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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-09-15, Page 18t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t PAGE 18.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016. From the Minister's Study Churches should learn from community events By Rev. Gary Clark Blyth and Brussels United Churches This past week I attended the International Plowing Match 2017 executive meeting as the Chair of the Worship Committee. There were quite a few people there from the various committees and sub- committees. It is hard to imagine the number of volunteer hours that go into putting on a major event like this. Those in the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association have a glimpse of this level of organization by pulling off their annual Threshers' Reunion every year. However, the Threshers are using the same facility and grounds every year and have the opportunity to improve those facilities as they discover a need. As well that stability allows for Directors of the HPTHA to bring years (and even decades) of experience to the planning table. The IPM moves about, never using the same farm area twice — often hours from each other. A whole new set of leaders must be found, a new vision created, shared and voted on. The planning for each plowing match begins years in advance before the current year's match ends. When you see the size of the area involved, the budget of over $1 million and the literally hundreds of volunteers working toward a single goal you understand why planning is so important. Hand in hand with planning is the trust that each chair of a committee and each volunteer must have in each other. The chair of the whole match is Jacquie Bishop and she has done an excellent job fostering trust and encouraging leadership among all who are involved. At the meeting, each area chair, like Marlene Munn who chairs related events, introduced the chairs of the sub -committees in their portfolio and they in turn gave an update on their activities. As the various chairs reported what each iVater- CiviiatiaaT Sept. 18: Matt. 14:15ff Guest Speakers - 1st Nation Missionaries Jamie & Rhonda Thornton, Parry Sound "Faith & Surrender" Evangelical Missionary Church Tues. 7:30 pm Small Group at R&S Howson's 10:30 a.m. — Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 getlivingwater.orgy committee was doing they would say, "we plan to go to the IPM 2016 to learn what they have discovered and have had to react to." There was no sign of arrogance or that we are the best. There was no sense of "you should be farther along in your planning." There was laughter and a genuine appreciation for Jacquie's calm and grounded leadership. This executive is a place to place of encouragement, direction and support. I couldn't help but think that this is what the church is supposed to be about and how it should be run. St. Paul's image of the body of Christ found in 1 Corinthians is the model that Christianity has been striving toward in the 2,000 years of its existence. Yet there is competition, suspicion and some pretty nasty behaviour between and within the various parts of the body. Trust is in short supply. I have mediated on why the IPM is so different. The church (not just my beloved United Church but all churches) have capable leadership. They have a vision granted to them BRUSSELS by their tradition and the ongoing gifts of the Holy Spirit. They have a stable location. They have everything they need to be as successful as any IPM. Why then is this not what I find when I look at the church? Let me suggest several possibilities. One thought is that each IPM holds to a tradition of what has been, but at the same time is renewed as a new location and new leadership must be found. Every IPM presents a different set of challenges that must be overcome and yet wisdom from previous event is always helpful. So there is, built into the organization, both a tradition but also a regular reinvention of who and what you will encounter at an IPM. Most churches do the "what has been" really well but stumble on the reinvention part. Secondly, each IPM is not in competition with another. The sharing of struggles, successes, failures and the resource of wisdom is done freely. Churches often feel like they are in competition with each other. The competition is partly United Church WORSHIP SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am Everyone 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 AI'GLICAIt PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS BLYTH Trinity (1. 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, SEPTEMBER 18 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 Huron Chapel in Auburn - "Always A Place For You" Every Sunday @ 10:30am - huronchapel.com theologically based but often it is simply about winning. And winning becomes who has the most bums in the seats and not who is the most forgiving, loving and daring in their faith journey. And lastly I think there is something about putting one's shoulder to a great enterprise. An event that we would be proud of and mark as a high water place in our lives. This IPM is the 100th in its history. It will host people from all over the world and it will really show Huron County off to the world. Our church life helps us live in the day to day and ordinariness of life. I somehow doubt people from all over the world will show up at our door to praise how we made meals, got the kids to school and managed not to go bankrupt in the process. Yet, when I think of what is required of parents Continued on page 20 Wou re 9nviteci join ?is JJn «Wors/tip SUNDAYS Morning Service Evening Service 10:00 am 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH L6, Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Fut:me& eoHurc2fac''C&e You're 'nvitec to come worsh p with us Sunday, September 18 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 A. 48X Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, September 18 Sunday School Kickoff All -Welcome MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224 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.