The day was unusually warm for late September on Inishmore, in the Erin Islands off Galloway, the most westerly point in Europe.  The island is renowned for its dark beauty, pristine beaches, rugged sea-scapes, plunging cliffs, megalithic forts, fairy rings, early Christian ruins and quite literally within the sixteen square miles that make up the island there are thousands of miles of stonewall fences.    These stone barriers honey-comb the entire place and were built over thousands of years ago to protect little plots of land from soil erosion,  to mark property lines as well as boundaries.  In a day:  you could stand upon the paving stone of what might me the smallest church in the world, measuring eleven feet by seven feet; crawl on your haunches into an 8th century beehive hut once inhabited by an austere Irish monk; peer over a 300 foot cliff dropping into the North Atlantic, in the great high hill
fort of Dunangus built a thousand years before the time of Christ, by the Celtic warriors   or   just sit on some sparse vegetation and take in the natural wonder of it all. 

The ancient Irish called  places like Inishmore,  “thin places”, where past, present and future meld together and swirl about you.  These are spots where the veil between heaven and earth break through and embrace each other.  While sitting there, taking a sip from my water bottle, I was amused and entertained by two little sheep who were frolicking within one of the stone paddocks.  What really drew my attention was the fact that the front left leg of one lamb was securely tied to the front right leg of the second lamb by a piece of raw hide cord.  They were comical to watch as one attempted to go one way and the other another, but neither could move because of that which bound them.  Thin places are also about those ties that bind us. 

The Celtic spirituality has been rediscovered in recent years it has depth, insight and is deeply rooted in creation.  The sacredness of life and the interconnectedness of life are pillars upon which this form of spirituality is shaped.  This year throughout Lent, we will use through our worship, gallery  and  adult study, 
Celtic Spirituality as a vehicle for renewing and strengthening our understanding and relationship to and with God.  Just as Inishmore is made up of:  rugged and smooth places; high and low places; exposed and sheltered places, we will explore our inner most terrain of our hearts and our souls, the “thin places”, during these six weeks and discover the cord, like that of the lambs, which ties us to creation, God and one another. 

Please mark your calendars for the Adult Study.  Tuesday evenings from 7:30 - 9:00 pm in the Dr. Best Room. 

Tuesday ‘March 2nd  Theme 1 Presence of God in the ordinary
Tuesday, March 9th  Theme 2 Discover the goodness of Creation
Tuesday, March 16th  Theme 3 The Celtic High Cross 
Tuesday, March 23rd  Theme 4 A Love of Learning and Wisdom
Tuesday, March 30th  Theme 5 Silence and Solitude
Tuesday, April 6th Theme 6 The lorica, or breastplate prayer

This Lenten discipline is based upon a study developed by Joyce Rupp, who is a Spiritual guide, writer and poet.  Please call the office to confirm your registration.  Materials will be provided.

I would be pleased if you would publish some of the highlights of this paper from time to time in "The Beacon."  Perhaps these could serve as a challenge to students and teachers in the present Sunday School classes to try their hand at creating a similar publication.

Sincerely,
Sue Lissaman
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Sue,
I thank you for your fortuitous job of cleaning, which resulted in a treasure trove of articles, etc. for "The Beacon."  I will be more than happy to include excerpts from "The Desert Star," not only in upcoming editions, but also in this one! Thanks again,
Sincerely, 
Robin Little

On a personal note, I would like to thank Sue Lissaman for agreeing to becoming a co-editor of “The Beacon”.
Robin Little
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To All:  I look forward to receiving more of your letters.  Feel free to email me at robinlttl@aol.com or call me at 695-9683 or when we meet let me know your thoughts.

Thank you!
Robin Little
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Please note:  The next Beacon will be coming your way in mid May.  Deadline for submissions is May 3,  2004.   Please email or drop them off to Cindy Casey (in the Church office) or me.

Why walk a labyrinth? Pilgrimages have long been a popular spiritual discipline, as people retraced the footsteps of Jesus, pondering his hardships and temptations. It would be lifetime dream to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to walk where Jesus once walked, and stand where he once stood. During the time of the Crusades, it was not safe to travel to the Holy Land. As a result, pilgrimage sites were set up across Europe, where the faithful could fulfil their quest. The Cathedral at Chartres, and its Labyrinth, was one of these pilgrimage sites. For this reason, the centre of the Labyrinth is often referred to as Jerusalem, the Holy City where God’s presence can be most vividly experienced.

As a spiritual tool, walking a labyrinth follows a classical three fold path. The first is the walking in on the path. This is a time of purgation, emptying or letting go. Second is the time in the centre. Take as long as you need. This is a time of seeking clarity, illumination, and insight. Third is the walking out. Follow the path once more to the mouth. Don’t rush it. This is a time for integration, union, action.

