Dock of AGes for 42nd Tubie celebration

 

On April 1st, Palm Sunday, Harmony Community Church began their “satellite” services in Williamsburg at Timothy Christian School. 

In addition to providing closer access to those congregants who live in South Dundas, the move is also an invitation to those who might be interested in experiencing Harmony Community Church first hand. 

According to their website, Harmony was first built during the years 1884 and 1885 by neighbours of different faiths, including Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Catholics. Baptist Alexander Wood donated the land for the church.

While Harmony started out as Harmony Methodist Church, it became Harmony United Church in 1925 and then Harmony Community Church in 1976. Today the church, still named Harmony Community Church, is affiliated with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada.

According to Harmony’s pastor, D. Bruce North, Harmony Community Church “is more of a non-denominational church” in terms of the church’s “flavour” or “focus and style” of worship. “Our style is a mix; Pentecostal would be what people identified us with.”

 North explained that as an affiliate of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, Harmony Community Church is not independent. 

He pointed to the merits of being an affiliate, saying “we’re part of a group that has a national voice and missions overseas.” In addition, “they’re not intrusive.”

He also said that Harmony “still values being accountable. I have a bishop that I have to report to. It’s good to have accountability.”

As for the church itself, the ‘old’ church is now “the lobby of the new church.” According to North, Harmony has a congregation of about 110 to 120 people. The church’s actual capacity is 150.

Harmony Community Church’s history of being very welcoming and inclusive is being borne out here in South Dundas with “satellite” services at Timothy Christian School.

According to North, the prevalence of South Dundas families in the church’s congregation led to the idea for the “satellite” services.

Having a service in Williamsburg makes things easier for those congregants who faithfully and loyally travel the distance to Winchester each Sunday, explained North. It will also give those who are unable to travel to Harmony the opportunity to experience Harmony’s worship close to home.

And, “we’re always doing neat stuff,” added North.

The “satellite” services give assistant pastor Daniel Wallace “an opportunity to preach without the senior pastor hovering.”

Wallace “is leaving this summer to take on his own church in Toronto,” said North. 

Wallace conducted services at the Harmony Community Church location in Winchester on April 1st and will do so for the remainder of the “satellite” services.

Considering that the Timothy Christian School location is “the outreach oriented” service, North felt it was important that he be there in Williamsburg for each of the Sunday “satellite” services. 

As for the “satellite” location, Timothy Christian School, North said it’s “a good partnership with them as well. Through us, it does publicize that they exist. We are an evangelical group of Christians who tend to think more about home schooling and Christian schooling.”

In addition, “the facility is sitting there, they have a sound system, and they’re being very fair.”

As for whether “satellite” services might turn into an ongoing thing, North said, “it certainly is a test. The elders of the church will look at it. There’s certainly a possibility of resuming in the fall.”

North emphasized that there are “no plans to form a new church in South Dundas. We don’t plan on starting a new church; we want to use resources better.”

“This is a different way of getting personal with people.” Instead of two services at one church, there are two separate services in two separate locations, making for smaller pastor to congregant ratio.

“Rural folk,” said North, “we like to see each other, connect with our neighbours and friends who have a common experience.”

“Our people are rural. There are very few families we get from north of the church,” he said. “We go all the way to Iroquois.”

There are two more planned spring “satellite” services to be held at Timothy Christian School in Williamsburg. The 10:30 a.m. services will take place on the first Sunday in May and the first Sunday in June.

[…]

 

Sheds, located right next to a Brinston Road home, were completely destroyed by fire February 21.

Quick action by firefighters who arrived on scene at 10:22 p.m., kept the fire from spreading to the house.

“Firefighters made an aggressive attack and managed to control the fire before any significant damage was made to the adjacent home,” said Chris McDonough, fire chief for South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services.

When firefighters from the Iroquois Fire Station arrived on scene the two sheds were fully involved and flames were exposed to the house, reported McDonough.  

“It was an excellent save for us and the homeowner,” he said.

