Church marks 25 years of ministry with McGregor lodge
- Ron Giofu
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
A special service at a local church marked a milestone in caring for people in a McGregor residential home.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Amherstburg commemorated 25 years of ministry with the residents of Village Lodge in McGregor. Residents from Village Lodge were at the church for last Sunday morning’s service, where members of the congregation who also lead ministry efforts at the McGregor lodge celebrated the milestone anniversary.
“It’s 25 years of serving others and entering into real relationships with people,” said Rev. Shirley Carleton.
Rev. Carleton said when she has the opportunity to go to Village Lodge, it is a chance to build and share a sense of community.
Deborah Smart was one of the first people to get the partnership established between St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and Village Lodge. She said Roger Hunter, a minister in Toronto, helped establish ministry at such residential homes and credited the late Anne Cohen for getting it started locally. In partnership with Anne Bailey and a team of others, Smart was pulled into the ministry and recalled her initial visit to the home.
“Our first visit to the home was a little bit of a disaster,” she said. “We were scared. We didn’t know what to expect.”
The volunteers went there with treats and gifts but no one came down out of their rooms. That repeated itself during the second week. In the third week, residents started coming down and visiting with them and the ministry grew from there.
“We became good friends over 25 years,” said Smart. “We trust each other. We laugh, we cry and we share.”
Smart added the residents helped her deal with tragedy, such as the loss of her husband and daughter. Her husband’s picture hangs at the home while her daughter’s life was celebrated with a party.
Of the latter, Smart said “it couldn’t have been held at a better place.”
Church congregation team members that volunteer at the lodge have dances, barbecues, Christmas parties, fun events, and visits where they share friendships and hugs.
“I’m grateful for the team,” said Smart. “I’m grateful for the residents.”
Smart paid tribute to the full congregation of the church, all of whom support the team in a number of ways.
“For 25 years, you’ve supported us,” said Smart. “For 25 years, you’ve never questioned us with what we wanted it for.”
John Drop, another parishioner who attends Village Lodge as part of the team, recalled Cohen originally had difficulty finding people to help her on her mission but St. Andrew’s stepped up and began to assist with ministry work. Cohen wanted teams to help her visit other residential homes in the area, and helped to get that established.
Drop also remembered being nervous the first time he went out. He said they share Bible stories and pointed out the residents themselves want to be listened to and share their own stories.
“We met them and were bowled over by the need,” said Drop. “For many years now, we have created so many memories.”
One of the residents, simply identified as Sean, said he has lived at Village Lodge for 13 years and noted the difference that has been made through the work with the church. He pointed out he has Schizophrenia and invited others to learn about it.
Judy Mackinnon, another member of the ministry team from St. Andrew’s, said she hasn’t been going to the lodge as long as others but it has already made a difference in her life.
“You’ve made such an impact on my life,” she told the Village Lodge residents.
The congregation viewed a video highlighting what the team members do there and a special lunch was held with the residents and the church members coming together to celebrate.
Church marks 25 years of ministry with McGregor lodge
By Ron Giofu
Comments