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After 169 years Acton Baptist Church to hold its final service on Sunday By JOHN D. WILSON Acton Baptist Church Elder Acton Baptist Church (ABC) will close its doors this Sunday (Sept. 25), having worshipped God and served the community in Acton for 169 years. The decision to close the doors of this landmark church-- a listed heritage building-- was not taken lightly. It makes sense; but emotionally it has been a tough call. The reality is that the membership has been in significant decline for several years, despite newcomers joining. Inevitably members grow older and pass away; others move and join churches elsewhere; pastors come and go, and the church has been without a pastor for about a year. In addition, the much-loved historic building is an increasing burden to heat and maintain. It is difficult to carry out the structural changes needed to make the building more accessible, and to accommodate the kinds of activities and programs which are typical of vibrant churches today. "To everything there is a season," and the members of Acton Baptist have sadly concluded that it is time to close the doors of the church. How the members feel was expressed well when another church had to close: "The doors of our little country church by the side of the road may be closing, but what will remain is the strong faith, the memories within our hearts, and the knowledge that the church community shall go on." Though the life of ABC has come to an end, the community and faith of Christ's followers in Acton are very much alive. Autism Awareness Month in Ontario Did you know: Autism Spectrum Disorders, is a lifelong developmental disability which has an incidence of 1 in every 110 births, an increase of over 600% in the past 20 years; · There is no medical detection or cure for autism · 67 children are diagnosed with autism per day · Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism · More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS; juvenile diabetes and cancer combined! Since 1994 Autism Ontario ­ Halton Chapter, a not for profit charitable organization in the Halton Region has been providing state of the art programs for children with autism from diagnosis through life, along with programs for parents and siblings. OCTOBER 21 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, September 22, 2011 Learn More by Joining Us SATURDAY OCTOBER 1, 2011 ­ 7:00 p.m. Stars Shine for Autism ­ Oakville location This is a great night for anyone who would like to be entertained, encouraged and/or educated, as we showcase 4 of our autism stars! Come and experience the potential! Registration is required as seats are limited Find the details at www.autismhalton.com Join us SUNDAY OCTOBER 9, 2011 ***** SOLAR POWER OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 Country Heritage Park, Tremaine Rd, Milton We have a route for everyone 1km; 5km; 25km; 50km & 100km! Invest in your future 11 JOHN ST. S., ACTON 10 AM - 4 PM All money raised during the Ride Together for Autism will benefit individuals and families living in Halton Region. Find out how you can become involved at www.ridetogetherforautism.com Solar Direct Canada is pleased to host a solar power open house in Georgetown this Sunday. Come speak with us about a 14% return on your investment, guaranteed by the government's MicroFIT program for 20 years. Solar Direct Canada is locally owned and operated with dozens of systems installed in the Halton Hills region. Supported in part by FLAMBOROUGH REVIEW For more details on these exciting events: T: 905.631.1233 1-866-559-1087 www.solardirectcanada.com Email: autismhalton.admin@gmail.com Web: autismhalton.com Office: 4361 Harvester Rd, Unit 9, Burlington ON L7L 5M4