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The Huron Expositor, 1995-02-22, Page 2SEAFORTH RECREATION DEPARTMENT Presents MARCH BREAK - HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS 1995 r FOR: LOCATION: DATES: TIMES: COST: TO REGISTER: Mon. March 13 - Tue. March 14 - Wed. March 15 - Thu. March 16 - FIVE EXCITING DAYS OF ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO ENJOY DURING THIS MARCH BREAK. CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 12 YEARS MEET AT ARENA EACH MORNING MONDAY, MARCH 13 TO FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1994 9:00 a.m. To 4:00 p.m. (supervised lunch available) $8.00 PER DAY OR $40.00 FOR THE FULL WEEK FILL IN THE FORM BELOW AND RETURN IT TO THE RECREATION OFFICE, OR CALL 527-0882. SCHEDULE OF WEEK A.M - Bowling at Starlight Lanes (Meet at Arena) P.M. - Skating A.M. - Crafts with Susan P.M. - Erewhon Theatre presents "Charlotte's Web" A.M. - Movies P.M. - Skating A.M. - Sports and Games P.M. - Swimming at Vanastra, bus leaves from Arena at 1:00 pm Fri. March 17 - A.M. - Childrens preference P.M. - Skating The following week - March 20 to March 24 will not be supervised. Activities taking place will be: Mon., March 20, Tues., March 21, Wed., March 22 and Fri., March 24 from 1:00 to 3:00 each afternoon will be Skating. Cut along line and please return bottom half to Recreation Office. PARTICIPANTS NAME: STREET ADDRESS; TOWN: PROV: POSTAL CODE: TOWNSHIP: PHONE 0: ALTERNATE it PARTICIPANTS DATE OF BIRTH: MONTH: DATE: YEAR; PARTICIPANTS HEALTH CARDH: GUARDIAN'S NAME; DAYS ATTENDING: (circle) M TWTF ALL LAMOUNT PAID: .1 2 -THE HURON IXPO$ITOR, Neiman U. 1*15 (� Close -19 What is future of rural churches? ".... the cities are eating up all the good farmland. Rural people are looked down on. We're losing our political clout. They closed our church last year. Nobody appreci- ates how hard it is to balance the needs of my family and my job and keep up involvement in the local church "by SHELLEY McPHEE HAIST Rural communities are changing. "We need to be deliberate to celebrate the communities we have," says The Very Rev. Dr. Walter Farquharson. Rural communities are hurting and grieving. "We need to celebrate what is life giving, and we must have the courage to name what isn't," he says. Rural communities are not always what they seem. "The idealism about rural com- Inunities is not always the reality." Rev. Farquharson, the former moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1990-1991, and his wife Joan, of Saltcoats, Saskatchewan were at Egmondville United Church on February 7 to lead the first in a series of work- shops on the theme "A time for celebration and concern for rural community." The Farquharsons were also pres- enting three similar seminars in southwestern Ontario during the week. Despite the snow squall advisory, more than 100 people from Huron and Perth Counties attended the daylong workshop in Egmondville. One of the organizers, Gordon Hill of Varna, said that the response was overwhelming. He noted that the topic was particularly relevant to local rural communities. Mr. Hill is a farmer and the chairman of the Rural Life Committee for United Church's London Conference. "We want rural people to talk about the things that they have come through, the tremendous financial pressures in the last 10-15 years. There are many stresses on rural families and we want to know what the church can do to help," he said. The workshop participants named some of the changes that their com- munities were facing. Responses included: * One or both spouses vyprking,gff the farm. * Young people leaving the church. * Trying to solve problems by passing laws. * Shopping and sports on Sundays. * More faith groups in rural com- munities. * Increased expectation in children and adults to take part in organized clubs. * Loss of leisure time. * More openness, freedom to doubt and to question. * Influence of television. * Affluent lifestyle. * Population changes in rural com- munities. * More bedroom communities. The responses were familiar to the Farquharsons who have witnessed significant changes to rural communities in Saskatchewan. As well, their church community, the United Church of Canada, is facing declining membership and is struggling to redefine itself. Rev. Farquharson said he was unsure if the United Church of SHELLEY WPM:. II:VST PFI( r0 DISCUSSING RURAL ONTARIO'S FUTURE - About 100 people met in Egmondville this month to discuss the future of rural Ontario with the Very Rev. Dr. Walter Farquharson, former Moderator of the United Church of Canada. Pictured here are Joan Farquharson, Jim Papple of Seaforth, Rev. Farquharson, Gordon Hill of Vama and Gary Love of Kippen. Canada would still be alive in the next 25 years, but throughout the workshop he encouraged people to take