HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-01-27, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2011.
In his message on Jan. 16, Terry
Fletcher asked congregants to look
at a familiar Bible story in a renewed
way. The group leading the program
at the UCW meeting on Monday,
Jan. 17 were doing a similar thing.
“I am pregnant and scared. Now
what? How do I tell my parents? My
boyfriend? I don’t know what to do.
Who can I talk to?” Mary, the
mother of Christ, probably asked
herself these questions 2,000 years
ago. Mary was likely just a young
teenager. This is a side to the
Christmas story we may never have
considered before as we listen to the
words of the scripture. Mary was in
a difficult situation for our faith. She
likely worried about how society
would accept her. Mary’s faith, her
visit by the angel and Joseph’s
understanding saw her through the
crisis.
Those same concerns about an
unplanned pregnancy are
experienced by women today. They
also worry about making the right
choice(s) for the baby. “What about
adoption? Abortion? My future? I’m
all alone.” A newly organized
pregnancy centre, called “Room 2
Grow”, and its understanding
volunteers want to see these young
women through the crisis in their
lives. Perhaps they see the face of
Mary in the women who come to
them. They want the girls to know
they have choices.
“Room 2 Grow” is a charitable
group situated in Clinton at 9
Rattenbury St. whose services are
open to women of Huron County
who need help dealing with an
unplanned pregnancy. The women
of the Londesborough UCW who
gathered in the church basement that
evening heard a presentation by one
of the volunteers for the service,
Linda Renkema.
Linda stated that initially, many of
the women in this situation feel
abortion is the only answer.
This group talks to the women
about other choices. They give
unconditional love and support to
the women, many of whom lack
resources, have a sense of
abandonment, may be dealing with
addiction and feel they have
nowhere to turn for help.
Unfortunately, Linda revealed, there
are between 60 and 70 teenage
pregnancies in the Avon Maitland
District School Board and this group
wants to be there with answers and
help.
In the few months of operation the
group has seen despair replaced by
hope, loneliness by love and
ignorance by knowledge during
their talks with the girls. They offera listening ear, educationalprograms, referral to community
resources, free pregnancy tests, etc.
They plan eventually to offering
parenting classes, adoption
counselling (through Beginnings in
Hamilton), and post-abortion
classes, if that is the route the
women choose to take. They want to
give the future back to the women in
crisis.
The site also as a ‘care cupboard’
with diapers, baby and maternity
clothes for those who need them.
The services are free and completely
confidential.
At present, the service is open
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However,
they operate and pay their rent
through donations and a few
corporate sponsors and volunteers.
They would welcome financial
support and prayers. They also ask
that everyone who knows about the
group spread the word so help can
be given to the women. There is also
a need for foster homes for some of
the women.
The time of devotion, led by Ann
Adams, Kim Roetcisoender and
Catherine Allen included scripture
readings Luke 1: 26-33 and Luke 2:
1-7, verses of the Christmas story.
Everyone sang the hymn, “Infant
Holy, Infant Lowly”. Areading/prayer encouraged thewomen to radiate the light of
Christmas in this new year.
ET CETERA
A notice crossed my desk this
week about the Seventh Annual
North Huron Snowarama. This
year’s ride will take place on
Saturday, Feb. 19.
Trail riders can register and have
breakfast between 9 a.m. and 12
p.m. at the Londesborough
Community Hall. Breakfast is
sponsored by the Londesborough
Lions Club. There are a variety of
fun activities happening during the
day as well along the 130 km. run
through the trails of North Huron.
Last year’s run raised $13,500 for
Easter Seals kids in this area. All
monies raised for the run stay in
Huron County to assist challenged
youth with mobility equipment,
communication devices, summer
camping and recreation.
Don’t want to ride the trails? You
can help by sponsoring a rider,
donating to the North Huron
Snowarama Committee and/or
going out for breakfast that
morning. Need more information?
Contact Adrian Salverda at 519-482-
9113.
I was looking for a new item to
keep readers reading this column
and last week we investigated‘dates’. The “Google machine”spewed out all sorts of fun stuff.
Some of it I plan to pass on to you in
monthly blurbs. January is more
than half over so some of this
month’s facts will be late. However,
did you know that January birthdays
can be celebrated by giving/sending
carnations? Don’t forget that this is
Alzheimer Awareness Month. The
forget-me-not flower, has been
adopted as the society’s emblem.
This is also mail order gardening
month. By the number of seed
catalogues in the mail this month
many gardeners are aware of this.
During January, I found there are
22 special weeks designated.
January has only four weeks so I
chose four you might find
interesting – man-watchers week
(must be for ladies only),
celebration of life week (one for all
of us to remember during a month
that is regarded by many as the most
depressing), and along the same
vein that someday we’ll laugh about
this week and for all business folk,
the thank-you-customers week.
The third Monday in January is
designated as Martin Luther King
Day by our neighbours to the south.
Another ‘king’, Elvis, is
remembered on Jan. 8, his birthday.
Robbie Burns is celebrated by the
Scotsmen and those who want to beon Jan. 25. We missed NationalHugging Day on Jan. 21 but you can
make it up on Spouse’s Day on Jan.
26. Compliment Day on Jan. 23
sounds like a great idea for a
depressing month followed on Jan.
25 by Fun At Work Day. Our
Chinese friends will celebrate their
New Year on the second new moon
after the winter solstice.
The details of your wedding will be recorded in
black and white for friends to read and you to
clip for your scrapbook if you tell the story of
your wedding in our 2011 Bridal Parade.
1 photo of the bridal couple plus
300 word write-up (write it up yourself or pick
up a form from The Citizen office and fill it in
and we’ll write it for you).
Just $25 (including HST) - must be paid in
advance.
Your story will appear along with those of other
bridal couples from the past year. As well, the
story and photo (plus up to two additional
photos from your wedding) will, be published on
our Brides in Huron website
(www.northhuron.on.ca)
for your friends around the world to enjoy.
Deadline: February 18
Issue date: March 3
DON’T LET THE
MEMORIES
OF YOUR
WEDDING
FADE
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519-887-9114
The Citizen
Email: norhuron@scsinternet.com
NEWS
FROM LONDESBORO
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORONew pregnancy support group featured at meeting