Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.
Ruth 1:16
This summer has brought a number of changes to Teeswater United Church!
In early July, the church welcomed a new pastor, The Rev. Hannah Lee. Then in late July came word of yet another new 'addition' to the church. Or should I say a complete 'circle of generations' occurred at the church.
In the early 1930's the Robinson family lived south of town, operating a foundry business. As times were hard, the family eventually moved from the area, settling near Kitchener.
But their daughter, Ruth, remembered her days at Teeswater United Church singing in the choir. In her later life she became an accomplished pianist, still able to play wonderful solos and family duets well into her 90's.
Sadly, Ruth Robinson, now Ruth Robinson Auger, recently passed on to her rest. But her memories of Teeswater were not forgotten by her family and at their request, Teeswater United Church became the proud custodian of her prized piano, to carry on the musical ministry within the church.
The piano, a rare Steinway parlour grand, was built in New York in 1911, and though keys and hammers have been replaced, retains the poetic beauty of sound that is the hallmark of a Steinway.
The Steinway piano will join Teeswater United Church's equally rare 1927 Cassavant Freres pipe organ and we can expect to hear news of upcoming recitals and concerts this fall. The Steinway dedication service will be on Thanksgiving Sunday so mark your calendars!
In The Book of Ruth can be found the famous line "For wherever you go, I will go". And indeed wherever the music from this Steinway piano goes, so shall go the memory of Ruth Robinson Auger!
