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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-12-06, Page 21I believe when we. are at - to God's pntle nudging do His work best, sometimes out even obstacles and ing it. When put up heed to the signals, He is ie move smoothly and ef- ktively year ago, during a stay in a hospital, I struck up a ival acquaintance with Jeanne, another patient, who just. moved to that ..place her husband and two ng boys. We whiled away oral hours talking about 'ldren, travel, books and igloo but when we said good- ' neither of us expected to the other again. Yet, two months later; I ked up my telephone one 'ght to hear < Rejeanne's pirate voice on 'the other of the line. Her young band had died suddenly a days previously and there e was, left, in a strange city ' htened and heartbroken, knowing where to turn. I listened as she poured out bitterness and anger. -She eke of suicide and although I to tell her God still loved and that she had an ligation to Him, . to her band and children, my rds sounded empty and Ily inadequate. Next morning I spoke of her rpt to my friend Pearl and her to pray for her. She but she also felt a strong to phone her niece Bar-, a who lived in the same city tell her about Rejeanne. Now Barbara, a committed } istian, was sympathetic but peasy about contacting this ect stranger who might sieconstrue her interest. She hided to think about it for a maple of days. • Howver, that tight as she was preparing for lid she was seized with an over ering compulsion to phone iejeanne. - That phone call may well been the one°•that saved one's life and sanity. Barbara, a competent mitered nurse, had just the iijtt words, both from a laical and spiritual stand it, to- get through to 'ne at the moment she at her lowest ebb. Not only that, but in the offing days, weeks and mon- that were riddled with lems and legal red tape, it Barbara endowed with an ense amount of common a huge, loving heart --and,, a living, shining faith who led Rejeanne through many dark times. It was she who sat a quaking Rejeanne behind the wheel of her car and ihsitlted she learn how to drive in the city so she cotat escape from the'onlinesr; . of her uburban home and gain more independence. Space does not permit telling all the seemingly 'strange' things that happened between these two women. Such as the time Rejeanne, urgently needing Barbara, was trying desperately but unsuccessfully to reach her on the telephone when the door bell rang, and who was standing on her door- step. Barbara of course! Surely if anyone ever had a guardian angel it was Rejeanne, in the form of Barbara, during those dark days. How wonderfully God moves if we let him and if we are tuned in to His messages. I could have messed up the whole thing by rushing in to help Rejeanne. Actually, I couldn't as I was just getting over the flu (probably, God's way of holding me back). Besides, He is always 80 prac- tical...Barbara was a - lot han- dier and better equipped to meet Rejeanne's need. He did give me one little link to forge in the, resuce chain...having Rejeanne phone me (she still can't explain why she did), and then having me Fl speak to Pearl. Pearl put in the next link by responding .to the nudge to phone Barbara; Barbara stret- ched out her hand, and God got His work done. And did it matter to Him, from what denominations the links came? Apparently not. I'm Presbyterian, Pearl is United Church, Barbara is a Baptist and Rejeanne is Roman Catholic. How easy it is to push aside the little signals from God. Who can tell how many lives might be saved, what hearts could be mended, or broken spirits healed if we were always on the alert and sensitive to God's gentle nudgings? - Last Sunday afternoon at 1.30 p.m. a very impressive "White Gift Family Service" was held in the Benmiller United Church. Mrs. Ben 'Straughan's and Mrs. D. Willis' classes ably presented the readings of the Christmas Lesson and the White Gift Play. In the play Russell Kerte nighan portrayed. the father and Mrs. R. Kernighan the mother. The rest of the cast in- cluded Heather Jewell, Darlene Jewell, Marie and Danny Willis. Readers of the Christ- mas lesson were Gail McMichael, Brenda Feagan and Connie Baer. Together with the props the White Gift Play gave a very meaningful lesson on "love lived." 