HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-05-18, Page 3THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017. PAGE 3.
Blyth, Brussels United Churches welcome minister
519-523-4224 www.blythunited.org
SUNDAY SERVICE and SCHOOL: 11:00 am
WELCOME
HILLARY MAC DONALD
A new face
Hillary MacDonald has been selected to pick up the torch
from Blyth and Brussels United Church Minister Gary Clark
who recently left the charge. MacDonald will act as a part-
time minister until September when she starts a full-time
internship within the charge to become ordained. (Denny Scott
photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Hillary MacDonald officially
began her time with Blyth and
Brussels United Church on Sunday.
The student minister will serve as
a part-time minister for the two
churches until September when she
will start an eight-month internship
at the two churches, which is a
necessary step towards becoming
ordained.
MacDonald finished her Masters
of Divinity last year at the Atlantic
School of Theology in Halifax and
said that Blyth and Brussels offered
a unique opportunity for her to
match two of her greatest desires for
pursuing a life in the ministry.
"I was longing for a rural charge
and longing to be close to my home
in London," she said. "Blyth and
Brussels provided that opportunity."
She said she met with former
minister of the two-point charge,
Gary Clark, and said everything
seemed to work together.
"My learning goals match the
needs of the congregation," she said.
MacDonald will begin her full-
time internship in September and she
and her partner Kevin VanSpronsen,
a mechanic at Argo in New
Hamburg, plan to move to the area
then. She is currently commuting
from London.
After the eight-month internship,
MacDonald will be ordained and, at
that point, between herself and the
congregations, her future within the
two churches will be determined.
"There is the possibility that I will
be called here after ordination," she
said. "It's really up to what's best for
the congregation and me."
MacDonald was born and raised in
London and has attended Riverside
United Church for most of her life.
Her candidacy came out of that
church.
She decided to pursue her current
career after feeling a stirring while
working within the ministry.
"I can remember it happened on
July 7, 2011," she said. "I had
always been involved in the church
through camps, conferences and
youth groups and I never thought I
would work in a church. It was on an
eve of spiritual practice with a
program I was running with the
church when God called me to
continue that work."
She said the calling, which came
while she was working with a youth
program called The GO Project,
made her realize that teaching
doesn't necessarily have to be in a
classroom and can be done through
the church.
MacDonald completed her
undergraduate studies at Brock
University where she studied Child
and Youth studies with minors in
Sociology and Psychology before
she started working with the United
Church of Canada.
With her first services under her
belt, MacDonald said she was
impressed by the communities she
had experienced.
"Both Blyth and Brussels are
small towns and people care for one
another," she said. "Yes, everyone
knows each other's business; that
happens in a small town, but there is
a deep longing of care for one
another."
She said both communities may be
small, but they are filled with joy and
possibility, pointing to the recent
renovations at Blyth Memorial Hall
and the Blyth Cowbell Brewing
Company in Blyth and the
construction of the Four Winds Barn
Market, Bakery and Event Centre
being built in Brussels.
MacDonald said she is looking
forward to getting to know the
community and can be reached
at
through e-mail
macdonald.hillary@gmail.com
FROM BLYTH
MacDonald reaches out to children for first service
From Marilyn's Desk
By Marilyn
Craig
Call
523-9318
Greeting worshippers at Blyth
United Church on Mother's Day,
May 14 was Marilyn Craig. Lorie
Falconer ran the lift. Ushering were
Rob Mason and David Onn and Fred
Hakkers ran the Power Point.
Deb Hakkers welcomed everyone
to church in the basement of the
church while the renovations are
taking place in the sanctuary. She
wished all the mothers a Happy
Mother's Day. Deb drew everyone's
attention to the announcements
printed in the bulletin. She drew
attention to the catering on May 20
and that servers and dishwashers are
needed. Call Sharon Bromley at
519-523-9421 if you can help.
Deb invited Cole Mason to come
to the front to light the Christ candle.
The first hymn, "Come In, Come In
and Sit Down" was sung. The call to
worship was said responsively. The
scripture readings were from John
14: 1-14, the story of Christ
comforting His Disciples and from 1
Peter 2:2-10, the story of Peter
telling the people they are building a
cornerstone of the church.
The new student minister, Hillary
MacDonald was introduced. Hillary
called the children to come to the
front for their story time. Hillary
See histories and
historic photographs
on the Huron History
section of our website
www. north h u ron.on.ca
asked the children what was needed
to build a house? There were many
answers — wood, nails, a roof,
pavement, windows and doors. She
explained to them that a house must
have a good foundation on which to
be built. She also explained to them
that our bodies are like a house, it is
a spiritual house. God tells us to go
out into the world.
Hillary said a prayer with the
children and they went into their
room for their time of fellowship.
The hymn "What a Friend We Have
In Mother" was followed by the
choir singing the anthem "The Lord
Is My Shepherd." Hillary's message
to the congregation was "Building a
Church." What is Blyth United
Church? Why do we come to
church? We all come to church for
different reasons but we are a
community of friends and families.
In the scripture, Peter accepts the
community of Faith as the church.
He tells the people to be Holy and
how to be people of God. Peter tells
us in the letter to be a people of God
and to be a church. Peter tells us to
live the way God wants us to live. He
encourages us to be a community
and to live together. Today we have
individualities and not so much
community. Peter tells us to be the
cornerstones and to build our lives
together as a community. The stones
form a foundation on which to build.
Each stone is put together for a
common purpose to build a church.
People of the church come together
to build a church. The church is the
bridge between God's people and
the community. A community will
grow together with God's help. The
church is full of action and people
working together.
The hymn "Come to My Heart"
was sung followed by the receiving
of the offering, the offertory
response "What Can I Do?" the
Reading God's Word
"There is nothing more important in the Christian life than the way in
which we approach the Bible, and the way in which we read it."
(Martyn Lloyd -Jones)
"God has given the Word to us as a revelation...
of Himself,
of His character,
of His government,
of His requirements.
Our motive in reading it, then, should be of become better acquainted with
Him, with His perfections, with His will for us. Our end in perusing His
Word should be learn how to please and glorify Him; and that, by our
characters being formed under its holy influence, and our conduct
regulated in all its details by the rules He has there laid down." (Arthur
Pink)
"Our knowledge of God's Word, and delight in it, must be directed to
practice!" (Thomas Manton)
"The Scripture is given to establish our faith, and comfort our hearts, and
sanctify our lives --but not to amuse us and gratify our curiosity." (William
Jay)
A Grace Gem
Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church,
Listowel, ON 519-291-1956
offertory prayer, the prayers for the
people, silent prayers and the
singing of the Lord's Prayer. The last
hymn "Behold, Behold I Make All
Things New" was followed by the
benediction and the singing of the
response "I Am Walking a Path of
Peace."
The children presented each
mother with a carnation for Mother's
Day. Everyone was invited for
coffee, tea and treats and to meet
Hillary.
***
The Blyth Swinging Seniors are
meeting on Wednesday, May 24 at
the Blyth Legion Hall with a potluck
lunch at noon. Come out and enjoy
the food and entertainment. The lift
is available for anyone who needs it.
Happy birthday to Ian Caldwell
who celebrates May 19 and Candice
Abell-Rinn, May 22.
Laundromat
Blyth Laundromat
191 Westmoreland St., Blyth
519-523-9687
The Citizen
offices will be closed on
MONDAY, MAY 22
for
Vir
The deadline for the
May 25 paper will be
Friday, May 19
2 pm in Brussels
and
4 pm in Blyth
413 Queen St.
Blyth
519-523-4792
541 Turnberry St.
Brussels
519-887-9114