Island Odyssey: Vacation Bible School at CFB Petawawa July 25 to 29

This year Island Odyssey: Vacation Bible school  July to 29 is free. It is from 9 am to 12 noon. 

Come out for a free week of amazing games, interactive lessons and fun music for ages 6 to 12. The theme this year is: Island Odyssey: To the ends of the earth with Jesus Christ.  Island Odyssey invites you to go "To the Ends of the Earth" making the connection between the biblical world and the 21st century, between biblical islands and the  islands in the Caribbean, South Africa, and the South Pacific.   Starting with Paul's evangelistic island encounters, Island Odyssey will teach the good news through Bible story, music, art, foods, crafts, movement, and folklore. Participants will: experience how hearing, seeing and believing are connected, Understand that knowing Jesus influences decision making, realise that a welcoming spirit brings glory to God and be encouraged to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all the world. 

Each biblical island is paired  with islands in our contemporary worldview: Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, Robben Island, South Africa, and the Fiji islands. Bible stories are linked with these distinctive  cultures, peoples, and history of these islands.  The outreach emphasis is Haiti, which continues to rebuild in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. Participants will learn what has been done and how they can continue to help. 

To register please call 613-687-5511 ex. 5434 with your name and email address. You will be sent the registration to fill out and bring with your child the first day of programming.

St. George's chapel is changing again with new chaplains comes a new focus

This summer we said farewell to three chaplain majors: Padre Gerard Vardy who was the Base chaplain, Padre George Scarf who was the senior Protestant chaplain who retired, and Padre Jim Hardwick who was the Brigade chaplain. Padre Vardy has been posted to Wainwright Alberta and Padre Hardwick has been posted to Kingston.
The new Base Chaplain is a Protestant: Padre LtCdr (N) Carol Bateman, who is well known on the base as she has been in various units in the last few years. Her husband Padre Murray Bateman is also a chaplain on the base. As an Anglican chaplain couple they have been active in chapel ministry. Both chaplains have had tours in Afghanistan.
The chaplain responsible for the chapel is Padre Brad Busch, Lutheran who is also part of a padre/clergy couple. His wife Lenora Grauer is also a chaplain on base.  Padre Busch's focus is pastoral.
During the summer the chapel  Sunday activities  are fairly low key as the military are on block leave or moving.
However there is a Vacation Bible school planned for Monday 25th July to Friday 29. It will be run by two chaplain students: one Protestant and one Catholic, as a joint initiative of the two chapels.
Padre Brad Busch is the supervisor, contact him at 613-687-5511 ex. 5433.
Regular Sunday services are still at 10:30 with lemonade as the refreshment afterwards.

What to do when there is no power: go to see Harry Potter

My husband is a Harry Potter fan. He has read all 7 books, which he borrowed from our daughter. I am still not a convert! However I have gone to see most of the movies with him.  Since we were without  power for abut 30 hours we decided to watch the latest Harry Potter  movie. It was well done. I enjoyed the opening scenes which were"black". It was the classic good versus evil theme with Harry surviving at the end only barely. great to see the "next generation"  coming. Is there going to be a sequel?

Part of the fun of going to the movies in a small town is who shows up in the concession line and the surrounding audience. We sat next to people who worked for Atomic Energy of Canada, sat in front of a young couple who attend our church and shared being in the dark stories with members of the military.
In Petawawa the standard beginning is a quick "lecture" from the theatre manager about where the exits are, the washrooms and the recycling containers. The special thanks to the audience for coming is the nightly handstand done by Larry who is retired and must be at least 50!

Now my neighbour has to find out who left their glasses at theatre.. only in a small town would someone facebook a member of an audience about something so specific!