HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-08-02, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012.
Outdoor oration
Both singing and preaching found a new home in the great outdoors on the weekend as a
multi-denominational church service was held at the Maitland Valley Conservation Area in
Brussels on Sunday morning. The service was one of more-than 20 events celebrating the
140th Brussels Homecoming over the weekend. (Denny Scott photo)
By Pastor Brent Kipfer
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
It feels odd to have a “For Sale”
sign planted in our front yard.
Brussels has been our family’s home
for almost 11 years. We love it here:
our church, our neighbours, the
beauty of the village and
surrounding area, the Maitland
River, historic buildings and the
rhythms of community life. Our
children have done a huge amount of
their growing up in this place. And
yet God has led us into a season
of letting go, saying goodbyes
and preparing for a new
adventure.
My ministry at Brussels
Mennonite Fellowship ends Aug. 31;
the following day I begin a new role
as lead pastor of Maple
View Mennonite Church, near
Wellesley.
Like most people – including
many in Scripture – I find that my
faith gets a stronger workout in
times of transition than when I am
feeling settled and comfortable. Out
of necessity, I am more aware of my
need to depend on God for guidance
and provision. I have been
experiencing that in two main
ways.
The first is connected to our
ongoing grief in saying goodbye to
people we love in the church and
community. We do, of course, look
forward to future visits, but with this
move, our place and role here
changes significantly. We will be
guests at Brussels Homecoming
weekends, not hosts. It is not easy
saying goodbye! At the same time, it
fills me with gratitude. As I look
back over the past 11 years, I have a
tremendous appreciation for the rich
relationships we have had here, for
God’s faithfulness in this season of
life, and for the great privilege it has
been to spend this time in Brussels.
“Blessed are those who mourn,”
Jesus says, “for they will be
comforted.”
Second, by definition, times of
transition lead us into new,
unfamiliar territory and so we
need to trust God with countless
details that we usually take for
granted:
• When will we be able to move?
• Where will the kids start the
school year?
• How long will we be commuting
back and forth?
God has already shown his
faithfulness to us in the details of
this transition so far, and we trust
that God will continue to provide
everything that is needed. Still,
transitions remind us that our life on
earth is very much a pilgrimage in
which we are never truly settled until
we reach the eternal home Jesus has
prepared for us.
The story is not yet finished; God
is the author who knows both
beginning and end. I am grateful
that we have been able to share
this part of the story with the
community in and around Brussels.
Thank you!
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
AUGUST 5
Faith In the Festival,
Through the Eyes of the Blyth Festival Play
The Devil We Know
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
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, August 5
Brussels Legion at 10:30 a.m.
and in various homes at 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
Daily Vacation Bible School ~ August 20-24 at Brussels Arena
9:30 am to 12:00 noon. Register on line at
brusselscommunitybiblechapel.com or call Rick Packer
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5
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
t August 2
AUGUST -
“Visitation Month”
at area churches
Check out our audio/video
sermon archive on our website!
Podcast, downloadable
streaming mp3s, YouTube links
Evangelical Missionary Church
250 Princess St., Brussels
Pastor Brent Kipfer
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Worship Service 10:00 am
Guest Speaker:
John Schwartzentruber
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
119 John’s Ave., Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
Rev. Mark Royall,
Sr. Pastor
10:30 a.m
Morning Worship Service
ALL-U-CAN-EAT
BEEF BBQ
EL SALVADOR FUNDRAISER
Saturday, August 11th
at Auburn Riverside Retreat
Tickets: $20. Adults,
$10. ages 7-12,
Free 6 & under
Serving from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Proceeds go to building homes
in El Salvador
From the Minister’s StudyPastor remembers time in Brussels fondly
BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5
Brussels United Church
Worship Service and
Sunday School - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship