Many events highlight season of giving at St. Columba
Manor Park church welcomes Rev. Canon Aigah Attagutsiak
This is the season of giving and thanksgiving. At the time of writing this article, Canadians have just celebrated Thanksgiving. Perhaps it was with family or friends. Or maybe by volunteering at The Ottawa Mission or other locations that serve meals to those in need. How very blessed we are to live in a country with bountiful harvests and where kindness and compassion are celebrated as virtues and strengths.
At the Church of St. Columba, we started off October with a service celebrating God’s creation, and we were honoured to have Reverend Canon Aigah Attagutsiak as our guest speaker. Reverend Aigah is well known within the Inuit community in the Montreal Road area where each week she is the celebrant at worship services at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church. Did I mention that Reverend Aigah does the services in the Inuktitut language?
On Oct. 6, Reverend Aigah shared some of her story and her spiritual connection to the land. At that same service there was a blessing of the animals, which acknowledged the comfort and joy they bring to their human guardians.
Harvest Sunday
The following week was Harvest Sunday, giving thanks for the bounty in the community garden and farmers’ fields. The service featured a lovely duet by cantors Sophia Nickel and Alison Hamer and a piano/organ duet by pianist Keumnim Lim and organist Faye Grinberg Rice. The church was beautifully decorated with fruits and vegetables — all of which were then delivered to the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre (RRCRC)’s Emergency Food Bank.
The annual Harvest Chili Supper on Oct. 27 was assisted by the 99th Ottawa Guides, who acted as servers. This year, in addition to our St. Columba chili (beef and vegetarian), we enjoyed the amazing apple crisp prepared by Chef Dave Reggler for dessert. As a bonus (and fundraiser), a bake sale table was filled with loads of favourite sweet treats.
Cold-weather clothing drive
Starting on Oct. 12, St. Columba initiated a cold-weather clothing drive. Donations were welcome throughout the month and into November with winter jackets, hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters and other gently used clothing needed. Posters were distributed and messages sent through the Listserv and on our Facebook and website pages advertising the clothing drive and giveaway. Donations may still be dropped off at the front entrance to the church until Nov. 12.
On Saturday, Nov. 15 there will be a FREE winter clothing pop-up shop at the church’s John Stewart Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone in the community (and beyond) is welcome to shop for needed warm clothing for all ages. The clothing is being offered to anyone in need — no money needed, no obligation to attend a service, no strings attached! We hope that this might become an annual — or at least a regular — event at St. Columba.
Season of Advent
The season of Advent begins at the end of November and starts with the Festival of Readings and Music on Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. This is a special service and the music is beautiful.
Advent 2, 3 and 4 are on Dec. 7, 14 and 21.
New to St. Columba this year is “Blue” or “Quiet” Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Christmas can be a difficult time for those who have experienced a loss — whether it be someone in their life, a relationship, or a job. St. Columba’s Blue Christmas service will allow a space to simply come, sing a couple of hymns, meditate, light a candle and just be together with others who are experiencing feelings of sadness.
On Christmas Eve we will have our usual two services: at 4 p.m. a service for “Children of all Ages” and at 7:30 p.m. a Eucharistic service.
On Christmas Day there will be a worship service at 10 a.m.
All welcome
We hope you will find time to visit St. Columba for one or more of these services. For families, we offer toddler care and have an active and engaged Sunday School.
It feels strange to be writing a year-end message in October. However, having just recently celebrated Thanksgiving, perhaps the timing is perfect. St. Columba Church is thankful to be part of the vibrant, diverse, inclusive and welcoming community of Manor Park. We are thankful for our many partnerships — with the RRCRC Food Bank, Manor Park Public School, Manor Park Community Association, the community garden, Manor Park Chronicle, and our many education, community and social groups utilizing our space.
In 2026, we look forward to continuing and expanding our presence and partnerships in Manor Park and beyond. ALL are welcome at St. Columba, at 24 Sandridge Rd.