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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-08-23, Page 3THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012. PAGE 3. The Citizen offices will be closed on Monday, September 3 for The deadlines for the September 6 paper will be Friday, August 31 2 pm in Brussels and 4 pm in Blyth 413 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 Sparkle and Shine! Auto Detailing No time for detail? Stop by for a quick clean, wash and vacuum – For all of your car care needs – Call Shanann ~ 519-440-7031 or email: sparkleshiner@hotmail.com $50 Clark not named moderator, happy with decisionBlyth United Church’s ReverendGary Clark was not elected moderator of the United Church of Canada last week, but he feels at peace with how the church’s decision went. “It was a good process,” he said. “The important thing to remember is that this is different than a political race. The candidates were all helping to lead the church down its new route. I’m at peace with the fact that I served to help discern the church’s future path. It’s not a bad thing.” Clark, who was recently named a commissioner of the church, the group that helps connect the church to its congregations which serves as the pool from which the moderator is chosen, said that through the experience of becoming a commissioner and seeing how themoderator was chosen helped himconnect with people and broadenedhis understanding of the church’schallenges. “When you ascend to the different circles of authority in the church you learn about the problems and successes of other groups,” he said. “When you go to presbytery you learn about other churches, and then, as you go higher, you see what’s happening across the church.” Being a commissioner is a three- year role Clark said and the moderator works within the same time-frame. Clark can again become a commissioner and be nominated for moderator, but he doesn’t know whether that’s in the future. “I’m excited to be a commissioner and help get the word out about the church for the next three years,” he said. “After that, I’m not sure, it will depend on the spirit.” As commissioner, Clark reallyhopes to help people connect withthe church’s higher decision-makersand programs and dispel any trustissues that exist. “In bigger organizations there are always some trust issues from the lower levels to the upper levels,” he said. “I want to help get rid of that. I want to tell people about the programs so they know they can get help if they need it. “Dealing with problems or with shrinking congregations is a lot like having the cold or the flu,” Clark said. “Sure, you can tough it out, but you can go see the doctor to get help. We have programs that can help people and strategies to revitalize churches.” He also said that there are things that congregations don’t hear about at the higher levels of the church’s infrastructure and that they could benefit from knowing them. “You don’t hear about people atthe General Council meetings thathave great passion for the work ofthe church and the future of thechurch,” he said. “There are people that have that passion and want to talk about it in concrete ways. The challenge for me now is communicating that passion locally.” The decision to follow the moderator who was chosen to lead the church; the Right ReverendDoctor Gary Patterson from BritishColumbia, is one that Clark is happyabout.“I’m please about the moderator that was chosen,” he said. “He’s very passionate about the congregation of each church and dealing with issues at that level. He knows about vital, passionate congregations and how they are needed.” By Denny ScottThe Citizen The first of many Jason Blaine headlined the first of what could be many concerts held during the annual Walton TransCan on the weekend. (Jim Brown photo) Dimes a focal point in story Greeting worshippers at Blyth United Church on Sunday, Aug. 19 was Deb Hakkers. Ushering were David Onn and Laurie Sparling. Floyd Herman was music director and Fred Hakkers ran the power point. The congregation welcomed Rev. Gary Clark back after attending General Council in Ottawa. Rev. Clark relayed some of his experiences at the 41st General Council. Rev. Clark drew everyone’s attention to the announcements with special mention that the church is needing help for serving meals at the Thresher Reunion. They are serving both Friday noon and supper and Saturday noon and supper. Many hands make less work. The call to worship, “Come All You People” was sung followed by the prayer of approach. The first hymn, “Morning Has Broken” was sung. A short video preceded the scripture which was Psalm 118. In the video there were facts about Psalm 118, one of which was that the 118th Psalm was in the middle of the Bible. There are equal number of chapters before and after the 118th Psalm. The choir sang the anthem, “What a Day That Will Be.” The music and words were written by Jim Hill. The message to the congregation was “Dimes from Heaven – a Story of Faith” by Lori Brooks. Lori told the congregation of some of her experiences of Faith. One of which was that her and Brent wonder how having to send a baby brother back to the Children’s Aid Society after two months would affect Connor. Lori related to a story that she had read about a lady asking God to send a sign that her husband was at peace. She had asked God to send a dime. As they were travelling, Lori asked for a sign from God. Brent found a dime in front of the car as they were coming out from shopping and handed it to Connor. God helps us heal in time. God’s Angels take on many tasks, some have wings while others do not. When stressed out, Lori asks God for a sign and usually there is the dime shining up at her to let her know that God has heard her prayers. One other time they had gone to Wal-Mart to shop and there was the shiny dime. When they got home that day they had a message that Tanner was going to join their family. Brent and Lori had gone on a holiday and they were worried about the boys. They found a shiny dime under the seat and they knew that the boys would be alright. Lori hopes the government never stops making dimes as they are going to stop making the penny. The next hymn, “Come Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love” was sung followed by the receiving of the offering, the offering hymn, “What Can I Do?” the offertory prayer, the prayers for the people, silent prayers and the singing of The Lord’s Prayer. The last hymn, “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” was followed by the commissioning and benediction and the singing of the response. Everyone was invited to stay for coffee and cookies. By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318 From Marilyn’s Desk Columnist visits family, enjoys scenery on trip Happy birthday to Diana Robinson who celebrates Aug. 25 and Margaret Brooks, Aug. 29. Happy anniversary to Brent and Lori Brooks who celebrate Aug. 28. Mother Nature is being very kind to us this past week. The temperature has been very comfortable in the mid-20s and the nights have been great for sleeping. Wednesday, Aug. 15 I travelled to Sarnia to visit with my aunt and uncle, Verna and John Evans for the afternoon and then went to Petrolia to visit another aunt and uncle, Mary and Mait Edgar who I stayed with overnight and returned home the next day. The travelling was good and the scenery was perfect. Here is a quote which I think is good for all of us: “The happiest of people don’t necessary have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything they have.” True Christianity is a fight! (continued from last week) (J.C. Ryle, “The Fight!”) “Fight the good fight of faith.”1 Timothy 6:12 To be at peace with the world, the flesh and the devil--is to be at enmity with God and in the broad way that leads to destruction! We have no choice or option. We must either fight--or be lost! It is a fight of universal necessity. No rank or class or age can plead exemption, or escape the battle--all alike must carry arms and go to war. All have by nature a heart full of pride, unbelief, sloth, worldliness and sin! All are living in a world beset with snares, traps and pitfalls for the soul. All have near them a busy, restless, malicious devil. All, from the queen in her palace down to the pauper in the workhouse--all must fight, if they would be saved. We may take comfort about our souls, if we know anything of an inward fight and conflict. It is the invariable companion of genuine Christian holiness. The saddest symptom about many so-called Christians, is the utter absence of anything like conflict and fight in their Christianity. They eat, they drink, they dress, they work, they amuse themselves, they get money, they spend money, they go through a scanty round of formal religious services once or twice every week. But of the great spiritual warfare--its watchings and strugglings, its agonies and anxieties, its battles and contests- -of all this they appear to know nothing at all. A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-291-1956