The Citizen, 2010-09-30, Page 19By Reverend Gary ClarkBlyth United ChurchI have been wondering about whythere has been a decline in people
attending most churches. In the
midst of this serious issue, a funny
verse came to mind. It can be sung to
the tune, “Amazing Grace”.
“Amazing Blackberry,
how sweet the sound
That brings a text to me.
I once did dial, or walk a mile,
But now I speak voice free.”
Not quite as catchy as the original
but then again, the original was
communicating something of the
power of God to set us free from the
sadness and feelings of being lost
because of our own actions or
inactions in life. I guess the folks
who produce the Blackberry, iPhone
or any similar device would want us
to believe that they also set us free
from sadness and loneliness.
It would seem that many have
bought into this technological
“Amazing Grace”.
I think it is good to ask why our
society has been so attracted to these
little hand-held screens?
I have heard that the greater
control we as humans “feel” we have
over our lives, the less we think we
need God. These machines allow us
to think that we have all knowledge,
control and a connection with the
entire world, literally in the palm of
our hand.
As I think about these statements,
I realize that humans today have no
more control over the randomness in
their lives than at any other time in
our history. Nor does the use of
technology give us a sense of well-
being and connectedness with the
world. Indeed I believe it is quite the
opposite.
Communication has been made
quicker. You no longer have to wait
for the rotary dial to slowly tick,
tick, tick back with each number. We
don’t have to go looking for
somebody when they are not by the
phone at home or in the office. But
are we any more connected? If
anything, I think most of us feel
more alone. And as for feeling more
safe or in control of the world in
which we live, I just don’t believe it.
The hand-held world has done
little to add to a feeling of well-
being. Ironically more and more
parents are getting their kids cell
phones because they might need to
get a hold of them in an emergency.
Yet those devices didn’t exist when
we parents were the young ones. Idon’t think our parents worried thatthey would not be able to get a holdof us. Does this mean that parents
today think the world and life has
become even more unpredictable
and dangerous?
I believe this sense of an
unpredictable world has come as a
direct result of our own
unwillingness to live by a shared set
of expectations or laws. Ironically,
on the one hand we seem to think
that we will be safe if we put enough
laws and safe guards in place that we
can do away with all things that
harm us. We try to control life
through the genius of democratic
and bureaucratic oversight. If
someone gets hurt we naturally want
to know what system, or regulation
failed. Yet, on the other hand, not
only is life never that clear-cut, we
as humans seem to naturally seek
out ways to circumvent our own
laws. How is government supposed
to keep us safe even when we don’t
want to follow leaders, listen to
experts or simply obey the law? And
maybe that is what lies at the root of
the general rejection of being activein a faith community?If we are unwilling to follow lawsthat we have made through our
elected leaders, then I can see why
we reject laws that God, whom we
have no control over, has made.
It matters not that in both cases
these laws are there to protect, guide
and help us live happy and
productive lives. There is a “Great
Refusal” to accept guidance and a
hunger to have the power of self-
determination in our hands. We
don’t want a God, elected or divine,
who tells us what we ought to do.
Many have even taken the
opportunity to set themselves free
from the confines of any law they
find inconvenient at any given time.
I wish that greater happiness was
the result of this freedom but that
doesn’t seem to be the case.
Generally speaking, there is more
loneliness, sadness and self doubt.
Maybe there is an equally strong
need within us to have boundaries
and a clear picture of who we are
called to be in society. As well as
that desire to be free of such
boundaries. I wouldn’t call this a strugglebetween good and evil orrighteousness and sinfulness, but
rather a struggle to balance who we
are apart from others and who we
need to be as a part of society.
I believe that faith can help us inthis balancing act. In Jesus, I find an example of onewho struck the perfect balance.
Jesus needed time alone and there
were times when he totally gave
himself over to the needs of those
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY& MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark,BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman,BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Oct. 3 Communion: No One Is Turned Away
Oct. 10 Always Room for More At The Table
Join us for
Friend Sunday
at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
October 3 ~ 9:30 a.m.
Noon Potluck Meal
Pastor Brent Kipfer
518-887-6388
brusselsmennonite@on.aibn.com
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
Guest Speaker:
Rev.Eugene Neudorf
Ladies Fall Renewal -
“Sunshine & Showers”
Saturday, October 16
from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
at Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn
Guest Speaker: Pauleen Kerkhof
Registration is $15 which
includes muffins & coffee at
registration and lunch.
Call church office for tickets.
getlivingwater.orgPastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Small Group
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women’s Ministry
Fridays 7:00 pm - Youth Group
Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
Join us for our 9th Anniversary!
Guest speaker
Pastor Ralph Van Oostveen
“Give Me that Mountain!”
Communion, POTLUCK
Sunday, October 3rd ~ Joshua 14:6ff
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, October 3
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
6:30 pm - DVD series on the Book of
Revelation by James MacDonald
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
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
,
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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
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
Church Office: 519-317-4883
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, October 3
Rev.Perry Chuipka
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, BlythHwy. 4, Blyth
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
Sunday, October 3
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
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010. PAGE 19. From the Minister’s StudyTech communication leaves us lonely
Continued on page 24