Trinity Voices

December, 2006

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Articles

• Ministers' message, from Rev Lorraine and Rev Andy
• Financial Summary
• Baptism
• Celebrations
• 50th Anniversary Committee, by Barbara Moldenhauer
• Trinity, a poem by Lois Tosh
  
• Trinity United Church ... Celebrating its 100th Anniversary, by Brad Inglis
  
• A Note, from John Bye
• New Staff at Trinity
  
• The United Church in the Media, by James Taylor
  
• Trinity's Website, by Ken Chupa
• Greetings to all from your Library Committee, by Jan Penner
• Book Club Titles for 2007
• Book review, by Mildred Long
• Therapeutic Touch
• Quilters News
• Chickens in Libraries
• Wanted!
• The Importance of Proofreading
• Some Final Thoughts
  
• Tour Scotland in June of 2008

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Dear Trinity Friends,

I have fond memories of stories my late mother told us children about her childhood on Prince Edward Island. Her father, William worked on the supply ships that travelled the ocean bringing goods to far-flung places. It meant that the MacMillan children rarely saw their father, except for the short stays between big trips. His absence was never more acutely felt than at Christmas time. Winter would come to the island and the question would inevitably be; “Is Dad going to make it home in time?” What glorious Christmases there were when “Pops” was seen pushing through the snow of their long laneway up to their house by the sea. With squealing children hanging from his coat, his return was always triumphant. Mother was happy, knowing that their family of nine was complete. There was nothing better. I could hear that story over and over again, imagining what it must have been like to welcome Grandpa home.

There is another story that we as Christian people share with one another at this time of year. There is power in words that tell the story of Christmas – of shepherds and a star – of travel and birth that ends with the loving statement that God makes to the world as Jesus is born into the hearts and lives of us all.

We are reminded again and again that he comes to us in ways that are surprising and awe-inspiring. While our focus is now on that special birth there is much to ground us. There are those near to us for whom this time brings grief and trial-memories of past days are both poignant and painful. The joy we feel at Christ’s impending birth can be shared in real ways by recognizing those who are struggling and reaching out to them.

And so we enter the season of Advent and then on to Christmas and Epiphany – the great journey begins. May the birth of the child Jesus visit you and yours in Hope, Peace, Love and Joy this Christmas!

Christmas Blessings,

Rev. Lorraine & Rev. Andy

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FINANCIAL  SUMMARY

Our financial plans for 2006 were based on input obtained from the congregation during the Celebrate Stewardship Program last November. Our offering revenues were projected at that time to increase by 4% this year. Unfortunately, our offerings have actually declined so far this year and after the first ten months of 2006 we are now 8 % below our original budget estimate, and 4 % lower than they were in 2005. We have a deficit in offerings of almost $15,000 to make up this year.

We reached a balanced budget for 2006 by agreeing to supplement our offering revenues with fund raising activities of slightly more than $22,000 in total through the sale of gift cards, Holly Fair proceeds, the Yard Sale, the Waterloo Police Choir, and other events. We will be more than $4,000 short of our target by the end of this year.

Fortunately we have had some savings in expenses and some other revenues in 2006 that partially offset the lower offerings and reduced fund raising proceeds this year barring any unforeseen expenditures that might come along before the end of the year..

Offerings to the end of October were as follows:

Actual 2005 -   $180,222
Actual 2006 -     172,447   (4% below 2005)
Budget 2006-     187,431

Shortfall       -       14,984   (8% below budget)

We encourage everyone who can do so to meet their Estimate of Givings for 2006 and to make the appropriate adjustments as soon as possible if you have not already done so. We have much to celebrate in our 50th Anniversary year at Trinity and we ask that everyone make an appropriate response to our current situation. A special gift at Christmas would also be an appropriate way to celebrate what has been a very special year in the history of Trinity.

Finance and Stewardship Committee,
November 21, 2006.

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Cost of a Sermon

One beautiful Sunday morning, a minister announced to his congregation: "My good people, I have here in my hands three sermons...a $100 sermon that lasts five minutes, a $50 sermon that lasts fifteen minutes, and a $10 sermon that lasts a full hour.

"Now, we'll take the collection and see which one I'll deliver."

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Baptism

After a hardy rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a young mother watched her two little boys playing in a puddle through her kitchen window. The older of the two, a five year old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of his head and shoved his face into the water hole.

