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It all started earlier this autumn with an unexpected eâ€"mail from another midâ€" nightâ€"oil burner, asking if I‘d like to play with his informal worship band for an upcoming rural ministry event in Kitchener. 1 checked my calendar between Nov. 18 and 20, blew the dust out of my flute, and in a moment of (perhaps) divinelyâ€"inspired insanity, said "sure" to a total stranger in cyberspace. When I turned up at St. Peter‘s Lutheran Church in downtown Kitchener on a Monday in midâ€"November for a morning runâ€"through, it slowly dawned on me that among the friendly, milling crowd of more than 140 delâ€" egates toting identical cofâ€" fee mugs, 1‘d be a small and challenged part of a very intense interâ€"denominaâ€" tional immersion experiâ€" ence â€" Called to Be Faithful Where We Are â€" the fourth biennial Queen‘s Theologiâ€" cal College (Kingston, Ont.) symposium on Rural Minâ€" istry. Although I‘ve been a seminary student for some time now, I didn‘t know a single useful thing about rural ministry and its unique social challenges for both laypeople and clergy, nor did I have any idea how people from Canadian country churches could "connect" so deeply with worship music from Latin America, southern France, northern Scotland, or Ireâ€" land. But I soon found that out, and a great deal more besides. Encountering the changing face of rural ministry in Canada Called to be Faithful: Until this accidental encounter, I didn‘t know how profoundly rural Canaâ€" dian Christians have been affected over the past severâ€" By Paucine Finon bor The Chromicl Christmas F;eason Lunch Buffet invite your business associates, friends and family to enjoy a gourmet luncheon buffet filled with the traditional foods of the holiday season. RUSHES Restaurant December 5th â€" 20th (M â€" F only) k. * â€"w 519.772.1127 al decades by huge changes in population trends; by aging and increasingly isoâ€" lated communities; by the nearâ€"disappearance _ of many local services in places too small for chainâ€" store profit; and the reducâ€" tion of once thriving "primaâ€" ry" industries like family farming, fishing, or forestry. Like most urbanâ€"bred Canadians, I can readily "see" the homeless on our city streets, the unemployed and underâ€"employed clusâ€" tered around job noticeâ€" boards, the increasing numâ€" ber of visitors to local soup kitchens and food banks, and the growth of tempoâ€" rary shelters for victims of substance abuse or family violence. The conference pickup choir is taught new pieces by music director Douglas Cowling of Toronto. eAuuNe rn But I‘d never given much thought to the seemingly "invisible" rural church conâ€" gregations all around us, faced with the challenges of meeting similar needs 475 King Street North, Waterloo, ON N2J 2Z5 * (519) 884â€"0220 * www .waterlooinn.com LIFESTYLE across widely scattered communities. So between rehearsals with music direcâ€" tor Doug Cowling, and a motley band of friendly instrumentalists, I became an attentive flyâ€"onâ€"theâ€"wall, sampling a smorgasbord of workshops and discussions whenever I could. There were lectures and storyâ€"tellings about change and how to embrace or face it; ideaâ€"sessions on discovâ€" ering and inspiring new talâ€" ent among small groups of people; ways to bridge the generationâ€"gap in commuâ€" nities too small for separate ageâ€"oriented activities; an exploration of the houseâ€" church movement; how to involve layâ€"people more fully in church worship and administration; how to alleâ€" viate serious issues of rural poverty and abuse; even how to laugh at yourself while feeding your soul. The WATERLOO INN Dr. Terence Donaldson, New Testament professor at Wycliffe College (the versaâ€" tile "banjoâ€"man" in our group) was also the conferâ€" ence themeâ€"presenter. His talks connected up deleâ€" gates‘ many workshop expeâ€" riences into a wholistic idea of what it means to be supâ€" portive communitiesâ€"withâ€" inâ€"communities. The challenges of living as small rural congregations within a big, fast, competiâ€" tive and economically threatening secular society aren‘t all that different from being minority firstâ€"century AD Christians. "We‘re sojourners, seemingly at odds with the rest of the world," he said. But even the most overwhelmed and marginalized congregations are also "in the redemption business" and it‘s a work of joy as much as challenge. Few presenters radiated Continued on page 12 PAULINE FINCH PHOTO Christmas PDay Dinner Buffét Unlike similar campaigns, this toy drive â€" geared towards collecting gifts for children, from toddlers to age 16 â€" gives parents the opportunity to shop and personally select gifts for their children. How is that possible? Needy parents and families in the community are invited to the church for a Christmas party Dec. 16, where they will enjoy an evening of financially stressâ€" free Christmas shopping, live Christmas music, homeâ€"baked goodies, warm drinks, free gift wrapping and free child care. Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church in Waterloo is running a unique toy drive this year, called "From Jesus With Love". From 5â€"10 p.m., parents can browse through the selection of donated gifts and find the perfect presents for their children. Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church is located at 245 Lexington Rd. Anselma House, a shelter for abused women and their children in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo, in partnership with Slush Puppie Kitchener and Kernals Popcorn in Fairview Park Mail, will introduce two new flavours of slush Dec. 14. Extreme Berry and Blue Raspberry will be unveiled at Fairview Park Mall, from noon to 4 p.m. Donations from this event, along with 10 per cent of the Kernals Popcorn sales for the day, will support Kids Day Out, a program that enables children residâ€" ing at the shelter with their mothers the opportunity to enjoy activities in a safe and secure environment. Many children leave behind a lot of their personal belongings, pets and friends when they flee their homes in search of safety. This also includes giving up many activities they are used to participating in, such as soccer, swimming lessons, hockey and music lessons. The Kids Day Out program will provide some of the activities children miss while staying at the shelter. The KW Christian Home Educators December meeting will take place Dec. 14 at St. Agnes Church in Waterloo. The meeting will feature Patti Durst, speaking on "Godliness with Content". Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the meeting to follow at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The church is located on Bluevale Street. Waterloo Mennonite Brethren Church hosts toy drive Christian Home Educators holds December meeting Celebrate the day in festive style. Dinner includes roast hip of beef, carved turkey dressing, salad bar, seafood bar and dessert butffet! Slush Puppie sales support Anselma House December 25th Hhi~â€"~"ak*s~â€"1] 746â€"1666 WATERLOO NORTH . Northtield at the Parkway 0.9"* The WATERLOO INN FINANCING Ask for details www waterloomazda com in Waterloo