The Citizen, 2017-07-06, Page 25THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2017. PAGE 25.
From the Minister's Study
Take God on vacation says van Leeuwen
By Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Blyth Christian Reformed
Church
Vacation season is upon us. Some
of us will be camping in a nearby
campground while others are going
to be travelling greater distances.
Most of us will spend at least several
weekends away from home during
the summer months. We are blessed
to be able to take vacations and
enjoy the world that God has given
to us.
Many times, when we spend time
away from home we disrupt some of
our normal routines. That can be
good, but we may also neglect some
of the more important things. One of
them is to recognize God's continual
faithfulness in our lives. After all, if
he gives us the resources and time to
enjoy his creation, shouldn't we also
remember to thank him for those
gifts?
One of the joys I have experienced
many times while on vacation is the
opportunity to worship in a local
church. We usually look for a church
on the way into the campground or
near the motel and on Sunday we
attend there.
As a family we have always been
blessed. It never fails that we learn
something from the message and are
encouraged by those also in
attendance, but more importantly we
have an opportunity to praise God
for his blessings along with others
who are faithful.
It is easy to become distracted by
all of our blessings to the point that
we forget the one who blesses us.
We are inundated with so many
different ideas and are have our
minds focused in so many different
directions, it is easy for us to get
pulled away from the Lord. It is
increasingly challenging to focus our
eyes on Jesus when there are so
many other focal points. We need to
pause regularly from whatever it is
we are doing and reflect again on
who God is and what he has done for
us. After all, he has richly blessed us
in Jesus Christ.
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e�iznir Water
`i Cfitrittthta 1 el rtlup
July 9: Rom. 8:18-25
"Hope
Amidst
Frustration"
Evangelical Missionary Church
July 10-13 Community VBS at Blyth CRC
Register today! http:lltinyurl.comlblythvbs2017
10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
+ getlivingwater.org
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With that in mind, let me make a • Make the effort to attend a local
couple of suggestions:
church near where you are camping.
A time to worship
While there was plenty to do and see over the weekend as
East Wawanosh celebrated its 150th anniversary with a
homecoming, many members of the community took time
on Sunday to pause and attend the event's church service,
which was carried out by Brian Hymers of Knox
Presbyterian Church. Performing under the tent for the
service was For Heaven's Sake, a men's quartet from
London. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
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SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
1 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Ex Saeed, eameallotetv 'd€e e4d tiee
Sunday, July 9 - 10:30 a.m.
650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School)
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.
Evening Services July 9 to Sept. 3
6:30 p.m. at various homes
Vacation Bible School - July 10-14
You're 'nvited
to come worship
with us
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You will find it a blessing as you join
in a worship service that might be a
little different from ours. And, if the
church is small, the people who
regularly attend will be encouraged
by your presence.
• If you do not attend church while
camping, reserve Sunday morning to
study the other book in which God
reveals himself, the book of creation.
Go for a nature walk and don't just
enjoy the world around you. Think
about what kind of God we have
who would create intricate flowers,
towering trees and peaceful
landscapes. Thank God for who he
is. And, if you see something that is
not right (garbage, pollution, etc.)
ask forgiveness from God on behalf
of the rest of humanity.
• Have a small worship service
with your family and friends, if you
are camping with others. Each of
you should be able so share
something of how you have seen
God in the world around you.
• Continue with your regular
family devotions. (If you don't have
regular family devotions, now is the
best time to start.) Most of us eat at
least one meal together each day as a
family while camping, and use that
meal to pause and reflect on what
God says in his Word. Take time to
pray together. Be sure to thank God
for the creation he has provided for
us.
• Make sure you take your Bible
along with you. Reading novels is a
good way to pass the time, but don't
allow fiction to displace reality. Set a
goal to read a portion of the Bible
(e.g. one of the gospels) during your
camping trip.
We can be thankful that we live in
a country where we have the luxury
of leisure time. Many people do not
have what we have. Let us not forget
the God who has so blessed us that
we can afford to take regular
vacations. Let's take him along on
our camping trips.
l,`''' BRUSSELS
United Church
July is vacation time at Brussels United
worship with Melville Presbyterian at 11:00 a.m.
See you at Brussels United on August 6 at 11:00 a.m.
To reach Hillary MacDonald during July
Call: 905-246-7386
Email: macdonald.hillary@gmail.com
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
%T\
BLYTH
•Trinity
(S,. 9:15 am
Church Office
519-357-4883
BRUSSELS
St. John's
No service
for month
of July
Everyone Welcome!
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, JULY 9
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
Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
Visitation Sundays
for the month of July
please worship
ata church near you
Regular weekly services resume
August 7th at 9:30 am
All are welcome OFFICE: 519-523-4224