A-Spire

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Kitchener, Ontario

Vol. 15 No. 5
Friday, May 25, 2007

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Stewart Awards

The Stewart Awards for Teacher Excellence were held at St. Andrew's on Tuesday, May 1st, recognizing the contributions of three outstanding high school teachers from the community.

Robert Douglas was presented with the Finlay G. Stewart Award. He is an English and Film Studies teacher at Eastwood Collegiate Institute who loves to teach and who received warm words of' praise from those who nominated him.

John McLelland received the Douglas W. Turnbull Memorial Award. He has been teaching for 28 years, the last 18 of them spent at Bluevale Collegiate Institute, where he teaches music and directs three extracurricular music ensembles as well as coaching several sports.

Don Bieronski, who since 1992 has taught computers, business, chemistry and physical education at Preston High School, received the Grant R. MacDonald Award.

The support for the three recipients was enthusiastic and obviously sincere. This is a wonderful way for St. Andrew's Church to support teachers in our community by recognizing three special people who exemplify teaching excellence. These three are representative of many, many teachers who give so freely of their time and expertise to help students succeed.

The excellent meal was prepared by Jackie Van Trigt. Many from the congregation helped throughout the day to ensure that all would go as planned.

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Concert profitable

David Sturtevant was pleased to have Kevin Ramessar's autograph on a CD.

Camp Kummoniwannago organizers were pleased with the turnout for the May

5th concert featuring award winning guitarist Kevin Ramessar.

Advance ticket sales covered the expenses for the evening, and ticket sales at the door were good, leaving a tidy profit that will he used for camp expenses.

Registrations are coming in steadily, more than 200 so far, and Camp Director Amanda Harrington is working full time now with Assistant Directors Courtney Gooding and Mark Brien planning weekly activities and events.

The counsellors for the summer are almost equally divided, half of them having worked at the camp last summer and half of them newcomers. Training takes place the last week of June.

The camp runs this summer from July 3rd to August 24th, leaving counsellors a week at the end of the summer to complete reports and clean up and store equipment for another year.

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Fourth book published

Richard Rooke has had published a fourth book of poetry, entitled

"Cruickston Quartet". It contains a collection of impressions about the change of seasons at the large and wonderful nature reserve located just south of Blair.

Originally referred to as "Cruickston Park", since that was the name of the people who owned the property, it is now known as the "rare Charitable Research Reserve." Located at the confluence of the Speed and Grand Rivers it comprises 913 acres and is home to a large variety of species some of which have declined in

numbers dramatically.

Richard describes himself as "a bit of a birder" and has spent happy hours tramping about pursuing that interest. His good friend, Bill Wilson, a former biology teacher who is part of the advisor, team at rare suggested that Richard walk through the Cruickston property over the space of a year, observing and commenting on the changes he saw.

The poems he has written describe the changes he experienced during that time, beginning in the fall of the year and carrying on through the succeeding seasons.

Richard was born in England and emigrated to Canada when he was a boy. He came to this area to study at Wilfrid Laurier University, earning a B.A. degree, and ultimately completed an M.A. at the University of Waterloo. Richard taught at High School until his retirement about eight years ago. While studying at Laurier he entered a competition in the U.S. and won for the best undergraduate poem.

His recent efforts have resulted in a lovely little volume. It is available in the church library and you are welcome to borrow it.

This is an excerpt from Richard Rooke's newest book of poetry "Cruickston Quartet". He details observations from his autumn rambles through the protected property.

Rain drills in bursts on the metal Slit Barn roof.

Wary deer drift silently through breaks.

Scatter like cloudburst at the first cracked twig.

Ruffed grouse whirr, scratch the earth, almost invisible.

The Flicker excavates bins, initials trees with its hunger.

Seasonal rain drowses wood and meadows:

Water silently percolates through pocked limestone

To a misty olive river, absorbing leaf mold, tree decay,

The brown alchemy of earth. The river replenished,

Feeds it richness to others, agent of transformation.

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Food? Fellowship?? Sounds very Presbyterian!

When we lost a substantial portion of our church staff, Elaine Brunk felt strongly that she had a role to play in helping to pick up the pieces.

She consulted with our interim Minister, the Rev. Dr. Vern Tozer, who strongly endorsed small group encounters as being very beneficial in the healing process. So after thinking carefully about how one of her talents would be best used, she launched the "Soup, Sandwich, and Socialize" monthly luncheons at the church. They turned out to be a great success - "better than I had hoped." Elaine says.

