Lest We Forget 11/11/11 REMEMBRANCE DAY - City Light News

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Local book for your fall reading...How much pain can you bear?by Sharon EnnisHave you ever received the worst news possible – newsthat would change your life forever? We did. I am a motherof a four-year old girl, Gabrielle, who was born with thelower part of her spine undeveloped. It’s a birth defectthat I knew nothing about, called spina bifida. WhenGabrielle was born, the lesion on her back was openedand exposed. I was staring at something that was aboutto change our lives forever.Spina bifida is a neural tube birth defect where thespinal column fails to develop properly resulting in varyingdegrees of permanent damage to the spinal cord andnervous system. Hydrocephalus is a medical condition inwhich there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinalfluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain.This neural tube defect occurs within the first fourweeks of pregnancy…before most women even knowthey are pregnant.“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in mymother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfullymade…” — Psalm 139:13-14Gabrielle needed surgery immediately to reduce the riskof infection and to protect the spinal cord from greaterdamage. Because of this opening, the nerves in her spinalcolumn may be damaged and not work properly. It wastough to watch our daughter undergo two surgeries inthe first week of her life or to listen to her doctors talkabout her many deficiencies that she will have to livewith. I felt as though I was in an awful dream. I wantedto wake up to a whole new world that never spoke thewords spina bifida.“ I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove.My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am troubled; OLord come to my aid!” — Isaiah 38:14For months, that dark world paralyzed me with incrediblefears and horrible doubts as I took care of Gabrielle.I had so many questions for God to answer. Even thoughI was surrounded by family and great friends, I felt completelyand utterly alone. I would cry to God on my knees,not wanting to get up until a miracle happened in her. I feltso small and hollow inside. I had been on an emotionalrollercoaster ride since Gabrielle’s birth.“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those whoare crushed in spirit” — Psalms 34:18.I pray and remind myself of the Word of God. Iknow that He will help us as a family. He has never leftus through all the surgeries, therapies and tests. Godwill never forget us because He loves us so much. Weby Gladys TerichowWinnipeg, MB. – MennoniteCentral Committee’s(MCC) response to thedrought and food crisis inEast Africa continues toexpand.Donations to MCC’sdrought response are enablingMCC to providelife-saving food vouchers,water and other supportto tens of thousands ofpeople in Somalia, Kenyaand Ethiopia.Stand out amongthe crowd.AdvertiseinCity LightNews.Call 640-2011Southern, Bluegrass, andCountry Gospel Musicknow that God will cause even the worst things to cometogether for good. Hope appears even in the worst oftimes to give us proof of God’s presence. We, as a family,have put our trust in God. We don’t know what tomorrowholds for Gabrielle, but because we believe in Him, weknow Who holds tomorrow.“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plansto prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and afuture.’ ” — Jeremiah 29:11Sharon Ennis is the author of Gabby’s Gift—Hope in theHeart of a Child. For more information please visit www.GenesisOnePublishing.com.MCC East Africa drought response growsIn Somalia, where foodshortages are exacerbatedby the on-going civil conflict,many people have fledtheir homes to the safetyof refugee camps near thenortheastern Kenyan townof Dadaab.The camps, establishedin 1991 to accommodateabout 90,000 people fleeingthe ongoing conflict, arenow home to more than400,000 people, said Ronand Martha Ratzlaff ofCalgary, AB, currently servingas MCC representativesin Kenya.As the drought, foodcrisis and violence persistin Somalia, the numberof people seeking refugein the complex of fourcamps is expected to swellto 600,000 by the end of2011. An estimated 60percent are under the ageof 18.To improve educationalopportunities for youngpeople in the camps, MCCis sending 38,000 schoolkits to the Hagadera campfrom its warehouses inCanada and the U.S. Theschools are operated by LutheranWorld Federation.“Education helps breakthe cycle of poverty, andbeing in school improvesthe security for these children,”said Ratzlaff. “Withouteducation, even if theymanage to find a life outsideof the refugee camp,they would then be unableto find any work other thanpossibly casual labour.”MCC is also sending2,900 blankets and 500sewing kits to the Hagaderacamp and providingfunds for the local purchaseof 6,000 mosquito nets.These practical items, theRatzlaffs said, not onlyprovide comfort to peopleliving in very rugged conditions,they also demonstratethat someone caresfor them. This is especiallyimportant as many haveexperienced unspeakabletrauma during their hazardousjourney to the camp.In the Somali town ofDhobley, near the Kenyaborder, contributions toMCC are being used toprovide emergency foodassistance for new arrivalsand their host families.Dhobley is on the sameroad as the Dadaab camps,which are about 100 kilometres(almost 65 miles)inside Kenya.For more information or tocontribute to the ongoing workof MCC in East Africa andaround the world, contact MCCAlberta at officeab@mccab.org or visit mcc.org/eastafricadrought.22 — NOVEMBER 2011, CITY LIGHT NEWS www.calgarychristian.com