Who is this for?  The labyrinth is a spiritual tool which escapes all labels. The labyrinth is a place of divine presence. The labyrinth invites you to spend some time walking with God, who shares our burdens, hopes and fears.

As you carry your burden/concern/dream into the labyrinth, what does it feel like to carry it?  How far do you have to go with this? How do all these turns reflect the journey of your life? When you reach the centre, what does it feel like to lay your concern down?  Can you entrust it to God? What does it feel like to leave it behind? How do you move forward from here? God’s love is a lamp for our feet, and light for our path.

On Tuesday, March 2nd The Reverend Neil Whitehouse, who has been instrumental in constructing the first public labyrinth in Montreal, will lead this evening's workshops.
 

Note:*Excursions such as these will continue to be planned throughout 2004.  Cost includes admission fee to the avent as well as the transportation by Chartered bud.  If you have any outing suggestions, please speak with Shaun.
 

Butterfly Bridge
Wednesday, May 5th 
It’s never too early to start planning your tables for Bridge or to start searching your cupboards for prizes.  Details will follow in weekly annoucement sheets.

Penny Fund 
Hard to believe spring & summer are just around the corner ... but they are.   Many inner-city school children depend on our pennies (nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, toonies which allow them to go to summer camp.   We continue to need regular donations to make this project a success.  If you have questions about this wonderful program please speak with Irma Coffin or any member of the U.C.W.  Just a reminder...Empty pop bottles and cans help send the child to camp too!   To those of you who have been contributing to this fund; our heartfelt thanks.

There must be something to this spirit business – you know, spirit, this whole idea that there are things that affect us, things that we don’t understand and can’t ever understand.  I thought of that when a student asked me what person had most profoundly affected my life.  The first person who came to mind was a man I never spoke to, know almost nothing about, cannot say exactly what effect he had on me, and whose name I am not even sure of.

All I really know of him I can sum up in a sentence, things I overheard my parents say when I was a child.  He was born in a village in Wales, went to work in a coal mine, got a degree in theology, came to Montreal for a time as a United Church minister, then went to be a missionary in Africa.  That’s it.  But we can probably fill it out a little.

He was born in the late days of Queen Victoria’s empire, a time when life savings in Welsh mining towns were counted in pennies.  After a few years of school, his childhood ended, and he joined his friends and his father and his uncles working deep underground in narrow tunnels where the air was always damp, and the only sound was the pumps keeping the water back.

The great enthusiasms of those hard lives were learning and religion.  So, at rest time underground, the men and boys would gather under a lamp and combine learning and religion by reading aloud from The Bible.  It would affect their speech all their lives, as they talked and argued and wrote and even thought in the majestic rhythms of the King James Version.  They heard the rhythms, too, from the pulpit at Sunday Chapel; and they added magnificent harmonies as everyone, men, women and children, sang in four-part harmony to make up for the organ their little chapel couldn’t afford.

That was the making of the man whose reading underground by the light of a miner’s lamp got him through the entrance exams at college, into the ministry, and then to a tiny mission church in the north end of Montreal.  For years afterwards, the older people remembered him as the preacher who would shake hands with a down-on-his-luck parishioner at the church door.  Then, when the man got home, he would put his hand into his coat pocket and find a few dollars.

He left after a few years to take up a mission in Africa, but he never forgot his old church. For the rest of his life, he wrote back to friends, and sent them pictures from his mission.

That’s all I know, and all I can even guess about him.  I don’t even know what he looked like, because I saw him only once, a very long time ago. That was the day he held me up in front of the church and said, “I baptise you.....” 

Yet, when a student asked me who had most affected my life, this was the man who immediately came to mind.  And I don’t know why.

There really must be something to this spirit business.

        It’s been a pleasure working here at Beaconsfield United Church!  I have worked here in the past, from time to time, replacing Shelley Goulet for vacations, days off, etc.  Therefore, I started off my replacement with knowledge of our clients, the work site and the folks here at B.U.C.  I will be replacing Shelley until June 2004.

        During the fall and winter, we sold many candles at the U.C.W. Craft Fair, the Bric à Brac sale as well as during the period prior to the Christmas holidays.  We thank you for your support and interest in our work.  Recently, we tried out a new activity - soap making with a promising start.  Your continued interst in the candle and soap projects will make it possible for us to continue these activities, which are of a great benefit to our team of  clients here at the church and to the B.U.C. community.

        Personally, I have had the opportunity to learn to make signs and posters with the Readaptation Centre team here at B.U.C.  It has been a fun learning experience.   There have been many instances of role-reversal for me in these projects as I have needed instruction and advice from Pudja, one of our clients.  When such a phenomen occurs, it really shows the value of our integrated work-site programs and the benefit to our team of WMRC clients.

        We are always happy to make posters, signs, flyerc, etc for any functions your group or committee may be planning.  If you have a task for us please do not hesitate to speak with either Cindy  Casey or myself. 

