Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 11, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page b4 the Alpha course is there anymore to life than this great food videos discussions friends laughter learning Register Early 667 1116 334 8811 complimentary meal served covenant Church tues., Jan. 20 6 30 pm 653 Knowles @ Gateway starting Faith Winnipeg free press sunday january 11, 2009 b 4 editor Greg Lockert fax 697 7412 / phone 697 7292 Greg. Lockert free press. . Ca Winnipeg repress. Com announcements for Faith briefs must be in our office by thursday 4 p. Prior to the intended Date of publication. Due to space restrictions publication is not guaranteed. E mail Diane. Pratt free press. . Ca or fax 697 7412 no attachments please. Faith briefs service of remembrance a service of remembrance will be held on Jan. 11 at 7 p. at Charleswood United Church 4820 Roblin blvd. What will heaven be like message and discussion at the Tabernacle Baptist Church 155 Bannerman at 11 a. On Jan. 11. Lighthouse meeting aglow Winnipeg North Lighthouse meeting Jan. 12, 7 p. M., 1042 Jefferson ave. Guest speaker will be Anje Vantongeren a holocaust survivor. Call 663 9911 or 663 2923. Supper and video Alpha join us for supper free video and a discussion in a relaxed atmosphere Jan. 15 to March 26, 6 30 p. M., Assiniboia Charleswood Community Church 760 Charleswood re. Call Denise at 832 1408. Food for the body and soul Day timers senior worship service Jan. 15 from 1 to 3 p. At Sherwood Park lutheran Church at 7 Tudor cres. Holy communion for All. Call the Church office at 661 3947 if you need a ride. Spiritual direction training st. Benedictus Retreat & conference Centre presents a spiritual direction training session for those interested in Shekinah a Christian formation program at st. Benedictus on Jan. 17 at 10 a. Multi Faith Blessing ceremony Victoria general Hospital hosts a Multi Faith Blessing ceremony and open House Jan. 18 from 2 to 4 30 p. To celebrate the opening of the vices new Buhler cancer Centre. Prayer for Christian Unity heritage Park Temple hosts a citywide ecumenical worship service with Church leaders to open the festival of prayer for Christian Unity on Jan. 18 at 825 school re. At 7 30 p. This years service has its origins in the Christian communities of Korea. Bilingual service bilingual youth and Young adult service during the annual week of prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 19, 7 30 p. M., pro Vieux Sang Church 200 Kenny st. Archbishop Emilius Goulet to preside and Rev. David Brabant to assist. Reception will follow. Information 237 9851, ext. 241 or Lomelo . Ca. Lighthouse meeting aglow Winnipeg Central lighthouses january meeting takes place Jan. 19 at 7 p. At Canad inns destination Centre at 1824 Pembina Hwy. With featured speaker Marcia Barrett new president of the Winnipeg and Interlake area team. Admission $ 6 reservations Are essential by calling Florida at 453 2561. Alpha course explore the meaning of life with great food discussions and learning at this free dinner at covenant Church 653 Knowles ave. At Gateway Jan. 20 at 6 30 p. To Register Call 667 1116. Annual web conference st. Johns anglican Cathedral 135 Anderson ave. Hosts Trinity Church new York 38th annual web conference Jan. 21 to 23. Theme Radical abundance a theology of sustainability. To Register Call 586 8385. Worship conference worship come to its senses is the theme of the Jan. 22 to 24 refreshing winds worship conference at Canadian mennonite University yes Shaftesbury Campus. Keynote speakers Are or. Don Saliers former professor of theology and worship at Emory University in Atlanta and Doug Gay musician worship Leader and lecturer in practical theology at the University of Glasgow. For More information Call 487 3300. Church hosts Organ recital Young United Church at Broadway and Furby hosts an Organ recital Jan. 25 by John Tanner along with Roosli ukrainian Folk ensemble performing music by Bach Leon Boellman Herbert Howells and Ruth Watson Henderson at 3 p. Admission is free. The living flame of love the Alpha & Omega Christian Community presents the living flame of love by John of the Cross 16th Century Spanish carmelite Friar and poet Jan. 26, 1 30 p. At Crescent fort Rouge United Church 525 Wardlaw. To Register Call 487 3553. Winter lectures at cum placing our Faith in a place less world is the title of the Jan. 26 to 27 Winter lectures at Canadian mennonite University yes Shaftesbury Campus. The lecturer is or. Norman Wierzba research professor of theology ecology and Rural life Duke divinity school. Free admission. For lecture times visit wow. Cum. Ca. T. S. Eliot was wrong april Isnit the cruellest month As he suggested in his epic poem the waste land. In Manitoba that dubious honour surely goes to january. For me at least january is always the bleakest time of year Christmas is Over with its festive lights and Trees and presents and family gatherings. Ahead