HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-10-17, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013.
By Rev. Gary Clark
Blyth United Church
I know for most Thanksgiving was
last weekend and now it is time to
move on to the next calendar event
of the year: Halloween, followed by
Remembrance Day followed by
Christmas, and then…. If you think
I sound a little jaded then you
guessed right. My problem is that I
have been doing a lot of work
around the idea that as individuals
and as a society we operate out of a
set of ‘core values.’ A core value is a
principle that guides our thinking
and actions. If we value generosity,
then we will not only want to give to
others but we will not be able to stop
ourselves. Indeed a true core value is
a principle for which we would lay
down our lives.
For example, you have probably
heard of Malala Yousufzai. She was
the young girl shot in the face by the
Taliban in an attempt to stop her
speaking out and living her core
value. Her core value is education. It
was so important to her that she
dared go against the proclamation of
the local Taliban that girls should not
go to school.
She knew the danger that
continuing to go to school placed her
in but she could not give up a value
so close to the very core of her
being. That is a core value.
So here is my problem, as I look
around I see the traditions we
celebrate and the core values that
gave rise to them as out of step with
today’s reality. I do not think that
one of the core values of North
American society is thankfulness.
And I am not talking about the
younger generations, but of all
generations. I have heard people of
all ages say things like, “What’s in it
for me?” or “Is this all I get?” or “I
deserve more.” Gratitude and
thankfulness has left the building.
Unfortunately simply having a
preacher or a holiday say, “Hey you
people get to be grateful!” isn’t
going to change a core value. Those
things go pretty deep. We might
ponder how we got here and we
might wish for a different truth but
here we are and Remembrance Day,
Christmas, and all the rest of our
holidays seem powerless to change
things.
That doesn’t mean I’m ready to
give up on those values, but I think
we need to look again at how we as
a society teach/model/encourage a
more generous and appreciative
society. One way might be to talk at
school and in our homes about the
news from Syria and other war-torn
countries. Today there are over seven
million Syrians that are displaced
from their homes and winter is
coming. Imagine what it would be
like if the table wasn’t just empty,
but that there was no table! Imagine
not knowing if your loved ones in
the next town were alive. Imagine
that the most basic of human
necessities were denied you day
after day for two years! It does us no
good to hide these facts from our
children or ourselves.
Does it change us or what we
expect from life if we know about
the depth of others suffering? Or
does it change us if we see one or
more people in our own
communities who are really grateful
for getting up in the morning? I
don’t know, except to say that,
“gratitude, like faith, is caught not
taught.”
Holidays are nice but let’s not
expect them to change us into a
grateful people. If we want society
(and our own families) to be
thankful then we have to live that
thankfulness out. Of course that
assumes that gratefulness is one of
your core values.
By Claire Gordon
We had a very thankful week at St.
Anne’s Catholic Secondary School.
We began our annual Thanksgiving
coat drive on Monday and it took
place all week. We are grateful for
the local business in Clinton who
donated boxes of coats to help our
cause.
On Wednesday night this week,
we held the movie premiere for Girl
Rising, an inspirational movie about
young women all over the world
rising up against the struggles they
face. Our girls basketball, boys
volleyball, cross country and field
hockey teams were also all in action.
Students received their interim
report cards on Thursday. This
allows the students to have an
indication of how well they are
doing in their courses thus far. Also
on Thursday, St. Anne’s held a
Thanksgiving prayer service. Here
staff and students had a time to
reflect on all of the things they are
thankful for. It was a great way for
everyone to once again be reminded
of the importance of gratitude and
being thankful for all that we have.
We are heading into Eagles’ Spirit
Week with lots of exciting activities
planned. We are proud to be Eagles.
Our annual Walk-for-Wellness is
happening on Thursday, Oct. 17 and
we are keen to have fun and raise
money for local and global charities.
Sponsor an Eagle and help us make
a difference.
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
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Live. Life. Today.
$-*$,
)BQQJOFTT4IPVMEO`U#F3FNPUF
HuronChapel.org
“Always A Place For You”
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, October 20
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
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
Sunday, October 20
“Persistence Pays Off”
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
PASTOR
Sandra Cable, DLM
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20
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
Teen Challenge Testimonies
on Oct. 20th at 10:00 am service
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
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Tuesday - Wingham Bible Study 7:30 pm
Thursday - Youth Group at CRC 7:30 pm
Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
October 20: Pr. 30:7ff, 1 Tim. 6:6ff
“The One Percent”
- Sherri Grosz,
Mennonite Foundation
Financial Workshop “Talking
About Money” after worship.
Evangelical Missionary Church
October 19 ~ 7:30 p.m.
FREE MOVIE - “Home Run”
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
Sunday School 11:15 am
From the Minister’s StudyLive your thankfulness out says Clark
Coat drive
commences