The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2016-01-20, Page 19Wednesday, January 20, 2016 • News Record 19 Through the Stained Glass Window The news from Londesborough Rev. Randy Banks Brucefield Community United Church First, readers let me intro- duce myself. My name is Randy Banks, an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada for 32 1/2 years. I have previously served six pastoral charges in Alberta, Manitoba, and here in Ontario. My seventh call which started November 1, 2015 is at Brucefield Commu- nity United Church which was formed in 2013 from a coming together of the former Bruce- field/Kippen and Vama/Gos- hen pastoral charges. I acknowledge with gratitude the warm welcome the con- gregation has extended to me and my wife. On June 30 the long-term ministry I shared with a United Church in Kitchener and another small country church came to an end at the disbanding of both congrega- tions. Church closures, amal- gamations, and realignments are the order of the day in my denomination. This disheartening trend, which shows little sign of slowing up or reversing, hit me personally with the dis- banding in 2004 of the little country church in Brant County where I was baptized, confirmed, and received my spiritual formation. It is my understanding that closures of worship places in the United Church average out to one per week. And it is happening in both urban and rural contexts. There is any number of socio- logical and demographic explanations for the decline of long-standing churches that once stood at the spiritual and social centre of their commu- nities but not enough space to explore them in this column. Suffice it to say that I have read more books and spent more hours attending semi- nars on the decline of the church than I care to think about. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that there are rural and small town churches that have growing and thriv- ing ministries. It is my sense, however, that the closure of a rural or small town church hits and hurts harder than in a city or sub- urb. In Kitchener, my former congregants had a multitude of choices when it came to finding a new Christian wor- shipping community. In the country, the community has probably already lost its post office, general store and other small businesses, and its school ages ago. The closing of the church, which maywell be the last institution left stand- ing, represents the final rend- ing of the social fabric that kept some semblance of com- munity identity in place. By the grace of God and the resilience of a group of faithful and committed people, a Christian congregation con- tinues to represent the pres- ence of Christ in the small community of Brucefield. I feel privileged and blessed to be their new minister as together we seek to live out our mission statement "to worship and serve God and to encourage a sense of fellow- ship and caring within the local and global community." Brucefield is surely not what it used to be, but it's still here and so is its Christian place of worship. Drop in and worship with us at 10:30 a.m. on any given Sunday. We are conveniently located just north of the Farmer's Dell which means that from late spring to early fall you don't have far to go when the hun- gries hit following the service. Brenda Radford There was an item of trivia that I intended to share with readers some weeks ago but forgot. Although many of us have had a great deal of living since Christmas think back and remember how warm it was and that Christmas Eve was verybright Christmas Day 2015 had a full moon. Because a full moon on Christmas is an unu- sual event, it is called 'a cold moon.' And this will not happen again until 2O34. And speaking of things for- gotten I've spent a couple of stormy days poking in closets and boxes and came across an e-mail from 2004. The Wash- ington Post had asked readers to take a word from the diction- ary and by changing one letter supply a definition for the new word. Some are not for sharing in this space, but I offer a few. Intaxication: euphoria at get- ting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your moneyto startwith. Reintamation: coming back to life as a hillbilly. Giraffitti: vandalism spray - painted very, very high. Decafalon: the grueling event of getting through the day con- suming only things that are good for you. The village is reeling from the third loss of one of our own in just six months. So, hug those you love and give a hug by 'phone to those not physically close. Life is not to be taken for granted. Londesborough United Church I believe the adults enjoyed the children's discussion with Rev. Terry Fletcher at Londes- borough United Church on Sunday, January 17 as much as the children did. On one