Church Picnic (June 28)

First Presbyterian will be holding this year's annual church picnic on:

DATE:               Sunday, June 28th 

TIME:                12:30 PM

LOCATION:      Call church office
                           (780) 422-2937

Picnic Site has no roof, but it does have good shade trees. Please join us for a fun and festive afternoon, immediately following the church service.  

All are welcome!!

History Talks - Flags (Apr 26)

History talk given on April 26 highlighting an artifact held within the FPC's archives.

The Flags

Last month we told you about the McTavish Book that is located in the small showcase on the main floor.  Most Sundays we will turn a page in that book so that you can observe some of the early history of this Church.  A more recent book, written by one of the current members of the H&A committee Ken Munro, explains how another of our artefacts was presented to First Presbyterian Church.  Today's subject is a short talk about "the flags". 

We have three flags in the Sanctuary.   The two you see in front of you and one at the back lying flat in a large covered showcase.                                     

Since 1967 the Canadian Maple Leaf flag has hung from the North Balcony.  In 1978, when the Church was designated as a historic site by the Province of Alberta the Provincial flag was hung from the South Balcony. 

These two flags were well accepted by the congregation but two additional flags that deposited in the Church for safekeeping were not so well accepted at first. 

These two colours as flags were called were the Queens Colours and were the Regimental Colours of the 138th Edmonton Battalion during the First World War.  They were hung in a place of prominence above and behind the pulpit from 1918 until 1989. 

The saga of the colours began in 1987 when an article appeared in the 'First With the News' newsletter explaining about the history of the flags and complaining about their condition.  The effect of the late afternoon sunlight had caused a lot of deterioration and if they were not looked after they would disintegrate entirely.  By 1989 it was evident that the Colours of the 138th had a problem, the sleeve of the flag had started to pull away from its flagstaff.  The 138th Regimental Colours were removed and sent to the Textile Analysis Services at the University of Alberta.  The flags were never re-installed in their former location.  The university recommend that to help preserve them the flags should not be re-hung but could be exhibited lying flat.   Laurie Grant a member of our congregation constructed the showcase that you see at the back of the Sanctuary today and the colours were placed in their new home.   The History & Archives Committee are very concerned about that one as it is deteriorating badly and we hope to move it to a different cooler location in the future.  Most of the time the showcase is covered in an attempt to preserve the flag for a little longer. 

More details on the history and story of the flags can be found in Ken Munro's history book of First Presbyterian Church, a copy is located in our library.

On the last Sunday of May we will again tell you about another one of First Church's artefacts.

History Talks - McTavish Book

History talk given on March 29 highlighting an artifact held within the FPC's archives.

The McTavish Book

The “McTavish Book” was created by John C. McTavish who was born June 29, 1870 on a farm near Clinton, Huron County, Ontario. He qualified as a teacher, and trained in “commercial” subjects at business colleges at Chatham and Toronto, Ontario. While at college, he began his lifelong interest in penmanship.

After completing his studies, McTavish emigrated to the United States in 1894 where he helped establish and operate a business college near Boston. Interested in the Canadian West, McTavish arrived in Calgary in 1904 and then moved to Edmonton where in 1905 he began “The Grant Trunk Business College” in honour of the arrival in Edmonton of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway that year. He later changed the name to the “McTavish Business School”.

Immediately upon his arrival in Edmonton, John McTavish took an interest in First Presbyterian Church and became an active member of the congregation. He possessed a warm personality and his gently humour smoothed many a rough spot in business and church affairs. He taught Sunday School and was Superintendent in 1909 and again in the 1920s. He was ordained an Elder in 1911 and became the roll clerk of Session. The same year, he married Elizabeth MacKenzie, a member of a family prominent at First Church where three of Elizabeth’s brothers were Elders.

Besides running his business and playing leading role in our Church, John McTavish was interested in penmanship and spend some part of everyday practicing and perfecting his art, that of “illuminated” lettering. His history of First Presbyterian Church grew out of this special interest. On June 17, 1940, he suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered and died on February 11, 1941. His legacy is his beautiful history book.

An oak stand and case was constructed in 1971 specifically to house the McTavish Book. The case and stand were dedicated by Dr. White on Sunday May 29, 1971.  This is the case which holds the book in the sanctuary today.

Music and Dessert (May 22 @ 7pm)

Music and Dessert on Friday evening, May 22 at 7:00 pm. The choir will perform a talent night in the Newcombe Room. 

Please mark your calendars and watch for more details.


 

Tiny shampoos and soaps help local shelters

The Ladies Aid is collecting unopened hotel shampoos and soaps, etc..  These small items will be used in hygiene kits at shelters in the Edmonton area.

Help us help others by adding to the collection bin located in the Newcombe room.

CONCERT - "Improvise" (May 9 @ 4pm)

On May 9 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, come, listen and enjoy a late afternoon concert of improvisation.  The concert will feature Mark Segger on drums, Charles Stolte on saxophone, and Roger Admiral on piano.

Admission is $10.00.

 

Camp Kannawin 2015 Brochure

Camp Kannawin is our Presbyterian church camp in Alberta on Sylvan Lake.  They have programs and camps for all ages. The 2015 brochure is now ready to view and download at their website. 

There are two downloadable versions of this year's brochure:
For the version with pages in order for viewing, click here! 
For the version with pages in the right order for printing, click here!

Work on the Great West window starts

Watch the Edmonton Journal video about our stained-glass window renovation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-572Q8YSjAI

Careful, it’s fragile - Church’s century-old window to be cleaned and restored

We made the papers!!!  

There's an article in the Edmonton Journal (April 27, page A4) about the stained-glass window restoration. To read the full article and watch the video, follow this link:

• http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Careful+fragile+Church+century+window+cleaned+restored/11006143/story.html