Peterborough Family Band Spreads Their Faith With New Children's Program 'Yes,Lord'

A local family band, Rhythm and Grace, has partnered with Salt and Light media to create an advent series for children.

Photo courtesy of Rhythm and Grace Music.

The Duketow family lives just outside of Peterborough and consists of Alex, Miriam and their nine children, aged 4 -19 years old.

Their original music draws inspiration from celtic, blues and gospel and includes fiddles, step-dancing, singing, accordion, electric bass, guitar, piano, and the Irish whistle.

When the Duketow’s were approached by Salt and Light Media and asked if they would create a music program to help children learn about and celebrate the Lenten season they jumped at the chance.

“The Easter programs were kindof a pilot program, then Salt and Light said they went over really well and asked us to do another series on Advent and Christmas,” said Duketow.

“It’s a real privilege for us to be able to help other children and families enter into the Advent and Christmas season,” said Alex Duketow. “It’s so special to have the role of reminding other the reason behind Christmas. It’s something that our whole family tries to remember because that brings true peace to our hearts- that God loves us unconditionally - so we share that with anyone that watches.”

Through October and November the Duketow’s were busy writing new music, and filming episodes.

“The kids have really enjoyed being part of the process,” he said. “As you can imagine you can’t just start practicing a couple days before. We’d be at the dinner table every day practicing.”

Now, ‘Yes, Lord’ releases a new episode every Friday morning for a kid-friendly approach to the Sunday Mass readings and homily.

“I’m so proud of the kids, especially the younger kids because they’ve just really shown how responsible they can be. We tell them often ‘The better you’re prepared to share songs with a bright smile, the more you’ll help other children have a bright smile on their face.’.”

Episodes can be watched online, or on Salt + Light TV LIVE

“It’s geared towards children, but a lot of people find that whether you’re a child or a child at heart you tend to appreciate this.”

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Local Family Spreads Kindness to Those in Need

A family in Peterborough is spreading viral kindness in their neighbourhood by offering assistance to those self isolating due to COVID-19.

The Hurlington family. According to Alvea, the most cookies they have ever made and delivered in one day is 8,000. Photo Courtesy of Alvea Hurlington.

The Hurlingtons are known in their neighbourhood as “The Cookie People” after years of distributing homemade cookies to their neighbours in the Marsdale Drive area near Beavermead Park during Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Alvea Hurlington, the oldest sibling, says that ever since the family moved to Peterborough 16 years ago, they have made an effort to get to know their neighbours and delivering cookies has helped them do that.

When COVID hit in March 2020, the Hurlingtons felt that they needed to do something.

The family quickly put together a flyer letting their neighbours know that if they needed help picking up groceries or urgent supplies, temporary childcare or even just a friendly phone call, they would do their best to make that happen.

Alvea Hurlington says the #ViralKindness project was spearheaded by her father. Photo Courtesy of Alvea Hurlington.

Since distributing the flyers, the family has received a few phone calls from seniors living nearby needing assistance and even calls from people that do not need help but who are thanking them for their kindness.

Baking cookies and offering grocery deliveries are not the only things the Hurlingtons do says Alvea.

“We do lots of stuff in the community,“ she explains. “Every Saturday morning through our church organization, Mom and I deliver packages of crafts to young children.”

On Friday evenings the Hurlingtons prepare food for families that are in need of an extra meal.

“Everything we do we do it as a crew,” Hurlington said.

Nobody is more or less deserving of support, she explains. The Hurlingtons hope that through their viral kindness movement they are able to build their community and make some friends while they do so.

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