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Serving Tavistock and area since 1895 VOLUME 115 • NUMBER 37
TAVISTOCK, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011
MainStreet
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Retiring with Grace
A QUICK LOOK AT OUR TOWN!
THIS ‘N’ THAT
This past weekend had beautiful, warm weather – many enjoyed bonfi res in the evenings … Thursday, June 2nd the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began rotating strike action – at midnight June 14th Canada Post suspended operations across the country - - Gazette subscribers can pick up their newspaper at the Gazette offi ce or can view it online during the Canada Post lock out … strawberry season is fi nally here … just two more editions before summer holidays – the Gazette will be closed from July 9 to 24th inclusive – please plan your advertising and printing needs accordingly – No paper July 13th or 20th.
Rev. Marion Jackson Tyler has served Grace United Church 12 years
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Alex Baechler is one year old today, June 22nd; Dakota Pletsch is 15; and a 6th wedding anniversary for Court and Mary Margaret Stratton … on June 23rd Carter Faulhafer is 3; Jay Churchward 14; Michael Marshall, 16 … Lucas Hartmann is 6, June 24 … on June 25, Taylor Wagler is 15; Shae-Lynn Arbuckle, 14; Quinton Kropf, 18; Jarrett Zehr, 18; and a 6th wedding anniversary for Jamie and Jessica Hergott … Connor McDermott is 3 June 26; Madelyn Hammer, 11; and anniversaries for Shaun and Amanda Miller, 1st; Dennis and Yvonne Roth, 12 … on June 27, Matthew Clemmer is 13; and anniversaries for Myron and Kelly Yantzi, 30th; Brian and Heidi Wagler, 19th … anniversaries June 28th for Brad and Jenn Wettlaufer, 14th; and David and Katherine Adams, 3rd. Congratulations!
North York youth drowns at Hidden Acres Malcolm Gyamfi , 14, of North York died at the London Health Sciences Centre Victoria Campus, on Saturday, June 18th as a result of the swimming accident 7 hours earlier north of Shakespeare. On Saturday, June 18, 2011 shortly after 4:00 p.m., a group of young people were swimming in a pond at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp northeast of Shakespeare. A few of them were out in deep water beyond the roped off area of the pond, when one of the swimmers started to get into trouble and went under the water. The other swimmers tried to keep him from going down but were unable to do so. Unsuccessful attempts were made to locate the male and pull him to the surface. The Township of Perth East Fire Department Shakespeare Station members attended, located the male and pulled him from the water. Immediate attempts to revive him were started and continued as he was transported by Perth County Ambulance to Stratford Hospital, then to London Victoria Hospital, where he later died.
Rev. Marion Jackson Tyler looks to the future after a dozen years with the Grace United and Lingelbach congregational charge.
A
dozen years serving as the pastor at Grace United Church in Tavistock can’t help but change a person. For Rev. Marion Jackson Tyler, who began her ministry here on July 1, 1999, change has come with “a lot of little pieces along the way.” “My vocabulary has expanded,” she said. She can pronounce a lot of different surnames now and picked up a few German phrases along with them. In the kitchen, “I’ve grown to appreciate the subtleties of sausage,” she admitted. Her family has also benefi tted through her newfound ability to make schnitz apple pies. In the congregation, “I’ve found great strength here,” she said. “A depth of leadership, a sense of community, and a lovely sense of hospitality.” That was proven most recently when the other half of the two-point charge, Lingelbach United Church in North Easthope, closed. Many of the former members joined Grace as a result. She was told they felt like strangers when they attended other churches. “When they came here (to Grace), they felt like cousins,” she said. Closing Lingelbach was the hardest thing she had to do during her ministry here. Refl ecting on her ministry in Tavistock and area, Rev. Marion said she did the best she could, day after day; “Responding to needs, being fl exible, faithful and honest.” And because of her dedication and commitment, she has been the longest serving pastor in the church’s history. Serving in a close knit community, she noticed two things that happen. First of all, people fear that there is no privacy and so sometimes they try to keep secrets. But when misfortune or tragedy comes to you, “you want
