HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-01-07, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016. PAGE 13.
From the Minister's Study
Newear time for a new and improvedY �ou
Y
By Rev. Gary Clark
Blyth and Brussels United
Churches
Happy New Year! Ah the sound of
the word 'new' has been proven to
be a powerful sales technique.
Witness the number of times you see
'new' or 'new and improved' on
various containers of every sort of
product under the sun or on the
shelf. Generally speaking 'new'
sells, that is until it comes to
ourselves. We kind of like old,
comfortable and even worn out.
Yes, thousands are tempted by
television advertisements from local
gyms that this is the year for that
new body. But most statistics say
that of the literally thousands that
sign up and pay their money in
advance, very few actually stick with
any new physical activity that is
going to change one's life or body
shape. So there is a contradiction
between what we want to see in the
products that we use and what we
want to see in ourselves.
One of the possible reasons for
this contradiction is that for those
'new' store bought products
someone else has done the hard
work of improving it. We get the
benefit from someone else's
wisdom, daring and sacrifice. The
gym or reading those books sitting
on the shelf or learning an
instrument or deepening your
spiritual life or you name what you
want in your life that will make you
'new and improved' means you have
to do the work.
Many people like to say it is a time
crunch, but I no longer believe that.
People who have a deep desire to
learn something new, make the time,
or rather, make growth a priority.
Another reason is that is it hard to
learn something new or change our
life patterns. Once again I see it
happening and know it is possible to
change a life pattern. True, our old
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
Lied 1aVater
�►�tula� Te
"Folly of Faith
Founded
on Fiction
not Fact"
Evangelical Missionary Church
Tues. 7:30 pm Wingham Small Group
Wed. 10:00 am "Coffee Break" Women's Bible Study at CRC
10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow -- 519-523-4848
getlivingwateror
#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
habits are well worn and if we
stumble even once in trying to
develop a new habit the old ones are
there for us to slide into again. But
if the desire is there then we can
break free.
When it comes right down to it, it
seems to me the overwhelming
reason that we fail at becoming the
'new and improved' you is that we
are afraid of change and the sacrifice
it will require. Above all else, I see
this as a spiritual issue.
Fear of change and of becoming
the person you know you can be and
want to be and whom God calls you
to be is a spiritual challenge.
Luckily there is one who has already
done the hard work, has used
wisdom and been willing to sacrifice
for us.
Jesus leads the way of our being
the person who we want to be.
When we fail he will not ridicule us
nor reject us. Instead he will offer
his hand to help us up, dust us off,
hold us in love and gently push us
BRUSSELS
back on the road of change.
When we seem at a loss at how to
even start to change his wisdom
found in the New Testament will
give us direction. Go ahead try it.
When you don't know your next
step, open the Bible to the New
Testament, which is the last third of
the book, and start reading. You'll
be surprised at the help you can find
there. Finding a congregation of
others who take that book seriously
will add in your journey and
development. And lastly there is no
suffering that you will have to do
that Jesus hasn't already done for
you. There is no pain, no humiliation
and no feelings of betrayal and loss
that are greater that which he has
already suffered and triumphed over.
He wants you and me to know that
we can triumph too; that though the
BUY? SELL?
TRY CLASSIFIED
United Church
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 am
All Welcome
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited(a.tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BLYTH
Trinity
(.J�. 9:15 am
Church Office
519-357-4883
BRUSSELS
St. John's
11:15 am
Church Office
519-887-6862
Everyone Welcome!
www.nabcom.ca/church
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
'Emmett). eNotwataitv 'Ed& avid
You're'nvitec(
to come worsht p
with us
Sunday, January 10
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
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
fi!
N
J
Sunday, January 10
Re-Membering
Sunday, January 17
Being the Unexpected Neighbour
r ■
MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
OFFICE: 519-523-4224
road of change is hard and long, we
are not without all his wisdom,
resources of the spirit and strength
of hope and faith.
So maybe as you approach this
year with hopes that this year will be
different and you with it, look at
bringing Jesus more into your life
first. You just might find the rest a lot
easier that you could even have
imagined.
Peace and a Happy New You!
gaue 74 ?leo ,44c t
Let everyone know about
your new bundle of joy!
The Citizen
Call for prices and details
519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114
r m
11
o
T�Y
!Jou re -.ntrited loin 2t(s 9tt 7,C'ots/
SUNDAYS
Morning Service
Evening Service
10:00 am
7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10
We invite you to join our church family in:
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
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
519-887-9017
THIS YEAR,
RESTART
YOUR LIFE
It is 2016 and at Huron Chapel we invite you to join us in learning
about the God of hope and new beginnings every Sunday at
10:30am in Auburn.
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.