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Times-Advocate, 1983-12-28, Page 3Exeter Legion, Continued from front page in their praise for the efforts expended on their behalf. 'He noted that the ap- pearance of Santa Claus (Jim Barnetson's father assisting) was a touch that turned an otherwise exasperating ex- perience into an exciting one for the youngsters who were stranded. News reports contained elsewhere in the cor- respondence from the area in- dicate that many members of district families were strand- ed as they attempted to make their way to testise. gatherings. Some were delayed for almost two days, but by Mon- day most of the travellers had either reached their destina- tions or at least been able to return to their points of departure. Travel north of Exeter was still slow going on Monday as Highway 4 was open for only a single lane in portions through to Clinton. Christmas services at most area churches were poorly at- tended by normal standards and some had to be cancelled in rural areas. Rev. Burton Crowe of the Zion -Centralia charge reported that the cancellation at Zion was the first time in 42 years he had ever had to cancel a Christmas service. The true meaning of Christmas was personified in Brucefield last weekend. Unlike the Bethlehem inn keeper, the residents of the village and surrounding area found room in their hearts and homes for stranded motorists whose Christmas travel plans were foiled by a severe .winter storm. As hazardous highway con- ditions and blinding whiteouts blocked 'roads, more and more travellers who could go no further on Highway 4 found a safe haven in the Brucefield United Church. By nightfall on December 24 about 100 people ranging in age from in- fants to senior citizens overflowed the church hall. Word of the unexpected guests sped quickly around the community. and help began pouring in. Residents brought in food and other.sup- plies on foot and snowmobile. Visitors carrying food to a family Christmas contributed what they had in their cars. One lady brought in a 10 -pound ham and a huge Yule log cake. Another whip - Times -Advocate, December 28„ 1983 Page 3 Bruoefield church among havens for stranded motorists ped up a dessert she was go- ing to prepare for her parents and baked it in the church kitchen. Debbie Burdge, Louise Hallam, Dave and Marilyn Marshall and daughter Theresa were prominent among those donating food and their time to prepare soup and sandwiches to feed the hungry horde on Saturday night. Don Moffatt,m inister of the Brucefield charge and a sister church in Kippen► decided to resurrect the previously cancelled Christmas Eve service. Everyone joined in the sing- ing of hymns and carols, and listened as Moffatt gave a short talk on how the very essence of Christmas, the spirit of loving and sharing, was being so vividly demonstrated. While most of the visitors found a place to sleep somewhere in the church, for- ty needing some extra com- fort were billeted in Brucefield homes. The Mof- fatts took in two elderly couples and a young man. One of the ladies had had a pacemaker implanted four days previously, and. had been heading home to Goderich after being discharged from a London hospital. The young man was very upset; he had driven from Detroit to be with his wife and newly born first child in Wingham. (A new father is worse than a new mother, Moffatt remarked). Moffatt said people bedded down in the hall, the pews and the church balcony. One chap awoke in the night. confused and disoriented. Seeing only an illuminated cross, he though for a moment his time had come. By Sunday morning. more refugees had taken shelter from the storm. The Brucefield volunteer firemen swung into action. Fire chief Stu Broadfoot brought in the grill and the firemen began to cook their famous pancake breakfast. Bob Broadfoot donated 15 dozen eggs, ten pounds of baconand sausage, and maple syrup for the meal. Bruce Rathwell, who had volunteered his skills to organize work crews, said the scene reminded him of a restaurant. Diners even had their choice of white or whole wheat toast. Rathwell said he only had to ask for help and it DONATION TO BUREAU — The South Huron Junior Farmers Above president Gerald Johns presents the cheque to Exeter Goderich bureau and Exeter Lioness president Sue Pearson. mode o donotion to the Huron Christmas Bureau. co-ordinator Nancy Rooth. Peggy Rivers, the T -A photo Hospital inaugurates chapel service Continued from front page tients played a medley of Christmas times on a vro.in smuggled into the hospital by his daughter. Before returning to their rooms. most who had attend- ed the service thanked the chaplain for very pleasant and appreciated break in hospital routines. Rev Englert, appointed as South Huron's official chaplain in May 1982, in- augurated the chapel service in response to a need express- ed by some of the hospital's patients. especially the chronic ones in the institution for a indefinite stay. "It gives them something to look forward to each week". she said. Mrs. Englert discovered she had an affinity for hospital ministry while undergoing her clinical train- ing for the ministry at the Kitchener -Waterloo Hospital. Her duties at Exeter include making initial contact with almost all patients whose pastor or priest does not yet know they are hospitalized, providing for the spiritual needs of patients without for- mal affiliation to any denomination, following