In June, 2011, the first Bashaw Community Garden was built on the west side of the church. Volunteers installed raised beds and planted seed with the support of the Federal government, Bashaw and District Support Services and business in the community. People in the community enjoyed the benefits of their labours over the summer and into the fall - carrots, potatoes, peas, beets and other vegetables as well as some beautiful flowers.
On Sunday, May 29, Bashaw United Church celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a special service and dinner. The preacher was Rev. David Denholm, minister 1982-87, and Rev. Doug Pratt, minister 1997-99, read scripture. A choir dressed in period costume, Mrs. Eugene Bashaw (played by Laura Graham) was a special guest, Ben Wilson sang a couple of songs and Liane McDonald played the piano.
On February 6, 2011, we dedicated a mandala made by our congregation in Bashaw. Led by the children of the church school, the congregation made this mandala in October and November of 2010.
Originally found in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, “mandala” is Sanskrit for “circle,” a common symbol in almost all religions. A mandala symbolically represents the cosmos - a microcosm of the universe from the human perspective. A mandala is a symbol of wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself - a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.
In our mandala ... The sun surrounds us with light. The cross, symbol of the heart of our faith, divides our mandala in four and is filled with the faces of all the members of our church family. From top left, the four corners are: Ocean - water gives us life; Fauna - all that lives with us; Cosmos - the universe around us; Storm - prayers for all in the “storms” of life.
Our Christmas Pageant on December 16, 2010, in Bashaw was the musical A Lamb's Tale by Martha Bolton & Dennis Allen. It's the story of how Snowflake the lamb got lost and found herself at the manger, and how Zeke the shepherd was lost, in a way, and found himself there, too. Along the way they met angels and bullies and adventures. It was presented by the Bashaw Church School and Friends, directed by Lori Miller with pianist Liane McDonald, costumes by Cindy Hunter, set by Mary Kinsella, lighting by Dwayne Bamber and a whole lot of support from parents. It was part of our Sunday morning worship that day, with a special show in the evening at which an offering was received in support of the Bashaw and District Support Services Benevolent Fund. Thank you everyone! (Photos: Roxanne Miller)
Our summer children's program in August 2010 was a week of mornings at the Bashaw Church called Trail of Adventure, a journey through the Wild, Wild West of the Bible! We "circled the wagons" for stories like Moses and the Big Drive, Daniel Do-Right in the Bull Corral, Good Guy Sam, The Legend of Pappy's Gold-en Onions and God's Pony Express. We sang western songs, we made really cool crafts (even our very own ponies to ride!) and we ate snacks straight from the "cookhouse."
In July of 2010, we hosted Bashaw Drama Camp with instructor Lori Miller. For four days, children aged 5-9 and 10-14 learned about acting, stage fighting, costumes, puppets, improvisation, and script work. A final "performance" was enjoyed by parents and family.
Our "float" in the Bashaw parade in July 2010 reminded everyone of the history of the Bashaw Church (100 next year!) as well as the future of the church, riding in the back ....
Our Congregational Picnic in June, 2010, was held on the front lawn of the Bashaw Church, with good food and games.
There's more to come ...
