HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-07-04, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2013.
By Rev. Gary Clark
Blyth United Church
This past week Canadian Blood
Services was in Blyth to collect
blood. Over the summer there is a
high need because there is often a
higher than average number of
accidents requiring life-saving
blood. Unfortunately the turnout was
very low and I am sure a
disappointment to Canadian Blood
Services personnel and the local
volunteers who waited in vain for a
crowd of donors, new and
experienced to show up.
This puzzles me. I just don’t
understand the lack of participation
by the vast majority of the
population. I could also say the same
about church. Believe it or not I can
understand the reasons people give
for not being part of a community of
faith. I have heard folks maintain
that they are spiritual and not
religious and I can appreciate that
sentiment. Some say if I cannot feel,
taste, measure or quantify the benefit
of a “god” then how can I believe in
one? And I can appreciate the leap of
faith required in belief. Others
respond to the desire of the church to
“save them” with “save me from
what?” And if you feel life is just
grand, than I can see your point.
But blood donation? Who among
us has not had a loved one in a
hospital bed? Who among us can
doubt the benefits of having a well-
stocked blood bank ready for the
ever-constant needs of surgery,
emergency or otherwise? None of us
can say, “I have blood to give but I’ll
never need a blood donation so why
would I bother to donate?” What’s
going on here? An author I have
been reading, Reggie McNeal, says
we often ask the wrong questions of
institutions and the people they want
to be part of that institution. The
usual question is something like
“How do we get people to come to
the church (or service
organization)?” because if we can
grow the church (service group) we
can make a difference in the
community. McNeal suggests the
question ought to become "how can
we transform the community
regardless of whether it grows the
church or service organization?”
Basically if your motivation is to
grow your group, which is to serve
yourself, then you will neither grow
nor transform the community in a
positive way. Nobody wants to feel
used, even if it does better the
community. So as churches and
organizations get desperate for
members to keep themselves alive
they may actually be shooting
themselves in the foot. But Canadian
Blood Services exists not to
transform the community or build up
its membership but to save us in our
time of need. Yes they need people to
survive, but we, without argument,
need them to survive an operation.
We should all know this and still
there was a very low buy-in by the
general population. Could it be that
very few believe that they or a loved
one will ever need an operation?
Let me suggest a different question
altogether that doesn't focus on the
organizations, but rather on those
who benefit from all the good work
of organizations without giving a
dime, an hour of time or a pint of
blood. Can you, who do not
participate, imagine what society
and your life would be like without
any of these caring groups? No
blood for an operation; nobody
caring for the poor (which most of us
are one paycheck away from
From the Minister’s StudySave yourself and give blood says Clark
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
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
NEW START TIME FOR WORSHIP IS 10 AM
ALL WELCOME
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
Start
Building A
Better Life
This Sunday @ Huron Chapel
10:30 am every Sunday - www. huronchapel.org
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, July 7
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 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 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, JULY 7
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
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
July 7: Lk. 10:38-42
Evangelical Missionary Church
“Martha & Mary:
Distraction
vs.
Discernment”
Register for July 15-19 VBS
tinyurl.com/blythvbs2013
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Coffee & Fellowship
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor ~ Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
Church is closed for the month of July
You are welcome to worship at Blyth United
or Melville Presbyterian, BrusselsJust a pinch
Local community members rolled up their sleeves and made the trip to Blyth last Thursday to
give blood to the Canadian Blood Services through a donor clinic held at the Blyth and District
Community Centre. (Denny Scott photo)
Continued on page 28