Clinton News-Record, 1986-02-05, Page 11CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5,1986— Page 11
fel•Iowship and Frjendship
Rev. Robert Witmer, a missionary to Japan, spoke at St. James Middleton Church on
January 26. He has been in Japan since 1969 and has learned to speak and write the
language. Rev. Witmer and his wife, Keiko, children Nathan, (left), Manna and Martin
will return to Japan in April. ( Anne Narejko photo)
Roses are theme
Woodward -Shanahan
Roses were the bridal theme of the double -
ring ceremony of Kathryn L. Shanahan,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Shanahan
of Lindsay, and John E. Woodward, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Woodward, of Lindsay,.,
on October 19, The marriage took place in
St. Marys Roman Catholic Church, Lindsay.
The church was decorated with flowered
candelabras, pew bows with flowers and
fresh flowered pew markers, all enhanced
with roses. Father Bollo officiated.
Given in marriage by her father and
mother, the bride wore a gown of chiffonet
with re -embroidered and chantilly type '
lace, featuring a lustrous embroidered
sweetheart neckline, piped with .baby pearls
and sequins. A delicate fine lace flowed '
down either side of her Victorian -styled
dress to form a flowing semi -cathedral
train. This was enhanced by full-length lace
sleeves with pearl closings. Her head dress
of a partial crown covered with chantilly
type lace, was caught with simulated
organic pearls and glittering sequins. Her
veil was short on the sides and full in the
back, cascading down to a flowing full
fingertip veil. She carried an arm bouquet of
large silk rosses, Queen Anne Lace and
babies breath.
For "something blue" she wore a blue
garter. "Something old" was her late grand-
mother's lace handkerchief and "something
borrowed" was the handkerchief borrowed
from her' mother.
The matron of honor was Karen Robinson,
sister of the bride. The bridesmaids were
Catherine Zwarych, friend of the bride,
• Mary Woodward, sister of the groom and
the junior bridesmaid was Sara Woodward,
sister of the groom.
The attendants were gowned in elegant
dusty rose taffeta, Victorian -style dresses.
The gowns featured spaghetti straps, tight
fitting bodices, long sheath shirts with a
short gathered over -skirt which had a tail
coat affect. Their short jacketsfeatured
standing collars and long sleeves. They
wore Miss Di created hats in dusty rose,
outlined in pearls with timing veils.
The bestman was Thomas .Coombs of
Lindsay and the ushers were Jeff Simmons,
Darren Gardiner, Kevin Shanahan and Ran-
dy Robinson. The ringbearer was Ian Robin-
son, nephew of the bride.
The groom wore pleated Victorian striped
trousers and a black self -edged upswept
peak lapel tail coat with a diamond black
bow tie and multi -pleated cumberbund. His
boutonnier was a fresh, deep pink rose with
babies breath.
The bestman and ushers wore Spencer
Missionary visits Middleton church
isy Anne Nareiao
MIDDLETON - In 1969, Rev. Robert
Witmer heft Canada to become a missionary
in Japan: While there, he has learned how to
speak and write the language and gained a
great deal of knowledge on the people's
views on religion and everyday life.
Rev. Witmer, formerly of Goderich,
shared his experiences with the congrega-
tion of St. James Anglican Church in Mid-
dleton on January 26.
While sharing his insights on the church in
Japan, Rev. Witmer said he was initially
teaching English as a second language and
then worked at small, rural churches in Nor-
thern Japan.
"My main job is the director of a rural
church centre called the Dohoku Centre,"
he explained.. "This centre deals with study-
ing -agricultural issues, deals with all the
churches in the Northern area, has an
English school and a half way house and
workshop for the mentally ill."
However, his job as a pastor in a rural
town is equally important.
The church which Rev. Witmer preaches
at in Japan is located in a town called
Okoppe. The congregation lost the church
and the land when a support plan fell
through.
"An evangelism plan was set up with
funds coming from North America. The
plan was to assist the churches when they
started and after five years, the churches
were to be econoniically self-sufficient. But
it didn't work...They lost their pastor and
the church (building) as well as the land,"
said Rev. Witmer.
Although the church has a 30 year history,
it has only 10 members. But these 10
members had such strong belief in the
church they bought new land and erected
another church.
Rev. Witmer emphasized that although
the church membership only numbered 10,
other members had moved from the rural
area to the cities. He also said there were a
large number of seekers, (those looking for
religion), but who were not members of the
church,
"We have 10 members but about 30
seekers. During the November 13 dedication
of the church in 1983, there were approx-
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Waterloo, Ont.
