The Citizen, 2010-03-18, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010. PAGE 15.By Rev. Perry ChuipkaSt. John’s Anglican Church,Brussels and Trinity AnglicanChurches, Blyth
Isn’t this weather great? Most
people have spring fever as they
embrace the warmth of the sun.
Many are going for walks and have
more jump in their step. Spring may
be here but Easter is yet to come.
The Easter thought that comes to
me as we approach this season is
that everyday we can become a part
of the Resurrection or Easter
message. Life is strange because
sometimes in order to experience
something new in life, a resurrection
if you will, or an Easter experience,
something must die.About five years ago, our familydog, Carmen, died. She was close toall in our family. It was a tough day
for all of us. We had a little service
outside of our house and buried her
in our backyard.
My son, Peter used to play stick
with Carmen a lot, especially after
school. I wondered, “what would
Peter do now that our dog was not
around?” Then, one afternoon, after
school, I watched Peter playing with
one of our cats.
Before Carmen died, Peter never
really paid any attention to Missy,
our siamese cat or our other cat,
Pearl. But there he was playing
string with her. In the months andyears after that I often saw Peterrubbing his chin across Missy’s earsin an affectionate way.
It may sound weird, but it made
me wonder, would Peter have ever
discovered his relationship with
Missy if Carmen had not died?
Peter’s new relationship with our
cat made me think of us being called
to be an Easter people.
Sometimes, something must die,
in order for an Easter to happen in
our lives. It could be a negative
thought about ourselves, about
someone else or changing
something that is not healthy in our
lives.
Maybe there are things in our livesthat need to die because they areholding us back from a newexperience in our lives.
I think this is why Jesus went out
into the desert for 40 days before the
Easter Resurrection happened.
There were things that he had to
put to death in his own life before he
could go in a whole new way that
God would lead him.
As we think about this Spring
fever that we are experiencing we
may want to ask ourselves what are
some of the things that we need to
let go of that are not helpful to us at
this time.
Maybe they are holding us back
from experiencing something new.Let me return to my originalpremise, “we can become a part ofthat Easter message” when we let go
of those things that are holding us
back from doing something new this
spring.
Go and do it.
From the Minister’s StudySpring is here but Easter is yet to come
Over 50 women gathered at
Avonton Presbyterian Church on
Feb. 8 for the annual meeting of
Huron-Perth Presbyterial of the
Women’s Missionary Society. They
were welcomed by the President,
Bernice Richards, Stratford and by
Verna Strathdee, Avonton. Annual
secretaries’ reports were given by
Bernice Richards, Ruth Laing,
Mitchell; Jan MacInnes, Atwood;
Ruth Hart, North Easthope; Lillian
Sparling, Cromarty and Elizabeth
Stewart, Monkton.
Rev. Anne Yee-Hibbs, AEC,
introduced the 2010 study book
which explains the plight of people
who must become refugees, most of
them through no fault of their own.
Some are refugees who are fleeing
from danger, some are displaced
persons in their own country, some
are permanent residents after being
accepted by a foreign country, some
are immigrants to Canada after
applying from outside Canada and
some are migrants who often work
seasonally in Canada.
Ruth Hart recommended several
books available from the bookroom.
Lillian Sparling gave the
nominating report and the 2010
executive were installed by Rev.
Anne Yee-Hibbs.
The afternoon program began
with a sing-song led by Shirley
Aitcheson with Lois Kipfer at the
piano. Monkton ladies had the
devotions based on the theme,
“Forward in Faith”. Taking part
were Elizabeth Stewart, Helen
Henry, Christine Francis, Sally
Scott, Phyllis Rennick and Ruth,
Olly and Eldeen Ward. Margaret
French, Jean Edmunds and Ruth
Laing gave the In Memoriam for
deceased members in 2009.
The guest speaker, Dorothy
Henderson, Exeter, spoke on her
experiences dealing with refugees
and explained ways we can help
them with their varied needs such as
household equipment, clothing,
education, etc. Many are eager to
learn the ways of Canada, including
how to cook Canadian food. She
stressed the need to support the
Presbyterian World Service and
Development Fund. She was
thanked by the new president, Lois
Horne, North Easthope.
Ethel Corry, Listowel, read the
minutes of the previous annual
meeting.
It was reported that many bonnets
and pneumonia vests had been sent
to Jobat Hospital in India and there
was a good collection of articles for
Evangel Hall in Toronto.
Lois announced the Synodical
which we are hosting on April 19
and 20 in Goderich.
REV. DAVID WOOD
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School & Small Groups
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
ARTICLE ONE
in Concert
Friday, April 9th
at 8:00 pm
Huron Chapel EMC
Tickets: $10 advance,
$12 at the door
Call Melodi at the church office to
book yours! Also available at
Radiant Life - Goderich
or The Gift Chest - Wingham
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
No pm service on March 21st. Adults are invited to the Caring for the Heart
Conference at the Clinton CRC and Freedom Bound Conference for youth
ages 14+ at the Clinton Christian School.
Both will be nightly from Sun.-Thurs. 7:00 - 9:30 pm
Praise God that Jesus
emptied himself and
became our example of
brokenness and
blessing.
Brussels MennoniteFellowship
9:30 a.m Together for Worship11:00 a.m. Sunday School
Pastor Brent Kipfer519-887-6388
Everyone Welcome
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, March 21
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
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, March 21
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
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
Sunday, March 21
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
2nd Annual Mini Golf
March 17, 18 & 19
2 ~ 4 pm
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, MARCH 21
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, March 21
YOU ARE WELCOME
9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship
Mid-week Bible Study
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
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,
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D
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Timeless Truths
For Today
308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth
Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590
Blyth Community Church of God
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
Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group
Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
March 21: Luke 15:11-32
“I am inviting and helping others
to begin to follow Jesus”
Huron-Perth WMS examines plight of refugees