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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2011-09-15, Page 31THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011. PAGE 31.By Rev. Perry Chuipka Trinity Anglican, Blyth and St. John’s Anglican, Brussels A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door, as he always is, to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside. The Pastor said to him, “You need to join the Army of the Lord!” My friend replied, “I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.” Pastor questioned, “How come I don’t see you except at Christmas and Easter?” He whispered back, “I’m in the secret service! There are many people today who may feel that they are also in the secret service when it comes to talking about going to church. For some people. It’s all hush-hush when the topic comes up about church. But there are others who will tell you why they don’t go to church. I was talking with a couple in a restaurant about church. They told me about their teenage girl who came to church with green hair. One of the parishioners looked at her and said, “you should not have green hair in church”. The parents and the teenage girl never went back. Unfortunately these things do happen but they are more of a reflection of one person’s opinion rather than the whole community of people in the church. I think churches are more open today than they have ever been. Fifty years ago the church would never have promoted or advertised about itself in the community. They would have simply rang their bell 15 minutes before the Sunday morning service expecting people to come to church. Take for instance this call that Trinity Anglican church is sending out to all households in the Blyth area. Greetings from Trinity Anglican Church: WE HAVE: A vision – Trinity is a cheerful community, sharing our faith with others. WE HAVE:A union with four churches: St. John’s, Brussels; Trinity, Blyth; St. Peter’s, Lucknow; and St. Paul’s Trinity, Wingham which make up our “Parish of New Beginnings” and we share our minister. We have six licensed Lay Readers who alternate with our Minister enabling us to have Holy Communion Service with our minister once a week and a Morning Prayer Service with a licenced Lay Reader the next week. This gives our weekly sermons a unique variety. WE HAVE:Gifted elderly and young families. WE HAVE:A great mix of oldies, contemporary and children’s music. WE HAVE:Sunday School for our children in the Church Hall, while our adults worship. WE HAVE:“User-Friendly” worship with screen and projector that leads new and long-standing faithful members through our liturgy. WE HAVE:Coffee hour after our services, which provides time to catch up with what our church family has done during the past week. WE HAVE:Young people in our congregation who meet in two groups: 1) “JAM” is the Jesus and Me Group for children age 6-11 who meet Tuesday evenings 6:30 - 8 p.m. 2) “Dreamers” group for older youth meet on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in our church hall. WE HAVE:Caterings which consist of a roast beef dinner for patrons of the Blyth Festival. Many members of our congregation donate food and take part in setting tables, service and doing dishes. WE HAVE:A beautifully-kept worship space inside and outside. WE HAVE:A “Toonie Tuesday Lunch” which we prepare and serve to anyone who wishes to attend and enjoy a good meal together with others. WE HAVE:A modern air- conditioned Parish Hall with fully- equipped kitchen. Both the worship place and hall are fully accessible. WE HAVE:A healing ministry for anyone needing special personal prayer and a seekers group which discusses new books and the Bible. WE HAVE:Something for everyone! The idea is a simple one for each one of us. To invite someone back to church. Let me give you a little history about this program. Back to Church Sunday (BTCS) began in 2004 in the Diocese of Manchester, England and by 2008 virtually all dioceses, most Baptist churches and others took part in the whole of the UK. In 2009 the Methodist Church and Salvation Army also promoted it, with nearly every other denomination piloting or rolling out the program. In 2009 Back to Church Sunday mobilized around 4,650 churches in the UK to invite their friends to church. As a result over 80,000 extra people attended church on Back to Church Sunday, with a long-term result of around 10,000 people added to the 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. Invites you to join us Sunday morning 9:30 am Worship with guest Ken Roth presenting “Burls, bowls, and God’s love” — a woodworking demonstration about the love of God. 10:45 am Coffee 11:00 am Sunday School Pastor Brent Kipfer 250 Princess St., Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6388 Email: brusselsmennonite@on.aibn.com www.bmfchurch.com Please join us for 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 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, September 18 Rev. Perry Chuipka www.nabcom.ca/church getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship September 18: Mt. 13:44ff “The Kingdom’s Value - and our Variable Response” Evangelical Missionary Church Communion 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study 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 September 18 Congratulations to all the volunteers that made the 50th Anniversary Thresher’s Reunion a success. Sunday School begins this week. No Experience Necessary. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, September 18 Brussels Legion at 10:30 a.m. and at various locations at 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 Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Chris McMichael 519.482.1644 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, September 18 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, SEPTEMBER 18 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 Sunday School begins at 9:25 a.m. for all ages 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Welcome to Rev. Mark Royall & Family! Pastor Mark will be speaking and there will be a Fellowhsip Luncheon following to welcome them to our church and community. SOCCER TOURNAMENT, BBQ & CONCERT Saturday, September 17th Huron Chapel is raising funds to build homes in El Salvador. If you have a soccer team that you would like to enter, please contact Rob Campbell at 519-526-1131 or visit www.huronchapel.org for details. From the Minister’s StudyAnglicans celebrate ‘Back to Church’BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED Continued on page 37