When Pastor Lloyd Reaney and wife Doris arrived 25 years ago, it was with three small children… Amanda, Candice and six-month-old Nathan. Today, those children are adults and married and each have children. In front from left, Parker, Cash, Doris Reaney, Halle Jane, Cameryn and Mavric. Back row: Nathan and wife Kacie with son Callahan; Donaven and Amanda Welk, Pastor Lloyd, and Candice and Curtis Tubby. The boys in the front row are the sons of Donaven and Amanda while the girls are the daughters of Candice and Curtis.
by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — The clouds rolled in and then the rain pelted down. The parishioners and guests at the Pastor Appreciation celebration held underneath a large, white canopy-like tent on a grassy-area of Whitewater Wesleyan Community Church remained, some getting dripped on, while others were trying to get out of the rain’s way.
But, this rain did not dampen the spirits of those inside, as laughter could be heard, as well as the singing of a variety of hymns and the kind words spoken about two special people at this church … Pastor Lloyd Reaney and his wife Doris.
Assistant Pastor Daryl MacPherson was first to the microphone to introduce Pastor Lloyd and Doris.
“He was just a young lad growing up in Winchester playing ball, not a care in the world, a bit shy perhaps, never dreaming that God would one day call him to preach the Gospel and lead His church,” he said.
“She grew up on a farm in Ivanhoe, near Madoc, with a tender heart and keen interest in the things of God,” he added. “As a young married couple, they launched into ministry with enthusiasm and dedication, desiring only God’s will for their lives.
“Lives were touched, successes won, so, never did they dream of some hard days of disappointment to come. Then, a new call to a church in the Ottawa Valley, in the village of Foresters Falls. They jumped in with the same enthusiasm and dedication, never dreaming that 25 years later they would be on this property, at this church, with these people who hold them in deep affection and call them simply Pastor Lloyd and Doris,” Pastor MacPherson said, adding, “Would you stand with me and let’s honour them with our applause of gratitude!”
And, for the next 90 minutes, special words were spoken by parishioners and former parishioners.
Bert Montgomery, who now resides in Brockville, but was a mentor for this young couple when they arrived in Foresters Falls, along with his wife Evelyn, who has since died, spoke briefly about a quarter-century of pastoral service in just a few sentences.
“Lloyd, your pulpit oratory has enriched your listeners both spiritually and socially,” he said. “You have cast pastoral vision inciting the faithful to new and more abundant outreach. Echoes of your pulpit ministry have gathered a thriving congregation from our county.”
Speaking to Doris, as well as those gathered, Mr. Montgomery said, “Doris, you have been a loving companion at his side, an outgoing personality building your own ministry of encouragement and compassion disregarding age or status. Meanwhile you have modelled to all the Biblical portrait of a successful woman.”
He ended with, “You are living faithful, rewarding lives. May God, whom you service so well, grant a future of renewed health and well-earned contentment among us.”
Rev. Laurence Croswell, who is married to Fay and the daughter of the Montgomerys, was the guest speaker, and spoke about the strength and tenacity of a mustard seed, even though it is very small. He noted those who were attending this event had the tenacity of a mustard seed, since they didn’t leave the tent while the rain pelted down, but remained to honour Pastor Lloyd and Doris.
The former and current board of the church also made special presentations to the Reaneys. They received a plaque with a photo of the former Standard Church in Foresters Falls and the current Whitewater Wesleyan Community Church on Cedar Haven Drive on the outskirts of Cobden in the Township of Whitewater Region. The Standard Church merged into the Wesleyan Church and the two became one in 2004. They also received a travel voucher.
Warren Bennett, of the former board, said, “We’re so grateful that back 25 years ago we needed a new pastor. The Stationing Committee sent us this recommendation of a young family with three small children from Wellesley, Ontario, who would like to come to Foresters Falls.”
Mr. Bennett said the family was perfect, except for two things.
“But, we as a board, discussed it, then we overlooked it,” he said. “But, the two things going against him was he was driving a Ford car and he cheered for Leafs,” bringing much laughter from the crowd. Mr. Bennett added, “We got him out of the Ford, but we’re still working on the Leafs.”
Anticipating the arrival of this young family on an August afternoon, he recalled thinking about this family driving up Highway 41 and two young daughters in the back seat saying, “Are we there yet?” bringing more laughter.
