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The Citizen, 2011-02-10, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011. WMS holds annual in Wingham “Helping in a Hurting World” was the theme for the annual Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) meeting held Jan. 17 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Wingham. President, Joanne Lennips welcomed everyone and constituted the meeting with prayer. The WMS Mission Purpose was recited. Rev. Bernie Skelding brought greetings from the congregation of St. Andrew’s. Morning worship was taken from Luke 10: 25-37 and led by the Belmore group. Minutes from the previous meeting were read by Recording Secretary, Norma Raynard. Wingham has the opportunity to send a child to Camp Kintail this summer. It was announced that the Synodical meeting will be held April 12-13 at Knox Church in Goderich. A service of memoriam was presented by the South Kinloss group. A delicious lunch was prepared and served by the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Andrew’s in Wingham. Catherine MacDonald, accompanied by Lorraine Clugston, began the afternoon by leading a lively sing song. Guest speaker, Joy Moores, R.N. spoke of her medical mission trips to Guatemala. She worked at a hospital through AMG (Advancing Ministry of Gospel) alongside the local doctors and nurses. Joy’s medical mission included prayer with the patient if desired and follow-up was available with a local Christian worker. Officers for the coming year were installed by Rev. Dr. Karen MacRae and the Sacrament of Holy Communion was shared. Marjorie Deyell, representing Belmore, gave an invitation to the Spring Rally to be held at Camp Kintail on May 9. Courtesy remarks were given by Joan Threndyle from Kincardine. By Rev. Gary Clark Blyth United Church It’s Annual Meeting time of year. I know very few phases that can empty a room faster than, “Let’s call this annual meeting to order”. Unfortunately this very important gathering in the life of a congregation or service group is usually the worse attended and lifeless or packed to the rafters because there is going to be a fight. I have pondered long and hard on why this is and if there is anything we can do about it. A couple of pieces of wisdom have come my way recently and I think that they have some bearing on this question. First, there is research that says that when an individual or a group feels stressed or under the gun the common reaction is fight, flight or freeze. This isn’t a new idea but the real surprise for me is a second part which is that these reactions hijack the higher functions of reason in our brain. In other words you can not talk sense to somebody who is in fight, flight or freeze mode. The thing that usually happens is that the people who are talking just talk louder and get angrier which just increases the fight, flight or freeze response on the part of the listener. Forward motion becomes hopeless and frustrating for everyone. Perhaps you recognize this pattern while trying to talk to teenagers? The way to deal with this says Julia Alvarodo, an American social worker and public speaker, is as she puts it: stop, drop and roll. Stop, escalating the conflict by simply stopping the yelling. “Drop” the emotional level in the power tug of war by stepping back from the issue. In this realize that the listener is not trying to be simply defiant toward you. Actually you have nothing to do with it. The listener came to you already under stress and as such already in fight, flight or freeze mode. So “Roll” with the areas that might have some common ground for both speaker and listener. This reduction in the emotional stress level opens everyone up to using reason in the next go around of communication. Like so many other good pieces of advice, it is easy to say but not so easy to do. Let’s face it, defiance just gets under our skin. We just need to remember it’s not about us. Secondly, the above advice is helpful if there is conflict but what happens if the annual meeting is, well, lacking in conflict or passion of any kind. This is almost as painful as any conflict to endure because the meeting drags on and never seems to get anywhere. Recently a friend introduced me to her church’s annual report. The thing that struck me was that over half of the report was future oriented. Yes, what happened last year is noted, but the majority of the report and the annual meeting itself was primarily about what they wanted to do next year. This leads to excitement, hope and anticipation. It is alway good to have time for reflection about how one’s own life or the life of an organization is unfolding but that does us no good if looking at the past doesn’t open doors to the future. I believe that as society changes at an every increasing speed we can not afford to navel gaze too long lest we be left behind. Looking ahead pushes us forward and gives us a hand in how the future will unfold for us. It reminds me of a canoe going through rough water. Some would have us throw up our hands and say we can not control the river so let’s rely on an anchor to keep us from moving in the current. Or we can say, we must move so lets get our paddles in the water and steer. I pray that your annual meetings are filled with dreaming, hoping and stretching yourself to grow beyond anything you have done in the past. You might just find that your annual meeting is a lot more exciting and unfulfilling in the process. By Mikenna Lane Welcome to the second semester! The doors of St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School have opened and students are starting a fresh new semester. It was great to have a few days off after exams. Now that we’ve had a chance to catch up on some much-needed rest, we are right back at it. Students are so excited to be starting four new classes and to be starting up our winter sports, our clubs and our teams again. Our Habitat for Humanity group had a Winter Family Day and student cabinet is planning a ‘Winterfest’ afternoon on Wednesday, Feb. 16. These are great opportunities to get outside, to be active and have fun. Speaking of getting active and having fun, we are so pumped to have a brand new fitness centre at St. Anne’s. With multi-purpose strength training equipment and brand new cardio machines, the room is looking very inviting. Our grand opening will be on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. If you are interested in joining our commitment to healthy youth, please plan on joining us for this exciting event. Many of our students, parents, community partners and local businesses will be on hand to help us celebrate. 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 February 13th “Your Desiring Heart”, Valentine Luncheon February 20th “Your Blind Heart” Everyone Welcome Please join us for 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 Pastor Gary Klumpenhower 519-523-9233 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. Church Office: 519-357-4883 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Sunday, February 13 Rev. Perry Chuipka www.nabcom.ca/church Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, February 13 Brussels Public School at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. 6:30 pm - DVD series on the Book of Revelation by James MacDonald Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com Sunday, February 13 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 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service Guest Speaker: Rev. Eugene Neudorf Faith In Song ABC Event Friday, February 11th at 8:00 p.m. Blyth Christian Reformed Church Come and enjoy musical guests “Men of Note” and Annie Sparling Tickets are Adults $10 Children 12 and under $5 Available from The Gift Cupboard, Blyth; The Dutch Store, Clinton and Radiant Life, Goderich MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-2664 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School From the Minister’s StudyTime to call annual meetings to order Second semester begins getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Small Group 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women’s Ministry Fridays 7:00 pm - Youth Group Feb. 13: Eph. 3:14-4:2 “Love’s Power to Bear with Others” Evangelical Missionary Church Fri., Feb. 11 Faith-In-Song 8 p.m. at Blyth CRC