lies nothing but a seemingly endless number of Long wintry weeks until March comes along bringing with it the Promise of a springtime that might if we Are Lucky be close at hand. When i think of january ism reminded of How c. S. Lewis described the land of narnia when it was under the Rule of the evil Witch always Winter but never Christmas. And if that Isnit bad enough theress no escaping january is hellish cold. Which seems like a mixed metaphor until you learn that the ancient Norse found the two to be quite synonymous. For them the worst possible eternal torment in the afterlife a snot fire and heat but the same thing they dreaded in this life the cold. Thatus Why hell for them was a place of freezing temperatures while heaven was a place where huge fires blazed and crackled while the Mead cup was passed and tales were told. Contrast this with the idea of hell for the Christian jewish and Muslim religions which originated in the hot and arid Middle East. For adherents of those groups the worst Fate in the afterlife would be to spend eternity where the Sun blazes. Heaven on the other hand would be Cool and comfortable which May be Why muslims imagine it to be like a Garden Paradise. In fact the word Paradise comes from an old iranian word which Means an enclosed or walled in Garden. Muslims in Ages past gave this heavenly Ideal earthly expression by building elaborate gardens with enclosed courts fountains Ponds Trees and shrubs All surrounded by Shady and Cool arcades. But maybe ism being too hard on january and on Winter in general. In some ways it is an excellent religious metaphor. For one thing its a great equalizer. We All look the same under our big Winter Coats hats and scarves Rich poor old Young male and female. Before god As before the chilling wind we Are All the same. Winter reminds us of our place in the universe. We May like to think we Are in charge but once a stationary cold front a dreaded phrase if Ever there was one settles Over the province theress nothing anyone can do to move it. We can Only endure its Power. Winter reminds us of How much we need each other. Your car might break Down in july but whats the worst that could happen a sunburn is nothing compared to frostbite or even death. When a car Breaks Down in Winter or gets stuck in a Snowdrift people who might cruise on by in summer will Stop whatever they Are doing to help. Finally Winter can be a time for reflection. With Many activities curtailed by cold and Snow we have time to sit and think about our life and its meaning something Best done with a cup of hot chocolate and maybe a cat or dog on your Lap. As Rev. Louise Westfall of Fairmount presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights Ohio puts it Winter is a time when we humans Are forced to go inside literally because of the cold but also metaphorically so we can use it As a time of renewal and rest. American humorist Garrison Keillor thinks that Winter is Good for the soul. Once it gets going he says people can pick up their shovels and recover a sense of focus and purpose and balance leaving behind All of that emotional turmoil of Balmy Days the romantic longings the quest for individual identity and so Forth. Keillor is words about his Home state of Minnesota in Winter could apply equally to Manitoba. Winter is what we were meant for and we Welcome it he says. We thrive on adversity and thatus just the truth. The Snow shovel is the secret of happiness. Of that might be taking it too far. But theress no denying the satisfaction that comes from a Well shovelled driveway. Or better yet the satisfaction that arises from shovelling your Neighbours driveway and maybe even the sidewalk too. Jdl562000@ Yahoo. Com finding a Little heaven in Winters Frozen hell John Longhurst t he lord liveth and the lord Tabeth away and sometimes right on the same Campus. While staff and students at Providence College and Seminary Are celebrating the opening of a new multimillion Dollar student life Centre they re also mourning the loss of several staff and faculty positions. The Liberal arts College located in Otterburne South of Winnipeg officially opened a $ 5 million 23,000 Square foot student life Centre Friday just months after significantly slashing its operating budget and issuing Layoff notices to three employees. The layoffs were due to 75 fewer students enrolling at the Christian College and Seminary which currently has a combined student body of 505, says president August Konkel. We Are very tuition driven probably More than most schools in Manitoba. When those revenues drop we dont have much to compensate. In order to avoid a deficit Konkel said 15 to 20 per cent of the institutions annual budget of $ 7.5 million had to be trimmed Over two years resulting in a dozen positions lost to attrition elimination of two teaching positions and one staff position and a reduction in dental and medical benefits for employees. A theology professor