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