Chapter 1: Noor is born

 In July we received great news; Randa was pregnant!  Noor Al Atmeh, a son, was born October 12, Thanksgiving Day.  He is their first child born in Canada, and is a Canadian citizen!

In this picture he is two months old.

Chapter 2: Ibrahim arrives in Canada and is out of quarantine

In the spring of 2018 Ahmad asked for help to sponsor his young brother Ibrahim Al Atmeh (18) to Canada.  The situation in Jordan was becoming untenable, and if Ibrahim returned to Syria he would be drafted into the army.  In December, we agreed to sponsor Ibrahim, and our application was delivered April 2019.  We were advised it would be at least two years before Ibrahim would be in Canada.  Then the pandemic happened.  We were sure of additional delays.

 

But, on October 6, 2020 IRCC sent a letter stating that Ibrahim Al Atmeh has a current, valid permanent resident visa for Canada and is able to travel to Canada, and shortly after we received his itinerary.  We swiftly had to put together a travel and quarantine plan.  He speaks no English, so how do we find him at the airport since we can’t go into the terminal.  How do we get him to Hamilton?  How do we arrange for quarantine?  Fortunately, every challenge was resolved.

 

Ibrahim arrived in Toronto at 6:15 pm on Thursday, November 26.  Dale drove him to Hamilton and he began quarantine in a kitchen unit at Visitors Inn which we had reserved for him.  His room faced directly across Main Street toward the Al Atmeh’s building, and he and the family could visit from the sidewalk.  Nonetheless, he chafed at the confinement as anyone would; Ahmad described it as a beautifully decorated jail cell.

Finally on December 10 his quarantine ended.  Al and Sandy, Randa, and his nephews and niece (Ibrahim, Saleh and Sham) met him at the inn and brought him home.  Finally, his real life in Canada can begin.

 

One final touch: Ahmad’s father is an artist and in 2019 asked Ahmad for a photo of MacNeill Baptist Church in order to paint it.  Ibrahim brought the portrait with him in his luggage and presented it to us December 13.  We will mount it prominently in our church.

Join us Sundays at 11 am in-person or via Live-Stream

Reflection and Meditation: Sundays from 9:30 to 10:15 am in the Hobbs Library

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1145 King Street West
(in Westdale Village)
Hamilton, ON, L8S 1L9

Questions? Contact Susan at
sstjohn.macneill@gmail.com

Pastoral Care: (905) 512 9897
Office Message: (905) 528 2861

Services are live-streamed at 11 am and posted on our website for those unable to attend.

Enter through the main doors on the corner of King W and Cline Streets.

MacNeill has a scent-free policy.


Calendar

< February 2021 >
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7Annual Meeting at 12:15 pm
8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 pm
Adult Lenten Study- COVI-19 as Teacher from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28St David's Day Celebration from 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm
           

Upcoming Events

  • March 29, 2024
    • Good Friday Cross Walk
      9:30 am - 10:15 am
      Good Friday Cross WalkTime: 9:30 am - 10:15 am
      Beginning at MacNeill, the silent walk will progress to Westdale United, then to St Cuthbert's Presbyterian for the Good Friday service.
    • Good Friday Service
      10:30 am
      Good Friday ServiceTime: 10:30 am
      at St Cuthbert's Presbyterian
  • March 31, 2024
    • Easter Breakfast
      9:30 am - 10:30 am
      Easter BreakfastTime: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
      A MacNeill Tradition! Eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, hot cross buns.... all for a nominal cost.
    • Easter Sunday- Paula Papky preaching
      11:00 am
      Easter Sunday- Paula Papky preachingTime: 11:00 am
      Lots of music .... chimes choir.... choir.... trumpets... ensemble.... great hymns...... a great celebration.
  • April 2, 2024
    • Booking- Strata rehearsal
      7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
      Booking- Strata rehearsalTime: 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
      Sanctuary
  • April 7, 2024
    • Paula Papky preaching
      11:00 am
      Paula Papky preachingTime: 11:00 am
    • Paula Papky/ Bert Radford preaching
      11:00 am
      Paula Papky/ Bert Radford preachingTime: 11:00 am
      Communion
  • April 9, 2024
    • Booking- Strata rehearsal
      7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
      Booking- Strata rehearsalTime: 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
      Sanctuary
  • April 13, 2024
    • Booking- Strata rehearsal
      10:00 am - 12:00 pm
      Booking- Strata rehearsalTime: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
      Sanctary
    • Women of MacNeill
      2:30 pm
      Women of MacNeillTime: 2:30 pm
      Travelling Down the Nile parlour