The Ottawa Valley Male Choir Needs You Now!

by John Baldwin

We are about twenty, not so young men, who just love to sing, And combine all our voices, Tenors, Baritone and Bass, to do our musical thing! Many of us have done this quite well for many a year, And our deep rich harmony has brought joy, to many a listening ear.

We go out and we sing for charity, to Seniors’ homes, churches, Upper Canada Village and all sorts of events,

And have even sung in greenhouses, or under marquee type tents!

We are not professional singers, most can’t pick out, to sing, individual notes, from a scale, But the sound when we listen and then sing, just becomes perfection when we set out, our listeners, to regale.

We sing for the love of it and want this pleasure to continue, Which is why we are making this open appeal, to you. Our very able accompanist, on the piano, is about to retire, And our present director has now finished her planned stint with our choir! So, now we are seeking, for to keep all our voices on the same vector, An able and talented, patient (we are older Guys you know!) and knowledgeable, new musical director!

We also, of course, require a pianist to give us timing and pitch, So that we can continue on together, as a choir, without experiencing a transitory hitch!

We are not just a church choir, who solely religious programs sing, We have a wide repertoire and sing all different genres of musical thing. Folk, pop and opera and some from the shows we do, just show us the score, And we’ll practice and sing it until our sound is just right and once heard you’ll want to call out for more.

If you already are, or are training to be, a musical teacher, or a competent musical reader, Then why not enhance your experience by becoming our director and leader!?

If you are one who loves to play those lovely ivory piano keys, You too would be welcomed, in answer to our pleas. Don’t be shy just give us a call, we don’t, as yet, have our own web-site, We practice in North Gower’s United Church, from 7-9pm each Tuesday night, From Ottawa we are due south on the of Prince of Wales Drive, or the 416, your choice by car, There are members, who travel, from Ottawa, Smiths Falls, and Russell, who don’t think it too far.

If you would like a preview of the things that we do, Then come to one of our practices, or one of our upcoming performances, we’d like to meet you. Thank you from the members of the Ottawa Valley Male Choir. How to reach the OVMC: John Baldwin 613-258-0835. ovmc2018@gmail.com.

Christmas wonder brings winter warmth

by William J. Langenberg

Need a radiant and heartwarming centre-piece during the cold winter days? The magical Poinsettia brings it all to you during the Christmas Holidays. It is not surprising that the poinsettia is the most popular plant during this festive season. Its brightly coloured bracts offer hope, strength, love and peace. They also reduce the Christmas Holiday Stress. The leaves that colour are actually the floral bracts.

The Red Poinsettia is best known around the world as the Christmas Star: why else would it transform its leaves into striking colours such as white, cream, lemon, salmon, pink, purple and red? It’s a Star!

Why the Poinsettia steals the hearts of people at Christmas is explained in the Mexican legend about a poor Mexican girl, Pepita, who could not afford a gift for baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve service. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy. “I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes”, said Pedro consolingly.

Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small Mexican village chapel.

As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes”. She felt her spirit lift, as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the

Kemptville & District Home Support

December is almost done and the year is coming to a close, but the Centre is open! For more information on how to get involved in any of our activities, or to volunteer, please call KDHSI at 613-258-3203 or stop by and warm up at 215 Sanders St., Suite 101 in Old Town Kemptville. Make KDHSI the place for active aging! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 21: Foot Care Clinic: By appointment Exercise Class: 9:00-10:00

Friday, December 22: Exercise Class: 11:00 – 12 noon

Monday, December 25: Centre is CLOSED ~ Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 26: Centre is CLOSED

Wednesday, December 27: No activities scheduled

Thursday, December 28: Exercise Class: 9:00-10:00

Friday, December 29: Exercise Class: 11:00 – 12 noon

Monday, January 1 2018: Centre is Closed ~ Happy New Year!