As the boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother ran to the yard in a panic.

"Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?!" she shouted in anger.

"We were just playing 'church' mommy," he said. "And I was just baptizing him....

"In the name of the Father, the Son, and in...the hole-he-goes."

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Celebrations

Baptisms at Trinity

On November 12, 2006, Trinity United welcomed the following children through the sacrament of baptism:

Angelus Michael Brookes, son of Carla and Adam Brookes
Taylor Marie Magnus, daughter of Brad and Kim Magnus
Lauren Patricia May Waddell, daughter of Paul and Denise Waddell
Emma Mabel Collier, daughter of Darin and Jacqueline Collier

Other Celebrations

On Nov. 3, 2006 Adam Sanford received his high school graduation diploma. He also received a certificate in transportation technology. On Dec. 6, Adam will celebrate his 18th birthday. Celebrating with Adam are mom, Heather Martin and grandparents Lloyd and Joyce Martin.

Glen Estill, son of Don and Ann, recently opened two more wind turbines in Ferndale on the Bruce Peninsula.  They stand on the same property as his first one.  The three turbines produce enough power for 1500 households and at this time the Bruce is at capacity for wind power.  Every little bit helps cut the use of the coal-fired plants in the province.

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50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE

What a year this has been and what a celebration!  My spare room bed is covered with pictures, documents, etc. which need to be labelled and filed for the archives – my job for the next few weeks.  I want to thank everyone for your support and your participation in all the anniversary events throughout the year.    And the chairs – they look great.  I’m so proud of them. Lois Tosh summarizes it all in a poem she wrote which was included in the Program at the Party on October 27.  We want to share it with everyone.

Barbara Moldenhauer, Chairperson

TRINITY

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Trinity United Church – Guelph, Ontario

2056 celebrating its 100th anniversary!

By Brad Inglis

I needed to print that title out to see what it would look like. I could actually, feasibly be there at the ripe old age of 91. For the sake of numbers I guess that I will make a reservation for the dinner and dance with the option of cancelling a little closer to the date.

But what if I’m not there, what if there are only a few of us there who helped to celebrate the first 50 years. What will our legacy be? Will there still be a Trinity United Church in Guelph or will it be a condominium, considered a century building, very cool loft living for young professionals and empty nesters?

What was on the minds of those charter members in 1956? Were they imagining what things would be like in 2006? What would Trinity be like fifty years later? Many of them would have been young men and women with their entire lives ahead of them. Busy with young families, trying to make a living and investing their limited time and energy in the creation of what we benefit from today. For them, I am sure that fifty years must have seemed so far off into the future. But as we all know, time moves on, waiting for no one and here we are left to ponder the next fifty years.

That group of visionaries and charter members who determined a need for a church in the north east corner of Guelph and saw it through left the legacy of a beginning, a property, and most importantly, hope and faith in the future. The challenge then was for that vision to be moved forward, continue reaching out into the community, having a structure that would lend itself to the needs of this particular neighbourhood and most importantly providing a centre of worship.

Our challenge in 2006 is very similar that of 1956. Although we do not have a structure to build, it is up to us to maintain what we do have, continuing to make this place of worship a central part of the neighbourhood. Outreach in the community, serving those in need and making this a warm and welcoming place for current and new members alike. The numbers of young families continues to grow in this part of town as it did in the 50s and 60s; partly because of downsizing of the older generation and younger families moving in and also due to new growth in the furthest north east corner and east side of Guelph.

My personal challenge for this coming year is to try and figure out what I can leave as a legacy to honour those who had a vision, those who worked to contribute then and those who continue to do so today. I am not talking about big dollars but it is like the saying goes, all of us can be philanthropists and leave our mark. I used to think that was only for the rich who had hospital wings and libraries named after them, but it can be any and all of us regardless of the size of the initiative. It may be in the form of an insurance policy that names the church as beneficiary when we pass on, naming Trinity as recipient of any donations from special events (i.e. anniversaries, special birthdays etc.), memorial contributions, or any other possibilities that the United Church of Canada can suggest. It can also be as simple as being a part of the many committees that ensure the smooth operation of the church today so it is able to move forward into the future.

The next time you are in church, look around and see how people have left their mark and know that there are twice as many who have left their mark in other ways that may not be as visible. My challenge to you is to think of ways that you can help ensure Trinity continues to be a vital community partner and centre for worship in this part of Guelph.

