Evergreen Anglican Mission Saint-Lazare QC

It is with a sad heart that we have to announce that Evergreen Anglican Community was closed. The last service was on Sunday 6th March 2016 at 10am.

We would like to thank everyone who have supported us over the years.

 

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https://www.montreal.anglican.ca/evergreen-anglican-community?rq=Saint-Lazare  

 

 

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Evergreen Anglican Community History

The opening lines of Evergreens’ story were written in 1999 when it was decided to start a Bishops’ Mission in the growing community of Saint Lazare under the auspices of Bishop Andrew Hutchison. The Mission’s rather unusual name – “St. Evergreen” as it was known at the time – was taken from the elementary school where the services were held in the gymnasium. The first chapter really took form in the fall of 1999 with the arrival of Rev. Christopher Belle.

The first few services were sparsely attended, but the word soon spread of the young, new, charismatic minister who was conducting an Anglican-based worship, and was welcoming all families, young and old.

The other Anglican churches in the area, St. James and St. Mary’s, were very helpful by providing a portable altar, and the Ladies Guild provided the altar linen. Evergreen School gave the fledgling ministry an area where all the items could be stored from week to week and access to the gym most Sunday mornings for services.

Within a few short months, the gym was filled with the sound of voices raised “in a joyful noise to the Lord”! Each week, attendance grew – the adults drawn by the new music, the modern approach to liturgy and the inspiring messages presented by the young Priest - and the children were welcomed and encouraged to be themselves.

Then in October 2001, “St. Evergreen” received the news that Rev. Belle had been named as incumbent for St. Joseph of Nazareth in Brossard. The congregation was saddened by the loss of such a beloved leader.

Thus the second chapter of EAC’s life began. From November 2001 to June of the following year, Rev. Alan Evans filled in whenever he could. When he was not available, Evergreen was fortunate enough to have visits from Ven. Gordon Guy, Rev. Canon Bryan Pearce and Rev. Canon John Bradley.

During Advent in December of 2001, Bishop Andrew made a rare visit to Evergreen and the congregation was thrilled when he donated a lectern that he made with his own hands!

In June 2002, Shawn Branch, a student with the Church Army was dispatched to shepherd Evergreen’s flock for the summer months. One of his tasks during this period was to look at Evergreen “Today and Tomorrow”. Shawn determined that the primary focus needed to be on finding a) a permanent pastor and b) and permanent place to worship.

The next exciting chapter of Evergreen began to take shape in November 2002 when we were delighted to learn that at last we were to get a new full-time Pastor! Rev’d Marsha Mundy, who had been ordained to the transitional diaconate, was being sent to Evergreen. In attendance at the inaugural service on December 1, 2002 were the Ven. Gordon Guy, the Rev Canon John Bradley and the Rev. Alan Evans, along with Lay Reader Sandra Holmes. A rare treat indeed, was the music of Mr. William Hutton, the organist from St. Andrew and St. Mark.

A few months later, on May 4, 2003, Rev. Marsha was officially ordained into the Priesthood in a moving ceremony held at Christ Church Cathedral and attended by many of the Evergreen group.

The children of Evergreen were asked what they wanted in a new Priest. Their responses:

“Someone who is funny and always happy. Someone who can put up with the little kids. Someone who does a good Mass. Someone who becomes our friend and explains so that we can understand. Someone that cares for us and loves us.”

We were truly blessed to have exactly what we asked for in the words of the children - “Reva Marsha”!

Rev. Marsha inherited a dwindling congregation that had lost touch with Evergreen, but never their faith! She set out to gain back those who had strayed with her inspiring messages and her welcoming form of ministry. Added to that was her ability to play the piano, and, with a borrowed keyboard, we finally had some joyful music to accompany our enthusiastic, if somewhat tuneless, singing!

In the summer of 2003 the United Church invited Evergreen to share the Cote Chapel for the summer months. This offer was accepted and after the summer was over, Wyman United Church offered Evergreen the use of the Cote Chapel for their services during the winter months, when they would not have need of the beautiful old church. What “joy filled our hearts”! A “real” church at last!

The next few years were mostly uneventful but not idle. A lot of hard work went into trying to win back those who had drifted away, but we were succeeding and our total numbered about 70 people. We had a full Sunday School with a roster of teachers; a burgeoning Youth Group with a slate of events and activities. The Outreach program supported le Pont Bridging, overseas Missions such as World Vision, Suitcases for Africa, and Operation Christmas Child. Each December, we gathered food and gifts to be included in a Christmas basket for a needy family in our region. We had fundraising events like garage sales and plant sales. Evergreen offered Alpha courses and Bible study groups. Church and community life at Evergreen was good!

The next chapter in Evergreen’s story could have been headed “It was a dark and stormy night….”. Without much warning, in June 2006, Rev. Marsha Mundy was cut to half-time and half salary. Her congregation was devastated. How could we survive? Meetings were held and ideas debated. People were asked to dig deep into their pockets to help keep Evergreen afloat.

We asked the congregation for their help. They planned and executed a successful Spaghetti Dinner night and raffle. They sold Christmas wrapping paper at various craft sales and supermarkets around St. Lazare.

Then in January 2008, we received another blow. Evergreen was informed that the Diocese would no longer fund any of its activities. Rev’d Marsha’s salary and associated expenses would have to come from Evergreen itself.

Once again, we dug in our heels and soldiered on. We instituted Pre-Authorized Remittance to help Evergreen with its budgeting.

We have made a conscious effort to move our thoughts away from the “elephant in the room” – the issue of money. Instead we focus on God and pray that he will lead us through our “40 years in the desert”. Evergreen’s final chapter is yet to be written and we believe it will be “and they lived happy ever after”!