to live in a place like Tavistock,” she is the eldest of 4 children of she stated. “You can’t fi nd a more Howard and Dorothy Jackson. caring, compassionate community. She attended Camlachie United It’s the fi bre of this place,” she Church and felt the call to serve at said. “I see it as I care for people, a very early age. She sang in the make visits. Folks are always church choir, played music, took a leadership role with fellow youth, offering their support.” Rev. Marion’s involvement with and became the provincial the Tavistock Ministerial, a director for Junior Farmers. cooperative group of the local Before fi nishing high school at denominations, “is worth coming Northern Collegiate Institute and to Tavistock for,” she said. Vocational School in Sarnia, she Although the faces change, the was accepted as a candidate for spirit stays the same. Respect and ministry. friendship are key to the programs Her post secondary education offered through the Ministerial. began in London at the University They provide Sunday services at of Western Ontario where she each of the three nursing homes; earned her Bachelor of Arts along with seasonal ecumenical degree. Later, she attended the events. They sponsor a service in the park in August, and Lenten luncheons as well as supporting summer vacation Bible school. - Rev. Marion Jackson Tyler They have also been able to provide solace for those Centre for Christian Studies in alone at Christmas with When Toronto where she focused on Christian Education, Outreach Christmas is Blue services. Supported by the Ministerial and Pastoral Care. and area professionals, Rev. Rev. Marion graduated in 1973 Marion was instrumental in and was commissioned as a initiating educational nights on diaconal minister serving at First- mental health themes. “We had a St. Andrew’s United Church in staggering response,” she said. London along with three pastors “Helpful and hopeful … we are and a full-time director of music. helping to lift the stigma on In June of 1981, she married Jim mental health.” Another program Tyler and the couple settled on the called “Rainbows” is for children Tyler’s fourth generation family who are experiencing loss because farm near Avonbank (RR 7, St. their families have changed. “It is Marys) where they raised their a response to need,” she said. three children. Lindsay is married Although there is no program to Brian Desrosiers-Tam and lives scheduled this year, the in Toronto. Drew and his wife, community has provided a great Susan, live in Thorndale. Their deal of funding and the program youngest daughter, Meredith, is is ready to be put into place when studying for her Masters of Occupational Therapy at Queen’s the need arises again. For Rev. Marion, her retirement University in Kingston. from the ministry on July 1, 2011, Rev. Marion took her ministry marks the culmination of a 38- to Central United Church in year career. Born on the family Stratford for fi ve and a half years, farm between Sarnia and Forest, then studied part-time for her
“You can’t find a more caring, compassionate community.”
BILL GLADDING / TAVISTOCK GAZETTE
Masters of Divinity. She spent 6 months at Kirkton-Woodham, did pulpit supply at Hickson-Hebron, then at Main Street United in Mitchell, Thamesview, Fullarton and one year at the London Conference offi ce. Following a year off, she was called back to First-St. Andrews for four years. She studied full-time for two years at Ridgetown College and was ordained on May 30, 1999. She began at Grace United on July 1, 1999 and was welcomed as their full-time pastor October 1, 2000. Twelve years to the day since starting her ministry at Grace United Church, Rev. Marion will step away from her full-time leadership. She is hoping to do more leisurely gardening and taking time to re-discover her loom. She enjoys weaving fabric and making it into something like a jacket. “Placemats aren’t much fun,” she joked. “In retirement, I am also hoping to discover weekends, Saturdays that are not clouded with looming Sunday responsibilities, and Sunday brunches.” She describes her future as “a lot of clean, open space.” Rev. Marion hopes that she and Jim will be able to have some adventures in the airplanes Jim has built and fl ies. On holiday time, last summer they fl ew to Pelee Island for lunch. With the freedom of retirement, they hope to have more opportunities like that. Marion was given 10 hours of fl ight instruction last year, but admits it’s only to learn to land, as insurance should something go wrong in the air. There are many new horizons for her to discover. After having depended on volunteers her entire career, she is grateful and recognizes the value of
(see “Rev. Marion…” on page 3)