'It was during the play that the children came forward and placed their white gifts un- der the Christmas tree. The Children's Aid Society will receive them. The Junior and Senior Choirs under the leadership of arr contributed to the enjoy nt Zf all. Cindy McCli hey and Sandra Rowe play the "Carol Of The ,MISS ROXIE PALMA Miss Rosie Palmer of Goderich passed away Novem- ber 27 in Alexandra Marine and General Hospital after a lengthy illness. Miss Palmer was born in Marlette, Michigan to William and Mary Pals4ser. She came to Goderich as a child then moved to Hamilton and Toronto, returning to Goderich in 1972. Miss Palmer was a social worker with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, in Hamilton and Toronto. She was an adherent of North Street United Church. She is survived by one sister, Miss Adelene Palmer of Goderich and was predeceased by one brother, William who was killed overseas. Funeral services were held November 29 at Stiles Funeral Holme and were officiated by Rev. Robert L. Rayrnont. Inter= mint - was at t!M ltllayfietd Pallbearers were Charlie Adams, Ernie Durnin, Harold Stanbury, and Stanley, Daryk' and Daryl Ball. Flowerbearers were Larry and Kevin Adams and David Durnin., MRS. GEORGE REIS Funeral services for Mrs. Georg Reis, who passed away in the Kitchener Waterloo Hospital, Kitchener on Novem- ber 20, were conducted at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Moserville on Friday, Novem- ber 23. Rev. Norris Heubner of- ficiated and the interment was held in the Church cemetery. Pallbearers were. Douglas Reis and Donald Reis, Brun- ner; Bill Reis, Belleville; Harold Warren, London; Lloyd' Debus, Moserville; and Jack Reis, Listowel MR. W.L. BUTLER, C.A. While many will be opening presents left by Santa Claus on December 25, there are others like this woman who live In a refugee camp in Vietnam receiving nothing except the boards they must sleep on. The `USC of Canada have forwarded $10,000 for rehabilitation purposes, but it will never be enough to give them a Christmas like we know. Contributions can be given to the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada, 56 Sparks St., Ottawa, K1P 581. WILLIAMS CEMETERY MEMORIALS And Inscriptions Stratford - Ontario Trustee In Bankruptcy Bob McCallum Representative 11 Cambria Rd., Goderich Phone 524-7345 305 King Street West, Suite 400 The Canada Trust Building Kitchener, Ontario Says church must be open handed Rev. Fred Faist, President of London Conference for 1973/74, and Minister of St. John's United Church, Stratford, asked the members of Huron - Perth Presbytery, at a meeting held . in Kirkton, Tuesday, November 27, to think of the Ch ch as an "Open Hand". This is the symbol he has chosen for his term as Con- ference President. In explaining his choice of this symbol he said, "How you use the word Church has fel- reaching. im- plications fpr the shape and direction-of_-You.r__life."_ -, He then further outlined the three reasons why he chose the open hand as his Theme. "The open hand explains something about _ the church; that people are important; that we must be flexible, adaptable, and open, and approachable. The open hand suggests, in the second place, that we hold something very precious in our hand that the world needs; that is, moral excellence. But the greatest treasure we hold is Jesus Christ and his inexhaustible magnificence. In the third place, the open hand takes hold of something. We as a church are to be involved, we' are to take hold of the needs of the world and of the community, and of our own church. If we cannot do the big things, at least we can start on the little things. And motit important, we are to take hold of the hand of the hand of God and discover that here is the kind of con- fidence which allows you to walk with your head up, ready to face anything as it comes." NO TWO DIAMONDS ARE THE SAME ... DISCOVER THESE FACTS AT: Walkerton Presiding for the day long meeting, was Rev. Doug Warren of Crediton, Chairman. One of his first privileges was - to introduce the new minister for the Clinton, Wesley -Willis Pastoral, Charge, Rev. John Oestroicher, B.A., B.R.E. Also present for the day was one of two intended candidates for the Ministry, Mr. William Richards of Fordwich. During the rest of the day, members received many reports, voted on.. matters of local and national Church policy, and debated issues af- fecting the `life of the Church. For one hour before lunch members divided up into five Division meetings.. Each of these reported in the afternoon session. In the Division of Com- munication report, it was lear- ned that the Resource Centre has been set up in Main St. United Church, Mitchell. Rev. Ray Lindsay, of Monkton, the convener, noted that the Centre has film -strips all the "Faith Alive" cassettes, some of the "Thesis Theological" cassettes, and most of the printed "Resource Kits" for Christian Education work. These are all available for loan, free, to chur- ches in Presbytery. Singtime, the United Church's weekly religious program