HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-06-16, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011. PAGE 15.
By Rev. Gary Clark
Blyth United Church
“It’s Friday night and I’m as high
as a kite.”
That’s probably not what you are
used to hearing the minister say in a
public newspaper. But I have to say I
felt a real high from the Hometown
to Hometown held this last Friday
night.
If you missed it, it was an event
put on in support of disaster relief
for Japan. It was a combined effort
with the Blyth Festival Centre for
the Arts, the Christian Churches of
Blyth and a couple of talented
performers.
We had a wonderful time with
homegrown performers of various
ages and a generous audience who
together raised over $1,000.
I was so impressed with the energy
and joy of everyone. To me it really
was a perfect example of the
difference a hometown like Blyth
can make in the lives of its
residences and in the world.
We know how to have fun and we
know how to help others. What a
tremendous example to set for the
children who participated in this
event. As well there were many
hands making light work. It
demonstrated to me what we can
achieve when we set our minds to it.
This past Sunday was the first
Sunday of Pentecost. Pentecost
celebrates what many consider to be
the birth of the Christian church. It
happened 50 days after the death and
resurrection of Jesus.
There were a number of followers
of Jesus who gathered in Jerusalem.
Some, but not all, had experienced
the risen Christ. And even those who
had experienced the risen Jesus
really didn’t know what Jesus
wanted them to do. So they were
praying and I am sure trying to
figure out what they were going to
do without Jesus to lead them.
All of a sudden the Holy Spirit
filled all those who were gathered
and they were on fire with purpose,
imagination and courage. This made
them so excited that they all started
talking at once about what they felt
called by God to do and how to live.
The ‘Good News’ literally spilled
out of their lips. They weren’t just
going to talk about Jesus. They were
going to live out his example of care,
forgiveness, grace and support.
Every time we in our hometown
dream of some way to help those in
trouble, or reach out in creative ways
to make this world a better place, we
experience a small taste of what that
day must have been like. From that
first day the Christian church has
been the cutting edge of
monumental social change.
Hospitals, schools and universities,
financial support for the widowed,
the sick and the disabled, almost
every caring institution of today has
its roots in the creative imagination
of church members. And those who
began these institutions were
just hometown folks with faith
trying to respond to the needs of
community just as Jesus would have
done.
For me there is no better feeling
than walking in Christ’s footsteps. It
is a joyous feeling and it only comes
when I respond to the ideas and
dreams of the Spirit.
I invite you to take your dreams
seriously. Those crazy ideas about
how to help others that pop into your
head are a gift from God. Yes others
might have, and maybe even should
have, had the same idea but what
you know for sure is that you have
been given that idea and that call
from God to action.
I encourage you to follow that idea
through. Don’t wait for someone
else to make your dream or idea a
reality. And when you see your idea
come to full harvest you will have
one sweet feeling. Maybe you’ll be
as high as a kite too.
By Mikenna Lane
Students had a fantastic week at
St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary
School with many celebrations,
including the graduation mass,
barbecue and church picnic.
It is now time to quiet down and
begin to get ready for exam
preparations. Exams begin on
Tuesday, June 21.
The school’s annual
commencement exercises will be
held on Tuesday, June 28 at 7 p.m.
sharp. This is a wonderful
community celebration as students
celebrate the Graduating Class of
2011.
Students are so grateful to all of
the school’s community partners
who have supported St. Anne’s
graduates with scholarships and
bursaries to assist them with their
post-secondary studies. Students
also wish to thank all of the
companies and organizations in our
community who have offered
apprenticeship and co-op
placements for the students of St.
Anne’s.
This will the last entry for the
2010/2011 school year, as we head
into exams next week. Thank you
for reading this weekly column and
for all of your support. It has been
my pleasure being the Minister of
Public Relations.
St. Anne’s ends year
Time to honour
Pastor Les Cook officiated the Blyth Legion and Legion
Ladies Auxiliary’s annual decoration service at the Blyth
Union Cemetery on Sunday, despite the frigid
temperatures. Cook was accompanied by Kirby Cook, who
performed several songs as part of the celebration. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
From the Minister’s StudyPentecost marks birthof Christian churches
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
Please join us this Sunday
June 19
Please join us for worship
Summer Intern Pastor Kevin Boss
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
Sunday, June 19
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
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
June 19: Esther 2:5-11, 17-23
“Father to an Orphan,
Leader of an Empire”
Evangelical Missionary Church
Outdoor Service of Baptism /
Reception of Members
at H&B Shannon’s,
east end of Hamilton St.
Potluck! Happy Father’s Day
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, June 19
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age (mornings only)
Childcare provided for infants and toddlers
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact:
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Chris McMichael 519.482.1644
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
Church Office: 519-357-4883
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, June 19
Rev. Perry Chuipka
www.nabcom.ca/church
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
119 John’s Ave., Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
Father’s Day ~ gift for each father
Guest Speaker:
Rev. Eugene Neudorf