What an exciting time for residents of Menno Place to share their knowledge of gardening with the elementary school class from Alexander Elementary School. The children planted potted plants together with residents – from tomatoes to petunias, the pots were prepared.
Residents of Menno Place have enjoyed the hospitality and thrill of fishing at the Trout Creek Farm in Mission, BC. Take a look at one fishing trip that took place in June. Thank you to the owner of Trout Creek Farm for opening up the opportunity to come fishing.
It was a great day to celebrate Canada’s 148th Birthday together! With classic cars, BBQs and live music – don’t forget the ice cream! – we had a full day of celebration fun. Thank you to the Recreation team who always make a party a lot of fun. Many residents who live at Menno Place have experienced what it is like to be in a country that has an oppressive or corrupt government. Many have immigrated from another country with the hope of living a safe, thriving and peaceful life in Canada. There is great appreciation for our country among the elders that live in Abbotsford. It was a pleasure to celebrate our land together – “God keep our land, glorious and free!”
Thank you to the many people who volunteer their time and talents to provide pastoral and spiritual care for the residents at Menno Place. A special celebration and thank you was held to share appreciation for the faithful people who are a valued part of our Pastoral Care Team. The luncheon was a time to hear from Don Klassen and Betty Horch about their experiences here at Menno Place as volunteers in this area. They shared how this ministry has brought them joy, friendship and meaning as they meet one-on-one with residents who request these visits.
Other volunteers share their talents through music, leading worship services, prayer meetings and Bible Studies. Residents love and appreciate the opportunity to have a regular visitor, a regular worship service and spiritual support as they make their way
Are you interested in joining the Pastoral Care Volunteer Team?
We have training each fall. Online applications are received any time throughout the year.
What a celebration for Father’s Day! Over 40 men joined together in the Terrace East Dining Room to be honoured by our staff. David Dick, Chaplain, said a blessing over the men and a prayer. Poems were read and the men enjoyed a delicious brunch of Eggs Benedict, Hashed Potatoes and fresh fruit.
Here’s a special poem that was read….
A LETTER TO MY FATHER
I could start by thanking you for the easy things…My bed, my clothes and the food that you put on the table when I was young.
For coaching my baseball team, swinging me in the air as we walked down the road and for the vacations pulled together on a shoestring budget.
The patience, love and understanding that you showed me in accepting me as I was… and not trying to push me into being a more societally ‘typical’ male. But somehow that feels like I’ve barely scratched the surface.
What I really want to thank you for is all of the small decisions that you made on a daily basis that I will never know about.
I want to thank you for the times that I cried as a baby, and you got up out of bed to hold me because you wanted to let mom sleep.
I want to thank you for all of the bedtime stories that you read to me, even on those days you’d put in extra hours at work. A lesser man would have outsourced the ‘responsibility’ to his wife and gone straight to bed… but you chose not to.
I want to thank you for the times that you let me see you cry, so I could understand that when my friends told me that “boys don’t cry,” they weren’t telling the truth.
I want to thank you for how you handled the rough patches in your life, as you turned further into the love of your family when you could have just as easily closed off to us.
I want to thank you for stopping old habits that weren’t serving you (like smoking) in favor of being a better role model.
I want to thank you for all of the times that you carried me on your shoulders, even when I was getting too big to be up there.
I want to thank you for having and resolving disagreements with my mother in front of me as a child, so I could grow up to know that conflict in relationships is not only inevitable, but something to be embraced and seen as an opportunity to further grow together.
I want to thank you for every time you kissed, hugged, or complimented mom, my siblings, and I even before my brain was storing memories… for every single one of those moments is locked in my mind and my heart forever.
I want to thank you for being the best possible role model I could have hoped for. And for all of the moment to moment tiny decisions that you made, that I will never know about, that forged you into the man, and the father, that you became.
I love you, dad.
The Living Waters Garden was officially opened on June 12th. The garden was the dream of a donor who desires to leave a legacy for the enjoyment and create a place for connection with God and others. Mayor Henry Braun, CEO Karen Baillie, MBS Board President Gerd Bartel, Chaplain Ingrid Schultz and Chaplain David Dick shared their words and blessing as we officially opened the Living Waters Garden.
Take a walk around the campus and enjoy the Living Waters Garden – located between Primrose Gardens and Terrace East on Primrose Street.
The theme verse for the Living Waters Garden is John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Sharon Simpson, Director of Communications wrote about the Living Waters Garden in The Light Magazine June 2015 Issue – Click here to read.
You are invited to join us for the Grand Opening of the Living Waters Gardens at 2:30pm on June 12th.
There will be a formal opening of the garden, blessing and celebration with cake and entertainment.
The Living Waters Gardens are located along Primrose Street on the east side of the Menno Place campus. Living Waters Garden is the result of generous legacy donations that came together to provide a safe and tranquil space for residents and their families. More than $100,000 was raised to create this beautiful and safe place of refuge.
The gardens throughout the campus are beautiful! Come and enjoy a walk, a rest and a visit. Water the hanging baskets, listen to the birds sing and enjoy the fountains – all in one trip around the 11 acre campus!
HomeW1 – 2:30pm: Ties and Pies – Thomas the One Man Band
W2: 2:30pm: Ties and Pies – Music by Cathy
E1 – 2:00pm: Hans Fedrau Music
E2 – 2:00pm – Ties and Pies – George Ellington as Frank Sinatra
For everyone – 2pm – Johnny Cash Band in E1
8:30am – Men’s Breakfast – Terrace East Dining Room
You are invited to enjoy a courtyard of classic cars, music by the Pentones and an Ice Cream Social!
When: Tuesday, June 30th
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Menno Place Courtyard
