The Citizen, 2008-10-30, Page 15THE CITIZEN. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2008. PAGE 15.By Rev. Sandra YuleDuff’s Walton, Bluevale UnitedChurchesDid you know that each year in
Ontario during the month of October
the Ontario Association of
Children’s Aid Societies and its
sister agencies promote the
provincial Child Abuse campaign?
The most visible signs of its
arrival each year are purple ribbons
that are handed out by staff and
volunteers of the Children’s Aid
Offices in Ontario.
The goal of this ribbon campaign
is to bring awareness to folks in
Ontario so they will know how they
can help to prevent child neglect and
abuse.
Statistics Canada tells us that in
2008 “child abuse is a common
problem in Canada and that more
than 26,000 children and youth
under 16 years of age were in thecare of Ontario’s CAS for protectionfrom suspected child abuse andneglect last year”. They have also
reported that “child protection
workers at Ontario’s CAS
investigated over 77,000 allegations
of child abuse and neglect, from
teachers, police officers, health care
professionals, concerned citizens
and neighbours”.
I find these statistics a sad
reflection of a society that often
views itself as “Christian”. I know I
can count on one hand the sermons I
have heard about this terrible
societal ill and I wonder if that is
because we think Christians don’t
abuse children. As a minister I can
assure all who sit in the pews that at
some point in your church life you
have more than likely sat beside an
abuser or a child who has been
abused. Our scriptures make it very clearthat Jesus valued little children andtaught that they should be treated
with the utmost care. In Mark 7 we
read “Then Jesus took a little child
and put it among them; and taking it
in his arms, he said to them,
“Whoever welcomes one such
child in my name welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me
welcomes not me but the one who
sent me”.
Christ knew that every little child
is divine and is created in the image
of God and I believe he was
encouraging us to see the divineness
inherent in them so we could value
them as gifts from God.
As a society we need to realize
that children are our future. How we
treat our children is a direct
reflection of our society and how we
look to our future. A moral and just
society is one that respects and
upholds the rights of children.
So the question for us today is
“What can we do about this
problem”?
According to the Children’s Aid
Society we can realize that they relyon citizens to be their eyes and earsto effectively protect children fromharm and danger and that everyone
has an ongoing responsibility to
protect children by reporting
suspected child abuse and neglect to
their local CAS.
If you see or hear that a child is
suffering from any form of abuse
whether physical, emotional or
sexual or if you learn that a child is
living in appalling conditions and
doesn’t have a place to sleep or food
to eat, you should call your local
CAS.
I also believe that education is the
key to any problem so let’s learn
more about child abuse and neglect.
As a caring community, the care and
safety of our children should be our
number one concern.
No child should have to live with
abuse so let us pray with M.W.
Edelma: “Thank you God for your
never ceasing love and inexhaustiblewell of hope through the gift ofchildren”. From the Minister’s StudyMinister reminds children a gift from God
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n i ty Church of God
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
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N
D
I
A
N
A
“The Church
is not a building,
it is people
touching people
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
- Christian Education
for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Mid-week Bible Studies
See you
Sunday!
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
Sunday, November 2
Food Bank Sunday - 11 a.m.
Bring an article for the Food Bank to church
Saturday, November 8
Annual Fall Supper
4:30 - 7:00 pm
Sunday, November 9
Remembrance Day Sunday - 11:00 a.m.
Wear a poppy. Why is it important?
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship
9:30 am - Worship Service
Guest Speaker: Adam Shepski
Youth for Christ worker in Brussels & Wingham
10:45 am - Coffee Break
11:00 am - Sunday School for all ages
Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388
Everyone Welcome!
Sunday, November 2
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
Sunday, November 2
(Clocks “fall” back)
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
“Christians
in the
Workplace”
POTBLESS!
Special
Congregational
Meeting
Evangelical Missionary Church
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well
Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school)
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
Parish of New Beginnings
November 2
Eucharist - the Service of Holy Thanksgiving
Rev. Perry Chuipka
Community
Remembrance
Day Service
Sunday, November 2
at 10:30 am
Special guests include...
Blyth Legion and
Auburn’s Children’s Choir
Everyone is Welcome!
PASTOR 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
7:30 p.m.
Evening Service & Youth Service
Majestic Women’s Institute of
Brussels met Oct. 8 at Huronlea.
There were 13 members and two
guests in attendance.
Guest speaker, Kim Perrier,
manager of Brussels CIBC, spoke on
identity theft.
A surprise auction was held to
help Brussels high school students,
who are going to England with the
rugby team.
On Oct. 6, three members,Yvonne
Knight, Leona Armstrong and Ruth
Bauer, attended the Huron County
Rally.
The UFO day was held Oct. 14 at
Joan James’ home. Nine people
attended.
The next meeting is Nov. 12. This
is ROSE session on health. Walton
Women’s Institute has been asked to
attend.
Anyone interested in attending
this or any other meeting should
contact Majestic Women’s Institute
Public Relations Officer Bev
Craddock, 519-887-9879.
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, November 2
Ethel United Church
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, November 2
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
Majestic WI learns
about identity theft
Classified advertisements
published in
The Citizen
are now available on our
website at
www.northhuron.on.ca