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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2015-07-16, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2015. PAGE 13. By Rev. Gary Clark Blyth and Brussels United Churches It must be summer because there are lots of great summer programs going on for kids. When I lived in Winnipeg in 1995, the University of Manitoba ran a very successful summer program. Kids signed up for one- or two-week camps throughout the whole summer in everything from archery to zoology. Most university faculties saw this as a way to give their undergrads a summer job and to stoke interest in young minds about a university education in that particular field. The city zoo and the science centre did the same thing for similar reasons. Many churches hold sport, drama or food camps as a way of connecting faithful living with a passion that the children already have in them. Of course, before the day programs existed there were summer church camps. They have taught outdoor living and Bible wisdom to hundreds of thousands of young people over the last 90 years. Whether it is the church or other institutions we are all trying to reach out to young minds and hearts to sow an interest and maybe even passion for something about which we, ourselves, are passionate. I have several observations about that from the perspective of both parent and pastor. As a parent I was so happy to have a supervised place to send my children. Both my spouse and I worked full time and didn’t have enough vacation time to cover the whole summer. Gone are my summer days when parents felt safe to let the kids run free without any trusted adult within eye shot of the kids. So it was great to have a variety of places to bring/send the kids during the summer weeks when we were working. Places that fuelled their specific interests in the world and in what others thought and believed. Here were mentors that could share their passion and insight. I have found young adults inspire young kids more than old guys like me. I also think it helped the kids imagine that they would, could and ought to walk the halls of a university as a student themselves. The university would not be so imposing and foreign to them after camp. The same goes for the youth when it comes to the faith and scriptures. Church camps are staffed by young adults or older teens that see faith as a part ‘of’ life and not a part ‘from’ life. It helps our kids see and imagine themselves as a young adult who still believes, in a world that tells them that there is no God. They learn the language of the church and pathways to spiritual nurture, personal purpose and connectedness to the whole of God’s creation. I like that and I know how important camp(s) were in my leadership and faith development. As an old guy I can’t help putting a dig in about video games as a summer pastime. Talk to any kids that went to camp and you will hear countless stories about things that changed their lives. Experiences that they shared with cabin mates and leaders. Challenges that tested their minds, hearts and bodies in way they never thought possible. Talk to kids about the video games they played and you’ll hear about high scores and learning glitches (or cheats) in the game but it is the same game played over and over again. They seem very much like the same kid who laid down on the couch and put countless hours into these games. As a pastor I appreciate all camps because they raise the bar on youth education. You cannot get away with simply standing in front of kids and lecturing. Even the most inspired speaker is going lose a kid’s attention to what is happening outside on a beautiful day. So we leaders have to kick it up a notch or 10. We cannot tell kids about our passions (that which give meaning to our lives) we have to think of ways that allow kids to experience how we From the Minister’s Study Camp builds character, teaches about life DO I HAVE TO? At Huron Chapel You’ll Want To! Sundays at 10:30am - for more info: huronchapel.com 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 CHURCH SonSparks Labs Community Bible School at the Blyth United Church July 20th - 23rd from 9:00 am-11:45 am All children completed JK - Gr. 6 welcome to come! 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, July 19 See The Play, Hear The Sermon ~ The Wilberforce Hotel Sunday, July 26 See The Play, Hear The Sermon ~ Seeds Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m. MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed. Children Welcome getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 July 19: 2Sam. 15:13-31 Evangelical Missionary Church David - Dealing with Difficulty, Pt. 6: “Deception & Defeat” July 20-23 Community Vacation Bible School at Blyth United Church Register today: tinyurl.com/blythvbs2015 Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, July 19 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and at various homes at 6:30 p.m. from July 5 to Sept. 6 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 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, JULY 19 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. BRUSSELS Brussels United Church invites you to worship at Melville Presbyterian Church at 10:00 am or Blyth United Church at 10:00 am for the month of July. 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: 226-963-1175Super heroes For its season-ending project, the Blyth United Church Sunday School, with a season theme of Super Heroes of the Bible, raised money to purchase sports equipment for Camp Menesetung. Back row, from left: Leaders Deb Hakkers, Hope Button, Karen Glousher. Front row, from left: Lars Telford, Reid Button, Bo Wharton, Lauren Wharton, Taylor Wharton, Liam Marshall, Tanner Brooks, Connor Brooks and Harrison Bedard. (Photo submitted) Continued on page 15