More Ideas

Here are some more thoughts building on the “second adult class” idea that Marion was speaking about in "An Idea":

It is really neat when we can get a group of people together to have a look at something new, have a look at doing things differently or just getting together! Building community can be a lot of work!

I just finished a couple of different books that might provide a great focus for that “second adult class” or smallish group activity!

“Reinventing Sunday - Breakthrough ideas for transforming worship”(ISBN 978-08170-1414-8)

would be a really good book for a group to get together and start going over. The book is written by Brad Berglund, who I believe is an Episcopal Priest, so the book comes from a bit more of a “liturgical type perspective”, but I found myself wondering, as I went through the book, and then went through it again, “Gee, just how could we adapt this thought to a Community of Christ type approach."

Even if the worship at your congregation is top notch and “couldn’t be improved” it never hurts to keep looking at things to see if you can keep worship “fresh” and “relevant”! Give this book at try!

Another good book, especially for this time of year as we're considering Lent, for a group study, might be “The Last Week - what the gospels really teach about Jesus’s final days in Jerusalem.” (ISBN 978-0-06-087260-1 .) This one is also available in audio as shown below.

Please note, this book may not be for everyone but it is an excellent look at the gospel account from Mark (we are in liturgical year B). This book takes a day by day look at Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem and provides background information and a perspective that you may not have encountered before.

These are a couple of books I have recently finished! Hey, with the three suggested by Marion, that will give you at least five to pick from if you decide to take up the challenge!

Poster is John Nichols

Future Church

As I drove to the Stratford Community of Christ last Sunday morning, my mind wandered to the fall of 1962 and my earliest experience with this congregation. In those days, the church met in a smaller, older building, I believe on the corner of Brunswick and Waterloo. Many will no doubt have pictures of the old building, but unfortunately I do not have even one to share with you here.

I do not know when the conversation started about building a new church. My parents would have been there, but they are no longer around for me to ask. We can be certain, however, that there was not universal agreement that building a new church was a good idea. Some would have been in favour, perhaps arguing that the congregation was outgrowing thier facility. There would also have been those who thought the old building was good enough. Equally certain is that there would have been others who thought they should not spend the money for a new building; it would just be too expensive. We can be quite sure of this because the same debate raged in various cities and towns during the expansive years of the ‘60s and ‘70s. In some cases the “build a new church” folks prevailed, and in others the “stay put” folks won out. It is interesting now, some forty plus years later, to compare the vitality of the congregations that chose those two different paths.

In any event, Stratford congregation chose the future and built a lovely new church on what was then almost the edge of town. It was a good decision. As I sat in the congregation last Sunday morning, I thought about how forward thinking and visionary that decision had proven to be. The congregation meets in an attractive, comfortable and accessible facility that is well positioned for years to come.

I had several reasons for being in Stratford last Sunday morning, but the dedication of the new piano was not one of them; in fact, I didn’t even know there was a new piano. I soon learned, however, that when my cousin Keith Williamson passed away about a year ago, he left the congregation a bequest, and they had decided to use the money for a lovely new grand piano.

As the service progressed, at least 13 people took their turn playing this fine new instrument; children, youth and adults. I was astounded by the number of musicians who were there!Experience levels varied from those who were early in their learning all the way to accomplished, professional musicians, but I cannot tell you which was the more enjoyable. All played well.

It happens that I enjoy listening to music much more than I enjoy singing, so this was my kind of service. The worship was full of music played on lovely instruments; the piano teamed with flute, saxophone and voice. There was even a humorous skit that involved the piano. Oh, there were hymns to sing, but more often we were afforded the opportunity just to listen and reflect.

Perhaps it was during that reflection that the thought came to me that Stratford congregation was once again positioning itself well for the future. They have acquired a lovely piano that young and old musicians will enjoy playing for years to come. In this they have proven themselves to be just as visionary as the generations that preceded them. Good job, Stratford. You are indeed a church with a future.

Posted by Carman

Siguatepeque

Siguatepeque is the name of a small city of perhaps 65,000 people in Honduras. For me, however, it will probably always be the site of a special school and the culmination of a truly remarkable story. An abbreviated version of that saga follows.

Until January 20th I had never heard of Siguatepeque. It was our sixth day in Honduras, and Al Wigood announced to the World Accord build team that we were going on a field trip. In part, this was to help load a truck with some scaffolding we needed to complete our work, plus a variety of other supplies. More to the point, however, the trip was to show us a special school for the handicapped in that city. While the school was all new to me, its existence was known to many of the Western Canada members of our team.

Ready to Head Out on the Highway!

Consequently, we piled into the back of Al’s pickup and headed off at full speed down the highway. While this is not something we are used to in Canada, it seems to be one of the most common means of travel in Honduras.

To start at the beginning, the Canadian connection to this school really begins with Magdalene Marie Ungstad from Edmonton, better known to everyone as Mag.

Mag Ungstad in 2010

In the 1960s, Mag adopted a child from South Korea, a little girl whose name was Me Ai. Me Ai had a physical disability resulting from Polio and a childhood dislocated hip that caused her to walk with a limp. She was Mag’s pride and joy.

Me Ai grew up and married, providing Mag with three beautiful grandchildren. Then in 1992, Me Ai and two of the children, seven year old Kristi and two year old Tyler, were killed when their van was hit by a train. Me Ai’s nine year old son Matthew was seriously injured but managed to survive.

In the years following this tragedy, the desire grew in Mag to do something significant in memory of Me Ai, Kristi and Tyler. A strong supporter of World Accord, Mag met Terry Fielder at Hills of Peace Camp one summer and discussed the plight of children in the world and a suitable opportunity for her support.