and an English language instructor will lose their jobs on june 30. Teaching faculty at the College Are on contracts and not under a University style tenure system says Konkel. We have our greatest teaching assets in Bible and theology says Konkel of the rationale behind what he Calls an agonizing decision to Cut teaching staff. Thatus where its easiest for us to provide the same course offerings. The planning and construction of a multimillion Dollar building that houses the colleges Kitchen dining Hall meeting rooms English language Institute and student lounges were Well underway before the cuts had to be made to providences operating budget says Konkel. About $ 4.5 million of funds to pay for the building and other Campus updates have already been raised. The new building located to the East of the main Campus on a former soccer pitch provides much needed updates to the Kitchen which provides meals to a mostly residential student population and provides Revenue opportunities through group rental during the summer and holidays says Konkel. Enrolment has been steady or even increasing at two Faith based institutions in Winnipeg. About 600 students Are at Canadian mennonite University yes main Campus in Tuxedo the same As the previous year and applications Are up for the fall says president Gerald Gerbrandt who says pos secondary institutions like his cant expect to increase their enrolment indefinitely. Our Challenge in the next years is to find out what our stable size is he says. Downtown at the salvation a mys Booth College the student population is increasing mostly due to the popularity of a social work program which boasts 75 out of the colleges 100 local students says academic Dean Dave Neale. Hundreds More Are enrolled in distance education courses at Booth the salvation a mys Only degree granting Post secondary institution. Neale says Booth is moving into a period of expansion and planning to offer three More degree programs in the fall in addition to its religion and social work programs. We feel like were in a Strong position to take the initiative and move Forward in our program offerings and have a bigger place in the Post secondary education studies in Manitoba he says referring to the new degrees in behavioural sciences English and film studies and general studies. Beginning this september Booth will describe itself As a Christian University College. Konkel says Providence College plans to ramp up its student recruitment by an improved website and a $ 30,000 marketing strategy. Were moving much More toward we based marketing. Were finding thatus the Way people find us. Brenda Suderman. Com new building fewer staff Providence College opens student Centre cuts employees Brenda Suderman students at Manitoba ass Faith based colleges May have an easier time transferring to the provinces largest University next fall. The University of Manitoba is in the process of developing policies for students applying to undergraduate studies and graduate programs from Christian Post secondary institutions like Providence College Booth College and Canadian mennonite University says the vice Provost for programs. Were considering How to Best evaluate course work done by students at a variety of colleges including Faith based colleges to assess suitability for Grad work. Says Richard Lobdell of the University of Manitoba. Currently students applying to the u of m after studying at the Faith based colleges Are dealt with on a Case by Case basis which Means two students with similar credits from the same College could be treated differently says Lobdell. The University is interested in making its programs More accessible to Manitoba students and allowing students to move easily Between studying at colleges and the University. We would like a system where a person can do their first or second year almost anywhere in the province and move to University says Lobdell. This approach will make it easier for Faith based colleges to recruit students who can begin their Post secondary students at a smaller More intimate setting and then move on to the u of m for graduate work says Dave Neale academic Dean of Booth College. Lobdell Calls the new policy a win win situation benefiting the Faith based colleges and the University by giving students from Faith based colleges More local educational opportunities. These Are smart kids. Why would we want to keep them out says Lobdell of the new policy in process. It affords an Opportunity for those students to study Here at u of m and it allows us to attract Good students. Brenda Suderman easier u of m transfers eyed Jonathan d. Hamel / Winnipeg free press opening the new student life Centre Are from left Gus Konkel president Joe Williams Codex to food services Gerald f. Reimer Lead donor Roger Gingerich Providence Board of governors chaiman Roy Enns business accounts manager rec Brian Koop three Way builders. A 04_ Jan 11 09. Ind b4 1 / 10/ 09 6 41 51 pm ;