What will be said about us during the celebrations in 2056? My hope is that I will have left something behind for those to come.

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A note from John Bye

If you like Christmas music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, tune your radio to FM 97.3, a Toronto station.  They play nothing but Christmas music starting December 1st.

Editor's note:  97.3 EZ Rock is at 93.1 on Rogers cable in Guelph.
 

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New Staff at Trinity

Meet our new Music Director...

Anne (Andrea) Arthurs is proud of her New Brunswick heritage. The evidence of her background can be heard in the lovely maritime lilt in her voice. Married to Reg,  they are new to Guelph (via Toronto) and are happy that extended family members were already here to welcome them.

With an extensive background in musical theatre Anne has added an energetic spirit to our mix here at Trinity. With her fine singing voice and her faith evident in her directing, we have embarked on a new musical journey.

We have been blessed with the added musical expertise of Reg, who generously offers his voice as soloist and choir member as well as his expertise on guitar. Apart from his day job as a Quotation Analyst Manager with Thomas & Betts Inc. in Mississauga Reg is a talented singer-songwriter.

Anne is one busy musician and singer. She and Reg have a wonderful band called Corduroy Road. You may have heard them perform at the International dinner for University of Guelph foreign students here at Trinity in October. If not, keep your ears tuned around town as they will be playing at a variety of venues in December and on into the new year. We’ll be watching for their first CD in February.

Anne teaches at the Merriam School of Music in Oakville, currently serving as their ‘Voice Specialist’ and is teaching both voice and piano right here at Trinity.

We welcome Anne and Reg to our Trinity congregation and wish them all good things as we acknowledge the blessing they are to us.

Please meet our new Office Administrator:

Heather Husnik-Osborne is new to our Trinity office but she is not new to our congregation. Having been a member for fourteen years and having had the experience of assisting in the office in previous years, she is well suited to us.

Heather’s immediate past work experience was with KidsAbility where, for five years she was secretarial support for the therapy staff at the Cambridge site.

Married to David, they have a blended family with four children – Chris, Michael, Corey & Carla. Just recently we had the pleasure of welcoming Carla and husband Adam’s first child, Angelus, in the sacrament of baptism.

The Special Olympics holds a special place in the heart of this Husnik-Osborne clan as five of them are swim coaches and Chris is a competitor.

Horses are a special passion for Heather and Carla. Their interest extends to having competed with other riders in the past in Jump, Dressage & Cross Country Shows.

You will be happy to know, Trinity friends, that Heather has a wonderful sense of order and balance. It is solidly reflected in the running of our office. We are in good hands!

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The United Church in the Media

The following article was written by James Taylor; a well known United Church author. It appeared in his hometown newspaper and is now being shared on the web. For further information or to contact him directly – jimt@quixotic.ca  

Church ad campaign creates shock and dismay

The U.S. media spent much of the week being scandalized by Michael Richards' racist outburst during a standup comedy routine. You probably know Richards better as Cosmo Kramer on the former Seinfeld sitcom series.

Several news stories were so appalled that they never mentioned the offending word, “nigger.”

Canadians, I guess, get upset about other things. In the circles I move in, the word causing shock and dismay is “bobblehead.”

A bobblehead is, of course, a dashboard ornament whose head bounces at every bump. Some car owners consider them entertaining. Some consider them a good luck charm. But in this case, the bobblehead is supposed to be Jesus.

The image comes from an advertising campaign recently launched by The United Church of Canada. The campaign has six full-page magazine ads.

• The bobblehead Jesus.
• Jesus in the Santa chair at the mall.
• A new baby, wearing a “warning” wristband.
• A Bible bristling with “Agree” and “Disagree” sticky notes.
• A spray can of whipping cream, captioned, “How much fun can sex be before it's a sin?”
• A traditional wedding cake with figurines of two men on top.

Not since Charles Harvey of the Ottawa Citizen made a screaming headline out of a casual comment by former moderator Bill Phipps – that he did not equate Jesus with God – has theology generated as much discussion.

Not disinterested

At this point, I should declare my own bias. I have lived within the United Church all my life. I have volunteered since I was 18; I worked for it for 13 years. During my book-publishing career, the United Church was our biggest customer.

I am, in other words, not a disinterested observer.

That doesn't mean I support everything my church has said or done. At times, I have disagreed strongly with, even protested against, some church policies.