*Hairstyling
• Barbering
•Ear Piercing
*Make-up
'55 Erb St. East
886-6305
F Monday to Friday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
tuxedos and dusty rose bow ues with mat-
ching cumberbunds to compliment the
bridesmaids' gowns.
The ringbearer was a petite replica of the
groom. He carried a heart -shaped ivory
satin' ring pillow enhanced with white roses
and lily of the valley. The keepsake pillow
was made by Ian's late great-grandmother,
Charlotte Freeman. It also bore his parents'
rings on their wedding day.
The bride and groom were driven from
the church to the reception in a decorated
open horse driven carriage owned and
operated by Reid Roadhouse, who was
bedecked in top hat and tails to suit the occa-
sion.
For the reception at the Moose Hall, the
bride's mother received wearing a royal
blue polyester crepe long sheath gown with
a soft bodice overlay. The bridegroom's
mother wore a periwinkle blue polyester
crepe.
The wedding cake was callecl "The Eter-
nal Fountain of Love" with its lights, color,
action Combining the beauty of a lighted
fountain with the display of the entire wed-
ding party for a cake as unique as the wed-
ding itself. This cake was fashioned and
decorated by the bride's sister, Karen
Robinson.
For a honeymoon to Niagra Falls, the
bride wore a suede rust colored two-piece
suit with pink blouse and grey accessories,
Out of town guests were from 42 areas in
Ontario.
The bride is the granddaughter of Douglas
Freeman and the late Charlotte Freeman,
and the late Mr. and Mrd. A.L. Shanahan, all
of Clinton.
and don't know
which way to turn, call
If
you're
NEW
1N
TOWN
Fuller-Cudmore
Michael Fuller of Dorset, and Karen
Cudmore of Clinton, were married on
November 23 at Ontario United Church,
Clinton. Rev. David Woodall officiated. The
groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernie
Fuller of Dorset and the bride is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cudmore of
Clinton. Barbara McKenzie of Clinton was
the matron of honor. Bridesmaids were
Debra Ferguson of Sault Ste. Marie, sister
of the groom, Kim Smith of London, cousin
of the bride, and Debra Cudmore of
Goderich, sister-in-law of the bride.
Flowergirl was Kate Burns of Goderich and
ringbearer was Michael Cudmore of
Goderich, nephew of the bride. The bestman
'Was David Ferguson of Sault Ste. Marie,
broter-in-law of the groom and ushers were
Warren Cudmore of Goderich, Bernard
Cudmore of Clinton and .Leighton Cudmore
of Clinton, brothers of the bride. The couple
is now residing in Toronto.
imately 70 people," said Rev. Witmer.
Those who do belong to the church are
strong believers, going out of their way to
attend the servides as well as support it
financially. In explaining their faith, Rev.
Witmer told of three members.
The first member was an elderly masseur
who had very little income. When he
became ill and placed in the hospital he had
no income at all, however, he continued to
make his monthly contributions to the chur-
ch. Once he was released from the hospital,
he gave the weekly contributions for every
Sunday he had missed.
The second member Rev. Witmer told
about was a lady who was married to a
farmer. ,Her mother had believed in the
church but her husband wouldn't allow her
to attend. It had always been this woman's
dream that her daughter would be allowed
to attend church and she was able to until
she was married.
After her marriage, the mother-in-law felt
it was not necessary for her to go to church,
therefore, she could not attend frequently.
But her faith is so strong that she continues
to make financial contributions.
This woman now has a daughter of her
own, and it is her dream that she be allowed
to attend church freely.
Rev. Witmer also told of a family that
drove 45 miles to church whenever they
could. „The family consisted of six people
and their car would only seat five. Because
of this they were forced to take turns coming
to church. However, there was one Sunday
when all six. family members hopped in the
car, and at the risk of being finded by the
police, drove to church.
Family Life
Rev. Witmer married a Japanese woman
named Keiko, and now has three children,
Manna, Nathan.. and Martin. They live in a
northern city called Nayoro which _ is ap-
proximately 45 miles from the church he
preaches at. The family drives the distance
and stays at the church manse on the
Bayfield woman
dies at age 85
Annie Kerr
Annie:Elizabeth Kerr of Bayfield, died in
South Huron Hospital, Exeter, on January
26 at the age of 85.
