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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-05-20, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010. PAGE 11. From the Minister’s StudyArea ministerial will miss Pastor KuperusBy Reverend Gary ClarkBlyth United ChurchI wanted to take this opportunityto say that on behalf of the Blyth area ministerial that we will miss Pastor John Kuperus in our midst. He has been a friend and great colleague to us. I know that when he and his family leave Blyth that they will be greatly missed. So I write this well before they leave so that we all have lots of time to say our goodbyes (which makes for a good closer) and to really consider the power that one family has in witnessing to its faith. The whole Kuperus family and not just Pastor John will be going to a school for missionaries. The school recognizes that a missionary pastor does not stand alone nor does he minister alone. His family is more than a support network. He and his family become a daily witness to how Christians live in the world. Those outside the faith have eyes and they can see that unless we are willing to walk the talk at home as well as in the church, then talk is all our faith is. That is why I believe it wasnecessary for Jesus to be fullyhuman, as one of us. For him to be able to speak about faith in the context of earthly life he had to face the same daily realities as any of us. As Shakespeare would write, to be human is to face, “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune”. He also had to live knowing that one day he would die. Had he backed away, ran from his accusers and hid out to save his skin, then no one would remember his name today, yet he remained faithful to the knowledge that God loved him and would be with him even through death. He walked the talk. We remember Jesus as one who lived the radical love of God. Which means loving everyone as if they were family. Strangely it was that love that got him into a lot of trouble. Yet without that kind of love what is the message of God? Salvation from death, but for only some of us? Salvation for only those who love Jesus in “our” particular way? Wouldn’t a mother or father seek to save all their children not just a few? Of course they would, and radical, graced-filled love is the only pathway that allows God to do just that. But before anybody is going to believe that the Christian church is willing to love as broadly as God loves, we need to heal the divisions that exist within our own faith. In the month of June, I’ll bepreaching about the gifts that eachdenomination has to offer the body of Christ. Yet I don’t think we need to become one big church to show that we worship the same God or have the same Saviour. That would be like saying my three brothers, two sisters and I have to wear the same clothes, live in the same house and look identical for the neighbourhood to know we are all family. What we need to witness too, is that like the members any family, we are all very different and yet are called to love each other equally. After all God loves us all of us equally so why shouldn’t we do the same? Once we can see beyond the creeds and liturgies that separate us, we are bound to find that we are indeed all brothers and sisters. Having accomplished that not so small task we are ready for the bigger challenge of loving “all” God’s children even the non- Christian ones. Pastor John and Helen have welcomed Kathy and me as if we were family and just like family, we have had a hard time finding a night to get together even though we live in the same town. Thankfully in my time here, we in the ministerial have been more successful creating opportunities for the Christian family to get together to celebrate our kinship. As we have worked together,trying to respect our differences andcaring for each other, old divisions are slowly been healed. It is in this healed and, I would say, redeemed body of Christ, that hope for world peace can be found. If we who have been so negative and hurtful to each other in the past can now see the light of God in others, then surely that unifying vision can spread to a divided world. I pray that after Pastor John and his family have finished their training that they will return and give us more opportunities to come together again. In the sharing of these new visions and challenges we truly celebrate the one who in his life, death and resurrection, points the way to God. I want to close with a prayer from William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. His prayer was written in the midst of deadly conflict between Catholics and Protestants in England. It is as relevant today as it was back when he wrote it. “Most gracious God, We pray for your Holy Universal Church. Fill itwith all truth and with all peace.Where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, direct it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is in want, furnish it; where it is divided and torn, mend it, O Holy One of Israel. Amen.” You are invited to ‘Reconnect for 30’ Brussels Mennonite Fellowship is Celebrating 30 years of God’s Faithfulness Saturday, May 22, 4 pm Wiener Roast Potluck At Howard & Alice Martin’s. Also bring lawn chairs Sunday, May 23, 10:00 am Together for Worship Speaker: Elwin Garland Noon Potluck Meal Bring your own dishes/cutlery Everyone welcome! Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388YOU 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 N , I N D I A N A Timeless Truths For Today 308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590 Blyth Community Church of God 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 Guest Speaker: Rev.Eugene Neudorf PLAN AHEAD FOR SUMMER Huron Chapel is offering two summer experiences for your children. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 5th-9th ATHLETES IN ACTION SOCCER CAMP August 16th - 20th Contact Melodi at melodi@huronchapel.org for all the details Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, May 23 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, May 23 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 SUNDAY, MAY 23 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 Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared May 23: Acts 9:1-19 Pentecost Sunday “Saul Meets the Saving Sufferer” As spring elections, prom, exams and commencement for graduating students at St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School quickly approach, the school is full of activity. Walls are plastered with campaign posters for next year’s student cabinet with speeches and elections taking place on Wednesday. Many senior students are anxiously planning their prom outfits, as “A Starry Night on the Docks” creeps up on May 29. Throughout all the excitement of the past and upcoming weeks, however, there was one very important annual campaign: Stuff the Bus. Students were able to load over 2,300 food items onto a school bus on May11 and sent it to St. Vincent de Paul in Goderich. The school’s track and field athletes had some great success last week as well, capturing many top three finishes and multiple athletes breaking records. The senior boys 4 x 400-metre relay team was able to break a 20-year-old record. SACSS relay team breaks old record 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, May 23 Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, May 23 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.