But not this time.

I was not involved in developing the current ad campaign. Indeed, I barely knew of it until I chanced to attend a presentation in September.

Nevertheless, because of my known church association, I seem to have become a lightning rod for those who consider the ads distasteful, misleading, offensive, even disgraceful.

Three rebuttals

Three things need to be said:

1.  No money from any church donations went into this campaign.

None. Zero. Nada. The funding – about $10.5 million – came from a bequest specifically designated for innovative ways of reaching out to unchurched people.

So it could not have been distributed to the poor, as some have suggested. Nor could it have been used to prop up struggling congregations.

Some critics have objected that church members were not consulted. True. But neither are pew-sitters consulted directly about thousands of other decisions. Those decisions are delegated to elected representatives. As was this one.

 2.  There are no television ads.

Most of the protests have come from people who glimpsed the content on television. But those were news stories, not paid ads. After the venerable Globe and Mail did a full-page feature on the campaign, other media leaped on the bandwagon. Inevitably, they selected the most controversial images.

Television inevitably distorts the ads' message. Magazine readers have time to read the text; viewers do not. Magazine readers have time to consider their reaction; viewers merely react.

During his studies at Columbia University in New York, Eric McLuhan – son of Marshall McLuhan – showed that television and print affect the human brain differently. Television, as emitted light, stimulates the emotional right brain; print, as reflected light, influences the more analytical left brain.

To judge a print ad, based on a brief television exposure, is almost certainly misleading.

3.  The ads were not aimed at today's church members.

They were intended for 30-45 year olds who have pretty much given up on any church.

Although over 80 per cent of Canadians still profess belief in God and consider faith important, only 19 per cent still attend church weekly. As one commentator noted, “people are looking for spirituality everywhere but in churches.”

About a third of the $10.5 million went to research the attitudes of people whose last contact with church was 20 or more years ago. They think of church as intimidating, stuffy, and judgemental, boring, unwilling to change…

In fact, the church – especially, perhaps, the United Church – has changed. But the 30-45 year olds don't know it.

How else?

Frankly, I don't expect these ads to bring hordes of people into United Churches.

If it does, I fear that visitors may encounter church members who are just as stodgy and judgemental as they remembered. The major flaw in this campaign, to my mind, is a lack of training for the representatives who have to close the sale, the local members.

If the church is merely a social club for existing members, this ad campaign will be a failure.

But if the church's mission is to get people thinking about the role of religion and faith in daily life, about their relationship with what AA calls a “higher power,” then it has already succeeded.

In the first week alone, over 32,000 people logged onto www.WonderCafe.ca, with 306 topics posted, for a generally civilized discussion. Almost 200 news outlets carried the story.

I would ask critics how they would convince a sceptical generation that the church is NOT stodgy, judgemental, set in its ways, and unwilling to change?

• With pictures of an ethereal man wearing a halo?
• With pictures of a heart, ripped from a living chest, dripping blood?
• With videos of good-hearted persons huddled in meetings?
• With buildings whose architecture restricts any mission but maintaining the architecture?
  

The people who developed the WonderCafe campaign at least had some new ideas.

Instead of chipping away at their efforts, United Church members might better celebrate their creativity. And figure out ways of capitalizing on whatever results come, good or bad.

Copyright © 2006 by Jim Taylor. Non-profit use in congregations and study groups permitted; all other rights reserved.

News Release: During the initial week after the launch of WonderCafe, The United Church of Canada and its advertising initiative were mentioned as news items on:

• 56 television stations in Canada
• 77 radio stations (not including phone in and interview shows)
• 50 newspapers 
  

On WonderCafe.ca, within the first week:

• 2,165 people had filled out profiles
• 122,174 pages were viewed
• 306 topics were posted for discussion generating
• 5,318 postings to the site
• 32,041 unique "computers"/individuals had logged onto the site 
  

These figures do not include reports on the campaign by the BBC World Service, the Australian Broadcasting Company and reports in New Zealand, South Africa and India, as well as many references on the Internet.

The Public Relations dimension of this initiative will be considered for two Public Relations awards. The Advertising Campaign itself will be considered for four awards. This week the Emerging Staff have also been part of interviews with two Winnipeg radio stations - the CBC, CJOB, the Globe & Mail and, potentially this Sunday, CNN.   Keith Howard Executive Director Emerging Spirit (www.emergingspirit.ca; www.wondercafe.ca ) The United Church of Canada 250-483-5835

Editor’s Note: In the same vein, here are some Answers to Questions about the Emerging Spirit Ad Campaign from The Rev. Dr. Jim Sinclair, General Secretary, General Council, The United Church of Canada.

