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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-11-10, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011. By Gary Clark Blyth United Church Recently I had the privilege of meeting the Moderator of the United Church of Canada, Mardi Tindel. Several representatives from this area and myself as president of London Conference were at the train station in Stratford to welcome her. One of the tasks of the moderator is to visit every area (called conferences) in Canada. It is a tangible way to connect all the United Churches in Canada and remind them that they are part of a much larger whole. Right now there are more United Churches in Canada than Tim Hortons stores. Unfortunately that statistic is changing as churches in all mainline denominations are struggling and more are closing every day. It would be easy to simply look at this and ask where have we gone wrong? And I have no doubt that the fact that churches are resistant to positive and timely change is one of the issues at the heart of eventual closure. But I also want to hold up two other issues that are very close to my heart. The first is that historically a competitive relationship between denominations and even congregations of the same denomination. We were suspicious of the other and fearful or ignorant of what contact with others might do to ‘us’. This caused a fracture in the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul pointed out over 2,000 years ago that differences within the Body of Christ are to be expected and celebrated. He said, “And if the ear says, ‘I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,’ would that make it any less a part of the body?” (1 Corinthians 12;16) Paul was pleading for acceptance by the majority of those, be they individuals or congregations, who were different. When we lost that spirit of acceptance we lost an essential spiritual gift. Secondly I see in hardship the hand of God that leads us to growth. Not that this is a very pleasant path but think about it, do we ever grow emotionally or spiritually without hardship? Even muscles only grow when they are pushed and challenged. So what is God telling us in the midst of hardship, church closures and struggle? Maybe it is God who is breaking down barriers that we have foolishly erected around our way of doing things. Maybe it is God who is pushing us to work together. If this is so then the same can be said for our wider community. As schools close and industries as threatened, we in small towns are being pushed to work better with each other in our own town and with other towns in the same boat. Ah, there we have the truth, we are in the same boat. In this case it is a fearful future and not the moderator who reminds us that we are all part of the whole body. Maybe it is only in the midst of the storm that we learn to bail together or go down with the ship together. As always with God, the choice is in our hands. Greetings Rev. Gary Clark of Blyth United Church, third from left, was in Stratford recently to greet the Moderator of the United Church of Canada, Mardi Tindel, second from left, at the train station. Rev. Tom Murray of Belgrave, left, was among those at the train station. (Photo submitted) 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, November 13 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 Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 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, November 13 Rev. Perry Chuipka www.nabcom.ca/church MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-2664 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 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 Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women At The Well Evangelical Missionary Church “Victorious in Christ - Through Perseverance” International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church November 13: Rev. 2:1-7 From the Minister’s StudyStorm can teach us to band together 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 NOVEMBER 13 Following Your Heart Home NOVEMBER 20 Becoming the You, You Were Meant To Be BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, November 13 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 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. November 18 & 19 at Huron Chapel Auburn Come and do some Christmas shopping as various vendors from Huron County will be selling their goods. All proceeds go towards the Huron County Aids Network.