On Sunday afternoon last I had the pleasure to be invited to the First Mennonite Church for a spring-fest in honour of seniors of the community. There were 100 attended and 25 youth served the seniors lunch. Before the lunch was served there was a program of music and singing and also a hymn sing for everyone and also gave a prayer before the meal. It was so nice to see so many young folks taking an active part in the program. Everything was so well laid out and everyone felt like they were a part of a big loving family, which I felt we were.
Another sad loss
It always make me feel very sad when I have to report the loss of another one of my very good friends. Fritz Wurster. He loved music and singing and we always enjoyed getting together for a little jam session. Fritz and his wife Edith spent many years living in the Tatalrose district.
They had a lovely friendly home and Jo and I always enjoyed visiting them. Fritz spent a long time in our local hospital before his fight with cancer took him. Although it’s hard to say but his death was a mercy for him as was so sick and his quality of life was gone. There will be a memorial service later on when the weather warms up.
Kind of sad
Every time I pass the little St. Luke’s church on the corner, vacated now with so sign of life. We are concerned at what the future is going to hold for this little old building. It’s not the value of the building but it’s the history that goes back over 87 years. No one will realize the blood, sweat, and tears that has kept it going for so many years.
Weddings, funerals, baptisms, and I could go on and on. The building belongs to the Anglican Church but they seem to have left it.
They closed out the bank account of over $4,000 and locked the door. It has left us with nothing. What we would like to do is turn it into a community church, for all to share and of course help with the upkeep of the building.
A couple of churches have been very much in favour. Now the big thing is where do we start. Mrs. Savanoff, the curator of the local museum, has been a great help and has put me in touch with Laurie Reimer of the Lakes Economic Development Association.
She has been very helpful to me. I have turned over whatever papers with the history etc. to her and she has very kindly taken it over.
I feel it’s so important to keep this little church open not only for the present but for our future generations that will be coming along. What will they say if we just turn our backs and do nothing and this little piece of history is gone.
We must at least try. If nothing is done the building will no doubt be vandalized and in time forgotten. Although I’m a Quaker (a member of the society of friends) and not an Anglican, our family have always supported all the church’s and St. Luke’s has been one of them.
We must not let it die. I hope I have not over stepped the line but I am concerned. At the last meeting at St. Luke’s I was informed because I was not an Anglican I was not able to vote, after all these years of our attendance this really hurt me. I have found out later on that I could have voted but it was too late.
As I look back on my growing up years now over 80 years ago, and how times have changed, even our way of living has changed. Evesham was a United church town and of course that’s where we went. It was a big thing going to church. Everyone went.
There would be saddle horses, teams, and buggies and a few cars as well. The church was filled every Sunday. Every man and kids were in suits and ties, the women always wore hats.
Mother always wore a cute little hat. All the girls and ladies wore dresses, never jeans or slacks. After service we would drive home. We very often would have some family come for dinner and a visit. Everything was closed on Sunday, all but the Chinese cafe.
Some of us kids would buy a chocolate bar if we had a spare nickel. Something was always going on at the church during the week. Young peoples group, chicken suppers, choir practice. The church was the centre of so many things. Now it seems church’s seem to have fallen by the wayside. I read in an article some time ago only 23 percent of Canadians go to church and this shocked me.
Evesham still has the big United church but like all small prairie towns it’s almost like a pullout on the highway.
Mom’s birthday
April 13, 1900 is a special day for my brother Peter and myself as it is our mother’s birthday. She was born on Easter Sunday. Mother was a twin and her little sister died at birth. Mother was well known for her kindness and understanding as many came to her for help. The tea pot was always on and folks well remember her in the store and post office. No one ever went away hungry with mother around. She also lost her fight with cancer as she had many years to live but she lost. We still miss her.
I was about to have my winter tires changed today but the snow this morning has changed my mind.
Letters
In the letters this week there is an article that took my attention very much so. It’s call “Stop playing politics with my life” and it’s written by a 17 year old high school student. She needs help and it seems to me she is getting nothing but a runaround. She went to the Fraser Lake clinic and was told they were not allowed to see anyone who had seen a doctor in Burns Lake. She is suffering and big time. Why can’t she get help? I hope her letter will get to some one that can help her. She says and I quote “A tired and fed up Emily King.”
As I write up my news we are having a blizzard in April. I am going to through away my glasses as I have seen everything now.
Take care and watch for deer on Highway 35 as they are starting to move.
In our busy everyday life always stop for a minute and remember that God loves you a great deal and so do I.