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Trinity's Website

www.trinityunitedguelph.ca

Our church now has a presence on the World Wide Web. When people Google “trinity guelph” they will find us! A website is one way for the world to  get to know us and to see what we are doing at Trinity United Church in Guelph.

The website is also a source of information and other material of interest to the congregation. For example, you can read this issue of Trinity Voices on the website. The content is identical, but the pictures are in colour, and there are links you can follow to see related stories and pictures. Also, you can use the capabilities of your browser to create your own “large print” edition of Trinity Voices. Finally, if significant numbers of us prefer the online version of the newsletter, we can reduce the number of  printed copies, and save some trees.

In addition to the newsletter, there is much more on the website:

• worship services for December – Celebrating the time from Advent to Epiphany
• Sunday School news
• notices for special events, such as the Guelph Male Choir pre-Christmas concert and the Trinity Choir cantata
• events calendar for the current month
• details of recent additions to the Trinity library
• a bit of history
• gallery with many photos from the 50th Anniversary weekend

All this information is available in other forms, but the website collects it all together in one place. For those of us who spend too much time looking for pieces of paper, this could be the solution.

The website is a work-in-progress. Suggestions are welcome. If there are things you would like to see added, please let us know. Due to privacy concerns, there are some things (such as names and telephone numbers) which we cannot publish. Send your comments and suggestions to webmaster@trinityunitedguelph.ca or office@trinityunitedguelph.ca .

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Greetings to all from your Library Committee

Thank you all for supporting the “Share the Word” library event. We sincerely hope you enjoy the items you chose. If they eventually join the Trinity library collection that would be great. However, please be assured that you are under no obligation to donate your item to the library. We also want to thank those who have made a donation towards the purchase of the ResourceMate Software.

We are on our way!

The library committee would like to extend a huge Thank You to all those who have donated to the library over the last year.  We have received a wide variety of items that have enhanced the collection.

Last January the committee met to do some brainstorming about the way the library currently is and shared ideas about how we thought the library could be more useful to the church congregation as a whole.  We did not feel that the library currently was providing enough resources to existing small groups; we thought there was a lack of a variety of media, CDs, DVDs, etc. for individuals, families and groups.  We wanted to see more programming from the library so folks could enjoy the library.  We wanted to see more materials available at coffee time.  We wanted to make our library available to more people using the internet.  We wanted to make it easier for folks to look through our catalogue.

Over the past year, we have looked carefully at what we have, what we need to replace and what we need to add.  We started a review of library software to determine if there was a program that might be suitable for our purposes. Ken Chupa kindly offered his expertise to review a number of programs and we narrowed our search down to a program developed locally in Guelph called ResourceMate.

This software provides a very user friendly patron search option to allow you to find the item you are looking or even the item you think you might be looking for.  We will also be able to get a clearer picture of the types of things that folks like to borrow so we can keep our eye open for items in that category. This software will also enable us to upload the library catalogue onto our web site so that you can search the library from home to see if we have what you want.

Hopefully, some day we can provide more support to those with mobility issues and are unable to physically access the library by helping to get the items to you at home rather than you coming into pick them up.  We have added some magazines to the library and are still testing them to determine which are more popular.

We haven’t accomplished everything we set out to do, but we’ve made a great start and will continue over the coming year.

Thanks to our recent Share the Word event, we have added:

a book that might appeal to the artist called:  The Art of Soul, An Artist’s Guide to Spirituality,

The Healing Oasis (book and CD), a series of guided meditations for individuals or small groups who want to explore their spirituality within a Christian tradition,

Capture the Moment, a handy reference book for ideas on celebrating or acknowledging life events such as marriage, moving, pregnancy, arrival of a sibling, in a joyful Christian way, and

Why Girls Talk, And What They’re Really Saying: A parent’s survival guide to connecting with your teen.

We have also gotten some bags to use when taking items out of the library. Feel free to use these bags to take your books, CD, DVD, VHS, etc. home and then bring them back in the bag to the library.  You can put the bag of items right into the return box and we will check the items back into the library.