upon referrals from hospital staff and doctors. and being available for staff counselling. When asked ;row she reacts to a declaration of atheism. Rev. Englert replied that part of the role of a chaplain is be- ing a friend. and letting the other know one is interested in him or her as a person. "Once you get to know so- meone, you tinct you are deal- • ing with the real questions we all face. Who am 1? Where am 1 going? What is my rela- tionship to God, and to other people", she elaborated. "Part of being an effective minister is sharing your own journey of faith, your own struggles and doubts and victories". Cheryl recounted an episode in her past which has coloured her outlook. She grew up in Sudbury, and often took long geological walks with her miner father. On one excursion she asked him why so many newcomers saw on- ly the ugliness of the nickle capital of Canada. Without saying a word, her father chiSetled out a piece of the bleak, grey rock. He held the freshly cut surface up to the sun, where it threw back the glitter of a thousand rain- bows. The miner's daughter has never forgotten her father's next words. Ile said many people are like the rock with its unprepossessing ex- terior. Like the rock, too. there is beauty within, if one is willing to spend the time and effort to find it. Rev. Englert will conduct the chapel services until the end of January. She has in- vited clerics of.all denomina- tions belonging to the South Huron Ministerial to take their turns after that. Hospital visitors are invited to join their friends or relatives in the sunroom from 11:00 a.m. until 11:30 any Thursday morning. was there. While some of the temporary guests made sand- wiches, others cleared the tables or swept the floors. Rathwell said they kept the place immaculate. Dennis and Louise Hallam, proprietors of The Trading Post, . seemed to be everywhere at once. Dennis kept parking spots plowed out to get all the extra cars off the highway and donated cases of pop to go with the 12 dozen Christmas squares baked by his wife. He rounded up a truckload of mattresses for the travellers to sleep on Sun- day night. Meanwhile. Louise was busy defrosting and cook- ing a 23 -pound turkey for Christmas dinner at the church, and Dawn Rathwell was doing the same with another bird of comparable size from the Rathwell freezer. Thotlgh the volunteers were too busy to take time for a OPP set to observe 75 years The Ontario Provincial Police are celebrating their 75th year of law enforcement in 1984. The provincial police force was founded in 1909. From the original 45 men, it has ex- panded to its present-day complement of 5,200 police of- ficers and civilian support staff. The OPP polices almost one million square kilometres in Ontario as it has a "residual" policing responsibility: that is, it polices all of those areas which do not have an established police force. OPP Commissioner Archie Ferguson said, "The OPP has been an important element in the development of this pro- vince during the 20th century. The OPP is present in almost 200 communities and many of the anniversary activities planned will involved people in the communities we police." Comm. Ferguson said that one of the first signs of the 75th anniversary will be bright colored decals displayed on OPP cruisers. The decals will also be plac- ed on doors leading into OPP buildings. An un►! .rlying theme of the anniversary will be the pro- •::ncial police force's prepara- tion for the years leading up to the hundredth anniversary in the year 2109. Prominent in the 75th birth- day celebrations will be the OPP Pipes and Drums Band and the Golden Helmets Motorcycle Precision Team. They will be visiting fairs and parades air ver the province. Incl in the anniversary plans is publication of a book on the history of the OPP. It is expected that this book will become a valued addition to many private and public collections. It's not that I'm afraid to the I just don't want to be there when it happens head count, Lorraine Moffatt guessed approximately 90 guests -sat down to a Christmas dinner of turkey, ham, dressing, potatoes and gravy, peas, turnips and bak- ed squash from a .giant vegetable more than two feet in circumference donated by the Hallams. A glass of wine from the case contributed by Rathwell added a festive 1 touch. Both Rathwell and Moffatt remarked on the atmosphere of good will throughout the ordeal. Church members, non -attenders and those of other denominations worked together side by side. The children behaved exceptional- ly well, and the four dogs travelling with their owners were also on their best behaviour as they waited to be taken outside for "walkies". Only about ten visitors re- mained by breakfast time on Boxing Day. and all who could get their cars started had departed by Tuesday. Mdfatt said the event has given him enough sermon material fur the next 12 months, and he fervently hopes it's at least that long before he sees another cup of church coffee. WE'LL BE LATE Due to the holiday, Monday, The Exeter Times -Advocate will be published one day later than usual next week. It will be printed Wednesday night for Thursday morning delivery. S A v E Come early before your size is gone. 5, Make cold feet a thing of the past and save at the same time during Wuerth's annual WINTER FOOTWEAR SALE All Ladies , Dress Shoes and Dress Boots 20% off. 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