shown Sundays on CKNX-TV, should be in color sometime in February, announ- ced Rev. Barry Passmore ' -of Wingham, the program director for the show. In answer to a question he said that the program. costs about $10,000 a year. Rev. Ross Crosby, of St. Marys, reporting for the Division of World Outreach, was pleased to say that 15 new missionaries had been appoin- ted to overseas posts for 1974. This requires, however, in- creased monies from the Mission & Service Fund. Mem- bers were encouraged though, when Rev. Don Deas, from Mit- chell, in presenting the Division of Stewardship report, showed that 1973 givinp to the M & S Fund were up 4.6 per cent over last year. The Church still has to raise 40 per cent of the national Budget for 1973 of $11,500,000. Camping is a major summer activity of Presbytery, and Rev. Glenn Wright, of Exeter, was again able to say that this sum- mer's camps had been a suc- cess. 537 children attended the two Presbytery camps: Menesetung, near Goderich, and Bimini, near Stratford. One report was referred back to a committee for further study. This was the report of the Salary, Policy Committee, which had been set up at the last meeting to recommend a ministerialsalary scale for Prreebyttery: .._. SUNDAY SCHOOL — 9:45 A.M. FAMILY WORSHIP —11:00 A.M.- EVANGELISTIC SERVICE —7:00 P.M. WEEKDAY Home League (ladies) Wed., 8:00 p.m. Prayer & Bible Studies Thurs. 7:30 p.m. OFFICERS - CAPTAIN G. HERBER - CAPTAIN M. McKENZIE "All Are Cordially Invited to Attend" (BLAKE AND ELDON STREETS, GODERICH) SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9:30 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICE .- 11 A.M. Pastor: Bruce Bjorkquist 333 Eldon Street, 524-6081 7'lir return• stir r rrnr lur1r. Ihrrl (1 :man is justifir cl by faith 0)4 _414'4 rd 4if. 4144/ J .,—,_-43.c+ru*abrti +4.44, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec) MONTREAL STREET near The Square SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1973 Advent 2 Holy" Communion at 8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer at 11 a.m. _ Sermon by Canon Geoffrey Parke -Taylor - Dean of Divinity, Huron College, London. Nursery 8 Sunday School at 11 a.m. Rector: Canon G.G. Russell, B.A., B.D. Choirmaster -Organist: Joseph B. Herdman Organist: Mr. Frank Bissett 9:45- a.m.—Sunday School Sunday 11 a.m. Pastor Preaching Special Music _ COME TO A GROWING SUNDAY SCHOOL. -IF YOU NEED A RIDE, WE HAVE A BUS. Bethel Pentecostal TObernacle This Church accepts the authority of God's Word ALL ARE WELCOME The free Methodist Church Park SI. at Victoria Pastor: H. Ross Nicholls 10:00 a.m. Be part of a growing Sunday School 11:00 a.m. "Profit and Loss" 6:30 p.m. Bible Study and Outreach Anyone needing bus transportation phone 524-9903 Everyone Welcome Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada .REV PETE.$ G ST DON. Pastor SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1973 10:00 a.m.—SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 a.m.-MORNING WORSHIP '•00 p.m. EVENING SERVICE Tues. 8:00 p.m: BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER Friday 7:30 p.m.—Youth Service "Worrying 1s taking on a responsibility that God never Intended you to!" For further information about church services call 524-8508 CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH BA'SIELD ROAD AT BLAKE STREET EVANGELISTIC — FUNDAMENTAL REV R BRUBACHER, Pastor 10:00 A.M. SUNDAY SCHOOL COME AND BRING A FRIEND 11:00 A.M. REV. MEL CUTHBERT VETERAN MISSIONARY FROM BRAZIL WILL BE PREACHING 7:30 P.M.- REV. CUTHBERT, WILL TELL ABOUT THEIR WORK AND SHOW SOME SLIDES. 8:30 P.M. WORD OF LIFE CLUB WED. 8 P.M. PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY WELCOME TO THE FRIENDLY CHURCH Knox Presbyterian Church HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP - REV. LEONARD WARR 10 A.M r-81ble School For All Grades 11 P.M.—Worship Service Sermon: "WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME" BENMILLER UNITED CHURCH 1:30 P.M. Worship Service .and Bible School —W --E— L— C--O—M---E— Fri. Dec. 7 - 8.S. Pot -Luck Supper and Christmas Flim Entertainment 0:30 P.M. Fri. Dec. 14 - BenmlNer S.S. Pot -Luck Supper and Concert 6:90 P.M. THE REV G LOCKHART ROYAL'S A , Minister THE REV RONALD C 'McCALLUM. Assistant WILLIAM M CAMERON. Director of Praise SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1973 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Dhrine 'Worship Sermon: "CHRISTMAS AND THE CHRISTIAN" REV. ROBERT L. RAYMONT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1973 10:00 EA. - 10-14 year aids 11:00 a.m. -Sables to 9 year olds 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship