It’s still called 101 Nativities but every year it seems to get a little bigger.

When Jean Freeman and Kris Caird started out collecting Nativity scenes for a display nine years ago, they were concerned about reaching the 101 mark. But this year, the count reached 260 as of Friday night as the Cole Lake Free Methodist Church welcomed the community for its annual pre-Christmas celebration displaying Nativity scenes collected from around the world.

“We couldn’t do it without the people who donate their Nativities for the display,” said Freeman. “Plus the people who help putting out the Nativities (like Cindy McMahon) and taking them down.

“Taking them down and putting them back in boxes is actually more strenuous.”

One thing that immediately strikes the viewer is the vast variety of approaches to the standard vision of Christ’s birth.

“There’s no limit to people’s imagination and their ability to stay true to the subject matter,” Freeman said.

For example, there are Nativities made of wood, stone, crochet, plastic, clay, even Kevlar. They come with individual figures or all in one examples. (“The one-piece ones are easier to put out,” she said.)

There are snow globes, clocks, and displays made from twisted banana leaves.

And they come from all over the world, from Canadian First Nations depictions to Rwanda, Haiti, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Guatemala, Peru, Guyana, Puerto Rico, Germany as well as several from Israel.

“And of course the kids get to make their own Nativity Scene,” she said. “That’s very popular.

“But there are so many, you just can’t get them all in one glance.”

Freeman said she’d like to do something special for the 10th one next year but hasn’t decided what that might be yet.

“We have started going more rustic with the shelves in the corner,” she said. “We might go even more rustic next year.”

Thinking of Christmas? Think Nativity, which refers to scenes or creches displayed at Christmas, depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. "Kick off your Christmas Season" by visiting the ninth annual “101 Nativities Exhibition” at Cole Lake Free Methodist Church, 20 White Lake Rd., off Rd. #38, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm and Sat. & Sun. Nov. 23 & 24 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

 The Nativity exhibition will include over 250 nativity displays from all over the world, made of metal, wood, glass, ceramic or plastic. Nativities that children can handle and play with will also be on display. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. Each child will be given an opportunity to make a nativity craft to take home. .

 The Nativity Exhibition has become a tradition at Cole Lake Free Methodist Church and this is it's ninth year. The exhibition is one way we celebrate and spread the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ.. "101 Nativities" has grown in several ways since that first Nativity Exhibition in 2011.The number of nativities on display has grown from 101 to over 250, the number of church and community members participating in the organization of the event has grown, and the number of persons attending the exhibition has also grown significantly.

 Ladies from the church and community have contributed to the exhibition by bringing their nativities to the church for display, and have contributed their time and talents in the setup of the nativity exhibition, along with their time during the event.  Our church family is truly thankful for the support over the years.

 We encourage everyone to get together with your family and friends and come to the ninth annual nativity exhibition to begin your Christmas season by celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. This is not just a story from the past as Jesus is alive today and is there to give the gift of eternal life, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."John 3:16. Jesus is our hope for an eternal life and a life that is meaningful and abundant. This Christmas welcome Christ into your life and let Him give you peace! 

  “For unto us a child is born...” Isaiah 9:6

The future of Remembrance Day services at the McMullen Park Cenotaph in Verona appears set as more than 100 people gathered on Remembrance Day to honour the fallen.

At the luncheon in the Verona Free Methodist Church following the ceremonies, one of the organizers, Linda Bates, announced that they plan to keep up the tradition next year, although they may change the starting time to 11 a.m. from 10:45 a.m. to better accommodate students from Prince Charles Public School.

“We think it’s more important to have the students here than to observe the moment of silence right at 11 a.m.,” Bates said. “It’s important students know and understand why we do this.”

There was a strong contingent of students and staff from PCPS at this year’s ceremony, both in terms of actual numbers and active participation.

Kate Walker and Madison Brushette read In Flanders Fields and Willa Morton gave the reply. Brent Orser and Emily Casement laid a wreath for the school.

The school has a history of Remembrance Day ceremonies. For several years, Verona remembrances were held in the school gym before a group of volunteers and the Verona Community Association brought the service back to the Cenotaph in 2016.

New Leaf Link (aka NeLL) runs programming for developmentally disabled adults out of the gym at the Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church 3 days a week, year-round. NeLL is able to accomplish this without government funding, due to the dedication of the parents, volunteers, instructors that are committed to the project.

One of those instructors is Marty Tucker, from the Sydenham Academy of Martial Arts. Since last fall, Marty has been teaching Karate to NeLL participants. Last Thursday, April 4th, the New Leaf Link students, along with Marty and some of his academy students, demonstrated the skills they have learned to an audience of family members, the media, South Frontenac Councillor Ross Sutherland and MPP Randy Hillier.

