HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-31, Page 4Wednesday, August 31, 2011 • Signal -Star 3
ith and hope sustains Goderich residents
orship service
i ngs people
r in spirit of
enewal
es
• ignal-Star
li.essage was a
ng one of hope and
clear that people
hered together in
Sunday morning
owful but hopeful,
.arae much clearer
ilient and resolute
to reclaim .the
nity is rnuch in
000 people gathered
DC1 gymnasium
morning to give
hare and grieve
and build a network
and hope that will
nd help rebuild this
ity.
red by the Goderich
1`a1 Association, the
its Worship Service
-t rful and necessary
)t sharing, caring
inging residents
r in a:communal
me together in love
rt to worship; Rev.
lamming said.
sign at the firehall
'Goderich is the
t and Strongest
it`'. !low true. We
prettiest and the
t because of the
awn today feels
le to the weather
uncertainty of the
pressures caused by
ng of the Sifto Salt
nd the lack of
es, Rev. Mary Jane
Knox Presbyterian
id.
f those businesses
loyers and depend
and we pray that
ss owners get
e that will help put
together."
ents of the. past
• ays have been
for everyone. and
anderstelt of Knox
ced Mayor 1)eb
to the crowd as a
th unquestionable
e people.
tter the issues you
e, no one can deny
or Shewfelt's) love
ogle, he said.
aise for the council
•
members and town staff that
"stood by" him during the
crisis, Shewfelt also thanked
the Ministerial Association
for bringing the community
together "in a faith that binds
us."
"I could feel the strength as
1 toured the community, he
said. "And I drew strength
from other people. There was
a volunteer who completely
lost their home and yet
attended every meeting.
"It's hard to understand
what happened. Once the
state of emergency was in
place, everybody worked as
one and each had faith in the
other. We have our own bible
at town hall called the
emergency plan, updated
since the warning of 1995
and 1 believe it has worked.
"The response to this
community from outside has
been overwhelming and we
are very grateful. Those who
helped us from far away
remarked on the politeness
of people. We are strong and
sometimes stubborn." Ile
told the crowd.
As many as 13 homes in
Goderich have been
designated for demolition
and some core area building
may suffer the same fate,
although work from Heritage
Canada a number of local
groups may result. in the
saving and restoration of
many facades and buildings.
"I love Goderich. You love
Goderich. We love Goderich;
he said. "We will recover. This
is a new beginning, an.
opportunity. Good luck and
God 131ess."
With hope forrec:overy,
renewal and a new future for
their town, attendees were
asked to take a post -it note
and offer words of
encouragement that were
affixed to posters of The
Square - after it had been
ravaged by the devastating
tornado.
Here are some of the
posted messages:
• Hope
• Hope and best wishes
• We will be stronger
• Become inclusive
and compassionate
• Goderich will be great again
• Community is forever
• I love Goderich
• We stand united
• Be happy
Photos by Dave Sykes (;rxierch Signal -Star
A healing ti
me
The mood was definitely one of hope and
recovery for the future at a community
worship service conducted by the Goderich
Ministerial at GDCI Sunday morning. Over
1,000 people packed the GDCI gymnasium for
an emotional and inspirational service.
4
•
Members of the Trinity church provided some outstanding musical entertainment
at the Sunday worship service. The group was led by musicians Jeremy and Bill
Jongejan and singer Joannie Vandenheuval. Goderich Celtic Blue Highlander, Matt
Hoy played two selections on the bagpipe including Amazing Grace.
At the conclusion of the communityw
to write an Inspirational thou orship serve Sunday, everyone was encouraged
Six thought and place it on a photo of the storm -rave .
-year-old Annabelle Martin of Goderich had a simple m9 Square.
P message for her town: Be Happy.
Every bulletin handed out to worshippers at
the community service contained an I f Love
Goderich sticker. Tess Vanderwire, 2, o
Goderich was proud of her sticker as mom
Jill watched over five -month-old West