“On September 11, 2026, we spent a wonderful day on a very pleasant Friday at the Port Colborne Farmer’s Market.  On Thursday we spoke to Charlie at the Port Cares Reach Out Centre.  He indicated that they had run out of storage capacity in which to receive fruit and some vegetables that require cold storage.  For example, they couldn’t take more peaches or peppers.  So we asked Devries to limit their consignment to root crops as much as possible and apples which they have in storage.  We also asked Marr Brothers, Nuefeld Farms, and Bry-Anne Farms to do likewise.  We were unable to do the same with Hollo Maple Farms as they begin putting produce aside before the market.  That meant we had a smaller volume and weight of produce 794 pounds and we received the more produce at the end of the market.  We had three carloads of produce that we delivered to the food bank.  We spoke to 48 people including 32 visitors, 5 donors, and 11 venders.  We handed out 4 flyers advertising the philosopher’s cafe.  On Thursday night 6 people attended a vigorous discussion at the GP in the second cafe.  Interest in the cafe remains high.”

“On September 4, we spent a wonderful day at the farmer's market.  We collected 988 pounds of produce between September 3 and 4th for the food bank.  This is the most produce we have ever taken in one week to the Port Cares Food Bank.  It also included 100 pounds of fresh cucumbers picked from the Augustine farm on September 3rd and three car loads of assorted produce and a bit gathered at the market. Port Thrift also contributed a substantial number of bags so food bank users will be able to carry their food away.  We spoke to 60 people including 14 donors, 9 venders and 37 visitors.  We also handed out 5 flyers for the Philosopher’s Cafe the second of which will occur next Thursday evening at 7 pm at the GP.  Thanks to Larry B. Georgia, Jeannie, Jane, Ann and Lowell for their generous assistance.   Also thanks to Rick, our treasure and his daughter for dropping by as well as Gay (from the first Philosopher’s Cafe and Patti for dropping by.”

On August 28, it was cooler than it has been previously: the first hint of fall are in the air!  We spoke to 70 people of whom 10 were venders, 21 were donors and 39 were visitors.  We handed out 8 flyers for the philosophers cafe.  We also delivered 624 pounds of high quality produce to the food bank.  Thanks foo Georgia, Ann, Lowell, and Larry B for their help!  Thanks also to jeannie, Rick, Jane, Martin and Eva, Sylvia and John F for coming by to visit.

“On August 21, we spent a beautiful and cooler day at the farmer's market.  It wasn’t as busy as it has been in the previous Fridays.  We spoke to 54 persons of whom 11 were donors, 31 were visitors and 12 were venders.  We took a total of 708 pounds of produce in two car loads to the Reach Out food bank.  There was much high quality produce because this is peak growing season!  We also handed out 3 philosopher’s cafe flyers and note there remains a fair level of interest in the Cafe.  Nine persons attended the Cafe on Thursday evening for a good discussion.”

                                                                … pleasant dreams thrall your spirit, like the smoky atmosphere that bathes the landscape of an August day.

                                                                                                                                         Donald G. Mitchell

Do you remember those last couple of weeks in August before school started?  That frenzy of buying school supplies, the ones you needed but also the ones you wanted; trying to enjoy those last few, relaxing, summery things?

It seems we have inadvertently embraced the summer spirit for the next two Sundays at The Gathering Place – a bit more “vacation Bible School” for the young at heart than usual. Both at 10.30 a.m. of course.

Jo’Anna Carter is putting together our Service for August 23rd with special musical guests, The Proverbs, a contemporary southern gospel family group; the current line-up is husband and wife Dave and Kathy Daw along with their youngest daughter Natasha. Singing together since 1967, The Proverbs have been voted “Canada’s Top Mixed Gospel Group” more than a dozen times by the Canadian Gospel Music Association. There’ll be a Special Offering to help cover their expenses from eastern Ontario to lovely Port Colborne. Call Jo’Anna for more info: 905 329 4035.

Did you know that the World Council of Churches has recently added “The Feast of Creation in Christ” to the Common Lectionary?  I know. It doesn’t usually come up over coffee at Timmie’s, but it does mean that Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox churches all consider September 1st as the beginning of The Season of Creation (to October 4th).  I’m putting together the Service for August 30th. All you need to know is that the theme is Creation and that I was Arts & Crafts Director at Cave Springs Camp one summer.

Don’t forget our plans for a Philosophers’ Café, a series of three evenings at The Gathering Place: August 20th, September 10th, & 24th at 7.00 p.m.  Byung-Chul Han’s book “The Tonality of Thought" is the topic of conversation; you can order it at Piccadilly Book Store on West Street, or elsewhere, but you don’t need to read it to come. The book addresses how we think about others and phenomena. It free, and there’ll be snacks to fuel discussion.

More generally …

Our table at the Farmers’ Market is doing sterling work and set a 2026 record! The Food Bank was happy to receive a total of 799 pounds of fresh produce (including 19 pounds of cucumbers)! Thanks to all – locals and summer visitors!

