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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2010-06-10, Page 11By Pastor Brent KipferBrussels Mennonite FellowshipHave you received the gift ofdisillusionment lately? I used to find the refrain of the Book of Ecclesiastes puzzling and de- pressing: “Meaningless! Mean- ingless! Everything is mean- ingless!” The writer is terribly dissatisfied with the things that everyone says should satisfy him: human wisdom, pleasure, work, money, status. He has pursued all these things and now he is left flat. He has been strippedof his illusions. Everything he hasrun after has left him empty. U2’s 1987 classic from “The Joshua Tree”I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For carries a similar message: “I have climbed highest mountain, I have run through the fields. I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls. But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” The Book of Ecclesiastes invites us into a holy restlessness, and this is good. Disillusionment is oftenpainful, but it is a necessary gift.Why? Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us thatGod has set eternity in the heart. No matter who we are, no matter where we come from, no matter what our culture or language or faith, we have been created for eternity, and for a rich relationship with the One who holds eternity in his hands. An early church leader, Augustine, described the longing for God that we have, as a result of this, when he prayed, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart isrestless until it rests in you.”C. S. Lewis once wrote that: “OurLord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Most of what we chase in this life will not last. Jesus calls us to investour lives wisely. In Matthew 6, hesays: “Do not store up for yourselvestreasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” God wants us to receive an inheritance that will never lose its shine or end up in a landfill site. What is it? Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate treasure. It is in relationship with him that we discover the joy of eternal life, the purpose for which we were created and the abundance of God’s kingdom. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010. PAGE 11. Huron East council approved a recommendation from Treasurer Brad Knight to officially acquire an abandoned cemetery in Grey at its May 31 meeting. The cemetery, which is on the former Wesleyan Methodist Church property, is 30’ by 50’ and was initially acquired by the church in 1864. From records in The Brussels Post, it has been confirmed that at least two people were buried in the cemetery. Council has directed staff to now fence off the cemetery, officially acquire it as an abandoned cemetery and maintain it in the future. There were no objections to such action by the property owner and before amalgamation, Grey council had bought a bronze plaque with the intention to mount it on a stone at the edge of the property. Huron East still has the plaque, but had never mounted it, something that will also be done after this official acquisition. Blyth’s Grant Sparling, a student at St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School, was selected from approximately 1,000 worldwide applicants to attend the award- winning Shad Valley program in July. Celebrating 30 years of excellence this year, Shad Valley provides a transformational experience that unleashes the entrepreneurial and innovative potential of exceptional youth. The Shad Valley program is an intensive month-long university- based development program for high potential secondary school students. Hosted in July at 10 top universities across Canada, Shad Valley has continually expanded and refined the program to ensure its relevance, significance and impact since its launch. To qualify for admission to the program, students must be of high academic standing (most have averages over 90 per cent). They must also be well-rounded emerging leaders who demonstrate drive, initiative, creativity and an entrepreneurial flair. They are leaders in their schools, volunteers in their communities, and many are gifted musicians, artists and athletes. Acceptance to Shad Valley is a highly competitive, application- based process. The program is designed to challenge and motivate participants to “take advantage of their advantage” and make a difference in their lives and careers. Participants are immersed in a dynamic learning environment that exposes to them to interesting topics of study. Living in residence, they share social, recreational and cultural activities that broaden their perspectives and refine their interpersonal skills. A key part of the program is a national entrepreneurship competition that simulates a start-up venture, requiring students to complete patent searches, prepare business plans, and design/ build prototypes. One of Shad’s primary goals is to encourage brilliant young students to pursue fields of study that will increase innovation and economic capacity, and expose them to opportunities to develop their abundant talents while moving companies forward in a competitive global environment. In post-program surveys, more than two-thirds of alumni say that their participation in Shad Valley significantly influenced their choice of undergraduate program and their career path. Corporate Canada invests financial resources to the academic portion of the program by providing lectures, labs, workshops and seminars that add impact and value. Some organizations offer internships to Shad participants as well. Shad Valley’s 11,000 alumni are outstanding achievers, including business leaders, patent holders, Top 20 Under 20 winners, Top 40 Under 40 honorees and Rhodes Scholars, to list a few of their many accomplishments. Shad Valley’s 520 participants for 2010 will join us at Carleton University, Dalhousie University, Lakehead University, Laval University, McMaster University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Queen’s University, University of British Columbia, University of New Brunswick, and University of Waterloo. Sparling selected for Shad Valley Huron East acquires cemetery 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 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 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, June 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 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, June 13 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. 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 June 13: 1 Thess. 3:12-4:10 “Living Beyond Lust” Women’s Retreat Weekend near Peterborough Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, June 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: 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. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Sunday, June 13 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, JUNE 13 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 & Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service Guest Speaker: Ivan Preston 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 From the Minister’s StudyMany haven’t found what they’re looking for By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen