Drummond Hill Newsletter, April 6, 2022
Lent 6 (Matthew 5:23-26)
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court* with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
This passage has a very strong sense of urgency. “If your brother or sister has something against you,” it says. It is not about how we feel. It is all about how others we love have something against us. In our case, with the apology from the pope we have been thinking a lot about what our indigenous brothers and sisters may have against us. I know how the laws of Canada work. But for us Christians, our Lord’s command is the first and foremost.
In the season of Lent, as we think of our sins, we wonder how this particular passage makes us humble enough to seek forgiveness from those who were harmed by the actions of the Residential Schools at Shoal Lake in Northwestern Ontario. The picture, shown here, is from 1964 Cecilia Jeffrey School, built in 1901 and closed in 1976. On the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, located in the University of Manitoba, 37 names of students are listed as having died. In 1966, a student ran away from the school and died of exposure. From the middle of 1960s the school operated mainly as residences for students attending local schools. Though there was an agreement between the school and local band leaders that “there would be no heavy work for younger children, no baptism without consent, at least a half day of class time for older children, and provision for children to be absent for traditional events,” we know there were many difficulties. We as a denomination have many to seek out to be reconciled with.
Good Friday Breakfast Worship
On Good Friday, April 15, we will begin our day with breakfast at 10 am, followed by our Good Friday worship service. Because we were unable to hold Shrove Tuesday and Maundy Thursday, we invite you to come and join us on Good Friday.
Easter Bonnet Contest (Easter Sunday)
Hear ye! Hear ye!
The Easter Bonnet Contest is here! Let the artist in you shine!
There are three categories for you to enter your hat for. Do not be shy! Let all your imagination flow free!
If you are a craft person, then, your inner beauty shine in Preeetttyyy category.
If you like fun stuff, of course, must enter for Fun category.
But if you are an off-beat wacky type of person, there
We will judge hats on Easter morning and prizes will be handed out accordingly.
Drummond Hill 3.0
The picture on the right is part of a picture used at an investment site, advocating their cryptocurrency or digital money. It imagines how the world will be connected by all sorts of digital means. What would a faith community look like in the future? What would Drummond Hill be like five years or ten years from now?
For most of us, things will probably be very similar. We will be five or ten years older with fewer of us together. Worship will continue to happen on Sunday with similar hymns and order of worship. Pastoral care will be very important for those of us who remain. Indeed, many of us will need a great deal of care on all fronts.
That, however, is only a part of our story. We will probably have a younger group worshipping when they are able. That means, worship will take place throughout the week on different days as people make time to be together. Each worship will be unique. Those who do not like singing will be in worship services without music. Those who enjoy music will have worship services where they can rejoice God in songs–not necessarily the hymns we sing, but all kinds of different music. Some worship services will take place online while others will be gathered at coffee shops, restaurants, or other places. Some services will resemble traditional Bible studies, theological discussions, and travelling together.
Fundamentally, faith in Christ will not change. Though it is certain that how we express our faith will be very different from a group to group. There will be more than a few groups, forming a faith community which will be known as Drummond Hill. Our way of being a faith community will have changed dramatically.
Drummond Hill 3.0 will be an umbrella name for many different small churches that are gathering together with Christ, worshipping and serving God in all of life. We are getting ready to start this new way of being a faith community in five to ten years. We know we will be here on this hill to serve Christ as we have done before because God is opening our eyes to see God’s way of being among us. The world may change. People may come and go. But as we learned in the past, God’s love for the people will call all those who love God to come together, worship and serve God without fail.
A few ginger steps to Reopening
Cinnamon Bun Tuesdays
At Drummond Hill Café
Starting on the first Tuesday of May, we are inviting you to come and join us for Cinnamon Bun, Tea, and Coffee at your favourite Drummond Hill Café. The Café will open at 10 am and will run until about noon. We will start with a short introductory devotional, followed by fellowship. Again, the Café opens at 10 am every Tuesday. Come! Bring your friends! Enjoy the famous Drummond Hill hospitality.
Monthly Tea Tasting
Again in May, we are starting our Monthly Tea Tasting Adventure at the Café. Everyone is invited.
Even if you are not a tea-lover, you should come out and see the variety of teas that you get to taste. Bring a friend, guest, or whoever.
It will be a very special occasion for you to enjoy God’s hospitality.
Both Cinnamon bun Tuesdays and Monthly Tea Tasting will be open to members, adherents and their friends first. When we get settled with our rhythm and ready to receive guests, it is our plan to open these up for everyone in Niagara Falls to come and enjoy.
Happy Birthday, Ron!
Happy Birthday, Ron!
Happy Birthday, Ron!
Happy Birthday, Ron!
Today, Ron is celebrating 101th Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday, Ron!
