“The last time she cried was on the night of the tornado, but when she received the gift she had cried and was overwhelmed by our love for her.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

More than a year after tornadoes ripped through the Ottawa area, the city has largely moved on. In the areas hardest hit, however, there are still scars reminding neighbours of the hardship. This past Christmas, Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church gave their neighbours a new reminder, formed right from the carnage, but that stands as a symbol of hope and the church’s love for the community.

“The idea was presented to us by someone in our congregation who had access to the trees that had fallen in our community,” says lead pastor Mike Hogeboom. “They had this idea to craft a wooden tree ornament, where the bulk of the wood would come from the white pines that fell during the tornado. It is a rather unique piece. The phrase that typifies it for me is that something good came from something that was so bad.”

When the tornadoes came, on September 21, 2018, Arlington Woods was directly hit. The church was very visibly damaged, the top third of their fellowship hall roof ripped clear off. As the community reeled, the church became a base of operations to help those in need and coordinate clean up efforts. That experience, Hogeboom says, deepened their strong connection in the community.

The cross remained intact when the roof blew off the fellowship hall at Arlington Woods Church. Photo courtesy of Arlington Woods.

“We were fighting the same battles they were over this past year. Anyone driving out of this community would see that this church had been affected. For two weeks following the tornado we were on the street offering food and a place for people to come or talk. People saw Arlington Woods Church as a beacon of hope in their time of need.”

That strengthened connection was evident when church members knocked on the doors of community members to give away the Christmas ornaments.

“At first it was kind of, ‘Are you a salesman, why are you here?’ As soon as we said, ‘Hi, we are from Arlington Woods Church,’ you could see they were much more at ease. Then we told them we want to give them a gift and for them to know they are being thought about and prayed for.”

“Many people had a hard time wrapping their heads around the fact that we weren’t selling the ornaments, we were simply delivering a gift to show them in a small way that we cared,” says Benjamin Spears, Family Ministries Pastor.

Each ornament had a note explaining that it was handmade from the white-pine trees lost in the community. They included a message wishing a merry Christmas and inviting community members to let the church know of any needs. There is also a compartment for keepsakes inside each ornament, where the church left a Christmas blessing.

Spears remembers two special interactions while giving out the ornaments.

“One couple, when they learned that the ornament was made from trees lost in the tornado, actually invited us into their home to show us a coffee table they had made from fallen trees.

“The next day, when I arrived at the church, I was greeted by a neighbour who told me that the last time she cried was on the night of the tornado, but when she received the gift at her door she had cried and was overwhelmed by this small token of our love for her.”

“I hope that every year, when they go to decorate their trees, they’ll think about how the church really cares about them and their neighbours.”

The church gave out 210 ornaments, but then received multiple messages from community members asking if they could pay for additional ornaments for other family members who had been present. Hogeboom contacted the donor and they were able to distribute another 100 ornaments, all for free.

Hogeboom says many houses in the area have been rebuilt and restored, but there are still some vacant lots. Many people are still dealing with their insurance companies, some still struggle from the trauma of being home when the tornado hit.

While the community continues on the road of recovery, Spears believes the ornaments will have a lasting impact.

“Not only are these ornaments a tangible reminder of what we lost [as a community], but they also remind people that our church cares for them. I hope that every year, when they go to decorate their trees, they’ll think about what we went through collectively and how the church really cares about them and their neighbours. My hope and prayer is that, in times of physical or spiritual need, our neighbours will know that they can turn to our church for help and support.”