Perspectives with Rev. Duncan Perry

New season, new year

When I was at a meeting of the South Dundas Ministerial the other day, the clergy all agreed that the new year for us does not begin on January 1, but on the day after Labour Day.

Congregational life begins to flourish after summer vacation. There are anniversary dinners, anniversary teas and anniversary worship services. Sunday School starts up again. There may be youth groups who gather together and there are concerts which give us pleasure.

As we begin the autumn season in our churches and communities, may we look to God for guidance and inspiration. May we be assured that along life’s journey we never walk alone. God is gracious and good. God’s love endures forever.

In the days ahead may we draw closer to God and to one another. May we place Christ at the centre of each day.

Give thanks for your many blessings and share of your abundance with others.

Today, we can bring hope and light to our brothers and sisters around the globe.

God will help us as we minister to the poor and oppressed.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Rev. Janet Evans

Iroquois United Church

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If there is something in your life, in your community or in your world that you want to be different, what can you do to make it happen? 

You could wish for what you want, but will that guarantee the outcome? Probably not.

For there to be change, there needs to be action. 

With that being said, how many people would like to see some changes in South Dundas? More tourism, maybe? More jobs? Better recreation facilities?

As of 2011, South Dundas had 10,795 people living within its boundaries. During last week’s action planning “public” meetings, only six people showed up for the afternoon sessions and maybe 10 for the evening session. Are there only 16 people in South Dundas who believe changes need to be made? Probably not.

So where were the other 10,000 people? Granted, the afternoon sessions on Wednesday afternoon may have caused issues for those who work during the weekday, but what about the evening session? Accounting for previous engagements, illnesses, and other daily dramas, maybe we could eliminate the expectation of having all of South Dundas show for the evening session… but only 10? Really?

Okay, so you’re probably thinking… “ya, but it’s not like it’s going to make a difference” OR “we’ve done this before and nothing came of it.” Well, imagine life if, for those same reasons, everyone in the world just sat back and gave up trying to change things for the better. Think about the changes in technology, medicine, and human rights over the last hundred years… where would we be without them?

Changes happen because people make them happen. The people who make them happen often don’t have an easy road of it and most often have to keep plugging away in the face of rejection or failure until eventually they succeed. 

Sadly, I’ve often been one of the many who sit back and let others do the heavy lifting, believing that “they” would do it better anyway. Being propelled into so many community events and situations in the past year has changed the way I think. Sure, I still need some down time to “recharge” here and there, but I’ve come to realize that it is high time that I get out of my own comfort zone and start participating.

We each have our own talents, gifts, and ideas that only we can bring to the world. I don’t know about you, but I intend to make whatever contributions I can, while I can. -S.C.

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The countdown for the South Dundas Community Playground is on and as of Monday (September 12) the construction area is closed as site preparation has begun. Three days of site preparation have been planned and the next two are set for Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23. The actual build day is set for Saturday, September 24.

This Saturday, September 17, the South Dundas Community and beyond are invited to Iroquois to participate in an exciting all-day Apple Festival in honour of the famous McIntosh apple and its 200th anniversary. Events will run all day long beginning with the farmer’s market opening at 8 a.m. There will be vendors, sidewalk sales and plenty of food, entertainment and activities for all. Might even be an apple or two…

Also this weekend is the fifth Annual Upper Canada Bluegrass Festival, September 16-18 at the Upper Canada Campground located at 13390 County Road 41 east of Morrisburg. Under this year’s Master of Ceremonies, Terry Joe Banjo, the band line up includes Hard Ryde, Grassland, Dave Nichols and Spare Change, Jan Purcell and Pine Road, Bill White and White Pines, Concession 23 and Northwind. For more information visit www.uppercanadacampground.com. Day passes are available for non-campers to take in the festival.

South Dundas and area residents are reminded they can pick up pledge sheets for the annual Terry Fox Run scheduled for this Sunday morning, September 18 at Morrisburg Legion Branch 48. The local run is based out of the Morrisburg Legion.

If you think this coming weekend is busy, it gets busier as we head to the weekend of September 24-25. On Saturday, September 24 we of course have the Children’s Playground Build day in Morrisburg and back at Williamsburg is the annual Harvest Festival. We will have more details available on this event next week.

On Sunday, September 25 the Park Pals Committee has organized a “Homes on the St. Lawrence” House Tour which will feature five local homes. The Park Pals, the committee responsible for the South Dundas Dog Park, is holding the fund raiser to help with ongoing costs for upkeep of the park. In addition to the house tour, the committee has arranged to have five area businesses and individuals decorate the entries to each of the homes. The homes include those of Ian and Cathy Mackay, Marjorie Smith, Gord and Robin Lane, Mae Pederson and Claude Lavoie. We will have more information on this event available next week. The cost of the tour  is set at $20 per person.

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