McPhail Weblog Oct 25 2020

McPhail Baptist Church

Oct 25th 2020

Anniversary Sunday - 132 Years!


Prelude: "Prayer op.47, no.4”  

(by Alexandre Guilmant)

Sue Sparks 


Today, we welcome back to the organ Sue Sparks. Sue was in the church this week for the first time in many weeks, recording some pieces for today’s service. Sue was away from the organ for a number of weeks first to be on hand for the birth of her granddaughter, and then having to cope with the sudden loss of her husband Steve. 

 

We appreciate Sue’s dedication and devotion to her music and know that our congregation will continue to uphold Sue, Chris and family in thought, prayers and support.  




Favourite Hymns

Ernie and Lynda Cox




GREAT GOD, YOUR LOVE HAS CALLED US


Great God, your love has called us here, as we, by love, for love were made.

Your living likeness still we bear, though marred, dishonored, disobeyed. 

We come, with all our heart and mind your call to hear, your love to find.


Great God, in Christ you call our name and then receive us as your own,

Not through some merit, right or claim, but by your gracious love alone.

We strain to glimpse your mercy seat and find you kneeling at our feet.


Great God, in Christ you set us free your life to live, your joy to share.

Give us your Spirit’s liberty to turn from guilt and dull despair,

And offer all that faith can do while love is making all things new.


HOW GREAT THOU ART


O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, 

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed. 


Refrain:   

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee;

How great thou art, how great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee;

How great thou art, how great thou art!


When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration, 

And there proclaim “My God, how great thou art.” 


WE ARE CALLED TO BE GOD’S PEOPLE


We are called to be God’s people, showing by our lives his grace,

One in heart and one in spirit, sign of hope for all the race.

Let us show how he has changed us, and remade us as his own,

Let us share our life together as we shall around his throne.


We are called to be God’s servants, working in his world today,

Taking his own task upon us, all his sacred words obey.

Let us rise, then, to his summons, dedicate to him our all,

That we may be faithful servants, quick to answer now his call.


We are called to be God’s prophets, speaking for the truth and right,

Standing firm for godly justice, bringing evil things to light.

Let us seek the courage needed, our high calling to fulfill,

That the world may know the blessing of the doing of God’s will. 



Matthew 16:13-20 - Read by Anne Rutherford




Matthew 16:13-20 New International Version (NIV)


13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.



Special Music: "To God Be The Glory"

Ernie and Lynda Cox 





“WHAT GOOD IS THE CHURCH?”

Rev. Ernie Cox




Special Music: “Le Cygne / The Swan” 

By Camille Saint-Saëns

Margot Lange & Ernie Cox 




Hymn: “God of Life”

Sue Sparks


God of life, in Christ you lead us, guiding us along the way.

In our past, through joys and sorrows, you have been our strength and stay.

Keep us faithful, true disciples, in our learning and our praise,

Celebrating past and present, consecrating future days.


God of music, psalms and anthems, help us sing your faith anew;

Melodies expanding worship, harmonies enriching too.

May our lives be hymns in action, tune to Christ in note and rhyme,

Celebrating past and present, consecrating future time. 


God of days and years and eons, still you call as in the past.

Work undone demands our labour, justice yearns for peace at last.

Yours the vision and the challenge, ours the mission and the praise,

Celebrating past and present, consecrating future days. 



Honouring Our Church Members 


Today, on this the 132nd Anniversary of McPhail Memorial Baptist Church we take time to honour

our members Bob Mott and Evelyn Burwash who have been members of our church for 70 years. 

Jacquie Fuller interviewed Bob Mott and Ramona Dunahee interviewed Evelyn Burwash. You can read 

those informative interviews below. 


Bill and Jacquie Fuller



We also honour today Bill and Jacquie Fuller who have been members of our church since 1995, 25 years. Now, if you read through the list below of the various committees on which Bill and Jacquie have served and chaired, and the different church positions they have held over the past twenty-five years, including their current positions,  I think we’d have to agree that Jacquie and Bill are what is called a “power couple”.  It seems they have done everything in the church ranging from significant positions as Treasurer, Church Clerk, Chair of Finance and Property, Chair of Deacons, to making meals for The Door—Jacquie for 22 years, and Bill for 10 years or more,  to washing and drying dishes in our church kitchen.  As well, Bill was chair of our Constitution Committee to which he gave superb leadership resulting in our recent updated constitution. 


