The Glenview Boarding Homes Ministry visiting team was formed in 2003 and we made our first visit to our adopted Boarding Home at 180 Sherbourne Ave in July of that year (after the green light for visiting at-risk places had been given, following the SARS outbreak).  The Boarding Homes visited by this ministry are all privately-owned  residences for people who need supervision in their lives.  Most of these people (and there are only men in the home we visit) suffer from various forms of mental illness and/or the devastating results of substance abuse.

We visit biweekly, on Tuesday afternoons, taking drinks and snacks, friendship and worship.  “The guys”, as we affectionately refer to them, are waiting for us in their common room and seem happy to see us.  We start by sharing pop or juice and baked treats, fruit and cheese, all the while sharing conversation with them.  We are not there to give advice or to “show them the right way to live”; we are there to share friendship and God’s love.  When asked why we are there (which we were a lot in the beginning, but are seldom asked now) we have always answered that we were there because we wanted to be, because we are all God’s children and that He loves all of us.  It is an infinitely rewarding experience that can have some amazing and very special moments.One of my favourite of these is the fellow, only partly in touch with the day-to-day world, who went to his room and came back with his comb, which he wanted me to take to China with me, “to keep me safe.”

The highlights of the year at the Boarding Home, which the guys always seem to enjoy, are:
a Canada Day BBQ at 180 Sherbourne, the joint BBQ at Glenview for Evangel Hall, Portland Place and our Boarding Home, Christmas and Easter Communion, Christmas Dinner (Swiss Chalet lunch for everyone at 180 Sherbourne together with a Christmas stocking of goodies such as socks and T Shirts, compliments of Group 15, W.A.), as well as quarterly birthday celebrations and other special treats.  We are all grateful for the baked treats, which magically appear in the freezer for us to take, baked by members of the congregation.

We have seen a lot of changes over our ministry. We have lost and gained team members and the number of residents in the home has been drastically reduced because of changing plans by the owner. We have lost residents to death as well.  When this happens Rodger Hunter, the Chaplain of the Ministry, conducts a memorial service in the home, which helps us all in coping with the loss.

The team now consists of John and Lorna Hutchinson, Sheila Limerick, Bob Cartlidge, Heather Elliot, Rob Myer and Grace Raney. We are blessed to have such a strong team and hope it will continue for a long time.

 

Boarding Homes Ministry is one way in which we as a congregation are attempting to transform lives. If you are interested in learning more about the Ministry or about joining the team, please speak to any one of the Team Members.  For further information about Boarding Homes Ministry visit http://www.standrewstoronto.org/boarding_homes_ministry.htm


Sheila Limerick
 

 

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