Taking a pause to gather himself as he choked up with emotion, Mr. Bennett continued, the family arrived with Doris’s father, who was a member of the Stardard Church in Ivanhoe.
“We chatted for a little while and he (Doris’ father) shook my hand and he said, “You won’t be disappointed.”
“And that has stuck with me,” Mr. Bennett said. “As a board 25 years ago, we prayed that God would provide us with a couple that would have a heart for Christ and their desire to serve Him in leading souls to Christ.
“Today is evidence and proof that God answered that prayer and was faithful to us in providing us with a team that has far excelled our expectations,” Mr. Bennett said, ending, “Our cup is overflowing today with what this couple has done.”
Taking to the stage, Doris brought laughter from the crowd as she said, “Really, I’m more nervous than I was on my wedding day.” (Pastor Lloyd and Doris celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, Aug. 23.)
Known for her sense of humour, Doris added, “I have 25 reasons why we lasted 25 years. But, as you know, I’m a children’s worker, so in light of our children being so very patient this morning, I’ve whittled it down to five … and it’s on the back of my grocery list.”
The first reason is her husband, who took the call 25 years ago to go to Foresters Falls. She recalled the story that there were two churches they could go to …one in Ottawa and the other in Foresters Falls. Raised in the country, going to Ottawa wasn’t her first choice, so Foresters Falls it was.
“We came sight unseen…when we came up (Hwy.) 41, it was me saying, ‘are we ever going to get there?’ All we could see was trees and rocks and when we hit Opeongo, my husband went “ahhhhhhhh, we’re coming to civilization, we’re coming to nice, rich farmland that we had just left behind in Waterloo County,” Doris recalled.
In a choked voice, Doris said, “I wouldn’t be the one on the front seat cheering him on if he wasn’t the husband that he was, because, he faithfully went to the office and he had office hours and he still has office hours, and nobody gave him those office hours, he gave it to himself.”
When Lloyd left the church each day before 4:30 p.m., he would go home, which was right next door at that time, and spend an hour playing with the kids while Doris prepared supper.
“He always came home and laid down on the carpet in the living room and the kids would pounce on him and they played for an hour before supper so I could get it ready,” she said, adding, “Now, how good is that. I said, thank you Lord.”
Lloyd is also the spiritual director of the house, she said. She noted how he lives at home is how he preaches to the people from the pulpit each Sunday.
“He lives out what he practices, what he preaches,” she said.
Speaking about their family, Doris noted they arrived with three children, Amanda, Candice and Nathan, who was just six months old at the time. Today, each of their children are married and have graced Doris and Lloyd with six grandchildren.
Her church family is also important, Doris said.
“We have been so blessed with this church family that I have been excited to be a part of,” she said. “I came this morning and I said, ‘I feel lost. I don’t have a Sunday school to teach, I don’t have a praise team to be on. I don’t know what to do.’
“This is really different,” she said.
Taking the microphone, Pastor Lloyd said, “Twenty-five years – it’s hard to believe. This is all a wee bit overwhelming. I want to thank everybody who participated in the service this morning.”
Referring to part of Pastor Laurence’s talk, he said it’s important the congregation always be thinking about the future, or the church will become stagnant and people will leave.
“We need to be thinking about the future, we need to be thinking about what can we do in our community, we need to be thinking about reaching into our community, not just corporately, but individually, and touching and changing lives,” Pastor Lloyd said. “We want to make an impact on our community for Christ.
“Twenty-five years ago, we carried our youngest child into church. Nathan was just about six or seven months old. Today, 25 years later, he carried his son into church for the first time. So, this is the first time that our grandson attended church, at our 25th anniversary, so that sort of tells you the cycle of life.
“I want to give thanks to God,” Pastor Lloyd continued. “If we don’t have God’s blessing, if we don’t have God’s guidance, if we don’t have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we don’t have anything. God has led us, God has helped us, God has urged us, God has prodded us and so we’re thankful for that.
“Thank you, to, you as a congregation,” Pastor Lloyd continued. “I said to a number of people who have come up and said you are celebrating 25 years in the ministry. Really, the focus should not be on me, the focus should be on the congregation, a congregation that did see the future, a congregation that said yes, let’s go and do it. A congregation who co-operated and a board that was easy to get along with.
“Thank you. God bless you and God be with you,” Pastor Lloyd ended.
Following a standing ovation, lunch was provided in the church hall, with a time of socialization.
