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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-06-01, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2017. PAGE 17. From the Minister's Study It's time for more than one Earth Day By Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Blyth Christian Reformed Church A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Egypt, Jordan and Israel as part of a learning tour. We began our journey in Egypt, first at the pyramids just outside of Cairo (ancient Memphis) and then we moved south to Luxor where we saw the reconstructed ruins of the magnificent ruins of the ancient temples of Thebes. Memphis and Thebes were, respectively, the capital cities during two periods when the country of Egypt was considered one of the most powerful and wealthiest nations in the world. I was struck by how majestic these ancient structures are and I could not help but wonder at the engineering skills that it must have taken to build them. I also became aware of the immense amount of wealth that Egypt must have possessed in order to be able to afford such magnificent buildings. But not only was I impressed by the sheer scale of the building projects, but I was also a little disturbed by how they had been built. It is nearly impossible for a nation to become so wealthy and so powerful without exploiting others. We are well aware that most ancient world powers felt it entirely within their rights to enslave others in order to accomplish their grand plans. It would have been wonderful to be an Egyptian in Memphis or Thebes during the height of Egyptian power, but I suspect that many who were not of the powerful community found life to be very oppressive. Wherever we toured, we saw the ruins of ancient civilizations; the ruins spoke of periods of immense wealth and power. With each set of ruins we saw, we also heard stories of exploitation and greed. And there is one further thing that all these t t t t t t t t t t t t t t eLivinff 1Uv r Cfir►atim rel! iip June 4: Is. 61:1-7 PENTECOST COMMUNION: "Spirit Work" Evangelical Missionary Church IF: TABLE 10.11:30 am 17:30.9 pm June 5 at Blyth Creek Maple Farm Small Group • Mon. 7:30 pm at G&M Lisle's, Wingham Youth Group • Wed. 8:30 8:30 pm at Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn 10:30 a.m. — Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 getlivingwater.org� lZ #1 And We Still Try Harder Recent circulation figures show The Citizen has the highest circulation in the northern part of Huron County, #3 in the entire county. The Citizen Proudly Community -Owned Since 1985 ruins had in common: they were ruins, piles of rubble showing that the civilization that once had been so significant had faded into obscurity. Although life seems so permanent here in Canada and although we are richly blessed, we should not think that our world as we know it will remain like it is forever. Our rich civilization, with all of its glory, will one day be a heap of rubble as well. And this change can occur overnight. It did in Egypt. Immediately following the building of the pyramids, within the course of a couple of decades, Egypt went into a period of rapid decline. The same could happen to us. We hope it won't, but we can never be absolutely sure it will not. When Jesus came to this world, he announced that he was inaugurating a kingdom that would last forever. It was a kingdom that would never become a heap of rubble to be partially reconstructed by a group of archaeologists in the distant future. Jesus proclaimed that he is an eternal king of an everlasting kingdom. Just a week ago, the Christian church celebrated Ascension Day, which is the day when Jesus not only ascended into heaven, but he also was crowned king of all that is. It is his coronation day. Jesus' kingdom is vastly different from the kingdoms of this world. Its power is not in its military nor in its economic policies. The power of Jesus' kingdom is found in grace, love, compassion and mercy. Jesus calls us to care for each other, to look after the needs of our neighbour, and to care for the creation. Exploitation of others is not permitted, nor is the accumulation of vast wealth for personal purposes. Rather, Jesus calls the citizens of his kingdom to lives of self-sacrifice and giving. (I acknowledge that many have used the name of Jesus for their own benefits, exploiting others in the BRUSSELS United Church WORSHIP SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224 blythunited@tcc.on.ca Church bookings: 519-887-6377 Everyone welcome ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS B LYTH ,Trinity ( .9:15 am Church Office 519-357-4883 BRUSSELS St. John's 11:15 am Church Office 519-887-6862 Everyone Welcome! COME WORSHIP WITH USI FfeuQaeld eomocIlectv Sae eitaizet !� You're Invited to come worsh p with us Sunday, June 4 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Blyth United Church Est. 1875 f4Gr2 cfa dad Scouter* fiefte 4 at 11:00 a.m. for our Sunday School year-end celebration with Hillary MacDonald All are welcome OFFICE: 519-523-4224 process, but we must also recognize that just because one uses the name of Jesus does not mean that they are following Jesus.) As king over all, Jesus invites us to join with him in the work of restoring the brokenness and despair that are caused by kingdoms that look remarkably similar to the ancient kingdoms I visited. Jesus' kingdom will not end. It will never become a heap of rubble. It will not fade into obscurity. We are all invited to join Jesus in his kingdom and we do so by putting our trust in him. We acknowledge that he gave his life for us, and we willingly do the same for others. Jesus reigns and to belong to his kingdom means that we first accept that he is king and we dedicate our lives to his purposes. His kingdom will never end. Everything else will become rubble. We can throw our efforts into what will become rubble, or we can join with Jesus and work for what lasts. Book Your Ad Now for the 2017 IPM Issue Call The Citizen 519-523-4792 and ask for Brenda or Heather You re , 9tivitecIo (,i5 VC1"S 11p SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service 10:00 am 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN 4. REFORMED CHURCH 7. Lt Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 IAMNOT afraid of FAILURE; I am afraid of succeeding at things that don't MArrf ER William Care r • 45. •we'llio We Want To Help You With That Huron Chapel Every Sunday in Auburn @ 10:30am - huronchapel.com MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, JUNE 4 We invite you to join our church family in: Worship & Sunday School - 11 am Coffee & Snacks following the service Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-6687 THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph's Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N.