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The Citizen, 2015-06-18, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015. By Rev. Mark Royall Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church A few years ago, Glenda and I were in a department store when we happened upon some framed paintings in a box. We flipped through them and we would comment on the use of colour of a particular piece or the serenity of another that depicted a peaceful scene. We weren’t planning on buying any pictures that day but when I came across one particular picture I knew I would be taking it home with me to put on our wall. It wasn’t that I admired the artist’s work, as much as I admire what he had pictured in his painting. The scene I was looking at made me feel peaceful and I knew I could live in the place he had painted. I want to share with you, or perhaps I should say… I want to paint for you this picture in your mind’s eye and what appeals to me in this print. In my picture there is a church. The church is set at the end of a small rural village where countryside ended and the village began. In the background, on either side of a winding country road, you can see a couple of quaint houses. However, the focus of the picture is the village church. The church is the essential part of this painting. It is an old small country white church with the traditional steeple that reaches for the sky. When I look at the old church I can’t help but think how sometime in the past, years and years ago, the people of this little community built this church in response to their faith in God. They loved God. They believed in Him. They believed in His work to the point that they built a church in their community, for their community. The painting portrays the scene years after the church was built when all the charted members would have died and moved on to a greater place of worship but the church in the community stands as a symbol of their faith and hope. They wanted and expected God do great things among them. Every time I see a church it brings a testimony to me about a people’s faith. Secondly, in my picture the lights are on at the church. The church is open for business! There is reason to hope here in this community. The church is still active. It is open for all to find hope in the power of the Gospel message. Finally, there is one more thing I want you to know about this picture and it is this thing which inspires me and encourages me the most. It is the reason why I bought the picture. The picture shows the church, the lights are on and …it shows people walking to the church for the Sunday service. In my picture people are going to the church. Some are going up the stairs into the open door of the church while you see others down the road a piece on their way to the church with its lights on and doors open. You see husbands and wives walking with their children along with neighours and friends all heading towards the church in the village to give thanks to God and to encourage each other. In Hebrews 10:25 it says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” I bought this picture because it speaks to me about something I greatly cherish in my life, the church. The church isn’t just a building but it is the families and neighbours who want to be part of what God is doing in the world. They also come to the church building because they want to hear from God. They come because they want to give thanks to God and they want to do it together with others in their community. I want to be in church on Sunday morning. If you were to ask me go shopping or go to a game or go to a trade show on Sunday morning I would kindly and selfishly decline because I want to be in church giving thanks to God and learning from God with others. Again, the style of this picture I bought doesn’t wow me but what is in the picture does. There is a church in a small rural village with its lights on, doors open and people are making their way to the Sunday service. If you would ever like to see the picture I would gladly invite you in and show it to you where it hangs on the wall in our front room. 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. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, June 21 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 Vacation Bible School ~ July 20-24 Register on line at www.brusselscommunitybiblechapel.com/vbs CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Sunday, June 21 Celebrate Father’s Day Sunday, June 28 Canada Day is coming ~ Raise your flag Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed. Children Welcome GRAD SUNDAY @ Huron Chapel This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service begins at 10:30am in Auburn. huronchapel.com Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service This Sunday we celebrate all children and youth graduating in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service begins at 10:30am in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service begins at 10:30am in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service Auburn. begins at 10:30am in Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service huronchapel.com Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service huronchapel.com Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service Sunday School, School and Post Secondary Education. Service getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 June 21: 1 Sam. 23 Evangelical Missionary Church HAPPY FATHER’S DAY Photos - Emily Uyl: Building Houses in Dominican Rep. “David - Dealing with Difficulty #2: The Deadly and Ungrateful” MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, JUNE 21 Nursery care available 519-887-9017 Worship & Sunday School - 10 am Coffee & Snacks - 11 am We invite you to join our church family in: 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. SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCHBRUSSELS WORSHIP SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am All Welcome United Church 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 From the Minister’s Study Found picture sums up Royall’s thoughts on church #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. 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