HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-07-08, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010. PAGE 19.
Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship
at Howard & Alice Martin's
99 McDonald Drive, Brussels
Sunday, July 11
10:00 am
Bring your lawn chair
Noon potluck meal
(No service at the church)
Pastor Brent Kipfer
519- 887-6388
Welcomes you to an
Outdoor Worship Service
at
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.
From the Minister’s StudyMurray asks where is your church’s vision?By Rev. Tom Murray,Knox United, Belgrave“Be the change you wish to see inthe world.”
– Ghandi.
This is the quotation, upon which
the question of this article is based.
My dad wore glasses as long as I
remember. However until my mid-
thirties I had always thought I had
perfect vision – or at least nearly-
perfect vision; did I need corrective
lenses? I wanted nothing to do with
them. Was it vanity or simply a
desire not to be burdened with
glasses?
On the other hand, walking out of
the optical store that day, I clearly
remember putting on glasses for the
first time. Looking at the world
again I saw colors and details that
were both vivid and sharp. I had no
clue what I was missing until I wore
those glasses.
Vision is a key factor in how faith
communities embrace change, move
beyond the intense pain of loss and
rediscover their capacity to hope.
Without a doubt, the process of
casting a vision may be creative and
hopeful particularly as we consider
future ministry opportunities.
However, while the most effective
“visioning process”, typically looks
forward and backward as it learns
from the past without being
restricted by it, we sometimes get off
track and overlook the voices and
traditions of the past.
The first task any leadership group
has in seeking a new direction for a
future is to uncover vision in
existing values and stories. This will
entail remembering the joyful
moments and painful times in a
congregation’s most deeply held
traditions. The purpose is not to
recreate the past but rather to
identify what is deep in the history
of the congregation and central to
the core of its faith identity and
personality.
Wise leaders understand that
vision provides a crucial source of
power for embracing change and
that vision by itself is insufficient.
Leaders must be adept at linking a
vision to key attributes of the
congregation’s identity, realizing
that a vision for the future is
often embedded in values and stories
that are only beginning to emerge.
Leaders need the ability to see
around the curve, anticipating what
may be coming without any
assurance that it will materialize.
What leaders often do not do wellis to consider God's vision for thecongregation. To be sure, they mayframe their work as a “discernment”
process. Yet, their intent may end up
discerning what the members
want (and will follow) rather than
to discern what God’s mission and
hopes are calling them forward to.
Aligning a congregation’s vision
with God’s vision for the church
and world is a congregation’s best
chance of inspiring the hearts
of its people in the most faithful
way.
What could energize a faithful
people more than a vision for its
future that is focused in Scripture,
relevant to its past, present and
future, and faithful in its service to
God’s mission and hopes?
An inspiring vision enables us to
see beyond the painful losses and
overwhelming challenges that have
caused us to falter; it prepares a new
way. In the face of change,
congregational members and leaders
want to find the “perfect” vision. An
imperfect vision, they fear, will not
only be unsuccessful but will
lead to more loss. In the face of
losses congregations have already
endured, the stakes are too high
for any congregation to get it wrong!A faith community’s leadershipcannot guarantee the perfect vision.
What leaders can do is to underscore
the importance of casting a vision
that encourages the vitality of the
congregation and the purposefulness
of its ministry.
Casting a vision is hard work. The
leader, who rises to the challenge to
cast a vision that truly inspires a
church community, empowersmembers to wrap themselves aroundchange and move forward. Wise leaders understand that the
power of vision stems more from the
“vision itself” than from any
visionary leader. Let’s not try to cast
a perfect vision, for that I fear, will
keep congregational leaders and
Christ’s followers from engaging in
a visioning process that is
bold, creative, and ultimately
life-giving. Let’s say YES to a lively andliving vision that honours bothGod’s and our ministry attempts
in the light of His mission and
hopes!
That’s where the church’s vision is
called to be!
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
Speaker:
Rev.Wilbert Schwindt
No Sunday School
for summer months
ATHLETES IN
ACTION
SOCCER CAMP
August 16th - 20th
Room is still available,
call the church office
to register
519-526-1131
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
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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
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.
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
July 11 - 2 Thess. 1
Purpose
and Hope
Amidst
Troubles
Shared summer services
at Blyth Community
Church of God at 10:30 am.
Pre-register ages JK - Gr. 6 for July
26-30 Vacation Bible School at
www.vacationbibleschool.com/blyth
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, July 11
Brussels Arena at 10:30 a.m.
and various homes at 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, July 11
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
Sunday, July 11
Worship Service at 11 a.m.
winning team.
A discussion was held regarding
the crazy quilt and Deanna is to
bring it to the next meeting with
hopes of making a decision of what
to do with it.
The next meeting will be held
on September 20 at the home of
Eileen with Pat on program
and Betty Archambault supplying
a lunch.
Eileen gave a demonstration on
making Artisan bread and followed
with a reading on the “Missionary
Penny”. Deanna Snell and the
hostess served a delicious lunch
of fruit, bread, cheese and cold
drinks.
Continued from page 3
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, JULY 11
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
Walkerburn Club to
determine fate of crazy
quilt at future meeting