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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-11-08, Page 15THE CITIZEN. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007. PAGE 15.By Rev. Cathrine CampbellMelville, BrusselsKnox, BelgravePresbyterian Churches The Brussels Cenotaph is inscribed with the names of those who died in the service of this country during the two World Wars – and I encourage people to stop for a minute, not just on Nov. 11, but on a sunny day in August and look at those names. They are the names of people who had hopes, dreams and abilities and whose lives were cut short by their desire to be part of a fight against tyranny. Many of the names are familiar – some are commemorated, as well, on church walls with plaques and memorial tablets. In the case of Melville the names are on the walls but also given in our history book, A Time to Remember (p.20). We remember people who represent sacrifice, a sacrifice that was given so that we, now here, could live in peace. In the book of James we hear in Chapter 3, v. 13-18 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” And because of those who went and served we do live in peace. We are a people living in a country where war is something that happens somewhere else; oh, we may see pictures in the newspapers or on the television but we have no real concept or understanding of the smells, sounds, fears, and deprivation that is the reality of war. But the people named on that list did, and, sadly, some still do as we face the reality of Canadian troops deployed to Afghanistan, Africa and Asia. On cenotaphs there will be other names added, young men and women who went from this area and this country to another to fight for ideas and ideals that are not always looked at with understanding these days but are sometimes mocked or held in disregard, ideals such as: honour, justice, fidelity, truth, loyalty and, above all, peace. The soldiers went willingly, and they still do, and they died, and they still do, so that our future will be secure. And it was secured at no smallcost. There is a small silver crossworn by women, now mostly ofmature years, that was received because a loved one died. There were, in two wars, 69 of these crosses given to women in Brussels and area. We are told “The Memorial Cross, the gift of Canada, was issued as a memento of personal loss and sacrifice on the part of widows and mothers of Canadian sailors, airmen and soldiers who laid down their lives for their country during the war.” That small gift doesn’t convey the anguish and loss experienced by many women across Canada nor thecourage with which they faced lifewith small children and an uncertainfinancial future. But they did go on and continued to contribute in making this country what it is today. They were often sustained by a faith that is truly humbling for they not only lived by the Word of God they acted on it – the Great Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31) wasn’t an abstract concept – it was a way of living.The price of peace was and is veryhigh. The small silver cross is not acoveted item but, still, every year at the National War Memorial there is a woman who wears such a cross. “As of 1999 the Silver Cross Mothers are ones who have lost children in Bosnia and Afghanistan and other peacekeeping missions. The first of these was Mrs. Loyola Helen Park of London who had received the Silver Memorial cross shortly after her son Michael Simpson was killed in 1974. Corporal Simpson was part of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps posted to Peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert in 1999. Mrs. Park became the first Silver Crossmother of a peacekeeper to lay awreath during the televisedRemembrance Day ceremonies from the nation’s capital. On this solemn occasion Mrs. Park represented the heroism that lies in the heart of every mother or spouse who shares a son, daughter, husband or wife with the noble cause of peace. (Path of Heroes, www.pch.gc.ca).” On Nov. 11, I trust we will all take time to mark the time that peace was declared and in that give thanks for all who cared, who called for peace and who gave their lives and futures so that we can live in peace we can do no less in response to that. Remembrance Members of the Blyth Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary were special guests for the Remembrance Day service at the Blyth Church of God last Sunday. The service began, appropriately, with O’ Canada. (Shawn Loughlin photo) 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 , I 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! Please join us for worship SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 9 am and 11 am Guest Pastor: John Regier Sermon: Twelve Reasons Why a Person Can’t Demonstrate Love BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Sunday School 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - Olympians (JK to Grade 6) 7:00 p.m. - Youth and Adult Bible Study HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 519-526-1131 PASTOR DAVE WOOD BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, November 11 Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:15 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship Welcome to Brussels Mennonite Fellowship on PEACE SUNDAY ~ November 11 Worship Service 9:30 am Coffee Break 10:45 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Noon Potluck Fellowship Meal Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388 Jesus is the Prince of Peace! THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 No service at Blyth United. Please attend the Legion’s Remembrance Day Service at Blyth Memorial Hall at 10:30 am Sunday, November 11 All Welcome getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School 1st & 3rd Mondays - Prayer Warriors Tuesdays - Wingham Small Group Youth: Mondays - Senior - Fridays - Junior Mondays 5 pm at BPS: GODROCKS! ages 4-6 “Power to War Against Surprising Enemies” Nov. 11-18 at Clinton CRC: John Regier, Counsellor - Seminar “Restoring Marital Intimacy” Nov. 11: Philippians 3 From the Minister’s StudyReverend offers reminder ‘Lest We Forget’