UCW Potluck suppers? If not, I’m telling you now!

DECEMBER 15: The Christmas Dinner. The Sawyerville Community Centre was bustling with activity.

We served more than 40 people turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls and all the rest of the trimmings. And of course, the pies;. Pumpkin, lemon, raspberry, coconut cream - and maybe even other kinds. When everybody was stuffed, it was time to sing carols. Janice Hartwell, Tami Spires and Kendra Parnell helped me lead the singing, and Janis Graham accompanied us on the piano. Sadly, Kendra had to leave before the end, but we were thankful for the time she gave us. We ended with a resounding We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Until next year,

Submitted by Marlene Lowry