The Gathering Place: Port Colborne Presbyterian Church

08/18/2026

… 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

07/30/2026

'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

07/27/2026

The Gathering Place is, once again, going to be an official "Cooling Centre" (or "Drying Off Centre" depending on the weather" for Canal Days. There'll be an easy craft for the kiddies and chairs for you to sit and rest your wearies. Oh, and washrooms.

I also have a small box full of Elm Street and DeWitt Carter schools class photos - mostly 1960s to 1982. I'm going to take them to The Gathering Place, 219 King Street, for Canal Days and lay them all out on tables. You're welcome to come and explore. Take photos of them if you like (we'll put a loose change donations box out if you're feeling generous) and we may also set out sheets so you can identify kids in the photos that don't have names attached.

07/18/2026

Apparently they don't need move canes and walkers, and they aren't picking up at present. If you leave a message at the church (905 834 4288) we can arrange to pick up and deliver for you.

03/17/2026

We used to have many the Sunday School wiener roast & hayride at Agapé Valley. Great fun!

Check out our menu! It’s maple season now which means you only have a few more days this month to enjoy our restaurant!

Open March 16-21, 28
Grab a parking pass and bring your appetite!