A PARTIAL LISTING OF NEW ITEMS IN THE LIBRARY OVER THE PAST YEAR INCLUDE:

The Heart of Christianity, Marcus Borg
Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield
Self-Nurture: Learning to Care for Yourself as Effectively as You Care for everyone Else, Alice D. Domar,
Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom
Clara Callan, Richard B. Wright,
The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck
Angels Watching Over Me, Michael Phillips
Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hasseini
The Hungry Tide, Amitav Shosh
Pope Joan, Donna Woolfolk Cross,
In the Vineyard of the Lord, Fred Vauer
The Poinsonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver,
World Wide Search: The Savvy Christian’s Guide to On Line Dating, Cheryl Green
Super Mom Has Left the Building, Judith Edwards
Arthur Goes on a Field Trip, VHS Video
Midlife Meltdown, Janet Maccaro
Surrender to Love, David G. Benner
The Next Place, Warren Hanson (chidren)
Are You Sleeping, Debbie Trafton O’Neal
Our Lady of the Lost and Found, Diane Schoemperlen
Healing Grief, Victor Parachin
The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss, James W. Kemp
Life After Death, Tom Harpur
Peacemaking, Conrad G. Brunk
Signs and Symbols in Christian Art, George Ferguson
Touching Spirit, Elizabeth K. Stratton
A Garden in Paris, Stephanie Grace Whitson
Welcome, Ervin Stutzman
Living as God’s Family, George Konrad
Our First Christmas Tree, VHS
The Night Before Christmas, VHS
Christ and Violence, Ronald J. Sider
Crones Don’t Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women, Jean Shinoda Bolen,
She Who Laughs, Lasts, Ann Spangler, compiler
Silent Night, The Story of the Christmas Carol, VHS
Jesus, VHS
Veggie Tales, Sheer Luck Homes and the Golden Rule, VHS
Divorce is Not the End of the World, Sue Ellen Stern

We also have received a great donation in the form of a number of copies of Women’s Concerns, a publication of the United Church of Canada and Vox Feminarium, a woman’s journal produced locally in Kitchener-Waterloo.

We hope you come by for a look see and feel free to check an item out.  We use the honour system.  If you would please take the card from the book, fill out your name, phone number and a date by which you will return the item and leave it in the front of the small wooden box which will be on the table or may be on the book shelf.

Thanks again for all your terrific support,

Cheers,

Jan Penner, on behalf of the library committee

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Book Club Titles for 2007

January 16: The Constant Gardener, by John Le Carre
February 20: Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, by Vincent Lam
March 20: Suite Française, by Irene Nemirovsky
April 17: TBA
May 15: Igloo Dwellers Were My Church, by Jack Sperry

Editor's Note: The list of Book Club titles is published on the Trinity website. Follow the Book Club link from the Upcoming Events calendar, or from the Library page.

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A Book Review

by Mildred Long

Three Weeks With My Brother: A Memoir, by Nicholas and Micah Sparks

Since reading this book for the first time, I have read all eight that Nicholas has written. I am waiting for the ninth, but as he has already made his first million, I may have to wait.

I was struck by the closeness of these two men, aged 35 and 36, Micah being the elder. Their parents were educated folk but money was always a scarce commodity, thus they learned to make their own fun. The elder was definitely more adventuresome, confident – personality plus, but he had always been instructed to look out for his brother. Hence he called him “Little Brother.”

There is such a warmth, also with their sister. Their mother was a remarkable woman whose death at an early aged following an accident with her horse shattered their lives. Her death seemed to trigger depression bouts in their father, and they often wondered if he had manic depression. It is the cohesion with the siblings that is inspiring.

Six years after the mother died, their father was regaining his life again only to be killed in a car accident. Nicholas’ second child was diagnosed as being autistic. They were determined that this child be accepted at school. It was another challenge. Nicholas and his wife had five children, Micah one.

Shortly after the father was killed, Dana, the sister and the mother of twin boys, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Although she lived miles away, one of the brothers always tried to be present for the radiation, chemotherapy, etc. which ensued. Ultimately, the treatment was unsuccessful, and Dana died, leaving the two brothers the sole survivors of their original family unit.

It was at this time that the brothers responded to a brochure that came by mail offering a three week global tour. With the encouragement of their spouses but much feeling of guilt at leaving their wives and children, they took off, along with 95 others. The closeness of these two brothers was an amazement to their fellow travellers.