An additional tanker from the Morrisburg station was also called to the scene.

The fire is thought to have been caused by a wood stove in one of the two sheds. 

Damage is estimated at about $18,000; $10,000 for the buildings and $8,000 for contents.

[…]

 

“On behalf of Dundas County Hospice, we thank our volunteers for over 1,900 hours that have been donated to our organization over this past year,” said director of client services, Catheryn Mulder at the annual Hospice Volunteer Appreciation night, held last Wednesday night, April 22.

It was a night, that would not only thank the volunteers, but an evening to remember the late Diane Annable of Winchester, whose family was on hand to unveil a Memorial Award for Volunteer Service to Dundas County Hospice. Annable, a dedicated volunteer with Hospice for seven plus years, passed away in February, 2014.

Named as the first recipient of the Diane Annable Memorial was Sandra Jennings, who, like Annable, has served the Dundas County Hospice in various volunteer/ board positions, for many years. 

“I enjoy my work, it’s a good cause, but we miss our Diane who was an all-round good person,” said Jennings, following the presentation made by Annable’s husband Gary and son Thomas. Also on hand were Diane’s mother and father, Vance and Audrey Mcleese.

“It was Diane who got us going on fundraising, she was a special person,” said Jennings.

“Diane enjoyed the volunteer work she did for Dundas County Hospice very much,” said Gary. He explained that she first volunteered when she was high school age and worked with children’s camps in Toronto. “She loved to organize.”

“The year’s 1,900 volunteer hours for Hospice included hours provided for direct client involvement, board hours, equipment cleaning, public awareness and fundraising,” said Mulder, following the presentation.

“Thank you to those of you who gave comfort and kind words and a listening ear for the clients you visited so faithfully,” said Mulder.  “Thank you to those of you who provided activities and assisted with the Day Hospice and Men’s Breakfast. Thank you for the many hours you spent on fundraising for Hoedown, for golf, for the annual newsletter and now the upcoming Hike for Hospice.”

Mulder told the volunteers that it had been an exciting year for Dundas County Hospice. 

“This has definitely been a time for exciting growth, and we could not have accomplished this without you our volunteers.”

“Our board, as well as our executive director, Lisa Casselman, have gone above and beyond. They have made our dreams of expanding our day hospice program and locating in a new facility, realities.”

The board of directors for Dundas County Hospice includes chair Bob Pitruniak, vice-chair, Paul Renaud, past chair, Sandra Jennings, treasurer Janet Moorhouse, secretary Arlene Nesbitt. Directors are Betty Guy, Mary Gibson, Kathy Spruit and Bob Sisson.

Introduced was Lynn Gee, who is the new program assistant with the day hospice program.

Dundas County Hospice offers a variety of services to anyone suffering from a terminal or life-threatening illness. Hospice supports clients and their caregivers through all stages of their illness including bereavement support after the death of the client. All of our services are free

The hospice offers an equipment loan program which helps clients maintain some independence, comfort and mobility. 

Hospice also assists with in-home complimentary therapies for clients that can no longer get out.

Coming up on May 3, is a  Hike for Hospice  (2.5 or 5 km. hikes) fundraiser. Folks are invited to join Hospice for a hike along the beautiful St. Lawrence in Morrisburg. A donation to Dundas County Hospice will get you registered (9:30-10:30 a.m.) and participants can get hiking at 10:30 a.m. A barbecue at noon will complete the event.

The Hike for Hospice will be part of a busy spring as Dundas County Hospice prepare to relocate to its new home in Williamsburg this coming summer.

The Volunteer Appreciation guest speaker was certified relaxation therapist Kim Hutt owner of Souly Reconnected located north of Iroquois.

“It is a pleasure for me to be here, celebrating your community service,” Hutt told the volunteers.

Hutt explained how she turned a hobby, “into a profession, when I began studying relaxation therapies. She shared some exercises and demos on how one can self care and explained the various therapies available including Reiki and Quantum Touch.

[…]