50th Anniversary

GALA DINNER CELEBRATES 50^th ANNIVERSARY

“Glory to God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine ...” these words sung to the music of composer/parishioner John Stephen by 312 jubilant voices and backed by John’s driving piano accompaniment marked the joyous conclusion of a year celebrating fifty years of service for St Christopher’s Church in Burlington.

The occasion was a parish dinner, silent and live auction, and a beauty pageant featuring seven captivating men of the congregation, held at the Burlington Convention Centre. It was an evening of laughter, of good food and companionship, of community, of generosity and thanksgiving. Many parishioners donated beyond the cost of their ticket so that those who otherwise might not have been able to do so, could attend. Bidding at the auction was brisk and equally generous and the money raised will be donated to the City of Burlington to help fund the new Teen Centre which is currently in the development stage.

Parishioners were delighted to have Bishop Ralph and Carol in attendance, especially when the Bishop crowned “Mr St Christopher” (Malcolmette Ramsay) and serenaded him with a song written for the occasion. They were equally delighted to have him preach at both the 8:00 and 10:00 am Eucharists which launched the congregation on its second fifty years.

The celebration began in March 2002 with a birthday party complete with cakes and candles following both Sunday morning Eucharists. Parishioners whiled away many minutes throughout the spring examining and identifying mementoes of the past fifty years. Old albums, photos, bulletins and newspaper clippings were avidly scanned to find former priests, parishioners, family and friends. The annual Parish Picnic in June took on a decidedly “fifties” flavour with games and food reflecting that era.

A Homecoming Weekend in late September provided a wonderful venue for nostalgia as former parishioners and clergy gathered to take part in a Welcoming Wine & Cheese Reception, a car rally, an antique road show, a vintage car display, scavenger hunts for the children and an informal fifties style dinner followed by dancing to a DJ playing fifties music. Parishioners raided trunks and attics in order to appear in fifties garb for the dance and Sunday Services; hats and gloves were the order of the day!

A Pilgrimage Walk in early October, from St Luke’s, our mother church, to a green space near the site of the original St Christopher’s attracted young and old walkers on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and raised a considerable sum for outreach.

A concert by St Christopher’s Choir featuring show tunes from the past five decades, some “Fifties” additions to our Annual Christmas Market, and an Epiphany Concert, a gift from the Burlington Civic Chorale featuring both St Christopher’s Choir and the Chorale, all contributed to the year of joyous celebration and thanksgiving.

The culmination of this outpouring of joy, community and thanksgiving, the Gala Dinner and the ensuing Eucharists reiterated the truth of Goethe’s assertion, “Joy is an incontrovertible sign of the presence of God ...”