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The Citizen, 2018-08-16, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018. PAGE 11. Menesetung's `Spoony' speaks at United Church PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 Barb Hicks was the guest speaker at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Aug. 12. Although Barb was familiar to many in attendance, some wondered why she is referred to as Spoony. She refreshed all our memories by explaining that it was a nickname that became attached to her during her years at Camp Menesetung. She explained to all the campers and counsellors that through our words and actions people can be a knife that cuts or a fork that stabs another person. But Christians should be spoons pouring out the love of God and the Holy Spirit. Barb calls the "BIBLE" the book of "Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth". With campers she taught the Bible's principles. One of those was that by opening the Bible in the exact middle the Bible opens at Psalm 139 which tells readers they are loved unconditionally by God. Her message was titled "Hasty Spirit vs Holy Spirit". Mrs. Hicks has come to realize that to keep Christians in the church pews messages must relate what is taught in the Bible relevant to today's world. During her talk she related a number of personal experiences and explained how the Holy Spirit worked through them. She remarked that so often in today's busy life one tends to jump into action or speak without thinking — hasty spirits. Sometimes the Spirit is nudging us to do His bidding but we don't listen or feel we are too busy. Barb encouraged us to slow down and be aware that others often just need to be shown love and/or be acknowledged. Let the Holy Spirit be in control for a change. Sometimes one just needs to be in the midst of fellowship or the opportunity to just talk things out to receive acknowledgement and confidence. The Bible asks followers to be Christ -like spreading love, joy and peace to everyone. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, stated "the measure of a man's power is the measure of his surrender" — to the Holy Spirit. Everyone can learn from another if they let the Holy Spirit guide them. God won't judge a person who lets a `hasty spirit' control their actions. He will forgive and forget and send His Holy Spirit to help. Spoony's scripture passages were John 14: 3 - 4; 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 and Psalm 119 :105. Elly Dow will be in Londesborough United's pulpit on Aug. 19 and 26. On Sunday, Aug. 5 services resumed at Londesborough United Church. It was a steamy hot morning and congregants found they were much more comfortable in the basement. Ergo it was decided that for the remainder of this month services will be held in the basement. Paul and Nancy Buttar were welcomed back to lead the service that day. During what would have been the children's time, Paul read Psalm 21, known as the Psalm of protection. Paul suggested all look forward to the remainder of the summer with optimism assured that God works all things out eventually for good. We can put our trust in Him. Nancy has a wonderful knack of finding God in what the rest of us might just consider an everyday occurrence. Her talk to those present that hot August morning was titled, "Who's Driving Your Tractor?" She told of the morning she was expected to drive the tractor, not her favourite job, which was to stone pick. She was confident enough until she had to climb what to her seemed like a mountain. Her mind immediately recalled that 365 times the Bible says, "Fear not for I am with you" She looked up to the sky for help and God sent Paul racing to help her. Nancy said all of us have some kind of mountain(s) in our lives — career, finances, fear, pride, jealousy, emotion, illness, etc. Do we let other people, won -y or sorrow drive our `tractor' during those times? Rather than continuing to go round and round that mountain, we should reach out to God and accept His help. God is there in the good times and the not so good times and we should surrender our mountains to Him. He will give us the best life. If anyone requires pastoral care in the coming weeks, they are encouraged to contact Rev. Randy Banks of Brucefield United Church at 519-233-3315. There was an interesting Mission and Service item in the morning bulletin. It reported on a summer program for children living in poverty in two housing complexes in London, Ontario. The programs are intended to engage and teach children and youth and support their learning for back to school. Dollars donated to the fund do sometimes stay in our own area. During the month away from services the basement floor has been washed and waxed and is clean and shiny. When moving furniture and closet items out of the way for the floor to be done, it was decided the three room dividers that were used many years ago to separate Sunday School classes are no longer needed. If anyone is interested in them please contact Lynda Horbanuik (482-7585). Incidentally, these dividers are on wheels for easy moving. Tanya Cameron (Conference Personnel Minister) will be at Londesborough United the evening of Aug. 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to offer help/suggestions to charges in the area who are looking to engage a new pastor. Everyone in the congregation is welcome to attend. A change has been made in the days when Margaret Baker is in the church office. You may find her there Wednesday and Friday mornings now. Ken Hunking made note that at General Council recently a new moderator for the United Church of Canada was selected. The new Moderator is Rev. Richard Bott, currently of Vancouver. Some may remember him from his time as minister at St. Mary's United Church. FROV LONDESBORO Standing on the tracks While the Goderich Seahawks would eventually go on to win the bronze in a PeeWee Girls baseball tournament held in Blyth and Londesborough over the weekend, one particular Seahawk didn't make it to the plate past Londesborough's catcher. (Hannah Dickie photo) Making it work When an annual PeeWee Girls baseball tournament usually held in Stratford was put in danger of being cancelled for 2018, the Bovens got together with local community groups to host it in Blyth and Londesborough. Above, a Stratford Flames player rounds third in a game against the Ingersoll lronbirds. (Hannah Dickie photo) Community shocked by Darling's passing Joanne Lyon reports she is most comfortable and well looked after in her new home, Goderich Place. Her grandson, Jordan Bakelaar, has taken up residence in her former home on Main Street in Londesborough. Please welcome him to the village and introduce yourselves to him to make him more comfortable in our midst. John Lyons has been transferred back to Seaforth Hospital. If you are of a mind to visit with him you might check with Helen as to whether he is allowed visitors yet. John and Jane Klasen held their annual family gathering this past weekend. If you drove by you couldn't miss the trailers on their property. Village folk would like to thank them for the beautiful fireworks display we all enjoyed Saturday evening. It was late last week when I learned that Londesborough had lost one of its residents. John Darling passed away on Aug. 5 in a London hospital. John and his family kept pretty much to themselves and many villagers may not even realize who he was. We got to know these folks through our work for the post office. They lived across the highway from our business. John worked for a number of years for Dashwood Industries but retired early for health reasons. Although he had to be careful health -wise in recent years, no one was expecting his sudden passing. Mourning his loss in the same house are Mary Anne, his stepdaughter, and his brother Alex. His remains were cremated and there was no service. Another of his neighbours described John as a gentle giant. Always when I will think of John I will remember that he went nowhere, even for the mail, without his aftershave.