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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-08-25, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011. PAGE 13. Services in place following tornado By Gary Clark Blyth United Church This article started out solely about the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on 9/11 in the United States. But since I started it a dictator half the world away fell to a rag tag group of rebels and that changes things. First about the events of 9/11, this was the work of desperate and misguided men. They knew exactly the death and destruction they would bring. There doesn’t seem to be one consideration to what those acts might do to the victims or their families. In these terrible acts over 3,000 people died, and of those over 300 were firefighters who rushed toward the destruction to save lives as everyone else rushed away to save themselves. On that day the lives of the victims and their families forever changed. Since then countless others who came to the scene to help or to try and recover the bodies of the fallen have died from breathing in the toxic dust left behind. The world, as we born after 1945 knew it has changed forever. For the first time in two generations, an act of war came to the shores of North America. It changed how we looked at security in the skies and how we look at a knapsack left unattended. Could it be the bringer of death or is it just something left carelessly behind by a youth? We have been changed and I do not believe for the better. Many in the Islamic faith have felt renewed prejudice against them because of the actions of those few. In the play Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare has the prince of the city at the end of the play sum up the cost to the warring families in the city. Their foolishness, grudges and thirst for vengeance have cost them the lives of their children so the prince says, “All are punished.” The cost of seeking vengeance and not justice leads to the never-ending cycle of death and still more vengeance. On Sunday, September 11 we will be holding a brief service at the new fire hall in Blyth beginning at 8:30 a.m. The service will entail moments of silence at the times when the planes hit the Twin Towers. There will also be a community choir singing music of faith that proclaim that we will seek peace in the face of evil. And I hope the service reminds all that this evil was the work of men and not of God. It seems that since the time of Shakespeare and before the Biblical rule of an eye for an eye has blinded us to the fact that a never-ending cycle of violence, punishes all of us. Earlier in the play the same prince angry at the two warring families says to them, “Rebellious subjects! Enemies to peace! Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground!” I cannot help but wonder if God looks at us and says the same thing. Can there be justice in violence or does using violence always make us enemies of peace? Then comes the news that rebels in Libya have overthrown the dictator Gadhafi. The violence of his rule has come to an end but only because the people rose up against him and violently rebelled. In the process thousands were killed on both sides. So here is where living my faith gets hard. In most cases I would be totally against violence as a means to an end. In the use of violence, all are punished. But without standing up to Gadhafi, his reign of terror would have gone on and his sons would have continued it after he died. So does that make a violent up rising right? I could cop out and say, “Only God knows.” I could confess to my human inability to be totally consistent. Or I can say that life forces us to make hard choices. My preference, guided by my faith, is to seek non-violent answers to conflict. But if I was faced with someone who has no care for the lives of others I doubt I could resist the use of violence. What I am getting at is that faith doesn’t make us close our eyes to the reality of life. I am guided by the way of Jesus and, God willing, will have the strength to live it, but that will not make the tough choices easy. I just pray that when I am faced with those tough choices I will draw on the wisdom of God and not just the heat of the moment or the prejudices of my society. Maybe hope for the human race resides in the God-given ability to have a broader vision of what is best for all and not just one’s self. A vision of what will bring lasting peace and not just the momentary satisfaction of vengeance. Yes, in the midst of our conflict, whether in family or between nations or ideologies, may the larger vision of God be our guide. The County of Huron has co- ordinated several social services for residents of Goderich and area during the emergency. If you have been affected by the tornado and are in need: • Emergency financial assistance may be available if the tornado has created a hardship for you. You can talk to Social Services staff at the Salvation Army Church on Suncoast Drive. • If you receive Ontario Works, Social Services staff at the Salvation Army will issue cheques and will provide taxi service to cash your cheques in Clinton. • You can call 211 to identify what items you may need immediately, such as clothing or household items. • The Knights of Columbus Hall is open 24 hours a day for information and reception. If you want to help: • If you would like to make donations, call 211. This information service is compiling a database for items needed and what can be donated. If you would like to donate food, remember: • Donate non-perishable food items such as commercially canned foods and packaged dry goods (such as cereals and grains). • Check best before dates and expiry dates. Do not donate… • home cooked foods • damaged or open dry goods packages • home canned products • dented, rusty or swollen cans • canned goods that are missing labels • expired or out of date products • unpasteurized milk, cheese, juice If you have not had power: Food spoilage can result from lack of proper refrigeration and cause food poisoning. • If perishable food has been at room temperature for more than four hours, throw it out. Don’t risk food poisoning. Public bins for spoiled food only have been set up at the Public Works Building at 361 Cambridge Street. • A full freezer will keep food frozen about two days if the door is left closed. A half-loaded freezer will keep things frozen about half a day if the freezer is left closed. • As a general rule, if there are ice crystals in the food, and there are no obvious signs of spoilage, then it’s safe to quickly refreeze. • Throw away any food that has completely thawed or has been sitting at room temperature. • A refrigerator without power will keep food cold for four to six hours, depending on room temperature. • Potentially-hazardous foods include: raw and cooked meats, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and eggs; cooked pasta, rice and potatoes; prepared salads, casseroles, soups, and stews; custard, pudding, chiffon, cream- filled pastries, and refrigerated cookie dough. • If possible, move your food to freezers and refrigerators not affected by the power outage. • Do not barbecue indoors, including the garage. For more food safety information go to the heath unit website: www.huroncounty.ca/health 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 August 28 ~ Summer To Do List, One Week Left September 4 ~ Summer To Do List, The End Is Near 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 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, August 28 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 getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship August Visitation Month Evangelical Missionary Church Worship resumes September 4 at Blyth Public School Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, August 28 Brussels Legion at 10:30 a.m. and at various locations at 6:30 p.m. 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 Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 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, August 28 Rev. Perry Chuipka www.nabcom.ca/church MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland For the month of August we will be worshipping with Brussels United Church while Rev. Garland is on holidays. Service time 11:00 am 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Guest Speaker: Tim Whately From the Minister’s StudyIn conflict, disaster God is our guide BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED