The November meeting of St. John's Anglican Church Women, Crapaud, was held in the seniors common room.
The meeting opened with the hymn Bind us Together, followed by devotions led by Gladys Lowther, who read from the books God's Little Lessons of Love and Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul.
This was followed by a prayer for those who live alone, the ACW Purpose and the Prayer Partners Prayer.
President Marilyn Myers opened the business meeting with a prayer. Roll call was answered with a verse of Scripture. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved, and the treasurer gave the financial report, noting that a donation had been given to the food bank in memory of the late Gerald Best.
Correspondence consisted of thank-you cards. The social action secretary reported sending out get-well, sympathy and birthday cards.
For the December meeting, the group will go out to lunch at a local restaurant.
The church will be decorated for Christmas on Dec. 5, at 9:30 a.m.
Shut-ins' boxes will be packed for people who need them before Christmas.
The 12th annual ACW Retreat was held at Kindred Spirits in Cavendish recently, with women from P.E.I. and Nova Scotia attending. The theme was Gather for Worship, Scatter for Service with leader Rev. Dawn Legere, a priest at Three Harbours in Antigonish, N.S.
Friday evening was a time of prayer, praise, Holy Eucharist, singing, feasting and fellowship, as well as a time for solitude, reflection, walks and relaxation in the hot tub at day's end.
The memory of departed members was honoured with a minute of silence, a poem and singing.
On Saturday, several more women joined the group. Legere spoke about the theme of planting seeds and asked each one to close her eyes and imagine what she does before attending church.
When people gather together they are a handful of seeds full of potential, she said. During worship they are nurtured and fertilized as a seed that is growing its roots so that they can grow towards the sun.
Worship reflects the community and liturgy is what happens when people all gather together to worship God.
"One myth is that we have to have it all together before going to church, but where we are is where God wants to see us," she said.
Rev. Karen Quirk, assisted by Rev. Cathy Pharo, offered the Holy Eucharist. Readings were taken from Luke and the prayers of the people were led by Carol MacDonald.
A gift of appreciation was presented to Legere by Carol MacDonald.
Those attending from Nova Scotia announced that their ACW group is working on a project in the form of a health-care centre for the Eskasoni Reserve. Each group is donating $75 towards this project.
In community news, judging for the Crapaud Christmas lights contest will take place on Thursday Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m. Categories open to village residents include best light display, best traditional display and best decorated festive outdoor tree. These three competitions are open to residents in the Crapaud community, but those outside the village can compete in a competition for the best decorated property.
The South Side Lynx junior C hockey team will be playing at the South Shore Actiplex on most Saturday nights. Check
out the website www.
peijuniorC.com and click on the schedule to see when they play next.
The Crapaud area cadets would like to thank everyone for their donations to their recent bottle and can drive.
Registration for Englewood Community School will take place on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. The fee is $15 for 10 weeks of fun. Some classes will require additional fees. Classes include knitting, computer, Swedish embroidery, curling (beginner and intermediate), speaker per night, guitar, assorted crafts, scrapbooking and happiness - what is it and how to find it. Contact Lynn Nicholson at 658-2536, Helena Fall at 658-2879 or Marion Toole at 675-4256.
To contact Marion MacDonald regarding upcoming events or column suggestions for Crapaud Tidings, write P.O. Box 115, Crapaud, COA 1J0, or call her at 658-2028 or e-mail mmacdonald61@eastlink.ca. Material for her column must be submitted by Monday at noon of the week prior to publication.
