The Citizen, 2015-11-19, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015.
By Rev. Mark Royall
Huron Chapel Evangelical
Missionary Church
Twelve thousand, five hundred
and thirty-eight days ago I woke up
and decided I was going to ask this
particular young lady out for lunch
after the church service that Sunday
morning.
As planned, I asked her if she
would be interested in going out for
lunch. She thought this was a great
idea… but she didn’t get it…
because she started inviting
everyone else at church that day
saying, “Hey Mark wants to go out
for lunch. Who wants to come?”
She even invited her dad! Thank
goodness her dad caught on and said
to her, “Honey, I think Mark wants
to just go with you.” And at that
precise moment, Glenda told me
years later, she became very nervous
because she knew I was interested in
her.
We went out on that date to a
Chinese restaurant. Sitting under a
big gong hanging on the wall, we ate
our food which I paid for with my
mom’s Visa. I still have the Visa
receipt today. It is dated Sunday,
July 19, 1981. It also shows the
amount I paid. It was the best $15.35
I had ever spent in my life.
From that day I pursued Glenda
until she married me three years
later. I still pursue her every day
because she is worth pursuing. I
want you to know that this is how
God feels about you. You are worth
pursuing. And it cost Him much
more than $15.35. God was willing
to give His Son, Jesus Christ so that
you and He could have a relationship
together.
I know this, that the Queen of
England, the Prime Minister of
Canada, the President of the United
States, none of these people are
pursuing a friendship with me…and
they seem okay with that.
However… the Lord of Lords, the
King of Kings, the one and only
“BIG G” God of this universe and
beyond wants to know me and He
wants to know you personally.
Does it thrill you? Does it scare
you?
Some of you may doubt that God
even wants to know you because
…well you know who you are and
what you have done and you think,
“If God really knew me, He would
not care about wanting to be with
me.”
Here is something you need to
understand, God already knows all
about you. All that stuff you try to
hide from others…He knows about
that. He knows every detail about
you. He is quite aware of what you
do when no one is looking. Nothing
escapes Him. He knows you, all of it
and yet, He stills wants you. No
matter what you have done, no
matter what muck you have been
rolling around in… Jesus wants you.
He wants you so much that He was
willing to give His life and pay for
your sin so you could be in a
relationship with the Heavenly
Father.
Isn’t that what we learn from the
parable of the Prodigal Son? The son
messed up. He turned his back on his
father. He left his father. He was far
away. But then he became lonely,
hungry and in great need. The only
job he could find was to feed pigs.
He wished he could eat what the pigs
were eating.
Then one day Jesus says the son
had this honest moment with
himself. We read, “he finally came to
his senses.” This is where it begins
for all of us.
The son realized he had wronged
his father. And he says I am going to
go to my father and say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against both
heaven and you, and I am no longer
worthy of being called your son”
(Luke 15:19). And this is how you
and I feel. God, I don’t feel worthy
of your love. God I don’t feel worthy
to be called your child.
So the son makes the trip back
home. The father sees him coming
home. The father runs out to greet
his son. Now the son doesn’t
actually have the smell of success
about him. Literally… he has been
working with pigs…remember?
And the son begins his speech,
“Father, I have sinned against both
heaven and you, and I am no longer
worthy of being called your son….”
And what did the father do? He
didn’t scold him. He didn’t reject
Him. He didn’t shame him or belittle
him. Jesus says, “But his father said
to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the
finest robe in the house and put it on
him. Get a ring for his finger and
sandals for his feet. And kill the calf
we have been fattening. We must
celebrate with a feast, for this son of
mine was dead and has now returned
to life. He was lost, but now he is
found.’ So the party began.” (Luke
15:22-24).
I love those last four words. I can’t
believe the Bible actually says, “So
the party began.” This would be a
great motto for a church. After all, it
is biblical, right?
It doesn’t matter what muck you
have been rolling around in…you
can have an honest moment with
yourself… come to your senses….
ask the Heavenly Father to forgive
you and He will and then…the party
begins. We would love to help you
with that at Huron Chapel. I know
that any church that follows and
teaches what God says in the Bible
would love to come along aside of
you in this journey back home.
The fall rally of the Huron Perth
Women’s Presbyterial was held on
Oct. 26 at Harrington Presbyterian
Church. The theme was “He’s got
the whole world in His hands.”
Prayer opened the rally, followed
by a welcome by host minister Rev.
Dr. Terry Hastings. The WMS
purpose was recited in unison,
followed by worship on
Thanksgiving by Goderich WMS.
The morning’s speaker was
Bessie Hounsell who spoke and
showed pictures of her trip to Israel.
Jean Aitcheson spoke on her
upcoming trips and the supplies that
are needed.
The afternoon’s speaker was the
Rev. Gwen Ament from St. Marys.
President Mary Duffin informed
those in attendance of upcoming
events to be marked on their
calendars. Hymn 727 was sung and
prayer closed the meeting.
Fall Rally
held in
Harrington
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, November 22
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
Everyone Welcome!
BRUSSELS
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 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
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, November 22 ~
Guest Speaker: Angie Lannon
Sunday, November 29
Christmas Through God’s Eyes, The Promise
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
Children
Welcome
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22
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
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
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
November 22
Evangelical Missionary Church
Tues. 7:30 pm Wingham Small Group
Wed. 10 am “Coffee Break” Women’s Bible Study at CRC
Brian Murrant:
“A Year in
Mukinge Zambia”
Relief & Development Sunday
POTLUCK!
Operation Christmas
Child SHOEBOX
DEDICATION
From the Minister’s Study
God wants to know you personally: Royall
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