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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2012-05-17, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012. By Pastor Mark Royall Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church, Auburn I went and visited my mother last Sunday for Mother’s Day. I love my mom very much. When I was seven my father died and mom was left alone to raise my sister and me by herself. After my father died she moved our family to Owen Sound where she found a job working 12- hour shifts as a nurse. When I was 10 years old Mom was crossing the road to attend a church meeting one night when she was struck by a car. She was thrown 63 feet and had a long difficult recovery that still affects her today. When her sick benefits ran out we went through some very lean times. I particularly remember the powered milk and those huge bags of puff wheat cereal that became a staple in our family diet. I can still see mom weeping over a large pile of bills lying out on the kitchen table and feeling fear for the first time. Today at 75 years old, my mom suffers from dementia and her body aches with arthritis. She has a cochlear implant so she can hear. She is deaf without it. She lives in a nursing home. I wish she was still able to live on her own in her own place but she can’t. My sister lives close to her and does an amazing job watching over her and visiting mom almost every day. I know my sister also remembers a mother who sacrificed and gave to her children. The thing I will always appreciate about my mother is that she raised me to know Jesus. She took my sister and me to church. The church was always part of our life. I often sit and wonder where I would be with God today if Mom didn’t introduce me to Him yesterday. I don’t think I would have figured it out on my own and I will always be grateful to Mom for be faithful in giving me the church. Now, like a lot of children I did not always enjoy the church services. I tried to fake sick my way out of a few of them. When I did go I would bring my hockey cards and sit in the third row centre playing with them throughout the service. One Sunday I tried to sneak out crawling on the floor under the rows of pews, around people’s legs only to be greeted by a very stern usher looking down at me when I reached the final pew, almost to freedom. I will always be indebted to people in my church like Mr. Ed Dunham who was the chief of police at the time. He faithfully picked my sister and me up for church when Mom was working one of those long 12- hour shifts. Rev. Ross Cowherd was my favourite pastor. He once took me to one of my minor hockey games and then to the A&W for lunch afterwards. I never forgot that. Every year he took my sister and me to church camp and would buy us an ice cream cone. There were people like the Mizens and the VanWycks who taught me Sunday school. I am sure it didn’t always seem like we were listening or cared about the lessons they taught but boy they did they ever affect me growing up. Today I pastor a wonderful church. My greatest desire is that I could carry on the legacy these people have had in my life and become part of others coming to know Jesus as I have known Him. I want them to know there is forgiveness as I have found forgiveness. I want them to know there is hope for their life as I have found hope for mine. I want them to know there is a purpose for their life as I have found purpose for mine. I want them to know there is an eternity they need to prepare for just as I am spending these days preparing for mine. I want them to know that a loving church is a lot like a loving family; they aren’t flawless but we need them because the truth is we can’t live the Christian life all by ourselves. Everyone of us needs people who will support us, encourage us, advise us, pray for us and challenge us. As long as families and churches have people in them they won’t be flawless. Heck, as long as you and I are part of the church it won’t be perfect. I have failed, you have failed, my mom has failed and my church has failed, but my God has never failed me yet. And I am so grateful to my imperfect loving family and to my imperfect loving church who introduced to me One who never fails. I have been thinking a lot this past week about verse we find in the Bible where its says, “In Christ. God put the wrong on Him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). A perfect Jesus took an imperfect Mark’s sin and then gave him in exchange His righteousness so that he can be in a right relationship with God. That is grace. No wonder the Apostle wrote, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8-9). So I humbly say, Thank you Jesus. Thank you Mom. Thank you church. From the Minister’s StudyPastor thanks mother, God, community 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. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, May 20 Brussels Public School 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 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, May 20 Ethel United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, MAY 20 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9017 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship May 20: Romans 13:1-7 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study Thursdays 7:00 pm - Truth Project Small Group at Dows’ Evangelical Missionary Church Truth Project #9: The State - “Whose Law?” 250 Princess St., Brussels Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School 11:15 am Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 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 MAY 20 ~ “Women of the Bible. Don’t hate me because...” MAY 27 ~ Guest Speaker You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor 9:25 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m Morning Worship Service Join us this Sunday, May 20th as we continue the sermon series... Live Like You Were Dying Got Married... Call for pricing & details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Share your news by placing your announcement in The Citizen