The Borden Friendship Club held their Christmas turkey dinner in the Borden Community Centre Dec. 4, with the Borden Community Centre Preservation Committee catering and close to 80 in attendance. Eileen Petrun welcomed everyone, Ruben Rempel gave the blessing and then everyone enjoyed a delicious meal. Happy birthday was sung to December celebrants Dianne Rawlyk, Gary Leschyshyn, Archie Wainwright and John Longmore.
To begin the program, Ruben told a brief story then introduced Back 40 – David Froese, Martin Guenther, Andy and Steven Hamm and soundman Clayton Unruh. With David and Martin playing guitar, Steve playing drums, cymbal and mandolin and Andy playing acoustic guitar, banjo and two harmonicas, the group played old favourites, gospel tunes and more. For the Orange Blossom Special, Andy played banjo and two harmonicas for the train sounds, while Steve was playing mandolin.
The Borden Farmers Market held a successful Christmas sale Dec. 7 with 14 vendors selling their products in the Borden Community Centre and another 10 home-based businesses in the Borden seniors’ clubroom. Grad 2020 – Callum Sleidreict, Spencer Thiessen and James Jamieson – along with their parents, sold lunch throughout the day, selling out except for a few desserts. Karen Kerr, president of the Farmers’ Market, presented cheques after lunch: $250 to Borden Fire and Rescue, $100 to BJ Berg and Ross McBain for helping at the fire hall all summer and $50 to the Borden Grad 2020.
Upcoming at Borden is the Care Home Auxiliary Christmas Tea Dec. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the care home. There will be a silver collection at the door, and there will be Christmas music while you enjoy beverages and goodies.
The Borden School concert is Dec. 19 at the school, starting at 6:30 p.m., then the next morning, Dec. 20, from 7 to 10 a.m., the Grad 2020 class will be serving pancakes and sausages at the Borden School gym. In the afternoon the Borden Library will be serving goodies at their Christmas tea.
Dec. 21, Santa will drop in at the Co-op grocery store from 2 to 4 p.m. with more goodies to enjoy.
St. John’s United Church service is Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. followed by a potluck supper and collecting mitts, socks, scarves, toques along with non-perishable food. St. John’s Anglican/United Christmas Eve service is Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 22 there are no 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. services and no service Dec. 29.
Community donations of non-perishable food can be left at the Credit Union, but will be taken to St. John’s Church, where Rev. Carr and Gayle Wensley will distribute them before Christmas.
Riverbend Fellowship Church, with Pastor Ron Mills, will hold regular services in December at 10:50 a.m. in the Friendship clubroom.
Happy 80th birthday to Jim Olinyk, who celebrated the occasion Dec. 10 with family and friends at the Roadside Inn in Borden.
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Radisson held their 20th annual Carols, Candles and Cookies service Dec. 8 hosted by leaders Lawrence and Grace Schensney, pianist Jackie Meister, organist Twyla Stott, violinist Erin Foreman and candle lighter George Hamp. Prior to the service, Jeremy, Jessica and Joelle Flath played piano solos of Christmas carols and Jessica Flath played a number of carols on her violin accompanied by her teacher Erin Foreman playing the piano.
The first candle was lit for Hope, with a reading from Isaiah 9. Carols sung were It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and O Little Town of Bethlehem, then there was special music by the Borden Friendship Singers. Bob Wardhaugh played keyboard while Marlene Derbawka directed the choir for the singing of Christmas in Killarney, Shake Me I Rattle and Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.
A second candle was lit for Preparations, with a reading from Isaiah 40. Everyone sang O Christmas Tree and The First Noel, followed by the Borden Lions – Stephen and Marlene Derbawka, Ed Neufeld, Wendell Dyck, Perry Nicol, Archie Wainwright and Bob Wardhaugh singing Christmas, The Huron Carol and Something About Christmas Time.
The third candle was lit for Joy, with a reading from Matthew 2. Singing of Joy to the World and Angels We Have heard on High was followed by Wilmer, Eugene and Erwin Hamp, Cathy Flath, Lori Amson and Pamela Pidwerbesky singing Christmas in my Hometown, Ring Those Christmas Bells, Christmas Times A-Coming and Don’t Forget to Pray, which was dedicated to the late Myrtle Amson and Hilda Hamp.
The fourth candle was lit for Love, with a reading from John 3. Singing of Away in a Manger and O Come All Ye Faithful was followed by First Lutheran Church of Langham singing Go Tell It Where I Send Thee and Light of Christmas.
The service closed with a prayer and closing carol, Go Tell It On The Mountain, then everyone gathered in the Lower Hall for beverages and sweets.
