The Refugee Crisis

Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19

I'm not one who is involved in politics. I will admit politics wearies my soul.

I'm not very adept at speaking my mind plainly.

I'm not adept at arguments.

But I do have eyes and ears, and over the past two months I have watched certain events unfold on national television. Lately I'm positively amazed and astounded at the comments issuing from a certain Republican leader's mouth. I find it hard to believe he's allowed to even say such things in public. But in America you are allowed to have a certain freedom of speech.

Today in the church which my husband and I attend, there was a special bulletin with the words:
"Response to the Refugee Crisis".

Living in Canada we cannot ignore the fact that our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has opened our borders to allow 25,000 Syrian refugees into the country by the end of February 2016.

They have already begun arriving in Montreal. I'm not too sure of the exact total so far.

Willingdon Church is having a refugee crisis consultation on Sunday January 10, 2016.

This is what is stated in the bulletin:

"Millions of people have been forced out of their homes over the past few years of conflict in Syria. Have you been wondering how to respond? Willingdon Church is responding to the Syrian refugee crisis by directing some of our budget toward MB Mission's Urgent Relief Fund. Besides giving, we want to have a multifaceted response that includes praying and serving."

On the back of the bulletin are ways to become involved.

One way is through Journey Home Community.

Another is by attending the meeting on Jan 10/16.

Another is by praying.

Another is by giving through the MB Mission.

It is amazing that this humanitarian plight is taking place in the world today, and a Republican leader who identifies as Christian is reacting in a totally un-Christlike way.

I'm amazed at his littleness of thought.

I'm astounded at his hatred.

I felt I had to react in this way on my humble blog.

If we cannot go to Syria with the Gospel Message, how amazing the Syrian people are coming here!

I don't remember the last time such an exodus happened, as in my teen years I wasn't aware of world events, and lived in my own dream world. (I'm referring to the Boat People from Vietnam.)

One thing is certain; both my maternal grandparents and great grandparents were all refugees fleeing their homeland of Russia when the government also turned against them.

At that time in 1910 and 1911, America welcomed them with open arms.

The borders were not shut against them.

There was no talk of them being sent back to Russia when they refused to participate in WWI due to religious reasons. How grateful I am that they sought asylum and were granted it.

May the Syrian refugees fleeing war and persecution also find peace and God's love here in Canada.

By Loretta Houben

Sweet Sunday

I haven't posted any old church photos in a very long time.

I was interrupted by my Bible study course, which takes up a lot of reading hours!

This past week I scanned in two more photos from my Dad's collection. I posted them on FB and got more names of members to add. If you click on each photo it should appear larger in another window.

Here is the Apostolic Faith choir members.

Except for Sara Cherwick and my Dad, Jack Williams, as far as I know all of them have passed away.

I once knew all of them except for Elsie and Anna.

I often wonder how many people I've known in my life.

December 1953

The Apostolic Faith Sunday School at 3014 Kingsway, Vancouver BC

I've since discovered the names of more of the children.

Standing in front of my Dad, Jack W, is Larry Esau, who died at 21 in a motorcycle accident.

Right in front of him is a girl with glasses, turning her head. Her name is Grace Plesko; she was one of my SS teachers when I was a little girl.

Next to Marie Doucet is a tall girl; Carol Shriner.

The little girl with braids in the front row is Laura Jean Ion. Just behind her is my uncle, Dennis Williams. He has black hair.

The little girl to the left of Carol (as you look at the picture) is my aunt, Ruth Williams.

Just behind Dennis is Bobby Plesko. To the left of Bobby is my Uncle, Bob Williams.

The boy in the checked shirt in front of him is Doug Esau. (Sara Neufeld's nephew; Jacob Esau was his Dad) The boy on the left near the stairs in the checked shirt is his brother, Robert.

Whew. I wanted to record this for old times sake!

This photo was taken 59 years ago.

Memory Monday...Apostolic Faith Church Vancouver BC

I'm scanning in old photos which my Dad, Jack Williams, took 60 years ago.

Time flies when you're having fun!

The above brochure was one I had kept in my memory box.

My Dad would glue these to the church newspapers.

This little church was at the corner of Kingsway and Rupert Streets in Vancouver BC.

It was demolished in 2002.

The interior of the churh, April 1954.

Photo by my Dad, Jack Williams.

I remember these chairs. The church got pews later in the 1960's so I was a small girl when I sat on these chairs. I remember Leona nearly folded up in half in one of them.

Looking the other way in the interior of the church.

April 1954.

Photo by Jack Williams.

December 1953.

Sunday School Christmas program rehearsal.

My Dad is in the back row, at the end on the right hand side.

His little brothers, Bobby and Dennis, are also in the mix.

The Vancouver Apostolic Faith choir, October 1954.

Most of these people are now gone. I remember them so well.

Oh, the happy memories of days gone by.

Sunday School Christmas Program - 1966

Christmas Program 1966

This year my name is spelled correctly!

Leona and I are one year older, and we sang "Dear Little Stranger".

I love that song.

I wonder where all the other kids listed in this program are today?

I wonder if they're on Facebook?

I know the older ones are in Heaven; Dick Neufeld, Paul Plesko, and John Schriner.

What a memory it is to me to read these names!

I'm so glad my parents are Packrats, and they didn't throw these papers away!

Christmas Sunday School Program - 1965

Christmas 1965

Sunday School Program

Flash forward from the last post I wrote, 9 years in the future, to 1965.

Jack & Susie Williams now had 3 little girls in their household.

Two of the little girls loved to sing.

If you click on the photo below, you'll see their names; Loretta & Leona Williams.

(For some reason, not many people could spell my name correctly, including my Grandma!)

I was 5 years old, Leona was 3, Marlene was 5 months.

The thing I loved about the Christmas program was the gift from our teacher afterwards.

I think it was this year that I got a small plastic doll in a small plastic crib.

Of course I was tickled! I think the presents were bought at the 5 and 10 store.

Everyone also got a treat, including the grown-ups.

We would go up the aisle, past the Pastor's office, where we were given a brown paper bag, which had candy, a madarin orange, candy cane, a pencil and peanuts.

Sunday School Christmas Programs

Do you remember Sunday School Christmas programs?

Maybe your church still has them.

Being a paper packrat, I thought I'd begin to scan in some of what I've kept all these years.

Of course, my parents are the Big Packrats, so I've inherited some interesting stuff!

This Christmas program leaflet is from 1956!

If you click on the photos, you will be able to see details.

There were no computers in those days, so the programs were typed first, then sent to a printer.

I love this copy, as my Mom's name, "Susie Williams", is on the right hand side at the top.

My Mom taught me how to play the organ. She played well.

My Mom was only 23 years old when this Christmas program took place.

She was raised in the Apostolic Faith Church in Dallas OR. When she met my Canadian father, and moved to Vancouver BC, they both attended the little Apostolic Faith Church on the corner of Kingsway and Rupert. (the church with the neon sign; "Jesus, the Light of the World")

She told me that it was "sinful" to have a program on a Sunday, as it was too much work, so the program was always on a week night!

Oh, how times have changed.

You can see my Dad's handwriting half way up the right side.

He's marked "lights" near a sentence. He always manned the lights at the back of the church.

He was also an usher, as he loved to meet and talk with people.

I'll be scanning in more programs, so stay tuned.