Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44FOCUS - MARCH 2017 15 2 FOCUS - JUNE 2015 and choir director at St. John’s for many years. When asked about his feelings about the closing of St. John’s, he responded emotionally, “I knew that the decline of attend- ance at St. John’s would lead to its eventual closing. Our families – the McLaughlins and Marlows have been active members of the congre- gation for six generations. The Green, Whitfield, Bailey, Parr, Nesbitt, Willan, Hamilton, Devitt, Edgerton, McKee, Brown, Argue, Spinks, Hodge and Proutt families have all been members of the St. John’s parish for over 100 years. We have faced uncertain times in the past, usually because of money, but now we lack young people.” Among those who attended St. John’s, most have now become mem- bers of the Port Perry congregation. A few have gone to Bowmanville for their services. The original Saint John’s cem- etery is still being used. Lawrence McLaughlin heads up the St. John’s Cemetery board that will remain as a separate entity from the Port Perry church. “We hope that St. John’s cemetery will continue to serve the community, and to that end we are moving the bell from the church to the cemetery where it will be set up as a reminder of the Cartwright parish.” The building remains as the property of the Anglican Diocese in Toronto. They have proposed that the building and its adjacent hall is to be sold in the near future. The thick, solid, red-painted front doors of Saint John’s closed for the final time on February 19. This act symbolized the end of an era when the church was a centre of life in the community, a quieter, more leisurely paced time when the people took time to reflect on their lives and found faith and solace in acknowledging a power greater than themselves. This humble gesture enabled them to face all manner of challenges in harsh times. The times, they are a-changing. By Paul Arculus, Focus on Scugog St. John’s Church, Blackstock. St. John’s Anglican Church, Port Perry. Andy Leitch and Madison Stanul fitting Canadian Tire First Shift children with their Hockey Equipment. 905-985-7341 • Canadiantire.ca 14325 Simcoe Street, Port Perry Monday to Friday 8am – 9pm Saturday 8am – 6pm • Sunday 9am – 5pm Canadian Tire Port Perry and Minor Hockey held their second First Shift Welcome Event Friday January 26th at the Port Perry Arena. 45 local families attended the event, which introduces children from the age of 6 - 10 to hockey. Children that have never played hockey can enroll for a six week introductory program for a cost of $199, which includes expertly fitted, head to toe Bauer hockey equipment, six one hour on-ice sessions and two hours of parent education. As Canada’s store, Canadian Tire is proud to be the Title Sponsor of the First Shift Program. Since 2014, more than 4,800 families have been introduced to hockey through the First Shift Program, with 86% of players re-enrolling with the Minor HockeyAssociation after completion of the Program. This year there will be 150 Canadian Tire First Shift programs across Canada helping kids fall in love with hockey. Terry and Andy Leitch, Owners of the Canadian Tire Store, Port Perry Makes Hockey Accessible, Affordable and Fun TM ® No Experience? No Equipment? NO PROBLEM! TM ®