FW:
Good afternoon all;
Another remarkably busy day here at FBC. The painters are in painting the gym, Debbie is here cleaning out stuff and painting (check out the new cupboards developing in the room at the end of the hall by the men’s washroom downstairs!), there has been a fellow here scoping the drainage pipe to see if our water run off is contracted (as it should be) to the storm sewers on 109 street, George, one for our street friends (the sleeping bag man) was in for a cup of coffee and a chat, the tea fellow has been in (he comes about every two weeks for some tea bags and sugar, Roo (Karen family) was in with questions about his income tax, Gordon has been in to make sure we know where the drains are that need to be scoped, all the staff have been here for the staff meeting……… wow what a day. If you phone on Wednesday morning you will hear the pleasant voice of Lisa McKenzie (UofA student) who comes each Wednesday to answer the phone while the staff meets and watch the door.
Take another tour of the building when next you are here and look at the cupboards I have already mentioned, the kitchen floor which for the first time since installation has been properly sealed and waxed and the gym. More huge strides made in making this a fabulous place for all kinds of people to be here. All of this in time for the restart of ESL and the restart of community Kitchen on Monday the 12th.
Many thanks to all who helped with the Maundy Thursday Service: readers Jay and Marcia , candle/acolytes Joel and Daniel, decorator Allen , servers for Communion, Choir, special music, those who joined us from First Presbyterian including their Minister the Reverend Harry Currie and of course Jerrold……. It was a wonderful evening service.
NEWS
1. The Karen church had 100 people for their first time here!! They are delighted with being here and are having a potluck next Sunday to give thanks to God for being able to be here. Isn’t it great that we can do something as simple as giving space for others to worship.
2. In light of the Karen church that we are hosting on Sunday afternoons (2 pm – 5 pm) starting on Easter Sunday, here is some cultural info.
* * * * *
Canada is one of three countries that have agreed, in cooperation with the UNHCR, to accept large groupings of people in order to empty some of the Refugee Camps that have existed for decades with no possibility of the people going home or settling in the country of refuge.
In 2006 Canada received a large number of Karen (Ka Ren) people originally from Burma (Myanmar) and currently in camps in Northern Thailand near the border. Many came to the west. CBWC has a Myanmar church in Vancouver, FBC Regina has a Karen congregation and Sonrise Community Baptist church, Calgary is involved with a number of Karen. These Karen Refugees have Baptist leanings because of our mission work in Burma and welcome contact with Baptist churches regardless of who sponsors them. Canada will bring in 2000 more Karen in 2007-2008. (See attached doc't for more general info re: Karen People & Canada)
3. To the Keenagers from Sandy
If you are a member of Keenagers or would like to know more about Keenagers you are invited to an informal gathering in the parlour after church on April 18. Let’s talk about your ideas and plans for your group in the upcoming months and how I can best support you.
4. Declan was born this week, weighing in at 6 lbs 12 oz. Declan is the newest grandchild for Marjorie and Larry and first child for their daughter Claire. All are well after some shaky moments during the delivery.
5. I read Faye Reynolds’ letter this morning and thought… how down to earth. She has a great way of looking at where Jesus might take us/meet us….. Galilee. Now with that teaser, how could you resist reading it?
6. Centre for Spiritual Formation: 2 spots still available for 2010!
Carey Theological College’s CSF (Centre for Spiritual Formation) graduate education program still has 2 spots available for this year’s program. Famous people in our church like Anne Bellamy, Sandy Smith, and Judy Simpson are graduates of this program and one of our former ministers, Rev. Cam Yates founded this program at Carey several years ago.
Our church council is in the process of making scholarship monies available for FBC church members/adherents who want to be a part of the CSF program. We will sponsor up to 2 students/year and a short scholarship application process will be required.
FBC sponsored students will then be expected to do a ministry internship and/or spiritual formation projects in the context of FBC community life. This will be the equivalent of approx. 5 hours of ministry service/week. Please contact Rev. Ryan Sato ryan@fbcedmonton.ca by March 28, 2010 if you are interested. Applications to Carey Theological College are due by March 31, 2010. For more info about the program go to www.careycentre.ca .
7. Note re: STEP Team meeting from Sam Proskin:
I've scheduled a meeting for Monday April 12 at 7 pm, likely at First Baptist Parlour (to be confirmed).
We would use this as an opportunity to address your questions regarding short term mission to Bolivia and a prayer time as we approach our application deadline time (postponed from April 15 to 30).
I will send out a gmail calendar invitation for RSVP.
The following quote is from Mack & Leeann's Guide to Short -Term Missions, a book that I've been reading while considering my own call.
"The place God wants us to start in mission work is not to get a passport, buy a plane ticket or develop vacation Bible school curriculum. The place to start is by recognizing that you must trust God's plan and not your own. The short-term mission’s trip is an instrument God uses to help Christians learn to trust him in deeper and profound ways."
Å recent newspaper article link is attached below as it provides some recent Bolivian history:
Bolivia, our beacon of hope
There’s a game I’ve been playing recently. Any time I read the news and get depressed about the parlous state of our world, I type “Bolivia” into Google news and wait for the results. It’s really all you need to brighten up your day. In the last month things such as this have popped up: Bolivian women spearhead Morales revolution, which describes the decision by Bolivia’s president, Evo Morales, to stock half his new cabinet with women, nearly half of them indigenous.
Full Article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/08/bolivia-evo-morales-election
8. Here are some pictures from Rev. Ryan's camera over the past few months. Random pic's from random events at FBC Edmonton. They will be posted for viewing and download for 2 weeks and then they will disappear from cyberspace! Expiring April 20, 2010.
Go to: http://drop.io/fbcmarch2010
9. Margaret is looking for a couple more people for the April-June ESL Program. You can email tana@fbcedmonton.ca if you are interested.
NEWS FOR YOUTH
Warm Easter Greetings Youth, Parents, Friends of youth, lurkers and hangers-on,
I'm still basking in the glow of Sunday's Easter Breakfast.
We cooked like a well-oiled machine. Many people commented on how much fun we were having.
There was lots of food. You made us proud.
Thank you to everyone who helped.
BTW, we raised $500.00 for the CBM motorbike -- $700.00 more to go, so if you have a fundraising idea, just say the word.
Traditionally the pancake ingredients are paid for by the youth and their families, so if you still need to make a donation (aiming for $275.04), just drop it by the office.
For the record, this week and the next -- that is the 9th and the 16th, youth will be at the church.
7:00-10:00.
It's called, oh, let's say, Church quencher!
Expect a calendar of other events in the days to follow.
Any questions? Call, email, or text 965-2224.
Much Peace,
jeremy
NEWS FOR CHILDREN
From Karen
Children Ministry Needs You!
We are so thankful for all of you who have participated in our Sunday School Program. We need you to sign up for our next round of sessions. Please contact Karen at the church or by email Karen@fbcedmonton.ca.
| Lesson | Date |
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| One: Mary at the Tomb | April 11 Grace and Gideon | Sewing: Pouch for their stones | Craft: making a femo Mary, the tomb and the stone | Game: Memory game of who is missing |
| Two: Jesus is Alive | April 18 | Sewing: Pouch for their stones | Craft: making a femo Jesus | Game: Egg and spoon races |
| Three: Peter goes fishing | April 25 Grace and Gideon | Art: painting picture of Peter and the disciples
| Science: setting up a fish tank | Game: Catching fish |
| Four: Breakfast with Jesus | May 2 Singing with Darb and Greg Actors
| Craft: Fish magnet | Cooking: Making muffins
| Game: Fishing relay |
| Five: Rest and Relaxation | May 9 Mothers Day | Craft: Mother’s day cards | Mediation and Prayer: Praying and meditation | Game: Charades
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| Six: Ascension Sunday | May16 | Craft: Balloon sculpture | Drama: reenact the ascension story | Game: Balloon games |
| Seven: Pentecost Sunday | May 23 | Craft: Flames head band | Craft: Candles | Drama: act out the story |
| Eight: Peter’s Surprise | May 30 | Craft: Angel | Cooking: Angel Pizza | Game: Prisoners base |
CALENDAR
- Thursday April 8: Mom’s group and play for children: 9 am – 11 am
- Friday April 9th: Youth Group @ FBC 7:00 pm
- Saturday April 10th: Young Adults @ Marian Retreat centre 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Sunday April 11th: Grade 4-6 Hand bells: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
- Easter II Service 11:00 am, Anne Bellamy preaching
- Inside out Rehearsal 12:15 am.
Blessings to all
Tana for all of us
Thursday and a couple more attachments from Women in focus.
KAREN CULTURAL PROFILE A TOOL FOR SETTLEMENT WORKERS AND SPONSORS Mae La Oon Refugee Camp in Thailand Prepared by IOM Bangkok 2006 KAREN CULTURAL PROFILE A TOOL FOR SETTLEMENT WORKERS AND SPONSORS Mae La Oon Refugee Camp in Thailand Prepared by IOM Bangkok 2006
BURMA
There are nearly 50 million people living in Burma1, a country richly endowed with resources; oil and gas, gemstones, and huge areas of fertile land. Once called "the rice bowl of Asia", Burma is now ranked as one of the world's ten poorest countries. Due to government policies, nearly half of the population is living below the poverty line, and some two million Burmese have fled persecution for neighbouring countries; a further 600,000 to one million are displaced within the country. Ethnic Diversity There are some 135 different ethnic groups in Burma. These are normally broken down into nine main groups: the majority ethnic Burmans, and eight minority groups. These include: Karen, Mon, Shan, Chin, Rohingya, Arakhan, Kachin, and Karenni. Minority groups will not normally identify themselves as being Burmese, they generally hold a strong identity of their own ethnic group. Recent History The country of Burma was formed only in the 19th century, as a colony of the British Empire. Previously independent groups were forced together into an unnatural union. When the British departed in 1948 civil war broke out as each group sought to stake its claim. In 1962, the military took power and holds it to this day. The defining feature of Burmese military rule has been disastrous economic policies and human rights abuses on a massive scale. Any demonstrations against government rule have been brutally suppressed and ruthless campaigns of ethnic oppression, through executions, torture, forced labour, and forced relocation, are ongoing. This picture, however, is too simplistic; it is not one majority group oppressing the minorities; many minority groups are also traditional enemies. Going deeper still, each ethnic group also has, within its own membership, disparate factions. People working with Burmese populations should be aware of the current and historical relations amongst the various groups and not assume that all would be happy to live together just because they come from the same country. It would not be appropriate to assume similarities amongst the groups; a Karen and a Burman, for example, may not see themselves as having anything in common. At the same time, however, 1 Since 1989, the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as the name of their state. This name, however, is not universally accepted.