Bill Fuller


1997-2000:  Trustee

1998: Finance Committee

1999-2008, 2012-2015:Treasurer

2010-2011: Trustee

2016 to current,  Chair of Property and Finance


Jacquie Fuller


Social committee: 1997-2001

Deacon: 1999-2001

Clerk: 2002 to current

Deacon: 2004-2006

2010-2012: Chair of Social Committee

2019 to current, Chair of Deacons. 


Bill and Jacquie Fuller have served and continue to serve McPhail with great dedication and commitment and our church has been the better for it.  


And so, our heartfelt thanks to Bob Mott, Evelyn Burwash, Jacquie and Bill Fuller, for their many years of devoted service and support.



ROBERT MOTT

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF MEMBERSHIP AT MCPHAIL CHURCH




Robert (Bob) Mott became a member of McPhail on June 25, 1950 following his baptism.


Bob’s first encounter with McPhail was following the death of his father when he was about 4 years of age and the oldest of four children.  At that time, his Mom was a member of Eastview Baptist Church and the family lived on McLaren Street. On an afternoon in 1937, there was a knock at the door and a Young People’s Group from McPhail church, under the leadership of Gladys and Winifred Brewer, presented the family with some food and a Christmas tree.  The family then moved in with Bob’s grandparents until his Mom married Herbie Graham from Percy Street. 


Bob jokingly states that he has served in every capacity during his membership with the exception of Treasurer and Minister! He has been the Envelope Secretary, a Trustee, Chair of the Property and Finance Board, a Deacon, a Sunday school teacher and then Sunday school superintendent as well as the leader of the Young People’s group with his new wife, Joan. The Young Peoples would often have square dances following their meetings..............much to the chagrin of some of the membership. During our interview, Bob remembered and demonstrated a few “calls”.


Memories of life at McPhail include winter sleigh rides around the neighbourhood and then back to the church for food and fellowship, picnics at Rockliffe Park when then Sunday school superintendent, Bert Raymond, would have gone ahead to reserve a spot at the park near the gazebo and the rest would follow via streetcar; the Baseball league when the team to beat was Eastview and it became quite a feat to be the winner! Talent nights may have included “Devil Bob and his Mottley Crew”


Fishing parties were made up of Bob, Dave Ogilvie, Rob Bueckert, Steve Grundy, Karen Mott and Geoff Coley. The first weekend of May was reserved for fishing............sometimes at Algonquin Park and sometimes near Kingston if there was still ice on the Algonquin lakes.  There was once a fishing trip in Saskatchewan with just Bob, Geoff and Geoff’s father-in-law while the Motts were driving across Canada to their daughters’ in Vancouver. 


The lot beside the church was owned by the Church and used as a tennis court for the Church.  The property was then used to build a parsonage in 1948. The first residents were Rev. E.K. Smith and his family.   


The Smith’s had one son, Gary, and he and Bob became good friends.  At one time, the Manse was also taken over for church offices and meetings and then sold to the Anglican Diocese for McPhail House. At this time, Bob as well as many others undertook the alterations made to accommodate the six ladies who live there. 


Bob was also instrumental in performing yard work and making some of the gardens around the church. 


Bob was one of the main organizers of the Sweetheart Dinner which was held in February. The McPhail Men would do the decorating, cooking, serving and cleanup, much to the delight of the ladies. There were various countries used as theme countries: Scotland, Canada, Ireland, Italy.......and Joan assured me that the ladies looked forward to this every year. Showing off his musical talents, Jeff Coley would perform a song on guitar with words written by Bob to suit the occasion and the various ladies in 

attendance.  Bob and Joan both remember newborn Jennifer Sparks’ attendance at one of the first dinners. 


The Motts were avid travellers and the people of McPhail would be treated to a Mott travelogue following their journey. 


It was a pleasure to interview Bob and Joan and have them share their memories.



