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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-09-07, Page 16vengeance, but love and grace. Romans 12:21 says, "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." As Christians, we understand that we have been forgiven and that God has given to us a new nature to love Him and to seek to walk in His ways. Our hearts are sinful too and in our hearts there too is the potential to do the worst of sin. But God is saving us from these things and has given us new life in Jesus Christ. At the conference, Pastor Carl shared with us some of his own life story. He said that at one time he had nothing to do with God and His ways. He hated the church and its message about Jesus. But then God changed his heart and gave him faith to believe and he found forgiveness and peace and eternal life in Jesus Christ. We are to respond with the same love and grace that we have received from God. Titus 3:1-5 summarizes this beautifully: "Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. "For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." He was also thankful that because of the fire he was able to share about the goodness and faithfulness of God with many people through the media. Biblically speaking, God's church consists of the people who have faith in Him through Jesus Christ — it is not the building in which we meet to conduct our activities. God is still building His church and He will continue to do so until He returns. He has #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 iJ. BRUSSELS United Church Welcome to Sunday morning worship at 11:00 am Hillary MacDonald (905) 246-7386 Macdonald.hillary@gmail.com Everyone welcome exa4det4 efuitaateetv Vine efts/Ad Sunday, September 10 - 10:30 a.m. You're Invited to come worsht p with us 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. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017. From the Minister's Study Despite difficulties, opposition, the church is strong By Pastor Andrew Versteeg Brussels Community Bible Chapel How do you respond when your church is burned by an arsonist? Two weeks ago our family had an opportunity to vacation for a week at a Bible conference near Brantford. We have been making this an annual family tradition and, as a result, we have been making friends and getting to know some of the people who are also making this an annual event in their lives. The conference began on Saturday. Earlier in the week Trinity Baptist Church, located on Guelph Line just outside of Burlington, had been set on fire and severely damaged. You may have seen this on the news. It was obvious that the fire had been started by an arsonist, who has yet to be apprehended. The pastor from this church, Carl Muller, is one of the organizers of the conference we attended and there were a number from Trinity Baptist who attended the conference. It was a blessing to rub shoulders with these people for a week, to see their response, and to encourage them while they struggled with the loss of their building. Shortly after the fire, the pastor was interviewed by the media about his thoughts and response to the person who started the fire. There had been some graffiti sprayed on the wall of the church making it clear that this person had an agenda against the church. Pastor Carl said, "we do not respond to malevolence in a malevolent way" In other words we do not wish evil upon this person, but instead our hope and prayer for this person is forgiveness, grace and mercy. We respond with mercy and love and are ready to forgive. Pastor Carl went on to say that we too are sinners and God has been gracious to us and so we respond with the gospel in the hope that this person would also turn to the Lord and be forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the true Christian response. When we are wronged and persecuted, our response is not Welcome to Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 250 Princess St., Brussels Sunday, September 10 Worship Service 10:00 am Coffee Time 11:15 am Sunday School for all ages 11:30 am 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Pastor Ken Gazley Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! £ivinj 'Water Cfiuittuili, ell�u�fii September 10 Communion "Sunday Morning Fellowship Hour" 11:45 a.m. (for September) at home of Herb & Bonnie Shannon East end of Hamilton Street, Blyth Evangelical Missionary Church Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 + getlivingwater.org Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Sunday, September 10 There is will be no service at Blyth United Church Please join us the Thresher Reunion Church Service at 9:30 am — Shed #3 All are welcome OFFICE: 519-523-4224 also promised never to leave or forsake us. So, through difficulties and even through opposition, the church goes on and goes on even stronger than it was before. The Lord provides and before the fire was even out another church in Burlington called and offered their extra space to Trinity Baptist, free of charge, until the repairs are complete. It was amazing to see this level of dedication and co-operation in the face of such a tragedy. ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS B LYT H 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 US! :You're °7'w'1ted 7 7otn 21s °7"1'1 ttenq /, SUNDAYS Teen Challenge Choir Evening Service 10:00 am 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH 4\6, Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 We invite you to join our church family in: Worship & Sunday School - 11 am Coffee & Snacks following the service Come out and meet our new minister, Rev. Charmila Ireland 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 SAME HURON CHAPEL SERVICE TWO TIMES 9 AM + 11 AM STARTING SUNDAY OCTOBER 15TH huronchapel.com 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.