hold of the changes in their communities and to reshape them into a positive force. Mr. Hill, who attends the two-point Varna -Goshen United Church in Huron County, under- stands the struggle of rural churches. "Why do we need church? Why do we keep them open? What is the purpose of the faith community?" he asked. Rev. Farquharson agreed that traditional faith communities are being uprooted by changes in society. He urged his audience to develop new ways to make the church a relevant centre in people's lives. "One of the mistakes we make is that we think we will go back to the way it was," he noted. He suggested that the church hasn't reached out to the new real- ity, particularly to young families. The church may not be addressing their needs and wishes. "How do we accept and welcome people, even though our paths may be different. How do we create a church that is faithful to those now attending?" He asked his audience, "When did you last talk with people in your family about your faith and how it sustained you." Joan added, "Young people rais- ing families say that they have no time to talk to their children about the stories that are worth telling." Rural church communities are not alone in the changes they face. Communities of all sizes and descriptions are dealing with change - from hospitals to schools, from workplaces to social clubs. Rev. Farquharson said, "Commun- ity is durable and constant, but it is fragile and vulnerable. Community is constant, but it is constantly changing." He says that difficulties arise with people's inability to accept change, and their perception that change means failure. "Faced with changes we feel we are victims or pawns." He challenged his audience to consider what change looks like from the viewpoint of a survivor or a victor. "We have to move from victim or pawn. We are tired and victimized." Part of the problem is our ten- dency to tie our communities tothe past, and to glorify the past as "The good old days," he said. Rev. Farquharson noted. "There is a world that is an idealized past. There is also an idealized present and an idealized future that every- thing will be all right." He said that those kind of organ- izationsare an important part of our spiritual heritage that were born out of pain and struggle. "Our children may not see us as people who have come from struggle, but people clinging to a story that has no flaws," he said. He noted that it . is important to remember the past, but the future reshaping of communities depends on its members' courage to redis- cover their strengths and weaknesses. That may mean dissolving some of the organizations and projects that are struggling to survive. "Maybe we can let go of the organization for a while. If there is a need for it, then something will come to take its place. And if there isn't a need for it that doesn't mean that the people who poured their energy into it wasted their time." he suggested. Rev. Farquharson urged his audi- ence to claim the capability and the power to overcome defeat. He urged them to acknowledge the anger and frustration they have felt about change. "If we acknowledge people's emotions we will be build stronger communities. We always have Exchange student homes sought Ever thought of sharing you home and way -of -life with a high school student from another country? It's possible to give it a try with Student Travel Schools Inc., a non-profit cultural exchange organization that has students waiting for the chance to live and learn with a Canadian family. Beginning this September, STS will be inviting students from Australia, New Zealand, and 11 different European countries to spend a school year with Cana- dian families while cont,inuing their formal high school educa- tion. The STS students are between 15 and 18 years -of -age and 'Seize the continued from front page She sant the tanning Hwustry and Stanley Township's tax base is threatened and she urged Stanley Township residents to "seize the day". "We can't hide our heads and pretend the world isn't going to change." She said the hundreds of.recre- ational homes in Stanley have aided the community, not hindered it. A letter from Anson McKinley, a former Reeve, said "aS reason for my involvement in tone Lea Holdings has been the desire to make a contribution to Stanley Township by my generation." McKinley defended the project arrive with their own spending money and medical insurance. Each student is selected into the program for his or her academic achievement, English ability, and excellence of character. Being a host family means opening -up your home and way of life to your chosen exchange student. Host families come from all walks of life. They can be married with or without children, a single parent, or an older couple whose children have grown up. They can live in a house