Mrs. Kerr was born on May 4, 1900 in
Brook Township, Lambton County, to
Richard and Sophia VanNatter. On
November 22, 1922, she married Henry
Russell Kerr, formerly of.Petrolia. She was
a member of the Bayfield Baptist Church
and the Salvation Army.
Mrs. Kerr is survived by her husband, one
daughter, June Humphries of Bayfield, and
one grandson, Carl Humphries of London.
She is also survived by one sister, Lilly
Markg,Rrownlee of Brights' Grove.
'Mrs. Kerr is predeceased by three sisters,
Winnie Edgar of Brook Township, Minnie
Henderson of Inniskillin and Pinnie Swan,
also of Brook Township.
Funeral services were held on January 28
at Beattie Funeral Home, Clinton, with Mr.
Holley of the Bayfield Baptist Church
officiating. Interment was held at the
Bayfield Cemetery.
f.,
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�L _ .t1lL illi.,
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FUNERAL
153 HIGH STREET
CLINTON
482.9441
HOME LTD.
BOX FUNERAL CHAPEL
47 HIGH STREET
SEAFORTH
weekends.
This monthly journey v6111 come to an end
in the near future as a permanent minister
will soon be assigned to the church,
Since Rev. Witmer has been in Japan, he
has learned to speak and write the
language.
"It took about three years before 1 telt
comfortable speaking the language," he
said, adding that he preaches in Japanese
every week. 'But I only write Japanese
when I have to."
Rev. Witmer has been back in Canada
since April of 1985 and plans to return to
Japan on March 15, 1986.
SUPERIOR
MEMORIALS
ESTABLISHED OVER 60 YEARS
Clinton Area
MICHAEL FALCONER
153 HIGH STREET, CLINTON
482-9441
Goderich Area
ROBERT McCALLUM
11 AMBRIA ROAD, GODERICH
- 524-7345
Uniting- the world ..
One heart at a time
SOME ANSWERED
—QUESTIONS—
Do Bahai's believe in Christ?
—YES—
Why are you not called
—Christians?
Bahai's believe that Abraham,
Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Bud-
dha, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, the
Bab and Baha'u'llah brought con-
tinuing messages from God at a
time in history when mankind was
ready to understand.
Baha'u'llah is the latest but not the
last prophet from God. Material
education takes us from grade to.
grade. Spiritual education is given
from Messenger to Messenger.
If you have any questions about
the Baha'i Faith you would like an-
swered in this column, please phone
or write:
Goderich 524-4620
P,O.Box 212
Kincardine 396-3589
P.O. Box 1059
Clinton 482-3388
P.O. Box 1250,
Fellowship Bible Chapel
162 Maple Street Sunday, February 9
9:45 a.m. Worship &Remembrance
a.m. Sunday School 8 Family Bible Hour
7 p.m. Evening Service
Speaker: Cleoson Weber
7:30 p.m. •Tues. - Prayer 8 Devotion
10 a.m. Wed., Coffee Hour,
Speaker: Vivian Grant
Listen to "Just Neighbors"
on Cable 12 Sundays 5 p.m. & Tuesdays 8:30 p.m.
Clinton
United
Ontario Street United Church
1 0 S Ontario St.. Clinton, Ont.
MINISTER ORGANIST
Rev. David J. Woodall, B.A., M.DIV. Louise McGregor
11 a.m. Public Worship
11 a.m. Church School
hostess at
524-2202 or.
524-2544 ..,.
Wesley- Wiillis United Church
MINISTER -REV. JAMES BECHTEL., B.A.. B.D.
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 9
11:00 a.m. Service of Wesloy-Willis
9:45 a,m. Service of H6imesville
Everyone Weltotf'ie,
Church
Services
Christian Reformed
Christian Reformed Church
2f 3 Princess St.. E. Clinton
SUNDAY. February 9
Rev. Homer Samplonlus
10 a.m. Worship Service
3:00 p.m. Worship Service
All Visitors Welcome
Baptist
85 Huron St.
CLINTON
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
REV. GILBERT KIDD
Sunday. February 9
11 a.m. Morning Worship & Sunday School
Wednesday t p.m. Bible Study
EVERYONE WELCOME
anktO
524-9130
Anglian
St. Paul's Anglican Ohurch.
Rev, Gordon Simmons, D.A.. M. Div,
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9
IOa.m. Service
1st 8 3rd Sundays • Holy Communion
2nd & 4th Sundayii • Morning Prayer