The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2004 CLERGY REVIEW: Acton Clergy taking part in the 11" annual service for Christian unity Sunday included, left to right, Rev. John Bell (Baptist), Rev. Pieter Van Harten (Knox Presbyterian), Rev. Emrys Jenkins (Churchill), the speaker, Rev. Bob Bulbrook (St. Joeseph's), Rev. Ray Vanderbooij (Bethel Christian Reformed), Rev. Mark Tiller (St. Alban's Anglican), Captain Lyndon Hale (Salvation Army), and Rev. Ed Bellsmith (Trinity United). Hundreds attend service for Christian unity Despite bitter cold, many hundreds of Christians from virtually all denominations attended the eleventh annual Acton service for Christian Unity on Sunday morning a the Acton Legion auditorium. Ministers and priests for the different enominations in Acton led in the service and a choir composed of choir members from the various churches provided the music ministry. A children's celebration at nearby St. Joseph's School filled the school auditorium with a program of stories, music and _ activity simultaneously with the unity service. Parents who attended the service were able to drop their children off at the school and pick them up afterwards. Sunday's theme was Christ's words, "My peace I give you," which the speaker, Rev. Emrys Jenkins expanded on with his own experiences and those he saw others experience dur- ing his lifetime. Rev. Jenkins recently celebrated 25 years of pastoral ministry at Churchill Community Church on Churchill Rd. N., the Acton area's longest serving congregation. "T'm proud of being part of Acton for 25 long years," he said, noting he maybe shouldn't have used the word "long". He was particularly proud of the Acton High School where if you want something done then you get more volunteers from AHS than any other high school in the province. The Churchill clergyman said most of us have different pictures of peace such as a child sleeping, or a pastoral rural scene but Jesus had a different view. Jesus said, "I give you peace" and "it is there with Him." And notice how handicapped people are so happy, Mr. Jenkins said. "They'll hug you in a minute." How do you get this peace that Jesus taught? COMBINED CHOIR: A combined choir from eight Acton churches provided the music ministry for the 11 annual service of Christian unity at the Acton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion on Sunday. Hymns sung included All Creatures of Our God and King Jesus Loves the Little Children and The Church's One Foundation. places. It often comes from thinking your way of thinking is superior to others. The speaker said his church (Churchill Community) is still going despite the antipathy which developed over attempts to close it. Theme of service "My peace I give you' By coming to church Sundays? If it's just a habit, forget it, the speaker said. "Worship is not done by rote --it is done from the heart." "Peace comes when you are right with God," Rev. Jenkins declared. "There's a great comfort from knowing that God loves you." Hate is ruler of the world, he maintains, and it has shown itself graphically in many Peace comes when we understand one another, by working together with no rancor. "We can change our little world if we would just follow the teachings of Jesus. "Tf we don't know our neighbours, no matter their colour, language, culture, we can't understand them," the speaker declared. All of us need to be cherished with all HUNDREDS GATHER: Hundreds of people from Acton churches gathered for a service of Christian unity at the Acton Legion auditorium Sunday morning for an hour-long service. our warts. "God puts up with all of us despite the wrongs we commit and still loves us. We're a lucky group of people," Rev. Jenkins declared. We can all find peace, not as the world finds it, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, he concluded. Rev. Jenkins was introduced by Rev. Bob Bulbrook, pastor of St. Joseph's church who noted the Acton service of unity showed there was a strong Christian community in Acton and was probably one of the most successful in the province. Clergy taking part in the service included Rev. Mark Tiller of St. Alban's Anglican, Rev. John Bell of Acton Baptist, Rev. Pieter Van Harten of Knox Presbyterian, Rev. Edward Bellsmith of Trinity United, captain Lyndon Hale of the Salvation Army, Rev. Bob Bulbrook of St. Joseph's R.C., Rev. Ray Vanderkooij of Bethel Christian Reformed and Rev. Emerys Jenkins of Churchill Community. Rev. Will Sloos of Evangel Pentecostal Church and Lisa Hale of the Salvation Army helped with the children's service at St. Joseph's school. OUTSIDE THE LINES: All children were invited this past Sunday to St. Josephs school for a different celebration. The theme was "Outside the Lines: Colouring Jesus," where children had the opportunity to have a lot of fun while learning about Jesus' teachings. A Christian band was the special guest for the morning where they sang, danced, cheered and acted, exuding positive energy. -Photo Katarzyna Walasek.