By Rev. Mark Whittall
September is here, and uOttawa students are back in Lowertown and Sandy Hill. Many are new in town, still finding their way around, hoping to get to know our community. And many of them found their way to St. Albans Church’s annual Welcome Student BBQ on Sunday, September 13.
“It’s a big job trying to figure out how to feed over a hundred hungry students,” says event coordinator Juliana Colwell, one of the St. Albans Church student interns. “That’s why we’re so grateful that every year, volunteers from The Ottawa Mission’s Food Services Training Program come and help us out by doing the cooking.”
The next Open Table will be on Sunday, September 27
Food Services Training is a five month program at The Ottawa Mission that teaches trainees how to cook and handle food. Its graduates have become cooks in restaurants and commercial kitchens, or have continued their culinary education at Algonquin College. Every September, volunteers from the program serve up delicious burgers to hungry students at the St. Albans Welcome Student BBQ.
Chef Ric Allen-Watson, Manager of Food Services at the Ottawa Mission, says they never have trouble getting volunteers to sign up. “The men and women in our job training program are always looking for ways to give back to the community, and we enjoy working with the people at St. Albans to welcome students to our neighbourhood. Besides, it’s a great event and lots of fun!”
This year’s BBQ was the biggest ever. Juliana attributes the increase to the new uOttawa Rideau residence that opened beside the church. “With 372 new first year students having just moved into the Rideau residence, that definitely boosted our numbers at the BBQ.”
Many of the students joined St. Albans Church for its 10am Sunday service and many more went straight to the BBQ, which started soon after in the church garden. Ministry to university and college students is a priority for St. Albans Church, which is located at 454 King Edward and Daly, close to the University of Ottawa. There are large student contingents at both the 10am and 5pm services on Sundays, and the student and young adult club meets every Tuesday at 7pm at the church. St. Albans also runs a Student Leadership Program. This year there are five student interns who will participate in leadership training, faith formation and community placements.
September is a busy time of year for St. Albans campus ministry, with orientation activities at both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, and the first Open Table of the new school year scheduled for Sunday, September 27. The Open Table is a free meal and an opportunity to build community and meet new friends for students and young adults. It takes place at Centre 454 in the basement of St. Albans Church, doors open at 5:30pm, meal at 6pm. The Open Table is an initiative of the Anglican, United, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches, and meals are provided by a partnership of local congregations.
St. Albans Church will be holding its annual Open House in partnership with Centre 454 on Sunday, October 25th. Lowertown residents are invited to come to the service at 10am or to join us for the Open House from 11:20 to 1pm. All are welcome. For more information, please visit www.stalbanschurch.ca