People responded and came out regularly to enjoy a well-prepared tasty meal and a fellowship opportunity, followed by a speaker. Elaine invited various people, many of them St. Andrew's members, to share their stories or visual presentations or information with the group. She asked a few people each month to help in the kitchen with food prep and clean up.

There wasn't a fixed cost for the meal, people just contributed what they wished, but Elaine was able to cover her costs and always had some money left over.

So generous were the diners that she was able to give $400 to the National-International Outreach Committee, pay for the installation of speakers in the kitchen and the nursery areas, and most recently, contribute $302 to Camp Kummoniwannago to sponsor two children to the camp for a week. Money from one luncheon went to Mary's Place, the YWCA shelter for women and children.

Now Elaine has announced that she is giving up the luncheons. She feels that they have been helpful in bringing people together, and is very pleased to have been able to contribute funds for a number of projects.

We're going to miss those great lunches and the chance to hear an interesting speaker. Thanks, Elaine, for a wonderful effort!

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Leaving a Legacy

In its first year, the Legacy campaign has brought in about $140,000.

The campaign calls for each family in the congregation to contribute $300 each Easter for five years in order to build a fund that will help to finance a viable and secure financial future for St. Andrew's.

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It's been a way of life for long time teacher

By JAN ASHTON

Donna Hodgkinson, right, with friends Sandy Elliott and Olive Fraser.

Donna Hodgkinson came to Sunday School at St. Andrew's from the time she was a tiny little girl. And she never left.

After completing Communicant's Class, she was asked to play the piano to accompany the Beginner's Department children as they sang. Gradually she assumed more and more responsibility, and finally was heading the Beginner's Department and helping to write the two-year curriculum that is used there. "I've never not been a part of the church school at St. Andrew's," she says.

Donna was born and raised in Kitchener, the daughter of Marion and Cecil McKay, and grew up on Queen's Blvd., not far from St. Mary's Hospital.

Her mother was very involved in Group Seven of the Ladies' "Egg", as Donna interpreted the word as a small child. It wasn't until she was a school girl that she realized she had misheard and that the word was actually "Aid". Many, if not all, of the Group Seven ladies were also teachers in the church school, having been persuaded or, in some cases, perhaps, coerced into teaching in the church school thanks to the unremitting efforts of Mrs. Kathleen (Edwin) Cook, who herself was a tireless teacher for many years.

Donna doesn't feel she merits any special recognition even though she has made early Christian Education an important part of her life for so long. "I'm just representative of many, many people who have given their time and ability in the church school over the years." she says.

"I think back to those people who welcomed and taught me when I was young, who encouraged me as I grew older, it's a wonderful memory. Who could forget not only Mrs. Cooke, but Anne Livingston, and Marion McPhee?" They made an incredible impression on not only their young charges but on the younger teachers who worked with them.

Although the church school has been a major focus for Donna, she is active also in the Women's' Association (the name was changed a number of years ago). is a member of Group 17, and often is involved in special projects at St. Andrew's. At the moment she is focussing her considerable energy on the production of a new family directory for the church, something that will he a very useful tool for all of us, since our last book, produced in 2001 is sadly out of date.

Because she has been active at the church for so many years Donna knows of St. Andrew's folk. She especially treasures the friendships she has formed working with the other Beginner's department teachers. Jane Moses. Sandra Wall, and Jenny Kalbfleisch have taught in the department for years, as did Cathy Williams and Michelle Neeb until quite recently.

Greeting those young children and making them feel welcome and cared about is the philosophy shared by all of the teachers in the Beginner's Department. And they view the contact with young parents as very important.

"We're on the front line there,'* Donna says, "making both parents and children feel that they are a part of our church family.

Donna went to Teacher's College in Stratford, staying at her aunt's house while she was there at school, and then returning to Kitchener to teach with the Public School Board. She began her teaching duties at Prueter School, then moved to Suddaby to work in special education. She took a 10 year break from teaching to stay at home with her children, Michael and Suzanne. Whatever she decided, her husband, Dave, has always been very supportive. She took summer courses to complete two degrees, eventually earning an M.A. through the University of Toronto. Over the years Donna taught at 10 different schools, retiring in December 2006 from her position as Vice Principal at Glencairn.

Interestingly enough, Donna was a part of the church school for the entire time of Dr. Grant MacDonald's ministry at the church. He had this to say: "When I came to St. Andrew's in 1965 there was a talented and friendly teenager by the name of Donna McKay assisting Anne Livingston in the 9:30 a.m. Beginner's Department, playing the piano for the worship and activity sessions and generally helping out wherever she could lend a hand. Helping hands were a necessity since there were about 200 three to five year-olds keeping the twenty or so teachers very, very busy. Donna was a gem and Anne appreciated her faithfulness, talents and gentleness with the children.

