Book Club
The Book Club will meet on Monday, January 21 at 7:00 pm to discuss Tell by Frances Itani.
The Southminster Book Club meets several times a year in someone’s home, to discuss a selected, non-scripture work with a spiritual theme or message. All are welcome! If you are new to the group, please contact the church office for the location.
Parenting, Attachment, and the Collaborative Problem Solving Method
A free four-week training series for parents and guardians of children and youth in Old Ottawa South.
February, 2019. Full details here.
Work Party
Every Tuesday from 9:30 am 12 noon a group meets and tackles odd jobs around the building. They do anything from painting, laying tile, refinishing wooden surfaces, repairing concrete, to hanging pictures and running errands. They can always use another helping hand or two. For more information, contact the church office.
Tim Chin Photography + Design
Southminster United Church
Ottawa, Ontario
Since 1932... "a caring community that brings people together to explore faith and express it in action."
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE! ---A Call to Youth
by
Sarah Westbrook, Music Director Southminster United Church
Southminster United Church has been a rock in Old Ottawa South's community for generations as an affirming, inclusive church and home to Scouts and Girl Guides and the Ottawa music community. The music community is hugely supported by the DOMs Wednesday noon-hour concert series. But what about our own youth who will one day become the performers, leaders and supporters in all of this? Do they even consider this building as part of their current community? If there is nothing for them, probably not.
A few months ago, we began “Friday Night Live”, a coffee house for youth. Held usually once a month on a Friday evening, young people 12 and up are welcomed to come share their talents and have fun. The environment is inclusive; the kids have so much fun, cheer each other on, have a casual stage they own to share their performing art, have sound support or even the occasional piano accompaniment provided for them by me, Sarah, the Music Director of Southminster. The 9ft Steinway (yes, the kids get to play a world-class concert grand!) is rolled out for those who need the piano, and then tucked away for the rock, metal and blues music.
One four-piece rock band, Irrational Fears, even took a song request from the audience. A talented young person who opened for Herbie Hancock last year amazed us with his jazz piano talents. A flutist, who only just began lessons, bewildered us with numerous solo flute pieces!
For classical pianists, it is a huge opportunity for non-competitive and fun music making (and did we mention the 9 ft Steinway?!) Beginners to budding professional musicians have an opportunity to craft their stage presence and confidence by playing to a group of peers who cheer them on. Watching the young people build their own event is exciting. We heard there will be some Shakespeare this year, and we'd always love for dance, slam poetry or even juggling to be included. All performing arts are welcome. Even visual artwork for display and book-reading are welcomed.
In the future, we'd love for high-schoolers to learn how to host this event, from serving the snacks, to running a sound board, to MC-ing and welcoming performers and audiences. Volunteer hours for school can be created. In the least, it is quickly becoming the chillest place in Old Ottawa South for young people to hang out on a Friday night. And yes, there are snacks and refreshments.
