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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-04-28, Page 24PAGE 24.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016. From the Minister's Study The implications of the resurrection By Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen Blyth Christian Reformed Church What difference does it make that Jesus has risen from the dead? This is the question I have been asking in our worship services in this season of Eastertide. The season of Easter begins with Easter Sunday and lasts through Pentecost Sunday, which this year will be celebrated on May 15. Let me reflect on some of the things I have learned. First, because Jesus has risen from the dead, resurrections are possible. Because resurrections are possible, that also means that I can experience resurrection. In other words, my death (and may that be many years from now) will not be my end. Because my sins have been forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I can be assured that I will rise to new life at some point in the future. When we think of resurrection, we do not think about sitting on a cloud somewhere in the heavens for the rest of eternity. Rather the resurrection means that we become fully human, having both a spirit and a body. After the resurrection what we will experience will be much like what we experience now, only much better. All the problems associated with life on earth today (broken relationships with others, danger from climate change or other disaster, illness, accident, loneliness and all those other things that rob us of the fullness of life) will no longer exist. Life will be good in the fullest sense. When we experience resurrection, we will become like we were meant to be. This is a future t t t t t t t t t t t t t t Living 1Vater Te1laaliip r 1 Taxing Grace: Zaccheus - Saved and Giving" Communion; Potluck by Men Tues. 7:30 pm Wingham Small Group • G&M Lisle's 10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 getlivingwaterorg IS THIS YOUR LAST MEMORY OF CHURCH? Then you need to discover why many young families are making HURON CHAPEL their home. www.huronchapel.com ,) Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 1st Are You Being Served? All Welcome event for us, but it has been made possible because Jesus rose from the dead. This is the first implication of the resurrection. Second, because of the resurrection, we serve the risen Lord. Our Triune God created this world, and he still loves it very much. He has given us responsibility over the creation to care and tend to it. If Jesus remained in the grave, if he had not risen, we would not be responsible to him. But he has risen, and therefore he has a lot to say about caring for all of creation. We may not do with the earth as we wish, but rather we are accountable to restore the earth to how God intended it to be. So, for example, in the area of climate change, we seek not only to halt the rise of global temperatures, but we seek to return it to something that will sustain the ecosystems that support life on this earth. We are accountable to the risen Jesus Christ for all species of animal and plant in addition to being accountable to him for the care of our fellow human beings. In other words, because Jesus has risen, we do not have the right to do as we see fit. Rather, we are called to do as God the Creator sees fit. Third, the resurrection gives us hope. We have a future ahead of us that is better than the present. It does seem to me that we live in a rather pessimistic time as we consider the failings of humanity to solve the problems we create for ourselves. We have to admit that we are quite incapable of solving any of our problems without creating many more. The Bible tells us that we need outside help, help that is stronger than we are. And because Jesus is alive, he is available to us to help us. And for that reason we have hope. Jesus Christ intervenes in this world to bring restoration and renewal where there has been destruction and despair. A final implication of the resurrection is this: because of the kind of life that we will experience after the resurrection, how we live now is changed. If there is more to life than what we experience between birth and physical death, then we don't have to be so attached to what we have today. In fact, because everything on this earth will pass away sometime, attaching ourselves to it is like riding a wave of the ocean: it will carry us for a time, but it will one day disappear. Knowing that God is preparing something permanent for us gives us a new perspective on how we can best spend our lives. For example, one of the activities we ought to engage in as people living on this earth is caring for each other. Your wellbeing is also my responsibility. If you lack something and I have enough for myself and more, I ought to give something to you so that you can experience an elevated quality of life. However, this is very difficult if I believe that all I will ever have is what I have ;, You're 9nutted Jo join Is Jn WorsIiv SUNDAYS Morning Service �� I Evening Service 10:00 am pm '1111 ,.at. BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Fiuddee¢ cooxarc?lottv VdFe You're Invited to come worshp with us( Sunday, May 1 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 MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224 here on this earth in the here and now. If this is all we get, we might be tempted to ensure that we have as much as we can get so that we are fully satisfied. If, on the other hand, I am convinced that God has something better prepared for me in the future, I will be more ready to share what I have now with others. We can live sacrificially because of the hope of the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is far more than just an event that Christians believe happened long ago. Because Jesus has risen, our entire worldview is changed. We live with hope, knowing that through Jesus all things will be renewed while at the same time we hold ourselves accountable to the risen Lord, caring for that which he loves deeply. All this is true, but at the BRUSSELS same time we know that this world will never be made whole again. So, we look forward to our resurrections, trusting that a time is coming when the world will be made new again. 3.W a Neamili addition? Let everyone know about your new bundle of joy! LoCall for prices and details 519-523-4792 519-887-9114 ) frhe t .' l' Citizen i_ 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@tcc.on.ca Church bookings: 519-887-6377 Other concerns: 226-963-1175 ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS BLYTH 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! MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, MAY 1 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 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.