Make a Joyful Noise- It’s Healthy
Ever notice how happy our choir members look when they are singing on a Sunday? Turns out they know what most of us don’t – that singing has many positive effects on the human body.
Apparently, singing in a group synchronizes breathing and heart rates and results in an increase in oxytocin, the “love” hormone, that promotes a feeling of social connectedness. Singing engages people to move together in time and this involves hundreds of muscles needed for the voice control exercised in unison singing. The theory is that group singing causes individuals to become one with the rest of the choir to produce sound and one study suggests that the cannabis-like chemical compounds which are produced induce a euphoric sensation similar to a “runner’s high”.
Just as important as the physical benefits of singing, however, are the psychological benefits. Dr. Frank
Russo, a professor of Psychology at Ryerson University conducts research that indicates that group singing may provide a potent antidote to modern ailments such as stress, loneliness, and depression.
Russo theorizes that singing in a group may remind people that they are not alone, and makes them feel
stronger and more resilient. Choir members report feeling excited and enthusiastic after a practice and
comment on the camaraderie created. We have long known the calming effect that singing to a baby
can have but researchers are now discovering that singing can be therapeutic for everyone. So, if you
want to feel good, sing out on a Sunday morning, come to Ron Klink’s April sing-a-long to enjoy some favorite hymns, or, even better, join the choir.
HYMN SING CAFÉ
| HFor all the folks who love to sing the “old” favourites, Ron Klink will play for a hymn sing-a-long on Wednesday, April 3, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm. Following the sing-a-long, there will be time for socializing with tea and coffee. Come join us as we offer a chance to sing out the old tunes, bring back fond memories, and engage with other like-minded singers. |
Dates & Events
March
| Tuesday March 5 | Pancake Supper 5:30-7:00 pm Guatemala Presentation |
| Sunday March 10 | Communion |
| Saturday March 16 | Men’s Breakfast 9:00 am |
| Saturday March 23 | Mike’s Lunch Baskett |
April
| Saturday April 13 | K-W Symphony 8:00 pm |
| Thursday April 18 | Communion 7:00 pm |
| Friday April 19 | Good Friday Service 10:00 am |
| Sunday April 21 | Easter Breakfast 9:00 am Easter Service 10:00 am |
| Friday April 26-28 | Rugged Hands Men’s Retreat Camp Kintail |
“GOOD OL COUNTRY MUSIC” BUS TRIP
In keeping with our effort to encourage folks to enjoy singing, we are offering an afternoon of
memorable songs of praise at the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre on Tuesday, October 22. The concert will feature gospel favourites such as “Amazing Grace”, “Peace in the Valley”, “How Great Thou Art”, and many other well-known hymns. The cost is $61:00 per person which includes ticket price and bus travel from Central Church to St. Jacobs and return. A block of 30 tickets has been ordered and places will be reserved on a first come, first served basis.
Those interested are asked to see Sharon Wohlgemut at church or contact her at communication@cpcmail.ca.
Summer is Coming
Starting to plan summer activities for your children?
Central is offering:
SUMMER BLAST CAMP from July 15-19
SUMMER BLAST POWER UP from August 12-16
See Tim to register your children for these terrific programs.
tim@cpcmail.ca
How Central Serves
Special Olympics – Sandra Goodwin
Sandra Goodwin, a long-time Central member, literally bowled her way into volunteering for Special Olympics. When Sandra’s children were young, they were involved in a local bowling league. A friend asked if she would help with a Community Living bowling league, and so Sandra became a volunteer.
Over the next ten years she instructed athletes from Community Living in 5 and 10 pin bowling. In 1981, Claudette Miller, a former mayor of Preston and Cambridge, started the local Special Olympics chapter which offered swimming, 5 and 10 pin bowling, floor hockey, speed-skating, track and field, soccer and weight lifting, to interested Community Living athletes.
Many of these athletes have gone on to win medals at local,regional, national, and international competitions.
Currently, there are about 200 athletes registered in the Cambridge area Special Olympics program and about 100 actively participate in any given year. This year at the March World Games in Abu Dhabi, over 7,000 athletes from 190 countries will compete. The local chapter will send a 10 pin bowler to compete and Sandra’s daughter, Jennifer, will be coaching a group of 5 swimmers. Sandra notes that these athletes are dedicated to their sport and work hard to reach their potential. They love to compete and display sportsmanlike behaviour when they lose. Special Olympics is run entirely on donations and the support of volunteer coaches.
Without coaches, these keen athletes cannot experience the joy of competition and the growth in self-esteem and confidence that competition brings. Today, there are several sports that are seeking volunteer coaches, and Sandra is hopeful that some will embrace this calling and experience the joy that comes from working with these special athletes.
On the Question of Unity and Diversity”
Q: What does the “unity of the church” mean? There are at least three distinct meanings for the phrase.
There is the unity of the holy catholic church; there is the unity of The Presbyterian Church in Canada; and there is the unity of an individual congregation. Each is important in our present debate. Central Presbyterian Church, Cambridge, is a large, healthy and diverse congregation with a relatively low average age, ranging from birth to 100. While embracing a ‘contemporary’ worship style, the congregation might be described as fairly conservative in its outlook; is generally well educated , is well aware of, and receptive to the current pace of change in both secular society and the church. The congregation encompasses a broad range of understandings of sexual orientation. (One member participated in writing the 2003 report of the GA Special Committee on Sexual Orientation, some are involved in the Alpha program, and some adhere to understandings that differ from current PCC doctrine).
The session recently set aside a time for elders to discuss the question posed by the Committee of Moderators and a variety of views was heard.
1. Predominantly, all who spoke agreed that we must recognise the importance and centrality of Christ-like love for all people. Examples were given of how the church had failed in the past, and how we have moved ahead from those times while learning to accommodate our differences.
2. We were reminded in a passionate presentation that at Central we have several families who have members in same sex marriages who are accepted and welcomed as equals by the congregation. Given the number of our congregation, we know we must have others whose orientation is not heterosexual, and who are welcomed under our unofficial motto of “Come as you are”. Credit was given to those who have difficulty with this, yet who unreservedly project Christian love for them.
3. We were also reminded, by poignant example, that there are conditions other than sexuality that can, but should not, divide us.
4. There was no sense that the issues we faced in the discussion offered any grounds for dividing the church at any level, locally, nationally or globally. It appeared that the values that hold us together: worship, fellowship and service – are stronger and more important than the issues that could divide us if we allowed them to.
5. It was stated that it is fundamental to our belief that the church in all its denominations is the body of Christ on Earth. As with any other body, human or spiritual, we believe that it cannot be divided and survive, and with grace, we shall continue as that one, undivided body.
Note: We often see the word ‘homophobia’ used in discussions of this topic and it is often misused. It needs to be remembered that this is defined as a fear of homosexuality; not a hatred of homosexual people. The difference is real and is important.