Meanwhile, in Siguatepeque, a group of parents had formed an organization seeking to create a special school for disadvantaged children. This was only the third such organization in all of Honduras where social support for such children and their families is not common. These children have a variety of challenges including Downs Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and Brain Damage caused by Convulsions. In conjunction with World Accord, the group managed to build the first phase of the school; three classrooms and unfurnished washrooms, however the school remained incomplete. Phase two of the school was needed before it could open.

The (now) Nearly Finished Siguatepeque School

I’m sure you can see where this is going. These two parts of the story came together like a marriage made in heaven. The fact that this is a school for children with handicaps was a wonderful fit with Mag’s dream because of Me Ai’s disability, and she decided to see the school completed.

Al Wigood with the Commemorative Plaque which Reads (in Spanish):
This School Was Constructed in Memory of Kristi, Tyler, and MeAi Harder.

When our team arrived at the site on January 20th, we were met by some of the parents and members of the board.

Family and Board Members with the World Accord Team

The school construction was nearly complete: the walls were up, the roof was on, the floors were installed, and the windows had been purchased. The obvious question was, when would the school open? To our surprise, the answer was, "We don't know!" It turns out that at least one more hurdle remained to be overcome. The problem was that there was no sidewalk, and the children, some of whom are in wheel chairs or use walkers, could not get from the street to the school without one. Oh...well, how much would that cost? The answer was about $800.00 for the necessary cement, sand and gravel; not a huge sum in Canada but well beyond the reach of most people in Honduras.

The View of the School from the Street, with No Sidewalk

Upon returning home, the problem of the missing sidewalk continued to percolate in the minds of the Western members of our team, most of whom are acquainted with Mag personally. While we in Canada East were raising money for a new Casa for Reyna and Pablo, the folks from Canada West were raising money for a sidewalk. They went to work, and in a matter of days, the necessary funds were available. Consequently in the heat of March, Al, Jens, Freddy and their team will build a sidewalk so a group of children in Siguatepeque, Honduras can go to school. It is the end of the beginning of a wonderful story.

Isn’t it amazing how easily the lives and stories of people around the world can come together when we open the eyes of our hearts and catch a glimpse of what God’s Spirit would like to see happen?

Special thanks to Stephen Thompson and Mag Ungstad for clarifying some details of this story.

Posted by Carman

Joy

Joy is a funny thing. Sometimes you don’t know you don’t have it until you notice it missing in your life.

I understand that the “Healing and Freeing of the Spirit Reunion” for this coming year is going to be quite focused around Joy! I am certain that this “Second Ziontario Reunion" will be a great blessing for everyone who attends! (Here's their facebook page)

Anne Koeslag and Barbara Smith are codirecting this important Reunion and these are things that I am seeing from them when talking about their Reunion:

We’re focusing on the “JOY”!

“Make a Joyful Noise”

Pack up your “inner child” and Come out and play!

Personally, I am going to try to find a couple of days to visit Healing and Freeing of the Spirit! I mean, who can’t do with a bit more Joy?

There was a day in the fall when I realized that there was an absence of Joy in my life. I had just locked my keys in the car and the skies had opened up. It was raining to beat the band.

With rain teeming down, and nowhere to go, I stood there and realized my predicament and then I saw our dog, Simon, in the backyard.

Simon was jumping and running and nipping at the steady flow of water that was coming down, he was having a great time! I learned a couple of very valuable lessons that day.

1. After a certain point you just can’t get any wetter.
2. You have to grasp the Joy and run with it no matter what the circumstances might be.

I went into the backyard and we, Simon and I, played fetch for a while. This was a very joyful time!



“And a little puppy shall lead them”?

Well, I don’t know about that but I do know that you have to grab onto these little life lessons when they present themselves... Even when they seem to come from the most unlikely of sources!

How has Joy presented itself to you lately? Go ahead and share! I “double dog dare” you!

John Nichols

Casa II, Thank you

A Street in Copan, Honduras

I am continuously amazed and humbled by the great love and generosity of the people of this community. On January 30th, I posted Casa here on What’s the Good Word, briefly explaining the conditions of a lady I met in Honduras. The response was immediate. People who have never met Reyna and Pablo opened their hearts and wallets to provide a new house for them. Thank you! I do not know everyone who gave, and would not make those donations public without permission anyway, but I can tell you the following.

Stratford Community of Christ recognized the need and raised $704.52 last Sunday morning. (And this was in addition to their regular offering!) Thank you, that is impressive.

North Bay Community of Christ responded by giving $500.00 from their congregational funds, and then individual members went beyond that and personally added to this total. I am blown away.

In addition, several individuals have told me personally that they read and enjoyed the blog, and would be sending a donation to World Accord to help with this project. If you are one of those who gave, thank you so much! I am touched and deeply grateful.

If you have thought you would like to help but have not yet done so, there is still time, and there is always a need. Donations can be sent to:

World Accord
1C-185 Frobisher Dr.
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2V 2E6.

Another team leaves for Honduras on a World Accord build on Saturday. This is a large team of 18 people. Their task is to complete the school addition the January team began. Because there are so many, however, I understand that some of them may get to work on preparing the site for Reyna's new home. I know she will be amazed and moved by their generosity. They will have friends in Honduras who will remember them for life.

Of the eight people that made up the team that went to Honduras to help build a school in January, seven were from Western Canada. They have also been active since returning home. Because some of you have indicated you would like to read more in What’s the Good Word about Honduras, I will have more to say about that next week.

In the meantime, all I can say is thank you. Your generosity reminds me of the speech by King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon: “When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 1:49)

Posted by Carman