Sound of Hope rings through Woodstock
By Jim Dumville
Woodstock came alive with the “Sound of Hope” at noon hour on Sunday, March 29, as local churches rang their bells in unison in recognition of our shared battle with COVID-19.
At the Bethel Assembly Pentecostal Church on St. James Street, which does not have church bells, Rev. Ron Ecker participated by playing the shofar, a bugle made of an animal horn dating to Biblical times.
“When the Bible refers to the playing of the bugle,” he explained, “this is what it is referring to.”
Ecker explained a shofar is most commonly a ram’s horn, but he chose to play one created from an antelope horn.
As a few members of the congregation and people from the neighbourhood looked on while still acknowledging social distance guidelines, Rev. Ecker’s shofar joined the sound of bells echoing from the distance.
St. James United Church, St. Lukes Anglican, St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church in downtown Woodstock, along with the Grafton Baptist Church across the river, were among the church’s participating in the delivery of a message of comfort and hope during the ongoing global crisis.
Woodstock Coun and former mayor Randy Leonard said he was honoured to be asked to sound the bells at St. James United Church on Chapel Street.
“I hope it makes people smile,” said Leonard.
Ecker said the Sound of Hope for the community is meant to bring people together even as they find themselves separated by self-isolation.
“This is a reminder that we are still here, loving our neighbours and serving our God,” he said.
The plan is to continue to Sound of Hope each Sunday until the self-isolation is lifted.
Photo caption: Rev. Ron Ecker of the Bethel Assembly Pentecostal Church plays the shofar, made of antelope horn, to participate in the Sound of Hope in Woodstock on Sunday. (Jim Dumville photo)