At 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 11, approximately 25 people from Harvest gathered in front of the library to plan their strategy for Operation Remembrance Day. Armed with $5 Tim Horton's cards, they spread out along Dunlop Street, first participating in the ceremony and then mingling with the crowd to thank veterans and active service personnel and present them with a token of appreciation for their service.Gratefully received, sometimes with surprise, sometimes with hugs and tears, the mission was a success!

Pastor Roger's reflection on the events of Remembrance Day.

I was standing in the midst of a large and mostly silent crowd.  People of all ages, eerily silent, straining to see what was happening, listening intently to the muted sounds of the participants.

She wasn't there.

I stood behind rows of uniformed men and women from various organizations, both military and civilian.Flags waved over them, badges and medals glinted in the sun. It was a beautiful warm day to remember their comrades, friends and family members who served and perhaps died.

She wasn't there.

The thinning ranks of veterans, wearing berets and various caps over white hair and wrinkles, though striding purposefully, stand bent and frail.They see the faces of those gone, some years ago, some more recently.Who would she have remembered?

She wasn't there.

She was a beautiful, mischievous young English Wren serving in the galleys of the warships.Perhaps she dated a young man only to lose him to the battlefields.If so she never mentioned it.She can't mention it now.Her small military pension supports the care she receives in the nursing home.  Her speech is rambling and often nonsense.Does she remember the ships, the men, the life, the grand purpose of it all? 

Those days were lost long ago in the distant past of a new life in Canada, a new-found faith, marriage, family, and now, many years gone by."Once in a while" memories sometimes came out in years-ago conversations.There are no opportunities to chase them now.They are locked in time, perhaps in her memory, perhaps not.

Is someone from those long-ago days remembering her?  Do we?Or do we only think of those still able to turn out, that we can see, and those who died?She was also there, serving, long ago.She and others like her need to be remembered.

Even though today, she wasn't there.

Movember

The moustache thing

I just have to say that there was A LOT of fuss in the Harvest office during October (breast cancer awareness month) about, of all things, pink toilet paper.  November saw us back to white and into prostate cancer awareness with interesting facial hair on our three male employees. You can check out the details on our blog. 

In all seriousness, we prayerfully support our families who are currently going through cancer treatments and recovery and encourage everyone to stay on top of their own health care in this area.

Movember...thanks for coming. See you next year.

Here are start and finish photos :-)

    

He Has Come For Us

A Christmas Worship Event 

Christmas music, whether long traditional or newly composed, is such an important part of our whole Christmas experience.Excitement rises in children as they hear of shepherds, angels and jingle bells. And for adults, our hearts are touched as we receive tidings of comfort and joy, leading us to consider the nativity and all it means for us personally.

This Christmas, rather than a traditional candlelight Christmas Eve service, we are highly anticipating a deeper and more worship filled experience. Led by Travis Doucette and our own Harvest worship team our hearts and voices will be lifted in praise and adoration to the one who has come for us.

Whether you consider yourself to be a "merry gentleman" or not, our prayer is that for you and your guests, this Christmas will be one where the tidings of comfort and joy focus on Christ our Saviour who was born to give us life. 

Thursday, December 23 - 7 p.m.

Friday, December 24 - 7 p.m.

Timothy Christian School

Childcare for children 4 and under will be provided