recent stormed -in day Terry built a house with 6 rooms out of card- board to illustrate his topic. When one becomes Chris- tian, God comes to live in one's heart. Our heart is God's house. A Christian should let Jesus into every part of his life and into every room of his heart. So Rev. Fletcher mentioned how one should live with God in each room of a home. REALTY RIECUITTES 417 Main St. S. P.O. Box 1054, Exeter, ON NOM 1S7 519-235-4949 OMNI 1� FARM I��AOIIP. Matt Den Hollander, Broker of Record is very pleased to announce the hiring of the Award Winning Claude Robin - Broker, Kurt Keller - Sales Rep. and Shawn Stanley - Sales Rep., formerly from the Zahnd Team Real Estate Advisors. Claude, Kurt and Shawn are a welcomed addition to Realty Executives Platinum team which along with Cor Van Gaalen - Sales Rep., will make the newly formed "Ontario Farm Group". This group, of highly experienced and reputable Farm Realtors will continue to be your trusted and smartest choice in Ag -Real Estate. Ontario Farm Group is well connected Internationally, Provincially and in your local communities. Please join us in welcoming Claude, Kurt and Shawn to this dynamic team. Matt Den Hollander Broker of Record Direct: 519-872-6259 Claude Robin Broker Direct: 519-291-8262 Shawn Stanley Sales Representative Direct: 519-323-6554 Cor Van Gaalen Sales Representative Direct: 519-525-8340 J Kurt Keller Sales Representative Direct 519-854-8081 Kevin Pasma Sales Representative Direct: 519-319-7355 For example, in the living - room, the room in which one relaxes, conversations and activities there should make God happy. Jesus cares about how we treat our bodies and in the kitchen He would want us to eat and drink healthy things. God loves us as we are and so, when we look in the mirror in the bathroom and consider our self-image, we need to remember that love. "A Mother's Faith" was the title of Rev. Fletcher's message to the adults that morning. The supporting scripture passage was John 2:1-11 and was the story of Christ's first miracle, when He turned the water into wine at awedding in Cana. When the host ran out of wine, Mary, who had faith in Christ's ability to deal with the situation, simply and quietly stated the fact to Him. Of course He would have been aware of the problem as He knows all. In the same way, God knows when we have a problem. We need not list our trials for Him when we pray but simply ask for help and guidance. With OFFICE 519-482-3400 1 Albert Street, Clinton www.rlpheartland.ca !MAL LePkGE Il IllesDrwB 1ar.i 1111 H4irILefld RAtl" faith we can expect to find help and peace. God did not prom- ise to protect us from all of the world's troubles but, if we have faith, God will do the right thing for us. The responsive psalm was Psalm 36. The senior choir introduced a new hymn to the congregation, "Dreaming Mary", also known as "There was a Child in Galilee': Londesborough United will hold their Annual Meeting on February 28. Anyone needing to file a report should have it in to the church office immediately. The storm oflastweekforced the cancellation of Londesbor- ough United's official board meeting. It has been resched- uled for January 26. Circumstances involving the church family saw the UCW meeting being resched- uled for Monday, January 25. Morag Watt, secretary at Hul- ler Central, will attend to talk about her South African pro- ject. The community is wel- come to come along to listen to her talk. f I.il- rl.LE Helping you is what we do.TM To view all our listings go to: www.rlpheartland.ca •6 -- a.• , , 4, ....II . • NEW PRICE - 279 Morris St., Blyth $110,900 Call Sherry MLS#712987 3 BR RENO'D 286 Victoria St., Londesborough $189,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#846405 CENTURY HOME 286 Dinsley St., Blyth $231,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#397347 ELEGANT CHARM 171 Victoria St., Clinton $169,900 Call Sherry MLS#334406 X11 ... %.-.., '' •itI..111 • CLOSETO SCHOOLS 1Oi t PEi{Ti GREAT STARTER VINTAGE HOME&NEW GARAGE boo 225 Rattenbury St. E., Clinton $194,900 Call Sherry MLS#568375 75780 Parr Line, Varna $192,000 Call Fred or Rick MLS#407254 132 Victoria St., Clinton $82,500 Call Rick or Fred MLS#877562 96 Huron St., Clinton $234,900 Call Rick or Fred MLS#696849 1 -- ., - - TAKE OUT RESTAURANT MOBILE HOME 165 Ai tl 90 ACRE FARM 267 Huron St., Clinton $425,000 Call Fred or Rick MLS#590053 30-343 Victoria St., Clinton $26,900 Call Fred or Rick MLS#449326 38146 Mill Rd., Varna $1,220,000 Call Rick MLS#842539 579 Con 10, Cargill $400,000 Call Fred or Richard MLS#611480 `- Fred Lobb** Rick Lobb*** Richard Lobb Sr.* Sherry McLaughlin* Cell: 519-955-0012 Cell: 519-525-1174 Cell: 519-955-0163 Cell: 519-301-2879 Broker of Record*** Broker/Owner** Sales Representative