The Citizen, 2003-05-28, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2003. PAGE 19.
From the Minister’s Study
Idea of family different in Ghana
Rev. Theresa McDonald-Lee,
Knox Presbyterian Church,
Cranbrook
I have just returned from two and
a half weeks in Ghana, Africa. This
was a trip sponsored by the
Presbyterian Church in Canada to
understand the church in Ghana and
visit several of the development
projects sponsored by the church in
Canada.
It was an incredible eye-opening
trip. One thing I will always
remember is the heat. When we were
in northern Ghana it was 40 degrees,
day and night.
One of the things that struck me
right away about life in southern
Ghana is the different understanding
of family. Here in Canada a family is
defined by who your parents are,
who your children are, and who your
siblings are. When most people
think of a “family” they picture a
nuclear family - mother, father, two
children, and a dog.
This is starting to change as family
life has changed; we now sometimes
add in stepparents or grandparents.
But we would still picture our family
as a small unit.
The model of family is much
different and much larger in the
Ghanaian context. The average
Ghanaian I met had about five
women she called mother, 20
aunties, and innumerable brothers
and sisters.
During my stay with a family I
could not figure out who was related
to whom. Everyone was called
“auntie” or “mama” or “brother.”
They were often not blood relatives,
but people who filled a significant
role in their development and who
should be respected.
(Because I was a minister they
called me Mama out of respect - that
was a surprising thing to be called!)
In the Christian church we often
say that we are brothers and sisters
of one another, but we are rarely as
explicit as they are in the Ghanaian
church. By calling everyone brother
or sister, they were saying in a real
way that we are all connected to one
another.
While I doubt we will ever begin
to call one another “sister” on the
way out of church, it is a concept we
need to pay attention to. Many of us
have women who helped raise us,
men who helped teach us, and
friends who helped keep us together
in the church. In a very real way, this
is family.
Let us celebrate our families and
our church family!
There is that old saying, “It takes a
village to raise a child.” That is
certainly true.
In Ghana, whoever happens to be
around will pick up a crying child or
discipline a misbehaving one.
But we could likely amend the
sentence to say, “It takes a village to
create an aunt (or uncle
grandparent or parent).”
It is only by supporting one
another that we can truly fill
roles. Everyone in the community is
essential to one another and we
really are a family.
S
or
our
Fanfare begins service
at Melville Presbyterian
Sunday morning service at
Melville Presbyterian Church began
with a true fanfare as Marissa Pipe
and Sadie Tenpas performed
Chippewa Falls on their recor
ders.
Crystal McLellan, organist, played
the opening hymn. The senior choir
sang the anthem, The Beautiful
Garden of Prayer, followed by
which was added to the potluck
lunch held Sunday after church.
Donations from this monthly
luncheon go to Presbyterian Sharing
and help support University
Presbyterian Church in Toronto. The
congregants of this church are
mainly of African and East Indian
heritage, but also has longstanding
members of European heritage.
This church is instrumental in
planning and implementing the
Presbyterian African Heritage
celebrations that take place during
Black History Month which helps
others to affirm the abundant life
that Christ brings.
The church members are grateful
for the support given through
Presbyterian Sharing.
prayers.
Prayer was the topic addressed by
Rev. Cathrine Campbell to the
children. She taught them the
method of finger prayer: to use each
specific finger of one hand as a
reminder of important things to
include when they pray. All fingers
then turn over to form a cup, which
suggests to them the safety of being
in God’s hands.
The Scripture reading was Acts
10: 34 - 48; 1 John 5: 1-5; John 15:
9 - 17 assisted by reader Dave
McCutcheon.
Rev. Campbell’s sermon, All
Things Being Equal, was introduced
by the idea of judgement and
people’s perception of it. The
Apostle Peter told that God didn’t
play favourites. The relationship
between God and man is not as
master to servant, but rather a loving
friend. In their love for friends,
people may rise to great heights.
This love cannot be forced but is
given freely without limits. The
highest form of love is that which
exists between God and man.
Collection was taken up by Frank
Schimanski, Bill King, Dave
McCutcheon and Maurice Douma.
The greeters at the door were Vai
Shortreed and her family.
On Wednesday evening at 7:30
p.m. the 150th committee will meet
at the church to discuss progress
toward the anniversary celebration
year. Next Sunday at Melville the
Sacrament of Holy Communion will
be celebrated.
Julia Mitchell continues to look
for volunteers to help for Kid’s
Comer in August. This is sponsored
by the five local churches.
On June 11 Camp Kintail
Children’s Rally is being sponsored
by the WMS. All children and
grandchildren from kindergarten to
Grade 8 may attend from 5 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. with crafts, games, music,
worship and food.
Those who attended last Saturday
night’s bowling sponsored by the
Sunday School had lots of fun, but
managed to bring home some pizza
St. Michael's
Roman Catholic Church
254 Drummond St. E., Blyth
Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m.
Father Lance Magdziak, Pastor
519-527-0142
email: stjames@rcec.london.on.ca
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
Wednesday
MISSIONARY CHURCH
sngasonjof Auburn - 526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.- Youth
7:15 p.m. - Adult Bible Study
Blyth United Church
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, June 1
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Mystery Sunday
Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman
Office: 523-4224
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School '
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
living Water
(fuKlitin TdluiKfiip
3
3
3
3
3
3
June 1 - Ephesians 4:22ff
’’Spring
Cleaning
Gungeg
Souls”a
8
I 10:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship6 at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
i Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848 |
www.tcc.on.ca/~dowfam
Christ-centred. Bible-believing.
Fellowship-friendly. Growth-geared
3
3
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
"WeCcMted tpM to and (wt&difa, cuetd- ctd
Sunday, June 1
7th SUNDAY OF EASTER
HOLY EUCHARIST- ASCENSION DAY
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
'PCcaae, foot awtd/iifa
Sunday, June 1
Morning Worship Service -10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
A
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Oiaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
June 1
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Please join with us to worship and celebrate being Easter people
Church
"The Church is not a
Building,
It is People Touching
People"
Sunday - 10:00 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship
Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. - Bible Studies
Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E.
Pastor Les Cook 523-4590
Fellowship
Cornerstone
Bible
Ethel
Communion - 9:45 - 10:30
Family Bible Hour and Sunday School ~ 11:00 - 12:00
Prayer & Bible Study ~ Tuesday 8 p.m.
Ladies' Time Out - The last Thursday of each month
7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no
one comes to the Father, but through Me."
Every one Welcome
Call Pastor Andrew Thursdays or Fridays at 887-6123