HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-10-13, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011. PAGE 11. By Dr. Rev. Peter Kugba-
Nyande
Bluevale-Walton United Church
At the United Church Women’s
regular monthly meeting, one of the
McGavin granddaughters, Shayna
Melady, shared her experience of a
youth convention she recently
attended at Chicago.
Shayna was among 400 youths
from eight countries and 35 states in
the United States. Organized by the
World Youth Leadership Congress,
the convention made Shayna think
about the diversity of other people
and to understand the common
challenges for youths in many parts
of the world. She returned the
cheque she received for her
presentation as donation to the
UCW.
With her was Alice, a student from
France who is attending St Anne’s
Catholic Secondary School in
Clinton on an exchange program.
The exchange program offers
opportunities for students to come to
Canada and learn English and in
return students in Canada can go to
France to learn French. These
students do not only learn the
language, culture and about the
society but build lasting friendships
between them.
After the presentation I asked
Alice whether France celebrates
Thanksgiving like Canadians do.
She replied “no,” and the reason she
gave was that “France does not have
Aborigines like Canada.”
The history of harvest festival
however is seen to be part of the
traditions of many peoples of the
world and usually comes at the end
of harvest season.
The Aborigines or Natives started
celebrating harvest festival even
before the arrival of the Europeans.
With the arrival to America, the
Europeans brought their own form
of harvest traditions, celebrating
their safe voyage, peace and good
harvest. The origins of harvest can
also be traced to the French settlers
who came to New France (Quebec)
and started celebrating their
successful harvests.
As many more settlers arrived in
Canada, more celebrations of good
harvest became common. New
immigrants from Ireland, Scotland,
Germany and other continents
including Africa and Asia would also
add their own traditions to the
harvest celebrations.
Thanksgiving in North America is
therefore a mixture of European and
Native traditions.
Like last year, I have a small
vegetable garden in the backyard of
the Walton manse. I planted corn,
beans, sweet potato leaves, onion,
tomatoes, eggplant and hot and
sweet peppers. I planted during the
later part of June when there was
hardly any rain.
Listening to a conversation in a
CBC program someone mentioned
that because of the lack of rain the
squash and pumpkins are smaller
compared to other years. She said,
“With all the advanced technology
we still depend upon Mother Nature
to provided rain, sunlight, and heat
and cold to make our plants grow.”
For the rest of July, I was on
vacation and relied on Mother
Nature but when that did not happen
I relied on my neighbours to water
my garden. Otherwise I would have
had a poor harvest. Because the
onions, beans and tomatoes did do
well, my neighbours shared with me
parts of their harvest. Every Sunday
I take a good quantity of fresh
vegetables to my family and share
the rest with friends in Toronto,
especially those who live in high rise
buildings.
Here in Canada, we are blessed to
be living in a land of bountiful
harvests. However, almost a billion
people in the developing world don’t
have enough to eat. Canadian
Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of
Canadian Christian churches and
church-based agencies working to
end hunger in developing countries.
That’s why farmers in the Listowel,
Ontario area have created Harvest
for Hunger, a unique project to raise
money to end hunger through the
Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The
goal to grow 160 acres of soybeans;
to raise $200,000 for the Foodgrains
Bank; and to raise awareness
about hunger issues around the
world.
It was a remarkable event this year
by the farmers in the Monkton area
of Ontario to harvest 160 acres
soybeans in less than 12 minutes,
and raise an estimate closer to
$250,000 for famine relief in
developing nations. All of the inputs
to grow the soybean crop and of the
ingredients for the lunch available to
spectators were donated by local
businesses. Organizers expect that
more precise numbers will be
available once the final weight of the
soybeans is known.
Joyce Johnston, the manager at the
North Huron Food Share reported to
us at worship how people have
donated including a full truckload of
fresh foods from Exeter. But of
significant note she was thrilled to
share with us how Josie Nicholson,
one of our youths at Bluevale United
Church had directed that for her
birthday, all donations be made to
the Food Share. This is not the first
time that Bluevale United Church
had demonstrated its generosity. For
the last two years the children have
fundraised to help a poor community
in Sierra Leone build a school. The
school has now been roofed and very
shortly it will serve nearly one
hundred pupils in a remote
community.
It is therefore appropriate
especially at Thanksgiving to thank
the organizers of harvest for hunger
ministry, individuals and the entire
community for sharing with others
in need. I'm also thankful that I live
in Canada, a land of opportunity and
that abounds with economic
prosperity, sound and affordable
education options, world-renowned
health care and retirement schemes,
an abundance of land, clean air and
fresh water supplies, all providing
for a safe and secure environment.
I’m thankful that I live among a
generous community, have a home,
food to eat, and some good health,
and a wonderful wife and children. I
have friends I love. I have some free
time for myself, after working so
hard all of my life.
“Let your lives overflow with
thanksgiving for all he has done.
Because thanksgiving keeps our
mind on Christ and our thoughts on
others.” (Col.2:7)
Happy Thanksgiving!
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.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, October 16
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 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
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
OCTOBER 16 - Being a Mother---Single In A Pair Shaped World
Don’t Forget to order your Turkey pies
Community Kitchen - Friday, October 14, 9 am
Roast Beef Supper - Saturday, October 29, 4:30-7:00 pm
For cost and tickets call 519-523-4224
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.
Rev. Mark Royall speaking
ABC Ladies Fall
Renewal
Saturday, October 22nd
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
at Huron Chapel, Auburn
Guest Speaker:
Donna Thorne
Ministry in Music:
Suzanne MacVicar
Tickets $15 can be purchased at...
The Gift Cupboard - Blyth,
Radiant Life - Goderich,
Perfect Designs - Clinton
or any of the participating churches.
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, October 16
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
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
Church Office: 519-357-4883
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, October 16
Rev. Perry Chuipka
www.nabcom.ca/church
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
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
October 16: Matt. 21:33-45
“The Terrible
Tenants, and a
Surprise Ending”
Relief & Development
Sunday
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women At The Well
Evangelical Missionary Church
Saturday, Oct. 29 8:30-10:30 am
at Memorial Hall
FREE Community Breakfast!
From the Minister’s StudyHoliday means giving, as well as thanking
BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED
Welcomes you to come and worship with us