The Church Speaks SPonsored by the WHITBY MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION by Rev. Gerald A. Hunt A mweek ago we picked tomatoes from the garden. This week we are scraping ice from the windshield. Changes corne swiftly and often catch, us un- prepared. Last week a friend dropped dead wbile playing tennis. This -week, flowers on ber grave are, black with frost. Rernembrance Day prompts us to think soberly about the changes that leave blanks in family cir- dles and cut down the flower of hurnan life, often in mid-bloom. In its many word pictures the Bible compares life with plants which are killed by_ natural forces. "People are like grass or weeds growing on a roof when the hot east wind blasts them"l says Isaiah. "They disappear like grass that dries up; tbey die hike plants that wither" adds the psalmist. To our readers this may sound, like negative tbining. What is the point of reminding us of tbe dying year, the changing seasons, obituaries and frost damage? .The point is that 111e is fragile and faulty in nor- mal times. Wbat bappens when war and tragedy are added to the agenda? If we are disturbed about events that occur halfway around the world, how would we cope if war, with its lightning air strikes and nuclear possibility, came to us?' This has been a year of earthquakes, air disasters and weather changes. We are aroused from slum- ber by fresh "bad" news from Ireland and ebanon. The question is flot how far away trouble is located but how prepared we are, for anything that tbreatens and cuts down huma n 111e. There are no ivory towers lef t from whicb to view life safely and dispassionately. We are talking more about how few chances of survival we will have when the cburcb - cornes, wbether we are going to have anything to live for if we do survive, and how much worse our own self-destruction Will1 be tha n tlie natural tolof physical forces like weather and poor bealtb. The peace-seekers and peace-makers bave a key role today. We may disagree with their motives or, meods,,but we are, bound to Join their cause.eWe have no sensible alternative. Jesus Christ spoke of "the awful horror" that would corne (and surprise rnost people) and.how the skY would darken and people would not even bo able to grab their coats as tbey headed for the bills. It would be especilly distresslng for, pregnant women and If it carne in wlntertlmè. It was the same Jesus who said to bis followers 'II leave you my peacel" 1 Today's indlvldualism and thestress on p ersonal and group rlghts are too narrow rails for the train of peace. It takes personswbo have tasted and enjoyed iziner peace and want to share it unselfisbly. How much we need them In legislatures and coundil chambers, in our business and our homes i Give us. trouble-shooters in place 0f trouble-makers. When real trouble cornes to our well insured and self-indulgent land it may be a lot swifter and more devastating than frost on the tomatoes or scorcbing sun on the grass. Ail that is beautiful and convenient rnay be gone. If we are still alive and can "head for the hills" our flimsy philosophies and lack of inner peace rnay disable any reconstruction. The tomatoes may grow again. But the human spirit will need to bo born again before it. can grow. and produce fruits of the spirit. Otberwise, instead of love, joy, peace, patience and tolerance, yes, and sheer goodness, you will see people just as selfisbly motivated as tbey everwere, and peace wil again elude tbem, especially that inner peace that needs to be cultivated, .earefully tended and brougbt to fruition under the guidance and power of God. Pass the peace, please!1 r 451 ~aiiciparjiu o WHITIBV FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9,1983, PA GE 9 Kirk Bazaar, Gets Underway Jane Parsons, Anti Write and Edith Mowat prepare for the annual Kirk Bazaar. This fund raiser for the St. Andrews Presbyterian, Women's Association will support the mission in the outreacb of the cburch in Canada and the home cburch. The Bazaar wil take place on Nov. 12 frorn il a.m. to 3 p.rn. at St. Andrews Churcb, Cochrane St., Whitby. £JI4erory CrafL 6&6 The worlds's mosi advanced Sewlng Machine now at KEN'S SEWING CENTRE DEOSAI *. -M. Se il eheet SPECIAL PRICES And trade-in allowances for this show. LAYA WAYS ACCEPTED SPECIAL OFFER Janome 632 Sewing Machine Reg. 319.00 SAVE 120.00 $1 900 NOW ONLY. K EN'S SEWING ..CENTRE 579-0742 200 JOHN ST. W. v MIDTOWN MAIL, OSHAW I 16. âwý mac-d -»-j