Some of the NeLL students were nervous, but they all came through in the end, with Marty’s encouragement. The day culminated in the presentation of Yellow Belts to the students, marking their progress in the martial art.

“The Karate component in our courses, along with the arts, music, and nutrition, adds so much to our group,” said NeLL founder and Executive Director Dr. Karin Steiner.

The students also presented MPP Hillier with three pieces of art that they have created with their art instructor Gabriel Deerman from Salmon River Studios in Tamworth.

“I have three offices,” said Hillier, “in Perth, Smiths Falls, and at Queen’s Park. I will put one of these up in each office.”

For information about New Leaf Link, go to Newleaflink.ca

Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church celebrated their hundredth anniversary last Sunday with a packed church filled with fellowship and music in a service led by Jason Silver.

“They must have been shorter in those days,” commented Bishop Cliff Fletcher, who towered above the pulpit from the original church. He brought greetings and congratulations on having come a long way from 1919, when the Rev Charles Fairbairn’s first meetings were pelted with tomatoes by Harrowsmith protesters. Today the church is an important and welcome part of the whole community, sharing its facilities with a variety of groups and activities. Glen Snook, who at 88 is the oldest living member of the congregation (he joined 81 years ago, when he was seven years old) said, “I am an old man now, and I say to you, ‘Stay with it, stay together’.” Mayor Vandewal brought greetings, both personal and from the Township.

The downstairs hall told the history of the church and its congregation through a display of artifacts and story-boards, one for each decade, filled with photos, newspaper clippings and excerpts from church documents. Two more exhibits featured the women’s contributions, which combined fellowship with food preparation, bake sales, sewing and missionary outreach. These were all compiled by Maureen Adams.

Following the church service, two newlyplanted “Autumn Glory” Maples were dedicated on the front lawn: one in recognition of the past hundred years, and the other looking forward to the future. After that came lunch on the back lawn, near the newly-built outdoor stage, which will host a series of musical concerts this summer.

With the closing of St. Paul’s United Church a couple of years ago, the Free Methodist Church became the only remaining church in Harrowsmith.

That would likely be a surprise to the founder of the Harrowsmith Free Methodist, C.V. Fairbairn. In a book called “the Battle was the Lord’s: a history of the Free Methodist Church in Canada”, written by John Wilson Sigsworth and published in 2016. Sigsworth describes how the church came to be established in Verona in the late 19th century and spread to Petworth, Holleford, Deyo’s Corners, Desert Lake, Cole Lake, and Wagarville, and other nearby locations in Lennox and Addington.

But Fairbairn, who had been instrumental in establishing the church in some of the other communities, but when he organised what Sigsworth calls a ‘siege’ of Harrowsmith in November of 2018, he was met with “the greatest organised resistance we have ever encountered”.

Fairbairn needed to bring a petition, signed by 250 people, just to be able to rent a town hall in order to hold a meeting in November of 1918.

Fairbairn’s second ‘siege of Harrowsmith’ in the spring of 1919, resulted in ‘a class of 18 people’ being established. The former Presbyterian Church on Harrowsmith Road was purchased and the congregation gained strength steadily over the years, remaining in that location until the late 1980’s.

In preparation for the church celebrating its 100th anniversary at a special event this Sunday (June 9) and at concerts throughout the summer and fall, one of the parishioners, Maureen Adams, undertook the task of combing through the minutes of church meetings, going back to 1919. She has pulled the highlights of the minutes for display boards that will be set up on Sunday, with roughly one for each decade.

The boards illustrate the change in the value of money over 100 years. For example, in 1923, a motion was passed “give the Budget System a trial and endeavour to raise $16.00/week for the pastor”. Prices have risen steadily over the years. In 1954, an oil furnace was purchased for the parsonage at a cost of $350, including installation. In 1971, the parson’s salary was raised to $95 a week.

The boards, from the very beginning and through to the present day, also show that the founding families of the church are still very much active in its progress. Of the 6 transferees from Verona and the 12 “probationary members who formed the church on April 6, 1919, names such as Snider, Sigsworth, Orser, Babcock, Knox and Keech are prominent. Those names are still common, both locally and regionally.

In the 1950’s there was a heated debate about whether to purchase a musical instrument for the church. In June, 1954 a vote was taken and 17 voted for and 13 against a purchase. In August, 1957, another vote was taken: “32 votes were counted, 26 against and 6 in favour of the motion. One couple resigned their positions in the church,” is how the display board describes that vote. In 1959, there was a reversal, 17 voted for and 13 were against, but this time it was decided that an organ should be purchased. However, the church needed a new furnace and the organ would have to wait. One year later an organ was purchased for the church, at a cost of $1095, and a $25 piano was also purchased for the Sunday School room.

By the 1980’s the old church was too small. At a meeting to decided how to proceed, a number of options for renovations or other changes were considered, and this time everyone in attendance, 21 people, all agreed that a new build was the best option. Over time the current site, not far to the east of the old church, came to house the modern church and gymnasium that serves the church community and the community at large to this day.

