Marlene Barnett, a member of Beaches Presbyterian since the 1970s, had no church affiliation until she was 17. At that age, she was taken to a young people’s group at Calvary Baptist Church, on Main St., in Toronto. There Marlene met her husband, Erne Barnett and after they married, the couple continued to live in the East End. Eventually Marlene’s husband became “discouraged” with the Baptist church and decided not to attend, while Marlene wanted to participate, in a church, as a family.
“We church shopped. At the time, I was working for the government in Ottawa and, one Sunday, my husband took me to the train. Afterwards, Erne went for a walk along the Boardwalk and up past Beaches Presbyterian, where there was a new minister. He went in and was so excited, he called me in the afternoon,” Marlene says.
To make a long story short, Erne talked Marlene into going to a service and the young family of four stayed. The “new” minister was Rev. Drew Strickland, who turned the church around, according to Marlene. For example, during the 14 years he led Beaches, he took the Sunday school from zero children to 90.
Marlene was also drawn to the structure of the Presbyterian Church. She describes it like a court system where the minister reports to the Presbytery and the Presbytery to the Synod and ultimately to the General Assembly. She also views the Presbyterian Church as a “democratic” institution where individual members have a voice – unlike the Baptist church where, in Marlene’s experience, ministers were autonomous and could do what they wanted, without any higher authority to oversee their actions.
Marlene, now retired, was a typing teacher, at Centennial College. In the 1970s, thanks to this expertise, she was asked by Indian Affairs and Northern Affairs Canada (Aboriginal is commonly used now) to help design a typewriter keyboard in both Cree and Ojibway. This job included writing a typing textbook. Later Marlene was hired by Northern Affairs to create a keyboard for Inuit users, an opportunity that meant travelling to the Arctic. Marlene visited Baffin Island four times, but the highlight was staying in a small village in Rankin Inlet.
“I was boarded with a woman my age. She was the principal of the high school and for more than three weeks she took me some place, every night, for dinner and to meet people. I saw Arctic foxes, out on the land, and I was in the Arctic in winter and in summer and experienced 24 hours of daylight. It was all magical.
(Marlene explains because her husband was a freelance writer, working from home, he was able to look after the children while she was away on her northern adventures. Erne has since died.)
Some ten years ago, Marlene was called again, to Ottawa, to help design computer keyboards in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktituk. These computers are still in use.
Currently Marlene is an elder, at Beaches, and attends a prayer group every Wednesday. She comments the congregation is small and most of the members are young families, with two working parents, so that leaves a few older women to organize church events and get things done. And they do.
Social events are a big part of the attraction at Beaches Presbyterian. Marlene, particularly, looks forward to the annual Easter celebrations, starting with Maundy Thursday. After a simple meal of soup, bread and cheese, there is a service where the congregation takes communion and, in the sanctuary, there are eight lighted candles. There is a scripture reading for each one. After each text is read, a candle is snuffed and someone takes a religious icon out of the church. Also the communion table is stripped and a wooden cross is covered with a black cloth. The church is in darkness until Easter Sunday when church members “dress” the church, by bringing back all the items that were removed and uncovering the cross.
“There’s a huge wreath in the church – three feet across. At Advent, it has pine boughs. Before Easter it is a Crown of Thorns, then on Easter Sunday, when people arrive, the wreath is already decorated with greenery and flowers to represent re-birth,” Marlene says.
(Maundy from Latin mandatum, meaning “washing” commemorates Christ washing the feet of his disciples. For centuries a part of Holy Week rites, in the Catholic and High Anglican churches, it has since become a tradition in some reformed churches. Maundy Thursday has been practiced at Beaches for about 20 years, according to Marlene.)
Marlene also enjoys potluck suppers that are held every six weeks. About 20 women meet, at the church, to discuss faith issues and life in general. For the winter gatherings, Marlene likes to contribute a cooked seasonal vegetable such as Cauliflower with Hollandaise sauce. Marlene’s recipe is easy to make and a tasty addition to an evening meal.
CAULIFLOWER HOLLANDAISE
1 large cauliflower, cut into florets
Green onions, sliced
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
¼ tsp salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup melted butter
¼ cup boiling water
Dry mustard
METHOD
Parboil cauliflower until almost cooked. Strain and put into a casserole with sliced green onions. Pre-heat oven to 325f.
HOLLANDAISE SAUCE: Pour egg yolks into the top of a double boiler. Add salt and lemon juice. Gradually stir in melted butter. Add the water. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add a sprinkling of dry mustard. (Makes ¾ cup)
Pour sauce over the partially cooked cauliflower. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
QUICK TIP: Too busy to make a sauce? Use a prepared brand. Marlene recommends McCormick’s International in a soft pack.