Her contribution has been beyond exceptional and she stands out as one of those rare people who bring both talent to the heart of the life of the church."

Although Donna insists that she is just one of an army of people who have served the church faithfully and well, and amazing loyalty to volunteering and that she is not deserving of any special mention, the fact that she has spent her entire life, to this point, in the church school is unquestionably something to be recognized.

So when you run into Donna in the near future, you might just want to say "Thanks!" Thanks for your leadership and your dedication and your example. You've done us all proud!

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Action! Take One!

Recently, an invitation was sent to St. Andrew's members for whom an e-mail address is available in the church office. Families were asked to submit a photo electronically for a trial-run of the upcoming church directory. If you would like to get in on the action, now is a good time to take a digital photograph of your family out-of-doors. Spring growth makes the finest backdrop for your submission. Here are the directions if you would like to be involved:

Using a digital camera, ask a friend or neighbour to take a photo of your family. (This should include only those family members who live at your address or consider your address to be home base.)

Attach the file and send it by e-mail to donnhodg@golden.net or hand the file into the church office on a CD or disk.

List your family's names with your submission.

Thank you to all the families who are participating.

Creating a 'pilot' directory is a positive step forward. We all appreciate how valuable a photo directory is for church members to become better acquainted with one another.

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Guest preachers for the summer

For several weeks this summer the

Rev. Mark Lewis will of course be away on his annual holiday. He also has three out-of-town preaching engagements he has promises to fulfill. He has made arrangements for a number of guest preachers for St. Andrew's during that time.

June 3rd - Mark will be away preaching an anniversary. Our guest speaker will be Lori Ransom, the Presbyterian Church in Canada Director for Reconciliation and Healing with the First Nations.

July 15th - Mark will be preaching at Lake Joseph Community Church. Our guest will be Knox College student Karen Dimock.

July 22nd - Mark will be in Nova Scotia. Our guest will be Karen Dimock.

July 29th - Mark will be in Nova Scotia. Our guest will be Knox College student Jacqui Foxall.

August 5th - Mark will be in Nova Scotia. Our guest will be Jacqui Foxall.

August 12th - Mark will be in Nova Scotia. Our guest will be the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen.

August 19th - Mark will be preaching at Timothy Eaton Memorial United Church in Toronto. Our guest will be Jacqui Foxall.

Mark will be back at St. Andrew's on Sunday, August 26th.

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Summer church school

On May 27th the church school's summer program "Avalanche Ranch" begins.

It is based on a Vacation Bible School curriculum, which has been adapted for use in our 10 week series of lessons.

Props are needed, so anyone with western gear that they are prepared to lend is asked to contact Sharron Lirette. Cowboy boots and hats, a horse saddle, wagon wheels, tin milk cans, bales of hay, a milking stool and pail, all are items that could be used in the program so if you have any of those things and could spare them for 10 weeks, please do consider it.

The program is suitable for all ages in the church school. The group will meet in the Temple.

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Search Committee<

The Search Committee has received a creditable number of profiles from ministers interested in the possibility of coming to St. Andrew's.

They have narrowed down the search to three potential candidates, and are hoping to set up dates for formal interviews in the near future.

It's hard to say at this point how long the decision making process will take. The committee is hoping there will be a second minister in place by September, but cannot predict with any accuracy.

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Facing decisions

The Board of Managers plans to replace broken sidewalk sections around the church over the summer, but wants to wait until the landscaping for the Garden of St. Andrew is completed first.

Heavy machinery will have to cross over sidewalk section and rather than risk damage to newly installed portions the Board will wait until the garden landscaping has been completed.

At present the Board is waiting for a quote on the work. The Women's Association has promised to contribute $10,000 towards the project.

As well, the Board is facing a decision regarding the heating and cooling systems in the church. The boiler, which supplies heat for the church is, in itself, in very good shape. However, some of the old pipes and radiators are deteriorating badly, and some of these old parts are no longer manufactured. As well, the roof top air conditioners are nearing the end of their ability to cool, and a decision will have to be made about those also.

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Communicants' Retreat

The Communicants' Class will be attending the annual retreat at Conrad Grebel College the weekend of June 2nd and 3rd. The retreat will be led by Jacqui and Matt Foxall.

Activities are planned for Saturday and two elders from St. Andrew's will conduct interviews with the young people.

Comments or suggestions are most welcome.