So enjoy these last August days and join us if you can for creative endeavours and philosophical debate and sharing the summer bounty.

                                                                               We come from the Creator with creativity. I think that each one of us is born with creativity.
                                                                                                                                          Maya Angelou

"On August 14, we spent a beautiful day at the farmer's market!  Many venders and participants shopped for a wide variety of the season’s produce.  There was a lot of high quality produce to choose from.  We made three trips to the Port Cares Reach Out Centre food bank.  On the first we delivered 19 pounds of cucumbers freshly picked from a garden.  On the second John and Lisa took 399 pounds mid-morning from the farmer’s market.  Ann took the final trip with 381 pounds for a total of 799 pounds total.  That is a record for this year!  It was also a lot of work!  We also spoke to 70 people of whom 14 were venders; 16 were donors and  40 were visitors.  We handed out 42 flyers for the Philosopher’s Cafe and spoke quite a few people about Byung-Chul Han.  The first of three sessions will be held next Thursday evening August 20 at 7 pm at the Gathering Place.  Thanks for John and Lisa, Lowell, Ann, Georgia and Jane for their help.  Also thanks to Martin and Eva for visiting!”

On Jun 27, 2026, at 7:16 AM, George McKibbon <georgeh@mckibbonwakefield.com> wrote:

The market began sunny and warm and ended that way as well.  In between there was cloud and fog and distinctly cooler temperatures!  We met and chatted with 48 persons of which 11 were donors; 8 were venders and 29 were visitors.  Eva and Martin and Phil and Mary visited us.  Many thanks to Ann, John, Lowell, Jo’anna for their assistance!  We collected 572 pounds of produce for the food bank.  This is the first time we have broken 500 pounds this year with the exception of the week of Good Friday.  There are more venders (and local produce) at the market, for example, George Hollo.  

Brent and Brenda visited us from Fort Erie.  They have visited us in past years.  Brenda asked to be remembered in our prayers.

"On July 31, the first day of Canal Days, we had a rather beautiful sunny day at the Farmer’s Market.  We spoke to 59 people of which 10 were venders, 15 were donors and 34 were visitors.  It was the first market where we had flyers for the Philosopher’s Cafe ready for distribution.  33 flyers were handed out to a receptive audience.  The flyer opened up the opportunity to speak to folk who see me walking in Port but whom I have not spoken to about our market initiative.  Canal Days puts a lot of stress on the market: some spaces are designated to Canal Days venders, parking is at a minimum and there were many venders setting up on West Street.  I think the one bridge was closed to vehicular traffic.  Many thanks to John and Lisa for their help taking two car loads of produce to the food bank.  We delivered 639 pounds of produce to the food bank as well as set up and took down our stand without serious difficulty.  Also thanks to Jeannie and Jane for their help at the end of the market.  I also handed out two spiritual exercises.” 

Regards George

On a beautiful sunny July 24, we attended the farmer's market.  There were more venders including the Marr Brothers, two young brothers who produce excellent corn.  There were also a great many shoppers.  We spoke to over 58 people including 9 venders, 16 donors and 33 visitors.  In two separate trips we took 694 pounds of produce to the food bank.  Thanks to Ann. John and Lisa, Lowell, Jane and Phil for helping out at critical points.  We also had visits from Mary, Jeannie, Eva and Martin.  I continue to gather names and contact coordinates.  I also handed out updates on our contributions to the half year mark.  15 copies of this update were taken.  

Regards

George

                                                                                             'The time has come,' the walrus said, 'to talk of many things:

                                                                                           of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings.' 

                                                                                                                                 Lewis Carol

Well, I don’t know if ALL of those will show up over this coming weekend but you never know: it is Canal Days in Port Colborne, after all.

Once again The Gathering Place will be an official Cooling Station for the weekend – a (fairly) peaceful place to rest your weary bones, fill up you water bottles, enjoy the air conditioning and, if required, the washrooms. 

There’ll be a simple craft for kids.  Also, in response to a Facebook interest in school photos of the 1960s to 1980s, I’ve brought in a load of class shots from Elm Street and DeWitt Carter schools for perusal. There are even a few from DeWitt during WWII!

We should be open Friday (1.00 – 6.00 p.m.), Saturday (10.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.), Sunday (11:30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.), and Monday (10.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.).  Rain or shine, so we’re here if you need to dry off as well.

Access being what it is (that is, beyond difficult) we WILL NOT be having a Service this Sunday, but we do hope that we’ll see everyone popping in at some point over the weekend.

August will quiet down a bit between Sundays but, on August 9th, we’re looking forward to having an old friend back taking the Service: Rev Wayne Baswick! After that, it will be Larry Fisher, Jo’Anna Carter, then me (Jane Thomas) each taking our turn. 

Oh!  And we’re streaming services now so, if you can’t make it down, drop us a note with your email address and we’ll get you into the Virtual Sheepfold. But you’ll have to make your own coffee.