or apartment, in the city or in the country. Host families provide their student room and board and most importantly, advise and guidance for the entire school year. STS is a world-wide exchange organization based in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Cana- dian branch of STS, which is located in Waterloo, Ontario, has placed over 200 exchange stu- dents across Canada during the past seven years. The American branch of STS, located in Arlington, Virginia, is much larger than the Canadian branch and finds families for over 2,000 students across America annual- ly. Anyone interested in hosting an exchange student or studying abroad with STS can call Julia Lubczynski at 1-800-265-5316. day', meeting told for the economic activity it would generate. He said some opposition was legitimate but that rules could be put into place to address those concerns. Resident John Harris stood up and told meeting the project Might create jobs for his children. "I would far rather sec jobs cre- ated through this development than some polluting industry; he said. "I would like my kids to stay in this area." Gordon Hill, of Varna, echoed the sentiment by saying that young people are one of Stanley Township's great resources. Another resident stood up to say that, without development, ratepayers would have to be Fe - pared to accept a greater tax bur- den. A cottage owner from the area feared that the "horsey" crowd attracted by the recreational horse farm would prove very demanding. Other detractors feared over- crowding of the local school or a strain on the existing health facil- ities in the area. After the meeting supporters and opponents of the plan talked among themselves. Stanley Township is expected to deal with the issue at a future coun- cil meeting. conflicting emotions. One of the barriers is the unwillingness to name fears, disappointments and angers with another person." He noted, "Consolidation is the first move towards empowerment." "It's moving head, heart and gut to know who you are. Then you take some hold." When the Farquharsons speak of change they not only refer to rural communities, but also to the uncer- tain future of the United Church of Canada. In the 1960s the United Church of Canada was growing at the rate of a congregation a week. Today many churches are struggling to remain open. "We have an edifice complex," Rev. Farquharson said. "We are tied to these buildings." He said that the role of churches always faced changes with the times, noting that a decline in church attendance is not a new phenomena. "Religiosity in rural Ontario hasn't always faced changes with the times, noting that a decline in church attendance is not a new phenomena. "Religiosity in rural Ontario hasn't always been here. There were great periods in time when people did not attend church." He noted, "I never went to church as a child. My parents didn't ident- ify their search for faith as belong- ing to a religious organization." Regarding the United Church's future he noted, "If we disappear as a United Church we will do so knowing we had significant impact on our country." He said that as long as a com- munity remains vibrant and life- giving, even if it does not succeed, it may pave the way for commun- ities of the future. The Farquharsons encouraged their audience to Consider attitudinal changes and urged them to return to their communities with an new attitude of caring, optimism and honesty. THANK YOU The organizing committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support towards another successful Seaforth Ringette Tournament! Seaforth Golf Course 0 & D Glass Seaforth Legion Br. 156 John H McLlwaln Construction Ltd. Seaforth Automotive and Industrial Supply Leo's Auto Sales Progressive Turf Nobel Sanitation Box Furniture Seaforth Chiropractic Centre Watt's Maintenance Seaforth Creamery Ltd. Seaforth Financial Services McConnell, Stewart & Devereaux Anna's Dress Shoppe Bamsters Jim Etue Insurance Seaforth Lions Club Clinton Optimists Flemings Feed Mill Fish & Game • Clinton Seaforth Sewing -Centre Seaforth Optimist Pizza Train Seaforth Jewellers Ltd. Sparky's Restaurant Treemer Commercial Punters McLaughlin Chev - Olds Ltd. Seaforth Veterinary Clinic Pets's Paper Clip Casey Van Bakel Electrical & Plumbing Hildebrand Flowers Larry McGrath Plumbing & Heating Inc. Hildebrand Paint & Paper McClain Farm Equipment Clinton Legion Dublin Lions Club Seaforth Public School Presents ete STI11. A'l' TO AGIIICUI "UP 1 P.M. - i:3() P. 1 tI Ontariaris can read all about it. With the Ontario Blanket Classified Advertising Program you can reach 1.3 million readers in 184 publications for $380. Or reach a region of the province. Ask you local newspaper representa- tive for details, or call (905) 844-0184. mem The Huron Expositor 527-0240 100 Main St., Seaforth