Hunters Quarter at Audrey Wilkinson VineyardToday Hillhurst heard the sad news of Paul Wilkinson’s death. Many would know him as “Smokey”. He was a constant figure around Hillhurst for six or seven years. He sat in our pews, he ate lunch in our community and he was often an out spoken person around the neighbourhood. The streets were his home.Paul was, in my opinion, the heart and soul of Hillhurst United Church. He woke us up. He reminded us of the reality of homeless living.For some Paul was an annoying reminder of dirt, of the dark side of life on the street and the reality of poverty. He was the embodiment of the sadness and destruction of addiction. Some chose to ignore him. Many loved his awkward company in our pews or a brief conversation on a . For me he was a Christ in our midst. I know some wanted him to wash up and clean up. I appreciated the reminder that the world isn’t that way for many. His untidiness assaulted our sanitized lives. Yes, he was annoying at times, but his annoyance was gift too.

He was a reminder that God has come for the least and was made known in the least. I said not long ago to him, “Paul you get it!” He looked at me quizzically. I said “You get it because you have little. For us who have much, it is harder to get the importance of life as gift” He knew what it was like to have little and he appreciated and shared much. table and chair rentals hamburg nyHe was extraordinarily generous with what he had.table and chair rentals in pompano beach fl He often handed me a loonie on the street, a percentage his panhandling, “For the church, Pentland!!” he would proclaim.eames office chair vita He was one of the first in making a donation to the Red Cross for the fire fighters in Fort Mac Murray last June. neelkamal chairs price in india

He often brought small ‘borrowed bouquets” of flowers for our service on Sundays. He hung our Christmas lights at the church and often helped fold chairs after lunch on Sundays. He was a person of respect for seniors, for veterans, for kids. He recently took time to write a Christmas card for a friend of mine visiting Calgary, he scribbled in it, “Remember… we are all loved by God – even me.”chair cover hire tameside At a wedding a few years ago he took a card and captured a hundred of signatures on the card and presented it to the bride and groom after the wedding. chair rental salons minneapolisFor me this past year he did the same for my birthday, a card signed by hundreds of street strangers. where to buy wheelchairs in calgary

It holds a special place in my office, beside the miniature bible he gave me. Perhaps Paul’s greatest gift is that he reminded us all about the realness of life. He reminded us that all of us have story and all of us are held in God’s love and grace. For me, he speaks of our willingness to be an open and loving community. bean bag chairs macy'sWe will miss him. wing chairs for sale nswI will miss him deeply. One Easter morning he said to me, as he walked out the church door, “thanks for seeing us,” A reminder that we often ignore or overlook the street folk and they, like us, desire to be be seen for who we really are, children of God. Today I am honoured to have been “seen by Paul” and to be called in his words… “his preacher man friend.” No greater acknowledgement has been given to me in my 28 years of ministry.

Our staff and congregation are better people because of Paul Wilkinson’s time among us. Our heart aches in grief and gratitude. So, rest in peace my friend. See you on the “other side.” We grieve our loss and celebrate your new found peace. A service will be held in his honour in the days ahead. We will communicate the details on our (Hillhurst United Church) Facebook page and website.When it came to envisioning a contemporary open-plan apartment for an entrepreneur in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, designer Kendall Wilkinson knew that the key to success was all about creating a multifunctional space. Her client needed a versatile home where he could entertain employees and family, recharge after a chaotic business trip, and jam out with his musician friends. “The style is one of juxtaposition—glamorous but very livable, modern but with vintage pieces, intimate but with expansive views,” says Wilkinson of the penthouse in its current state. But it wasn’t always so.

The designer enlisted Geddes Ulinskas Architects and contractor Ryan Associates to help her transform the empty 5,100-square-foot shell in a newly constructed building into a warm and dramatic home with an effortless sense of flow. Custom-made elements serve multiple needs: A freestanding glass-and-bronze fireplace was installed to anchor the open space and separate the dining and living areas, and a leather banquette in the living room was designed to conceal a low cement wall. Once the renovations were complete, Wilkinson further encouraged the space’s seamless transitions with a masculine palette of moody blues and grays inspired by the ever-changing hues of San Francisco Bay. Statement light fixtures—from the sleek pendants in the kitchen to the tubular chandelier in the dining room—draw the eye toward an unexpected mix of wallpapered and painted ceilings. Staying true to her goal of glamorous utility, Wilkinson designed the spare room to function as both a guest room (a Murphy bed pops out of the cerulean wall) and an all-purpose media lounge.