Evelyn Burwash 





Evelyn Burwash came from Avoca, Quebec, which is the Hawkesbury area. She was used to small churches back home, where, on Sundays, she attended the United Church in the morning and the Baptist Church in the afternoon. Congregation was 10 to 15 people.


At the age of 17, and after completing her secretarial course, she was offered a government job and came to work at the Daly Building in Ottawa. Her salary, at the time, was $60 a month. Her sister joined her and they lived with their aunt and uncle on Laurier Avenue.  


She thought she would attend First Avenue Baptist Church, but quickly learned it was not for her.  One day, in 1950, she met a man on the street, and as they chatted, he encouraged her to attend McPhail Memorial Baptist Church, and so she did, walking a half mile every Sunday, regardless of the weather. Rev Harmer was the minister at the time.   


She married her sweetheart Clayton Burwash in 1950 and they had four children.


Evelyn has always volunteered behind the scenes, in the nursery and in the kitchen. She always has a smile on her face when she meets everyone on Sunday mornings and is very grateful for her church family.


In December 2020, she will celebrate her 70th year of attendance at McPhail.  How remarkable! 



Special Anniversary Sunday Music: 

“McPhail True and Strong”


Written by Jeff Helman, Ramona Dunahee, and Freda Dupuis

 



CHORUS:

McPhail true and strong,  where everyone can belong,

We give and we share,  knowing He's always there,

From the young to the old, many stories are told , 

We hold dear in our hearts, to forever impart,

McPhail true & strong

 

In the scriptures and the prayers, showing us that He cares,  

From the pulpit to the pews,  McPhail strong and true,

We listen to the message our Lord is bringing,

and we rejoice with the choir singing ....... Repeat Chorus

 

Sunday mornings and through the week, his love and grace we shall seek,

Until we gather and meet again, in worship with a trusted friend,  

In our hearts we acknowledge, Our Praise for him in love,

As we pray to our Father, up above ........ Repeat Chorus


   

Announcements



Note from Sue Sparks: 


To our dear McPhail friends


Chris and I and the rest of the Sparks family would like to thank you for the many ways in which you have helped to carry us through the past few weeks following Steve’s passing. Your phone calls, cards and gifts of meals have made this incredibly hard time easier for us. They were so appreciated. Thank you also for the beautiful floral arrangement that you sent to us.


Most of all, thank you for your prayers.  At the times when it has been hard to even put one foot in front of the other, we have felt God’s care and love through your prayers and concern. We continue to ask for your prayers as we navigate this new world in to which we find ourselves.

Many blessings to all of you


Sue, Chris and the Sparks family


*We are excited to now offer an e-transfer option for McPhail offerings. If you would like to make use of this option, offerings can be sent via online banking to offerings@mcphailbaptist.ca If possible, please include your envelope number in the memo line. A special thanks to Steve Sparks and Samantha Helman for setting this up for us! For those who would prefer mailing in their offering, funds can be sent via post to: McPhail Baptist Church, 249 Bronson Ave, Ottawa, ON. K1R 6H6 We are deeply thankful for your ongoing support of this ministry! 



Benediction 

Ernie and Lynda Cox



Postlude: “For All The Saints” 

(by Mary McDonald) 

Sue Sparks







Comments

  1. What a special service this morning! It was complete with the beautiful stained glass behind Linda and Ernie. The music, reading and write ups of our dear members served to make me miss you all even more but at the same I am so grateful for these wonderful services produced by the Cox’s, Sue Steve and guests. We are fortunate indeed. Can’t wait to be together in real life. Pat Wood

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  2. Congratulations to Bill & Jacquie, Bob & Joan and Evelyn. Very interesting stories and thanks to the interviewers. Well done ! Great music Ernie, Lynda, Sue and Margot. Wonderful Sermon as always Ernie. I loved seeing you again Anne as you did the Reading. Thanks to Jeff for introducing “McPhail True and Strong” and for collaborating with us. A lot to be thankful for. And Happy Anniversary McPhail.

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  3. W O W ! Where do we start ? Incredible ! Where do we end ? Incredible ! That message was so timely. Thanks to all of you.

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  4. Wonderful Anniversary internet service. All those whose talents and efforts made it possible, Thanks so much. Douglas Rutherford

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