Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-12-08, Page 16Evangelical Missionary Church PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016. From the Minister's Study Listen and the Lord will renew your strength BY MARK ROYALL HURON CHAPEL "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 48:31). "Be still, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10) Hear my confession, I used to like being busy because I thought it meant I was being productive. Now I know that busyness and being productive are not always the same thing. I use to think being busy meant I was important because I was needed for so many things. Now I know being busy is not about me being important but rather, it has more to do with my inability to say, "No" to the many things so I could focus on the few important things. When I pastored out in British Columbia, I would often go out into the countryside and watch bald eagles fly. Unlike most birds, eagles don't frantically flap their wings trying to get from one place to another. Eagles don't flap...they soar. They find and catch a warm thermal rising up from the earth and then they ride it with their wings fully spread out in majestic fashion. They rest on that thermal. That thermal carries them and sustains them in their flight. The Bible says when we wait on the Lord, when we seek Him and trust Him and be still before Him so that we may know Him and hear from Him, we will soar on wings like eagles and we will renew our strength. Lately, I haven't been soaring enough. What I have been doing a lot of late is flapping my wings like a bird trying to get things done on my own strength. I was going to give you a list of the things Living g Water cfwitticrllrellanftip Dec. 1 - Is. 35;Mt. 11 3` Sunday of Advent - "Joy" "Joy for Those Outside the Palace" Dec. 24, 7:00 pm - CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE Small Group • Tuesdays 7:30 pm at GSM Lisle's, Wingham Women's Ministry • Isl Wed. each month, 7:00 pm Youth Group • Wed. 6:30.8:30 pm at Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn 10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 t getlivingwater.org #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 that have caused my `busyness' of late but no one ever likes to hear others tell them about how busy they are. We may feign interest as people tell us of their busyness in the same way we seem interested listening to the surgical procedure they underwent in hospital. I will tell you this, that in the busyness, my father- in-law died just a little over a week ago. I have known him much longer than the 32 years I have been married to his wonderful daughter. My father and my father-in-law grew up on the same street, going to the same church. I admired him very much and I was so very honoured to preside over his funeral past week. However, the day after his funeral my body said enough flapping, and I got sick with a cold or flu or something. All I know was it was miserable...and I think, it was needed. It wasn't one of those illnesses that inconvenienced you, this one plopped me on the couch at home alone, in misery, while my wife stayed with her family in the city. It was like God clipped my wings and said to me, "Okay, you are going to be still now." We are in the season of Advent. Advent is all about waiting expectantly and preparing enthusiastically for the Lord. Advent is more about us choosing to soar on the wings of eagles and less about us frantically flapping our wings like birds. It has to be more about being still before God and less about being overwhelmed with busyness of the tasks that come with the Christmas season. To my believing friends, I want to remind you during this time of year, where your help and strength comes l ou r, ;J'ni iteCl , join Hs S'1'l tCors 11U SUNDAYS I Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 BRUSSELS United Church Sunday, December 11 - Advent 111 Worship Service & Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. Mary Ross returns for a Christmas -themed time with the Sunday School kids Everyone welcome Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. - 226-963-1175 Eladdeed ease mateatv Vac e4saftee You're Invited to come worship with us Sunday, December 11 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 1 1:00 a.m. Sunday, December 11th - ADVENT 3 " The Gift of Presence" Communion Blue Christmas Service at 2 p.m. A quiet service of comfort. Finding comfort among the chaos and grief at this time of year. MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224 from. Spend time being still before God. Read His Word. Speak and listen to Him in quiet prayer. Seek and rest in Him like an eagle seeks and rests on the warm thermal rising up from the earth. When you do, the Lord shall renew your strength. Merry Christmas. See histories and historic photographs on the Huron History section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca 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 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 We invite you to join our church family in: Worship & Sunday School - 11 am Coffee & Snacks following the service 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 EVERY SUNDAY @ 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.