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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-07-01, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2010. From the Minister’s StudyI don’t want to and you can’t make meBy Gary ClarkBlyth United ChurchI was part of a wonderfulconversation that was exploring this “you can’t make me” attitude that is found in so many places of our society. It would be bad enough if that attitude resided in only our children but I see and hear variations of it in lots of adults as well. We pondered, what is at the root of such bad behavior? A friend mentioned the concept of “The Great Refusal”. A greatly simplified definition of this term would be when a person refuses to be involved, for good or ill, in the lives of those around them. They simply refuse to be an active part of the community. On the surface that doesn’t seem so bad, after all in a democratic society we expect a certain degree of freedom around our choices. Shouldn’t we have the right to refuseto be involved? Well yes, but aproblem arises when more and morepeople are refusing to be involved in the nurturing and/or protective part of society, which is largely based on volunteerism. I can feel for those who have been burned by the politics of the day and those being once bitten are twice shy about being involved. These days I feel for the firefighters of our communities. They are ready to lay their lives down to rescue life and property while politicians seem to be unable to lay down their posturing to negotiate in good faith. It would be so tempting to just chuck it in and walk away. Countless others in countless other organization certainly have! But what would our communities do without their volunteer firefighters? The same could be said of churches, hockey rinks and other serviceorganizations. These groups andinstitutions are the weavers of socialconnection and of community itself. Without them our lives become poorer! I know, it is easy to think that I say this as a minister who is fearful for the future of the church. I will confess that this is true. Churches can not thrive without volunteers. But I will also say this because I believe we need each other. This isn’t just my opinion. I was talking about this with Les Cook and he reminded me of the movie A Beautiful Mind. Les pointed out that the main character (based on a real person) becomes famous because he mathematically was able to prove that a group is always better off when they act together toward a goal than if they act separately toward the same goal. In other words being part of a community makes us stronger,happier and more able to face thetragedies of life. It isn’t easy andsometimes it feels like others are getting away with murder but spiritually (and mathematically) we are better off. So how do we deal with the temptation of the great refusal? The first step is to remember that we truly need each other. None of us are islands. We connect in thousands of seen and unseen ways. Our acts, no matter how little, truly do impact the lives of others in the community. The second step is to love what you do so much that you will not let others steal your joy in doing it. So to our firefighters I say remember that politicians come and go but the impact of your work forever changes the lives of those you help. Let no one steal your joy in that work. Third, if you are not involved in some way in this your community, then find a group, church or organization that you can give a part of your life to. If there isn’t one that you like, then start a new one. In the giving you will discover that you receive much more in return. Jesus said it this way: “If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you’lllose it, but if you let that life go,you’ll get life on God’s terms.”(Luke 17:33, the Message Bible) And finally the kids and adults are right – I cannot make you do any of the above. It is your choice alone to make and your life to live. But since we only get one go – around in this life, why not make it the best you possibly can? Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth Upcoming Events: Vacation Bible School will be at the Blyth CRC on July 26-30th Outdoor Service and Potluck Picnic will be on Sunday, August 1 at the Blyth Lions Park. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, July 4 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 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 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 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, July 4 Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Sunday, July 4 Worship Service at 11 a.m. getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared July 4 Guest Speaker: Chris Palmer Shared summer services at Blyth Community Church of God at 10:30 am. Get on the bus Local church leaders, as well as the Blyth Lions and the Belgrave Kinsmen worked together to raise funds to send local children to swimming programs in Wingham by bus, where transportation had been an issue in the past. The swimming sessions will take place at the end of July. From left: Les Cook, Blyth Church of God; John Kuperus, Blyth Christian Reformed Church; Mark Nesbit, Blyth Lions President; Gary Clark, Blyth United Church; Ernest Dow, Living Water Christian Fellowship and Perry Chuipka, Trinity Anglican Church. (Shawn Loughlin photo) MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, JULY 4 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-2664 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship Brussels and Ethel United churches are closed for the month of July. Everyone is invited to worship at Melville Presbyterian. Service time 10:00 a.m. Outdoor Church Service ~ July 25 at 11:00 a.m. at the Conservation Area. Potluck lunch.