Music ReviewWakeup StarlightThe BreakdownAs a radio programmer, I get to listen to a lot of newmusic. Sadly, much of it falls under the “same old, sameold” category.What I look for are songs that stand out among thepack, ones that compel you to listen to them over andover again.Wakeup Starlight’s single, This Place Is Empty, is a textbookexample of what I’m talking about. This catchypop-worship tune doesn’t just have ahook, it’s replete with hooks. Thereis continuous movement from onemusical element to the next, intricateproduction and arrangements, accompaniedby beautifully layered vocals— all undergirded by an alluringmelody and finely-crafted rhythmics.And that’s not to mention the intelligent,original, heart-tugging lyrics.You’ll never find yourself saying,“Haven’t I heard this somewherebefore?”But it gets even better than that.Wakeup Starlight’s debut album, The Breakdown, amplydemonstrates that this group is no one-hit wonder. ThisPlace… is just one of many gems to be found on the disc.And each song is distinctly different from the others.These guys can rock out with tunes like Superman andMy Weakness, offer acoustic sensibilities on God, cater toadult contemporary radio with Sister, and yes, hyperventilateon Hyperventilation. They even offer a folksy renditionof the classic hymn, It Is Well.Already totally sold-out on the boys, personally themost exciting news came after checking out their bios onthe Internet. It turns out the duo of Chris Noble and CalebCummings actually hail from our own backyard. Theyreviewed by Peter Fleckmet up and began playing together as youngsters at LivingSprings Christian Fellowship in Airdrie. Unbeknownst tome, Noble had even been a part of the worship team atmy own congregation of Centre Street Church in Calgary.More recently, the fellows reunited in Three Hills to formWakeup Starlight.At the 2011 Covenant Awards, representing the best inCanadian Christian music, Wakeup Starlight is nominatedin two categories, including a well-deserved nod for NewArtist of the Year — although they will be facing toughcompetition from the likes of City Harmonic and Tenore.The lead track, One Step Away, is additionallyup for Pop/ContemporarySong of the Year, despite not evenbeing one of strongest cuts fromthe project.A major weakness with TheBreakdown is in the CD packaging.The artwork is attractively put togetherin a digipack format, but thereis a dearth of information inside.With no accompanying booklet,there are no printed lyrics, instrumentalcredits or even mention ofthe producer, who deserves ampleacknowledgement for the final outcome.There is also a major chasm in the production andsound quality between the first nine studio tracks and thefinal three live tracks. The division is so stark that it’s almostlike you’re listening to two entirely different projects.What is undeniable is the raw talent of Noble and Cummingsand their innate understanding of how to craft notjust good but great music. Hopefully, this duo will enjoya long and prosperous career in an industry where veryfew survive beyond one or two albums. I’ll certainly bewatching them.Available for $13.99 wherever Christian music is sold.Rosebud, AB – Rosebud is taking a bite out of the BigApple for its Christmas show. The Rosebud Opera Housestage will be fully decked out with the sights and soundsof old New York as it hosts the vaudeville-style musicalThe Gifts of the Magi, based on the classic Christmasstory by O. Henry.It’s Christmas in old New York and a young, newly marriedcouple Jim (Aaron Krogman) and Della Dillingham(Cassia Schramm) are out of work and broke. In fact, theycan barely afford to keep their one-room apartment. TheGifts of the Magi explores the challenges this lovingcouple face as they secretly secure the ideal Christmas giftfor each other.Along the way they meet the jovial Soapy (MikeThiessen), a homeless man who wants nothing more thanthe warmth and security of a jail cell for Christmas, andWilly (Natalie Gauthier), a street newspaper vendor whosees deeper than the headlines she sells. We also get to knowmany other New Yorkers through the numerous incarnationsof City Him (Joel Stephanson) and City Her (LauraGillespie). The Gifts of the Magi gently reminds us of thepower of love and the enduring strength of the human spirit.Artistic Director Morris Ertman comments, “Christmasis a time for optimism. We need to believe that there isgood in the world. We need to be able to believe that lovecan get us through the darkest of times. Out of work andpenniless? Love will sustain you. That in a nutshell, is thehope in almost every classic Christmas story. O. Henrycertainly brings that poignancy to this story. The NewYork setting is both romantic and heartless, giving this talea breadth of expression on our rural Rosebud stage that isunusual, challenging and absolutely delightful.”The Gifts of the Magi is a magical musical story forthe entire family that will tickle your funny bone and touchyour heart as you search for your personal Christmas star.The Gifts of the Magi runs at Rosebud Theatre from November4 through December 23, 2011. For tickets and showtimes call 1-800-267-7553 or visit www.rosebudtheatre.com.• Nov 5 Sweet Interlude “House of Doc”Tickets available at the school.• Nov 26 – Family Portrait Day (think Christmas)Call the school for appointments.Public Welcome at both events.www.calgarychristian.comCITY LIGHT NEWS, NOVEMBER 2011 — 23
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Lest We Forget 11/11/11 REMEMBRANCE DAY - City Light News

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