Grace Anglican Church, Sutton

Easter 2010

Dear Friends,

I was in a small group recently and we were sharing our stories of compassion. The invitation was given to the group in this way: Tell us about a time in your life when you experienced compassion.

Larry spoke about a time when he was in a psychiatric ward and would play backgammon with a fellow patient. One day, out of the blue, she looked up at him and said, “I love you.”

Another member of our circle spoke about a woman he met while he was living on the streets in Ottawa who would take in the homeless, no questions asked, no judgment given. She would give them shelter, food, and best of all, respect as a fellow human being.

Susan told of the overwhelming fear that engulfed her when the doctor told her that she would be committed to the psychiatric ward that day. And then the male nurse, who was present at the time, reached over and took her hand in his hand and held her with compassion.

Pierre had a hard time answering the question and instead launched into a litany of complaint about how everything and everyone had become corrupt; the police, the government, big business, the church. He couldn’t see any compassion or kindness in the world on this day.

Our little group meets monthly, organized by a homeless man at a downtown drop-in centre. The idea for the group is simple: to listen to the stories of each other, particularly those who are homeless and living with mental illness. And in the listening of our stories, to find compassion and hope for each other.

Their stories are rich and varied. Their stories are often tragic and sad. And yet in the midst of a life in which so many things have gone wrong for them, they can still tell stories of beauty, compassion and hope. They can still laugh, cry and hope, just like the rest of us.

Whatever the first Easter was about, it was for sure about being surprised by joy and encouraged by compassion. In the midst of their sadness and loss, Jesus appears as a sign of hope for those early Christian communities. All is not lost, I am here, I am with you. Do not be afraid.

Each of us have our own stories of compassion to tell; those moments when people have reached out to us at a low point in our lives to hold our hand, to say ‘I love you’, or to take us in and shelter us in the time of our storm. The risen Christ works through other people to meet you on the road of your life and assure you that you are still loved and cared for.

And, in the same way, Christ works through you and me, in our acts of kindness and compassion to bring light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. We are called to be an Easter people through whom God’s compassion and love reaches out into the world, announcing the morning light and the dawning of the kingdom of God.


Holy Week Services
Thursday, April 1st at 1:30 pm Ecumenical Service at the Foyer Sutton
Thursday, April 1st, at 7:30 pm Grace Church, Service for Maundy Thursday
Friday, April 2nd. ‘Way of the Cross’, beginning at 10 am Église St. André, then walking to Calvary United Church, Olivet Baptist Church, and finishing at Grace Church with a soup lunch in
the parish hall.

Easter Sunday
April 4th, at 6:15 am Sunrise Service at the home of Doreen and Hollis Page,
132 Holmes Road.
April 4th, 10:30 am service of Holy Eucharist here at Grace Church.

Upcoming Events
Friday, April 30th ‘Alive and Kicking’ – Workshop for Rural Churches.
Hosted by Trinity Church in Cowansville.

Sunday, May 16th, 10:30 am. Ecumenical Family Service and Luncheon
at Grace Church.

Saturday, August 28th, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. ‘A Day with Julian of Norwich’
with the Rev. Holly Ratcliffe in Sutton.

Upcoming Weddings
Saturday, May 22nd at 2:30 pm, Kyla Scott and Andrew Cox-Twardowski
Saturday, June 26th, at 2 pm, Joan Bell and Steven St. Amour
Saturday, August 14th, at 3 pm, Dustin Sherrer and Kathleen Desrochers
Saturday, August 14th, at 5 pm, Valerie Sisso and Franck Bernascon
Saturday, August 21st, at 2 pm, Michelle Thompsett and Michael Morse
Saturday, September 11th, at 3 pm, Michelle Lengacher and Patrice Marcotte
Saturday, October 2nd Agnes Gallaher and James Luce.


Wishing you and your family the blessings of this Easter Season!
The Rev. Tim Smart


Grace Anglican Church, 52 Principale sud, Sutton, Quebec. J0E-2K0.
Telephone: 450-538-8108
Church Wardens: Doreen Page 538-3846 and Yvonne Wakeland 242-1573
The Rev. Tim Smart tsmart@montreal.anglican.ca