The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2009-11-19, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009. PAGE 15.Pastor Perry ChuipkaThe Parish of New BeginningsYou, as an individual, can help change our world and make it a better place. A wise schoolteacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of school: “If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I’ll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home.” We sometimes wonder what our young people are learning these days in school. We can even become a little cynical about what’s happening in our high schools because of all that we hear in the media and see on television. We hear about police being needed to walk the high school halls in the cities so that they can keep the peace in the school. What’s happening to our high schools? I used to ask that question a lot until I became involved in one of the F.E. Madill Secondary School’s Challenge Day. Now I think the question should be, “What am I doing as a concerned individual to help our high schools?” Some of you may recall reading one of my articles for this paper about the helpful Challenge Day program at the school. Well I am going to help them again this year because this program changes lives. In a world that doesn’t providemuch safety and comfort for our young people, this Challenge Day program provides them with both. It allows young people to talk about the real issues that face them on a daily basis, the issues that they keep bottled up inside because they have no one to tell and/or no one to listen to them. I think the reason we are hearing about more random gun shootings and other violence by youth in our communities today is because they have no one to talk to about their troubles. Last year at the challenge day I saw the depression on some of the youths faces and heard their cries (sometimes literally) for help. They may put on a strong face when you see them in public but that is not always the true face of our young people. Last year in this program, I was able to befriend six young people who were able to express some of their anxieties of being a teenage in our ever changing world. Sometimes we think that the youth like all these changes and that they are coping just fine. Nothing can be farther from the truth. I think our youth are struggling with even more issues than we. They have to deal with so many changes in their lives. Changes with their bodies,changes in the way that they think,changes in their family life, changes at their part time jobs and changes in their relationships. Our youth have often been called the push button generation because most of their time in life is spent operating technology with buttons on it. However, the computer and all their push button technology can’t help them with these problems even though some might think it will help them. They need our support and they are also our future. The Challenge Day program is the only thing that I have seen that is helping our youth deal with their real issues in a very healthy way. I heard young people apologize to other youth. I watched as they spoke about their pain. I listened as they told me how much stress was in their lives. Yes, this Challenge Day program is not only a program but about living life in a very healthy way. I think we could all use some of the resources that this Challenge Day gives the youth. The downside to this program is that it costs money but what doesn’t cost money in our day. You might say, “someone else can pay for this program because my kids are all out of high school or I pay taxes.” Unfortunately, this attitude doesn’t stop our youth from dying in gun shootings and other violent crimes.Instead, we end up paying in otherways, through our police services (especially when they are having police walk the halls of some larger high schools in the city) medical facilities, legal system and social services. I know economic times are tough for everyone but if you are able to give some financial support and you want your money to make a difference in someone’s life, then support the Challenge Day program. Your hard-earned money will go a long way helping our youth stay alive, learn valuable life lessons and help them become responsible healthy citizens which they can pass on to the next generation. I think this program and the small group of committed people believing in it is making a difference in our youth. As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Finally I want to thank those organizations in our community that have given and are continuing to give generously to the program. Iapplaud you because your generousfinancial resources are making a difference in the future citizens of our community. Thank you! Once again, you have proven that each individual can help change our world and make it a better place. YOU ARE WELCOME 9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship Mid-week Bible Study C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A Timeless Truths For Today 308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590 Blyth Community Church of God Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, November 22 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. Dates to Remember Thursday, November 19 ~ Drop off for Auction Items Friday, November 20 ~ Viewing of Silent Auction - 7:00-8:30 pm Saturday November 21 ~ Beef Supper & Silent Auction - 4:30-7:00pm Wednesday, November 25 ~ Holy Rollers making beef pies Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Sunday, November 22 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 Bible Study 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group Evangelical Missionary Church November 22: Acts 26:13ff Cheryl Wilts: Mission to Papua New Guinea POTLUCK! Sorry, no cannibals allowed. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, November 22 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: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 REV. DAVID WOOD 119 John’s Ave.,Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 9:30 a.m. Sunday School & Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service WEDNESDAY IS FAMILY NIGHT Olympians & Youth Small Groups at 6:30 pm Adult Small Group at 7:00 pm All programs end at 8:00 pm Nursery is also available. From the Minister’s StudyA way to help make the world a better place By Brittany Nigh It’s that time of year again. No, not Christmas, but the highly anticipated ‘report card time’. Midterm reports at St. Anne’s will be distributed on Nov. 23. Be sure to read the comments each teacher has to offer your child, and encourage them to succeed. This past week we were fortunate to host many guests at our Remembrance Day assembly. Thank you to all of our veterans, whether you were able to join us or not, for your great work in our society. Your courage and strength reminds each one of us how privileged we are to live in Canada. Keeping this in mind, over 40 students attended the ‘Me to We’ group’s first meeting on Wednesday. The group is planning to host an African Culture Night on Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. It involves musical guests Luke Nares, and The Twisted Hair Spirit Dancers. A traditional Kenyan meal will be served, and a silent auction will also be held. Tickets and any donations are available by calling the school at 519-482-5454. All proceeds will support the building of a high school in Kenya. Again, thank you for your continued support of the Eagle’s, and remember, now is the time to make a difference in someone’s life. BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, November 22 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 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Eagle’s Pride Report card time at St. Anne’s