A 'Joy Sunday' Memory

Throughout this Advent season, we have created new memories by sharing photos of congregants and community members appreciating and interacting with the Church's decor. We would like to take this opportunity to share a special story from Kelly Jenner, reflecting on her memory of a very meaningful Joy Sunday of the past:

"It was a rather poignant moment for me on Sunday as I remembered my mother-in-law Nancy and her passing. Myrna and I were preparing to sing “Joy Is Like the Rain” as the gift of music for Advent III, and Nancy was in the active dying phase; no longer responding in any meaningful way and moving deeper and deeper into unconsciousness. The hushed tones of discussion about who would sing what, when we would harmonize, and such was interspersed with adjusting covers and holding Nancy’s hands. Myrna shared the stories of her and her mother listening to Bible stories and Christian music on records for most of her childhood and youth (the Medical Mission Sisters being one of their favourites because it reminded her of the nuns singing in the Sound of Music).

We sang through the song once and noticed Nancy’s ragged breathing seemed to ease. We sang it again through some tears, our hands gently on Nancy’s shoulders. As we finished the song, we found that Nancy was no longer breathing. We were so grateful for an end to her pain, for a gentle leaving, and to have been voices of love sending her off, all tinged with the grief of losing her. For me, Joy Sunday will always be filled with that bittersweet memory that illustrates perfectly the paradox of joy."