Looking ahead …

There are plans afoot for a Philosophers’ Café, a series of three evenings at The Gathering Place: August 20th, September 10th, & 24th at 7.00 p.m.  Byung-Chul Han’s book “The Tonality of Thought" is the topic of conversation; you can order it at Piccadilly Book Store on West Street, or elsewhere, but you don’t need to read it to come. The book addresses how we think about others and phenomena. It free, and there’ll be snacks to fuel discussion.

And that’s about it for now. It’s going to be a busy weekend, peeps!  Hope to see you at The Gathering Place.

Keep safe, keep well, and God Bless!

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

Psalm 107:23-31

Who are we?

1. We follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and are evolving as a church.
2. We are members of the Presbyterian Church of Canada and take our direction from the
Niagara Presbytery.
3. Rev. Wally Hong is our Interim Moderator.
4. We are mission oriented. In 2026 and 2027, Port Colborne faces a difficult future. Both,
the closing of the Strait-of-Hormuz and associated energy shortages plus El Niño will
present our communities with substantial challenges. Help us help our Port Colborne
community address these challenges!
5. We welcome your participation! For further information email the Gathering Place office at office@thegp.ca or call 905-834-4288.  

We will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-12

You can also contact George McKibbon at georgeh@mckibbonwakefield.com 

We are members of The Gathering Place which is First Presbyterian Church in Port Colborne.  Our denomination regrettably operated some residential schools.  We have confessed this participation as a sin and representatives of the denomination and The Gathering Place participated in reconciliation programs, most recently at the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre. 

On November 6, 2019, Welland Tribune reporter Grant Lafleche reported in an article entitled “Short Hills hunt opponents label Indigenous hunters drunks and calls for their deaths.”  Haudenosaunee hunters are permitted in December to undertake a ceremonial deer hunt in the Short Hills Park since 2013.  The harvest is approved and supervised by the Park’s Managers, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.  Safety measures are in place during the hunt for the safety of local residents.   

Spokespersons for the Niagara Action for Animals and the Short Hills Wildlife Alliance allowed Facebook postings and participation in site protests from individuals who called the hunters “drunks and barbarians”, with some calling for the hunters to be harvested, like the deer.  While the postings were removed, their removal took time and were viewed widely.  The Saturday, November 9th edition of the Welland Tribune reports the protest organizers apologized.  With respect, we do not feel the apology is sufficient. 

Here are actions we encourage the Niagara Action for Animals and the Short Hills Wildlife Alliance to take to facilitate reconciliation with the traditional harvesters:

1. Your organizations need to own the racism which has been expressed in your protests.
2. It isn’t sufficient to apologize without acknowledging the Aboriginal hunt is lawful, carefully planned, and approved by Provincial authorities responsible for the Short Hills Park.  Traditional deer hunting is a treaty right.  This right needs to be acknowledged by the membership of the Niagara Action for Animals and the Short Hills Wildlife Alliance in your publications and communications to members and the public.   
3. As settlers and descendants of settlers, we are treaty people and obliged to honour the Haudenosaunee peoples Treaty rights.  Educational forums are available in Oshweken and local Niagara Region Native Friendship Centres where we can educate ourselves on our responsibilities.  We encourage the members of the Niagara Action for Animals and the Short Hills Wildlife Alliance to use these forums to learn more about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its recommendations and to confront racism in its many forms when it arises in the future.
4. We thank the Creator for the Short Hills Park and the Haudenosaunee peoples who managed these lands before our settlement and who continue to help manage this important resource.
5. Some form of reparation is needed to address the offensive postings and statements that you sponsored.  With respect, your organizations need to cease harassing the Haudenosaunee hunters at the Short Hills Park.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” – Proverbs 3:27

In living our day to day lives, we can sometimes forget – or at least overlook – the powerful force that is Community.  Those of us raised in the Christian faith are both morally and spiritually bound to the idea of service to others, to those in need, to our neighbours. 

In the spirit of service, the Port Colborne community saw the need, post-war, to improve health care in Port Colborne.  The community raised funds.  The community built Port Colborne Hospital and, over its 65+ years, the community has cared for the Hospital as it has cared for us.

When the local press broke the story, on September 18th, of the pending closure of our Urgent Care unit, it was probably met more with despair than with surprise.   It is an idea which has been floated often over the last thirty years.  Services have been lost; equipment bought with local funds has moved to larger hospitals; Emergency has been demoted to Urgent Care. 

And now we are told we will be losing even Urgent Care.

When you live in a community, when you support your neighbours, when you volunteer to make your community thrive, you understand what a blow this proposal will be.  The older citizen, the under-employed and unemployed citizen, the house-bound, and the young will be challenged to access these now-distanced services. 

And so, as Christians and as community members, the ball is in our court.  We ask our elected representatives and we ask our civil servants, please consider fully the repercussions.  Listen to your constituents.  Place value on our lived experience.   

We are here to work with you.

Sincerely and Prayerfully,

The Congregation

First Presbyterian Church

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him

as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

Hebrews 6:10