Trip to Seafarer Centre in Montreal

I think it's been 14 ish years now that I've made the annual trek to Montreal to deliver the seafarer Christmas parcels.

This year I took 77 from Calvin and gifts from a couple of other churches as well.  : ) 

I have taken youth, Cadets, GEMS, and Joycegina, and just me over the years. 

I always invite people to come because it's good to go and see this ministry face to face. 

This year I took 4 plus me.  

We started by loading the gifts into my box trailer. 

A good thing I brought it because we filled it.  

Jason came along.  

And Ethan

Ummmm, Ethan..what are you doing? 

The loaded trailer being inspected by Corwin and Ethan. 

The classic pic with the group and the presents. 

So, Jason, Corwin, Adele, and Ethan. It's time to go! 

About 1/2 way there we stopped at Tim's. 

A pic of our transportation.  

The group excited to get a coffee  : ) 

Not very busy, but the service seemed slow.  

We arrived in good time considering all the road construction in Montreal.  

Time to unload.  

Adele, that's a unique way to carry a gift. 

We helped restock the room. 

Gifts were getting low it seems.  

Sweet

Time for lunch.  

The ever popular money board.  

Jason was new to the centre so he started doing what he does best...ask questions.  : ) 

Eventually a group tour.  

A map of the port. 

Michelle has been working here for many many years. 

The chapel.  

The long view of the centre. 
A nice place for seafarers to gather. 
We were soon off once again and homeward bound. 
An uneventful trip home, thankfully. 

Thanks to all who donated parcels and thanks to all who kept me company this time around.  : ) 

Youth Games and other things

Before the end of this year, I thought I'd just highlight a couple of things that our youth group does. 

They don't just discuss in Bible Study and Catechism. 

They also like to have fun and play games.  

The following pictures are of some of the games we have played that I actually remembered to take pictures for. 

This one  is not a prayer time actually : ) 

In fact I don't know what they are doing.  

But it involved running eventually  : ) 

This one is called "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes...Cup!

The caller calls out various combinations of the above and when CUP is called...

...you grab the cup.  First one to do so wins.  

Another game involved Rock, Paper, Scissors.  

You hop from either end, and meet. 

When you actually do meet, you do Rock, Paper, Scissors.  

If you win you keep hopping in the hopes of getting to the other end.  If you lose, you are out and someone else must start hopping.  

Loads of fun.  

Here's a short clip so you can see it in action

I think this is a variation of the game. 

Need to try to push the other person over using hands only.  

We also have people come to youth group once in a while and share their faith stories.  

It's neat to hear the lives of those who have more life experience.  

We also have a great Young Adult group that meets every other week for lunch.  Good food and good fellowship. 

A HUGE thank you to all those who prepare food for this group throughout the year.  

Christmas also brings out the good in people.  

Here are Calvin's STAR's gathering at Extendicare Nursing Home to sing Christmas Carols. 

Our youth group did the same thing a couple of days earlier.