many values and beliefs are the same; there may be greater similarities between a Burman Christian and a Karen Christian than between a Burman Christian and a Burman Buddhist. THE KAREN History According to some sources, the Karen people are descendants of the Mongols. They do not compose a single ethnic group; there are, in fact, some twenty Karen sub-groups. They speak two mutually unintelligible languages: Sgaw and Pwo. They number between 4 and 8 million and constitute some 7% of the population in Burma. According to some sources, the Karen were among the first groups to settle in the area that is now called Burma. They migrated from the north to the area that is now Karen state, in eastern Burma, and in bordering areas in Thailand. Their migration was followed by those of other ethnic groups, including the Burmans, and, as can be expected, fighting over land and resources ensued. The Burmans were superior in military might and eventually forced the Karen into remote mountainous regions. When the British colonized Burma in the 19th century, the Karen were favoured by the British over the Burmans because of their superior education. Free of the direct oppression of the Burmans, they quickly became the professional elite of the country, with a large percentage being teachers. At the same time, missionaries from the West, especially Baptists, converted many to Christianity. This served to further antagonize the Burmans. When the British left in 1948, the repression of the Karen was renewed with a greater vigour than ever. Geographically, the Karen can be divided into three groups; those that live in cities in the main part of Burma, those that live in the mountains of Karen State, and those that live in the Irrawaddy River delta. The 'city' Karen are the most sophisticated and enjoy the privilege of having Burmese passports. They are, however, treated as second class citizens, this despite the fact that they are for the most part highly educated and working in professional occupations. They are constantly under watch as to whether they are on 'our side' (the government side) or the 'other side'. Around the time of the Burmese student uprisings in 1988, many of the city Karen were forced to flee for Karen State proper where, because of their education, they became the social leaders. Not long after,
however, they had to flee even further, to the refugee camps of Thailand. Though the older generation of these is city born, their children may only have known the life of a refugee in an isolated refugee camp in Thailand. The second geographical group is the mountain villagers. These have for the most part, lived in isolated mountain villages in Karen State, with little or no education and little contact with the outside world. They are under the political control of the KNU (Karen National Union) and have no access to Burmese passports. The third group, those of the Irrawwady delta, are not much represented in the camps in Thailand and so will not be discussed here. Karen Life in Burma The Karen are today a hunted and persecuted people, forever on guard against marauding government troops who rape, burn, and force old and young into building roads and acting as porters for army troops. Ceasefires have come and gone but the oppression of the Tatmadaw, the Burmese army, seems never to end, in fact, the first months of 2006 have seen the largest offensive against the Karen since 1997. Over 650,000 Karen are displaced from their homes within Burma; some 10,000 of these in the first six months of 2006. Refugee influxes into Thailand have also increased. The whole of Karen State is mountainous and jungle-covered, with only one town of any size. The people live in small villages with each village being more or less self-sufficient. Villagers support themselves through small family farms growing mostly rice. Almost everything in the village is grown or made in the village. Infrastructure is basic, most villages do not have electricity or much contact with the outside world. A few people would have had radios, on which they could listen to the BBC World Service and Voice of America, but almost none have TVs. Karen and Burmese are sometimes available. There are few roads and the roads that there are were often built by forced labour in order to give the Burmese army better control of the state. Many of the roads are mined and, for the Karen, a place to avoid. To get from place to place, the Karen travel on narrow trails hidden in the jungles. Though education is highly valued by the Karen, schooling in Burma is a luxury and adequate schooling is available to very few. The official language of instruction is Burmese and all Karen schools are suppressed. Schools in the mountains are few and far between, there often being only one school for 10-20 villages. This is mostly due to the lack of teachers as, without government support for Karen schools, villagers must pay for the cost of education themselves. As few can afford this, teachers basically work for their room and
board only. Children often walk hours a day over rough mountain trails to get to school. Health care is equally wanting; due to the inadequacy of the medical system, many Karen rely on home remedies such as cupping, coin rubbings, and the use of herbal remedies. Treatments would often be very rudimentary as not every village would have a skilled healer. (The author saw one person in a Thai-Karen village treating a bullet wound on his water buffalo using motor oil as an antiseptic.) Those Karen that are Animists would have shamanistic healing ceremonies, believing that the illness was caused by bad spirits. Because of the rough terrain, the isolation, the general backwardness of Burma, and the constant fighting with the government, it can be expected that many Karen in Burma have never seen a TV or telephone, or ever been in a vehicle. A few of the more educated will have studied in
