Thanksgiving bounty decorated the church on Thanksgiving Sunday, thanks to the Altar Guild's artistry, and fresh produce and flower donations from parishioners and the Jones Girls. After the service, Outreach and Altar Guild members delivered the fresh food and decorations to The Dunbar Apartments where at-risk residents are safely housed and supported. On Monday Oct. 9, Neighbourhood Ministry volunteers from some of the four Neighbourhood Ministry churches cooked, served and hosted a delicious, festive Thanksgiving Luncheon. Enjoy Joan Stewart's letter and the photos.
Dear Volunteers and Supporters of the Neighbourhood Ministry:
Thank you for participating in set-up, food preparation, serving, and clean up at the Monday, October 9, Dunbar Apartments Thanksgiving luncheon. Additional thanks to those who dropped off food items for the event.
The luncheon was opened with a word of thanksgiving, after which the residents enjoyed a bountiful feast of turkey, ham, vegetables, casseroles, pancakes, and scrambled eggs, followed by a host of desserts, including pumpkin pies, cakes, and other assorted goodies.
We were pleased to welcome our youngest volunteer, Sophia, home for Thanksgiving from Toronto, where she is at university and who began serving with this ministry when she was 12. She promised to be back at our Christmas celebration.
Special thanks to Cristalle from St. John's Shaughnessy, whose piano renditions provided a lovely touch to the luncheon and were thoroughly enjoyed by Dunbar's residents.
Thank you to the parishioners at St. Philip's and St. John's Shaughnessy for their Thanksgiving altar fruit, vegetables and gourd decorations used at the luncheon.
The Neighbourhood Ministry could not have provided this luncheon without the help and support of everyone involved. So, thank you all; your service to the residents at Dunbar was a wonderful way to demonstrate universal thanks for all we enjoy in this life.
Enjoy the attached photo!
Joan Stewart
Co-Chair Board of Management,
Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry