HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-04-05, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012. PAGE 19.
By Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba-Nyande
Duff’s United Church, Walton
Growing up in a community
where African Traditional Religion
(ATR), Islam and Christianity are
practised, I closely reflect upon the
holiness of the community. Staying
with my grandfather during
childhood I learned to say thank you
whenever I ate. From the time we
start to cultivate a farmland to the
time of harvest, several ceremonies
were involved. We did not depend
upon chemicals, but on God to
provide rain, air, sunlight and other
necessities for our crop to grow.
One of the ceremonies I looked
forward to was the harvest festival.
Harvest time was a community
event and everyone was welcome to
join. Part of the food was put around
the stone where we usually sharpen
our machetes, hoes and other tools.
The putting of food around the stone
was to share the food with our
ancestors and the good spirits. A
general annual festival brought the
entire community once every year to
enjoy the food and pray for
prosperity and stability of the
community.
Islam had assimilated a lot from
traditional beliefs and so, even
though my uncles were Muslins, and
prayed five times a day, we valued
and took part in our traditional
ceremonies. As a boy the most
exciting moments were during the
month of Ramadan. Though I wasn’t
forced to fast I fasted because I
knew that at the end of the day there
were lots of foods to eat.
Starting to attend school exposed
me to Christianity. We were not only
taking religious knowledge at school
but I also attended church every
Sunday. Like the Muslins fasting
during the month of Ramadan, we
were encouraged to fast during Lent.
From my Muslim background, it
was not hard for me to fast. I took
showers every Sunday before going
to church. I prayed throughout the
week. At thanksgiving services
people brought their foods to church
to thank God and prayed for his
continued provision. The proceeds
from the harvest brought substantial
income for the operations of the
church.
African Traditional Religion
(ATR) is centred on the existence of
one supreme High God. He is
Omnipotent, Omniscient, the Great
Judge, Compassionate, Holy and
Invisible, Immortal and
Transcendent.
African Traditional Religion has a
God who is holy, both ritually and
ethically. Libations and prayers are
the only supplications acceptable by
God. Priests become the keepers of
the welfare of the people and
subsequently are entrusted with the
sacred rituals of worship. The
existence of God is self evident and
even children are taught from birth
that the Great One exits.
The relationship between God and
humankind in African world view is
based on the belief that humans are
God’s creation and that God
provides and continues to provide
for human existence. Because of the
special status and relationship with
God, Africans believe that they are
obliged a harmonious relationship
with God; Therefore, all individuals
are encouraged to strive to be at
peace with God and others. Conteh,
Prince S; Pretoria 2007. P. 78.
What is the basic biblical premise
on the subject of holiness? In the
Old Testament, holiness is spoken
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Pastor Brent Kipfer
Phone: 519-887-6388
8:30 am Sunrise Service
9:00 am Potluck Breakfast
10:00 am Service Begins
11:15am Sunday School
veryone Welcom
russels Mennoni Fe owshi
nvis you Join us Sunday Mornin
as
Good Friday Service 10:00 am
getlivingwater.orgPastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water Christian Fellowship
10:30 am at Blyth Public School
Evangelical Missionary Church
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study
Tuesdays 7:30 pm
Forgotten God Small Group at Kerrs’
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
Women At The Well
Thursdays 7:00 pm
Truth Project Small Group at Dows’
Easter Son-rise Service
7:00 am at our property just north of Blyth on Hwy. 4
(look for signs). Bring a lawn chair.
Easter Celebration
1 Cor. 15:42-57
Truth Project #3 - Anthropology: “Who is Man?”
Easter Sunday, April 8
Good Friday
FREE COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
8:30 - 10:30 am at Blyth Memorial Hall;
with optional short worship to follow.
Sausage, eggs, back bacon. Bring the whole family!
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Good Friday Service - Friday, April 6 at 7:30 pm
MELVILLEPRESBYTERIAN CHURCHBRUSSELSRev. Elwin GarlandSUNDAY, APRIL 8
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
APRIL 6 ~ Good Friday Experience ~ 7 pm
APRIL 8 ~ No Mourning on Easter Morning
APRIL 15 ~ Jesus, I Thought You Were Dead!?
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Easter Sunday, April 8
Ethel United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Good Friday Service ~ Friday, April 6
at Brussels United 9:30 am
Maundy Thursday:
St. John’s, Brussels at 12 noon; St. Peter’s, Lucknow at 6:30 pm
Good Friday Service:
Parish-wide service at St. Paul’s Trinity, Wingham at 10:30 am
Easter Sunday:
Trinity, Blyth at 9:15 am; St. John’s Brussels at 11:15 am
119 John’s Ave., Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor
9:25 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m
Morning Worship Service
10:30 am
Fellowship time to follow
Join us for our
Service
From the Minister’s StudyReverend reflects onAfrican Tradition
Continued on page 22
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, April 8
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173