HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-07-07, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2016. PAGE 9.
Vacation Bible School focuses on Nordic experience
The true experience
You can't experience Norway without the proper headwear which is why these volunteers at
the Expedition Norway Vacation Bible School, running all this week at Huron Chapel
Missionary Church in Auburn, came prepared. From left: LeAnne Gibbons, Joel Scott and
Calvin Boonstoppel. (Mark Royau photo)
building. All was normal. However,
about 20 minutes later as we left we
encountered a large portion of a
fallen tree blocking our path out of
the village.
Neighbours playing out on the
church lawn told me how a large
limb of a tree just broke off
unexpectedly, hitting hydro wires on
way down causing sparks to fly in
every direction. Closer investigation
revealed the tree was suffering from
rot on the inside. Crews came to
clean up the limb and take the rest of
tree down. We are all glad no one
was walking or driving on the road
when tree limb fell.
When I drive down the Baseline
If a tree falls in a village, does it
make a sound? According to Auburn
residents last Thursday the answer is
a firm, "Yes". I drove to the church
that afternoon with a pastor friend
from Mississippi to show him our
Road between Auburn and Clinton
in the early summer, I always look
forward to seeing the sign out front
of Ball's Cemetery announcing its
annual cemetery church service.
This year it was on July 3 and this
would be the 90th year of holding
these special services.
Last Sunday afternoon I made my
way to my fourth Ball's cemetery
service. I arrived to find the familiar
crowd sitting in their lawn chairs
under the large canopy of maples out
in front of the building. They
listened to the service via a sound
system set up outside. I proceeded
into the church and took my
customary spot in the back left pew
where I always find Jim and Dorothy
Schneider waiting for me.
I never tire of the simple setting of
this chapel. Bright yellow window
frames stand out against the light
blue walls of the sanctuary. Through
open windows, a summer breeze
gently blows white sheer curtains
which dance around glass jars
holding wild flowers on each
window sill. It is beautiful, peaceful
and relaxing.
As the service began our singing
voices resonated joyfully, boldly
bouncing off the church walls and
carrying on to the outside to the
surrounding countryside. Even large
trucks driving pass cannot drown out
our chorus of hymns. I find myself
once again trying to imagine what it
must have been like on Sunday
mornings those many years ago
when neighbours gathered here to
sing. The Goderich Harbouraires
were back in resounding fashion
much to all of the congregation's
delight. I especially enjoyed their
version of, "We Rise Again". This
year we were also blessed with a
young soloist in the person of Aaron
Matthews who did a terrific job.
Rev. Paul K.D. Ross, who once
pastored Knox United in Auburn and
Londesborough United Church, led
the service and gave us the
afternoon's message. Like me, he
enjoyed the history and stories told
in cemeteries. He shared how he
knew many of the people buried here
and if time had permitted, he would
FROM AUBURN
have loved to share their stories with
us. This year we heard how a
bequest from Don and Margaret Kai
will be used to erect a columbarium
near the back of the cemetery to
serve as a storage place for urns.
Moving from Sunday at Ball's
Cemetery to Vacation Bible School
in Auburn at Huron Chapel, a large
influx of volunteers and children
filled the sanctuary and gymnasium
as we kicked of Expedition Norway
this past Monday. In next week's
column I will hopefully have more
news and pictures of how the week
went.
Blocked roadway
A tree fell in Auburn last Thursday, knocking down hydro lines and blocking one of the village's
streets. Crews were on scene quickly to fix the problem and take down the remaining portions
of the tree as it was noted that it was suffering from rot. (Mark Royau photo)
Reconnecting
Rev. Paul K.D. Ross, left, returned to his old stomping
ground to perform the decoration service at Ball's cemetery
on Sunday. Ross, shown above catching up with Sharon
Jackson after the service, is the former pastor of both Knox
United in Auburn and Londesborough United Church. (Mark
Royall photo)
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