The conversations in the book about faith were interesting, and the family loyalty shown by these two men was inspiring. You won’t regret reading this book!

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Therapeutic Touch

Therapeutic Touch is a ministry practice offered by several members of our Trinity congregation, specially trained in this healing modality. The hands of the practitioner are moved over and around the body, working in the energy field of the person being treated.

Formalized three years ago, the T.T. team meets once a month to discuss the practice of T.T. and to treat each other as we are so aware that caregivers are in need of care as well.

Over time our practitioners have offered their ministry for deep relaxation; for stress relief; for relieving headaches; for grief support; for pre and post-surgical care; as support through life’s transitions; for new moms – the reasons are endless!

Developed in the early 1970’s by Dora Kunz and Dolores Kreiger, Ph.D., R.N. (Professor Emerita of New York University), Therapeutic Touch is now practiced by thousands of healthcare professionals, holistic health practitioners and lay people throughout the world. Numerous colleges and universities teach it in their graduate and undergraduate nursing programs.

In Ontario, many hospitals and nursing agencies are encouraging their nurses to study the technique. Among those using Therapeutic Touch are hospice volunteers, AIDS care givers, addiction workers, midwives, occupational health nurses and those involved with elder care and more recently, those involved in the pastoral care of congregations.

If you would like more information related to the practice of Therapeutic Touch or would like to make arrangements to be treated, you may contact Rev. Lorraine or Rev. Andy at the church office 519-824-4800. Pamphlets are available in the sanctuary entranceway.

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Quilters News

 
The ladies in the quilting group have a queen size quilt nearing
completion.  It has been a lot of work, and we are hoping that you will love the finished work as much as we do.
 
The good news is that the quilt 98” x  98” will be auctioned off, either by a silent auction, or as the main feature of a real auction.  There will be a reserve bid in place, as we cannot let it go for a song!  Start saving.  Here is the unfinished quilt so far:
 

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Chickens in Libraries

A chicken walks into the library. It goes up to the circulation desk and says: "book, bok, bok, boook".

The librarian hands the chicken a book. It tucks it under his wing and runs out. A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the first book into the return bin and goes back to the librarian saying: "book, bok, bok, bok, boook". Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out.

Within a few minutes, the chicken is back, returns the book and starts all over again: "boook, book, bok, bok boook". The librarian gives him yet a third book, but this time as the chicken is running out the door, she follows it.

The chicken runs down the street, through the park and down to the riverbank. There, sitting on a lily pad is a big, green frog. The chicken holds up the book and shows it to the frog, saying: "Book, bok, bok, boook". The frog blinks, and croaks: "read-it, read-it, read-it".

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WANTED!

Young or old – the more, the merrier. Come out to the Sunshine Club and join in the fun on Wednesdays beginning at noon. Bring your lunch. The Sunbeams will serve you coffee and tea.
(The Sunbeams could use some help in the kitchen, too.)

If interested, please call Sally Stoddart
519-823-2957

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The Importance of Proofreading

In one edition of today's Food Section, an inaccurate number of jalapeno peppers was given for Jeanette Browley's Southwestern Chicken Salad recipe. The recipe should call for 2, not 21, jalapeno peppers.

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Some Final Thoughts

Advent – the four week period that leads up to Christmas – is a series of events designed not to delay the celebration of Christmas, but to enhance it. It's a kind of delayed gratification that culminates in a ... satisfaction that is all the richer for waiting.

    – John Chittister, Listen with the Heart


We should be less concerned about making churches full of people and more concerned about making people full of God.

    – C. Kirk Hadaway and David A. Roozen,
        The Christian Ministry


Love your enemies. It will drive them nuts.

    –- Eleanor Doan

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Picture yourself in the Gardens of Edinburgh, Castle - Scotland! Rev. Andy and Rev. Lorraine will be leading a tour of Scotland in June of  2008.

Although relatively small, Scotland is a land rich in contrasts. Often within a few hours travelling, you can experience a landscape that changes rapidly from gentle rolling hills to rugged coasts and dramatic, towering peaks. Vibrant, cosmopolitan cities whose outlook is definitely to the future rub shoulders with ancient castles and monuments rooted firmly in the past. In fact, the only constant is the warmth of the welcome you'll receive wherever you go!

To book your seat or for more information - please speak to Rev. Andy or Rev. Lorraine.

*** itinerary will be developed over the next year ***