As Sunday approaches, preparations are being made for the commemoration events, and Maureen Adams is busily preparing the final boards.

“What I hope you will see in our history, is the rock solid faith in God, perseverance and commitment of the people to values they hold dear, has sustained the ministry of Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church through its 100 years in the community,” she said of her efforts.

The events this Sunday will provide an opportunity to reminisce and look forward.

C.V. Fairbairn would be happy to see that, after the initial resistance to the siege of Harrowsmith, the local Free Methodist Church continues to thrive and grow.

Sunday in Sharbot Lake featured the seventh year of Ecumenical Carol Service put on by six ministerials in the area.

“This is our second time here at St. James Major,” said Rev. Mark Hudson. “We rotate around the different churches.

“We’d like to hold it outside like the summer service at the beach but you never know what the weather’s going to be.”

Hudson said when they started out, they held the Carol Service on Saturday nights “but the seniors seemed to prefer we hold it in the afternoon.”

“It’s a popular service with good representation from many faiths and participation from a lot of lay people.”

For example, Richard and Lois Webster greeted guests as they arrived and did the offering (which goes to the Food Bank), Hudson did the welcome and opening prayer, George Weiss read Isaiah 7:10-14, Nelda Whan read Isaiah 11:1-10, Art Shaw did a solo, the Kids Zone Ministry did Shout it Out, Irene Hawley told the Legend of the Candy Cane, Lois Webster read Luke 2:8-20 and Father Jonathan Askwith gave a message and the closing prayer.

Christmas Carols included Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Joy to the World and O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Bob Miller also performed a couple of carols.

“I’ve sorta gravitated towards the best unknown carols there are,” he said.

Refreshments and fellowship followed the service.

Participating ministerials included St. Andrews Anglican Church, St. James Major Catholic Church, Parham Free Methodist Church, Sharbot Lake Centennial Pastoral Charge, Sharbot Lake Pentecostal Church and the Praise Church.

OK, it may be time to re-think the name for it, but there’s no disputing the popularity of the 101 Nativities display at Cole Lake Free Methodist Church on Road 38 south of Parham.

Now in its seventh year, 101 Nativities no longer seems appropriate because the final count this year was well over 300 nativities, albeit some of that count includes tapestries and pins.

“Nativities Unlimited?” suggested Jean Freeman, who started the event with Kris Caird.

“We started a little earlier this year,” said Caird. “And different people brought in their collections, some with more than 30 nativity scenes.”

The event ran Friday night, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Sunday has historically been the busiest day and this year was no exception with a full parking lot and a steady stream of visitors coming through the door commenting the customary “ooohs” and “aaahs.”

Again the displays featured just about every kind of nativity one could imagine, included carved wood, metal, stone, embroidery, crochet, plastic, glass, fabric — you name it.

And again much of the world is represented with several sets originating in Africa, Asia (Israel), South America, Haiti, the U.S. They even changed the table coverings to blue and white fabric and added an arch with a sign featuring a nativity.

“And there are lots of nativities that are home-made,” said Caird. “That’s always nice.”

The oldest nativity (“that we know about”) was made in 1955, she said.

“And I don’t think we have any doubles.”

Although Freeman and Caird started and are still the instigators of the project, they’re quick to acknowledge that they haven’t done it alone.

“We’re always appreciative of the help we get,” said Freeman. “There’s the baking (and they do have some of the best munchies you’re likely to see at these sorts of things including squares and hot cider).

“And there’s the put up and take down workers — it takes the whole church community.”

“It goes down quicker than it goes up,” Caird said. “Jes sayin’.”

“It’s not an onerous task, but it doesn’t happen all by itself,” said Freeman.

As for a name change?

We’ll probably have to wait until this time next year for a decision on that one.

A power failure did not deter these kids from having fun at the Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 28. Generators were brought in to power an inflatable bouncy castle and to air-condition the church basement where a sale was taking place. There was lots of water, free food and face painters at the fair, which ran from 9 am to 2 pm.

Pastor David Moran, who has been leading the congregation at the Harrowsmith Free Methodist church for the past two years, was busy on May 31 flipping burgers for those who came out to enjoy the church's annual Community Fun Day.

He said the event is a way for members of the church to “let the community know that they care”. Numerous games and activities were set up outside for kids, including a giant bouncy slide and castle while inside the community hall a huge community garage and bake sale was well underway. NHL goalie and Canadian Olympian Mike Smith also made an appearance, as did his Olympic gold medal.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the church's Community Assistance Program (CAP) which has been developed over the last 14 years specifically to help families in need in the community. It was through the CAP program that the church was able to present a $500 cheque to the local family whose Boundary Road home burned down in a fire earlier this year.