November / December 2025 – Graceview

We Remember…

On November 2, 2025, we will be holding our very special Remembering Tree Service,  where we commemorate all those of our church family who have died since our amalgamation in 2000.  As of this writing (Sunday Oct. 26), I know of several families of our faithful departed who do not regularly come to church, who are planning to be present for this service. This year, the names of 135 people will be read out by seven volunteers. 

How did this Graceview tradition start?  In June 2016, Bob and I spent a week in New York City. While there, we visited the very moving and sobering September 11 Memorial, whereon the names of the nearly 3000 people who died on that fateful day are engraved. Each year a memorial service is held in New York, and every name is read aloud by family members, first responders, and other community members.  Bob posed the question to Session, “What would it be like if we did that at Graceview to honour our departed friends and family members?” Session liked the idea,  and the decision was made to do this at a service in late October or early November every year. Janet Ottewell, who is responsible for adding leaves as needed to our Tree, agreed to organize this, and a new tradition was launched.