This week has been the March Break for the province of Manitoba. Like many families, ours has taken time at the Royal Winter Fair in Brandon ... aside from enjoying the sights and sounds and flavours of the fair, we have also found ourselves being stopped repeatedly by people who would ask: "are you the minister from Minnedosa?"This would be followed up with a comment that said essentially: "I'm sorry that you lost your church ..."
Far from being a negative thing, I found it awe inspiring to have people from ALL over Manitoba recognize me, and feel compelled to share their sorrow over our fire ... Even in Winnipeg, I was recognized and asked ...
Today's visit to the fair found me encountering over and over people who have connections to Minnedosa - people I recognized, and people who recognized me ... our conversations involved the sharing of memories and the affirmation that our lost sanctuary was a repository of many, many memories ... Weddings, Baptisms, Sunday Morning worship, choir practises, Funerals ... the list is TRULY legion ... everyone who stepped into our sanctuary over the last 105 years formed memories that today are precious ...
It is a profound privilege to connect with people who share a history and a heritage with the United Church community in Minnedosa ... it is a privilege to be overwhelmed and supported by the words of encouragement and caring that come in the most unlikely of places ... it is a privilege to continue on this journey ...
The picture here today is what the Church building looked like by the afternoon of February 12th ... the picture is NOT blurry - the blur is smoke that continued to rise from the debris ... the black rectangle on the far in the centre of the picture is the entrance way to the Church Centre - before the renovations of 2004 it was the doorway from the kitchen into the Centre - after the renos it lead from the new washrooms into the hall ... to the left is the window that was intact and unbroken when uncovered in our renovations. It was dry walled over in the hopes that it would not be revealed again for 100 or so years ...
Twas not to be ...
From the ashes and the debris we WILL rise again. The community here in Minnedosa, and the vast community around us will ensure that ... It will take time. But it WILL happen. For now, we continue to be awed by care and support of friends and strangers ...
L'chaim,
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