The Citizen, 2018-03-15, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018.
Elliott to speak at `Breath of Spring' event
PEOPLE AROUND
LONDESBORO
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
Another event to be aware of is
Seaforth's annual "Breath of Spring"
on Wednesday, April 18 at the
Seaforth Agriplex. Londesborough's
own Jenn Elliott of Nature's Nest
will be a guest presenter that
evening talking about attracting
birds to your backyard. For more
details, check the poster at the post
office.
Konrad Pertschi would have been
surprised and probably a little
embarrassed to see just how
many persons were present at his
funeral last Saturday. Now, I can
hear all kinds of readers asking,
who?
Konrad was a very private person
who kept very much to himself and
shared very little about himself to
others in the 20 or so years he lived
on Londesborough Road. I came to
know who he was through the few
times he stopped by the post office
to pick up a parcel. He was a very
courteous, pleasant and seemingly
knowledgeable man. He had no
relatives in Canada.
Terry and Kim Greidanus
probably knew Konrad best and
described him as a unique,
independent and kind person.
Konrad's childhood spent in Austria
and Germany during the Second
World War shaped that uniqueness.
He lost his parents when he was just
a toddler. When he finished
secondary school education, his
adoptive parents sent him to Canada
to make his way. Konrad completed
his post -secondary education in
Kitchener and went on to work for
Kodak in Toronto.
When he retired he tried organic
farming on the farm that abuts that
of the Greidanus'. In the last years
Terry worked the farm and Konrad
enjoyed dealing with a few animals.
It came as a surprise to me, knowing
how private he was, that he did enjoy
the company of other men daily at
McDonald's in Goderich.
Terry and Kim, with Konrad in his
last few hours, asked me to thank the
first responders who answered the
medical call, the area hospital staff
and the neighbours who also offered
their concern when Konrad took ill
the previous Saturday. Konrad was
78.
An area of the village experienced
some difficulty with their breakfast
and other aspects of getting their
morning off to its usual start last
Thursday. You may recall that
was one of the mornings the area had
an early morning snowfall that
briefly made travelling treacherous.
A driver lost control at the
corner of Trueman Street and Main
Street and ended up against
Kevin Fothergill's house.
The white compact SUV suffered
considerable damage. The driver
didn't hit the hydro pole but must
have grazed it enough to snap the
breaker. Hydro crews had the power
back on fairly quickly and Bell was
soon on hand to attend to the
telephone box which was also
compromised. The driver was not
hurt.
FROM LONDESBORO
Stay Connected
Outside the box
Who says swings need to go back and forth? Certainly not Taylor Wharton, left and Brady
Finch, two students at Hullett Central Public School. The duo swung left to right during recess
on Friday, the last day before March Break. (Dennyscottphoto)
UC Choir to host Harbouraires
Pastor Sandra Cable led the
morning service at Londesborough
United Church on Sunday, March
11. She snuffed the fourth candle in
the Lenten wreath signifying the
journey to Jerusalem and Easter is
shortening.
The senior choir offered two
musical numbers for the enjoyment
of congregants. The first was a little
fun ditty reminding everyone that
this day signalled the first day of
daylight saving time. The second
was their anthem titled "Lonesome
Valley".
During the children's time at the
front of the sanctuary, they talked
with Sandra about love. It was hard
to put into words just how much they
loved their parents and conversely
how much they were loved by those
parents. Similarly it was difficult for
the children to express how much
they loved God. Sandra's point was
that love can't truly be measured.
But she stressed to them that God's
love, like a parent's, is
unconditional, never-ending and
incomprehensible.
God loves all of us just as we are.
And his love changes us and how we
live our lives because of that love.
Pastor Cable read two scripture
passages, John 3; 14-21 and
Numbers 21:4-9. The Old Testament
verses were an account of the
Israelites during their sojourn in the
wilderness.
Although the people were
unhappy in Egypt as slaves, they
had, by this time, been many years
on their way to the promised land.
They had many complaints about
God. They had forgotten their faith
in Him and were full of complaints.
God was tending to all their needs
and He was waiting for them to
recognize they needed to take care of
their own faith and healing. So, to
shake them up somewhat, God sent a
plague of snakes. The people
became fearful and went to Moses
for intercession with God. Moses
was told to make a brass snake on
which the people needed to look to
be healed from the snake bites. In
other words they had to face their
fears and recognize God's love and
care.
Their sojourn in the desert was
necessary for the people to truly
become God's chosen tribe and be
certain of their freedom and faith.
Similarly, Sandra encouraged
congregants to face their fears, to
take the leap of faith that will bring
peace in a life with God. She
promised that God would never
leave His people alone in the
wilderness of life.
Next Sunday, March 18, the
Sunday school invites everyone to
stay following the morning service
for 'soup and sandwiches'.
The Outreach Committee wants to
involve everyone in their latest
endeavour. They are looking for
volunteers of all ages to help
Londesborough neighbours with
their outdoor spring cleanup . This
event will be held the morning of
April 14.
Mark your calendars for an
evening of music on Sunday, April
29. Londesborough United's choir is
teaming up with the Harbouraires of
Goderich for a concert.
The following is a personal note. I
continue to hear concern being
expressed regarding the future of
Londesborough United Church [or
any number of rural congregations].
My question is "What are you doing
to ensure your church has a future?"
We have all heard the expression "if
you are not part of the solution ..."
Being involved does not mean
24/7 work. It can mean simply
helping out with a fundraiser,
offering suggestions, letting
committee members know your
feelings about how things are being
handled, washing dishes, placing
flowers from your garden in the
sanctuary, visiting those who are
housebound, cleaning a cupboard,
etc. Perhaps just offering a word of
praise to those who are sharing their
talents in some way. Another saying
goes "many hands make light work".
At its recent annual meeting,
Londesborough United accepted a
new form of governance. This new
system has been being tested for
several months and seems suited to
our church. Copies of this system are
available for anyone who attends
Londesborough United to consider.
Under the new system there will
be seven committees. Any number of
persons can volunteer to be on a
group that interests them or suits
their talents. Only two members of
each committee need attend the
official board meetings - perhaps six
times a year. That doesn't seem too
onerous a duty to ensure your church
has a future. Don't leave the future
to someone else. Get involved. You
can still offer your time. Call the
church office or speak to someone
you know is on the board.
Your church is your faith family
and it can always benefit from any
pair of hands.
L The Citizen
wherever you are
in the world with an
Electronic
Subscription
• Easy access
• Read on your phone, tablet or computer
• Perfect for travellers, students or snowbirds
• Timely reading (no waiting for mail delivery)
$3800
per year
Go to our website and
pay by Pay Pal or come into the office and pay
by cheque, cash, credit card or debit
The Citizen
413 Queen St., Blyth 541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-523-4792 519-887-9114
www.northhuron.on.ca