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.  Shay asked, “Do you think they’ll let me play?”

Shay’s father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging.  Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play.  The boy looked around for guidance and getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, “We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning.  I guess he can be on our team, and we’ll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning.”

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs, but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield.  Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.  At this juncture, would they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?  Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.  Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.  However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly, so Shay would at least be able to make contact.  The first pitch came, Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.  As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.  Shay would have been out, and that would have been the end of the game.  Instead, the pitcher took the ball turned and threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling, “Shay, run to first!  Run to first!”  Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base.  He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.  Everyone yelled: “Run to second, run to second!”

By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball.  He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions and deliberately threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.  Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home.  As Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, “Run to third!”  As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming: “Shay, run home!”

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate and was cheered as the hero who hit the “grand slam” and won the game for his team.

“That day,” said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, “the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".

                                      submitted by Terry Taylor, Manager

        On November 1^st 2003 we celebrated seven years in operation. Our seventh year has been one of many challenges and triumphs. Although we look like a normal retail outlet, behind the scenes is a community of volunteers who are committed to social justice. Fair trade is at the heart of this active community.

        Over the year, our store has been a hive of activity. In May, our three founding churches celebrated together in our first-ever Family Festival, held in the parking lot behind the store. We also hosted several educational evenings for community organizations to learn more about fair trade, and to try their hand at some global crafts. Dix Mille Villages collected over 500 school kits, and responded well to the call for Iraq relief kits, further including us in global outreach. Susan Unruh, from the Ten Thousand Villages head office, spoke to us about her experiences on a learning tour in Vietnam, visiting our artisans there. In support of friends who have been touched by cancer, the store participated in The Relay for Life, raising over $3500 for cancer research. One of the store’s proudest moments this year was our Living Gift event in December, bringing in over $12 000 in donations.

          This year, Dix Mille Villages welcomed new volunteers and said good-bye to others. Because committed volunteers make this mission successful, we hosted special events to show our appreciation. On Blues Night, volunteers were entertained with “global munchies” and good music provided by several of our talented colleagues. 

        Thank you to all our Beaconsfield United Church volunteers: Grace Côté, Esther Frischknecht, Carol Johns, Cal Kufta, Murray McAuslane, Barbara Paul, Aileen Smiley-Kufta,  and Roger Snelling.

        Over the past 7 years, we have grown from $120 000 in sales to this year’s sales of $365 000. The store’s fiscal year ends on Jan 31, and financial statements will be available in March.

        Dix Mille Villages is a place where artisans, customers, volunteers, staff and board members come with different gifts and needs. May God bless his people as they faithfully serve at His table.

Healing is a process guided by God to restore balance and wholeness of body, mind and spirit, not only within the individual, but also within relationships, community and creation. The Healing Pathway is intended to assist congregations in developing and sustaining a healing ministry. The Pathway is primarily focused on team ministry, and is centred and grounded in the life and structure of the congregation.

As a Healing Pathway practitioner, I will be offering Healing Pathways, free of charge, to members of the congregation and the community. This can be done either individually or in small groups, and can take place at the church or in your homes.

In Canada today, over 300,000 people are stamp collectors, officially known as Philatelists. There is always a market for used stamps.

We here at B.U.C. have been collecting used stamps for at least 40 years. Since the year 2000, we sell the stamps ourselves and use the proceeds for local mission projects. Our contributions from stamp sales have grown from $48 in 2000 to $58 in 2001 reaching $69 in 2002 and in 2003, our efforts brought $189 in sales!

This is my message to you: Save the used stamps from all your incoming mail! Place these envelopes or carefully cut out stamps with postmarks in the basket, on the windowsill in the Gallery.

Kitchen:Thursday, March 18th                         Serving: Friday, March 19th 6:30pm
Friday, March 19th
Friday evening March 19th

Set Up: Friday, March 19th (10:00am)               Clean Up: Friday, March 19th 9:30pm
(Tables, Chairs, Decorations)

A Community building opportunity. Let's get to know one another! Questions are on topics such as: B.U.C. history, City of Montreal, the West Island, Sports, Music and Entertainment

Set Up: Friday April 23rd (11:00 am)                Concession Stand:

Clean Up:

A three series concert program organized by our Music Director, Lynette Wahlstrom. Donations to be directed to B.U.C.'s general fund.

Advertising:             Refreshments:

The Shoppe, our good quality used clothing boutique will be open during the sale as well. We will start collecting Household items only for the sale on Monday, April 5th.

Set Up:
Tables (Friday, April 30th 9:00 am) Items (Friday, April 30th 11:00am)

Vendors:
Saturday 9:00 - noon Saturday noon - 3:00

Clean-up (Saturday, May 1st 3:00 pm)

Kitchen:
Food Preparation: Friday, April 30th)
Vendors: Saturday, May 1st 9:00 - noon
noon - 3:00 pm