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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-10-27, Page 28For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016. From the Minister's Study God is pleased to welcome you all in By Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Blyth Christian Reformed Church Donald had begun to use cocaine. It was an expensive habit, and soon he ran out of money. His parents were devastated by the changes they saw in their son, but they continued to love him and provide for him. But Donald grew more and more belligerent and uncaring, and he began to steal from his parents. It started small, a few dollars taken from a wallet and then escalated to taking money from the bank. His parents should never have given them their PIN, but it was too late. In a few days Donald had withdrawn thousands of dollars from his parents' bank account, money that was meant to pay the mortgage and buy food. And then Donald took his parents' car and totalled it before going to Vancouver with friends. His parents were devastated. Sometimes we can point to bad parenting as the source of a child's problems but that was not the case here. Donald's parents loved him and raised him well. Most children would be envious of the care and love these parents had for their son. And now Donald, their only child, was gone. They didn't know where he'd gone and they didn't know if he would return. What should they do? They had heard he might be in Vancouver, and they decided to go and look for him. They roamed the streets of the city, especially the places were drug addicts were known to be, looking for their son. It took days, but they did find him. He was dirty, strung out, thin and clearly ill. When Donald saw his parents, he tried to hide before they saw him, but it was too late. His father ran to the doorway into which he had seen Donald disappear, and he pursued him into the squalid apartment. There with tears in his eyes he said to Donald, "Come home". He knew the dangers. Donald would always struggle with drug addiction. He may steal again, and he would probably break his parents' hearts more than once. But his parents loved him and they wanted him to be their son again. Early in the Bible we see a similar story. As the Bible tells us, God had created Adam and Eve, and he had placed them in the Garden of Eden, giving them the most wonderful life imaginable Adam and Eve had it good, very good. The story continues, however, and turns to great sadness. Adam and Eve didn't think it was good enough; they wanted more. They stole from God, taking something that didn't belong to them, and they ruined his garden and everything he had made. How would God respond? We read in Genesis 3 a most amazing t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t 1V- Cfirithan Teilamfiip Oct. 30: Potbless! Guest Speaker: Dave Martin, Voice of the Martyrs Canada Evangelical Missionary Church Tues. 7:30 pm Small Group at G&M Lisle's, Wingham 1st Wed. each month, 7:00 pm • Women's Ministry Wed. 6:30.8:30 pm - Youth Group, Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn Nov. 7.6:45 pm - IF:HURON (for women), Blyth Creek Maple Farm 10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 getlivingwateror) response. Seeing the devastation the crown of his creation had caused, God could well have turned his back on these first people and the entire world that he had made. God didn't need them or the world. He could do quite well without them. But God didn't do that. Instead, God's first response to human destruction and rebellion was to call out a question: "Where are you?" It might be a good practice to think about the tone of voice that accompanied that question. Would it have been tinged with anger? Perhaps a little. Disappointment? No doubt. Sadness? Probably. But the main emotion found in that question would have been love. Where are you? You are my children, my creation, and I love you. I don't want things to be this way. Where are you? I have spent many years reflecting on this initial response of God to human failure, destruction and rebellion, and I have come to some BRUSSELS conclusions about the nature and reason for that question. First, God wants us to evaluate where we really are without him. Really, where are you without God? Does our ignoring God or rebelling against God really get us into a better place? Where is our world now that so many have chosen to ignore God and his ways? Are we really that much better off? Or does all the brokenness we see around us reflect that brokenness we have with God? This is a question of challenge, and it calls us to self-evaluation. Second, God's question is a dangerous one for God. He was well aware that human rebellion, pride and sinfulness would not stop there. It would continue, and repeatedly God would have to ask where we are. In Canadian culture today, God is ignored by many unless people need something from him. God is putting himself on the line when he calls out to us. Third, it is a question which 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 eV' re 9nvited �a join ?Is e /n Worship SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Reformation service is in Lucknow at 7:00 pm rti -` *WM BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 SauQaePa eoHrffc2tnctv 'e6ee eitaftet You're Invited to come worship with us( ti Sunday, October 30 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. Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, October 30 Moses, 1st Motivational Speaker All Welcome MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224 begins with God. God doesn't wait for us to go on some long quest, seeking him out. He hasn't hidden himself from us. Rather, as we hide ourselves from him, he seeks us out. God acts first, and it is always the case. God takes initiative. He wants us to know that he cares very deeply for us even when we care nothing for him. He seeks us, not the other way around. And for that we can be very thankful, for if it were up to us, we might not find the time to look for him. We might be too busy hiding behind all the busyness of life to take up the search. God begins the search. And, finally, the question calls for a response. In a sense, that question is held up for us to answer as well. God calls to us, seeking us out. We are given the opportunity to respond. By his grace, many of us have done exactly that. We have come out of hiding and thrown ourselves into his arms through Jesus Christ. We have learned to trust him again. But perhaps you do not trust God yet. I encourage you to try. He is calling out to you. His Spirit may well be working in your heart and mind, and you haven't answered. Answer his call and say, "Here I am, such as I am". And be assured of this, through his grace and mercy, he will be only too pleased to welcome you as his beloved son or daughter. ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS AL BLYTH BRUSSELS Trinity St. John's A (am 11:15 am liri 4/ Church Office Church Office 519-357-4883 519-887-6862 Everyone Welcome! COME WORSHIP WITH US! MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland Anniversary and celebration of the Garlands' Sunday, October 30 at 10 am. Special music by the Harmony Reception to follow. Everyone welcome. As of November 6 our service will begin 1, Y; t, , ministry on Kings Quartet. at 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 519-887-6687 _ 10:30am This Sunday At Huron Chapel 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.