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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2009-04-02, Page 19By Rev. Gary ClarkBlyth United ChurchI read this wonderful story recently in a magazine. A man was trying to practise the spiritual exercise of “being still.” He was often troubled by anger and frustration taking hold of him and making him do things that he regretted later. As he spoke to his minister about this she advised him to learn to breathe. “Breathe?” he almost yelled. “I can breathe I just can’t control my anger.” “So I see,” she said. “When you can control your breathing enough to take a deep breath before you speak,you have a better chance of speakingand not yelling.” Then she smiled. On the way home the man took the subway and the platform was unusually crowded. Every time a train came along it was already full and very few of his fellow platform mates could get on the already full train. The tension in the crowd was growing and he could feel his anger rising. “Oh,” he thought, “so this is what it is like to be part of a mob.” Quickly he withdrew from the mob and stood on the stairwell where he could look down on the problem. He tried to breathe deeply and relax the muscles that had grown hard in his hands and shoulders. As he did so he looked up the tracks in the direction where the full trains had been coming. “If I could only get on the train before it was full,” he thought. “That’s it. I’ll take a train up the line so that I can get on my train before itgets full.”In some ways it seemed like a waste of time to go in the opposite direction of home but since he was making no headway on this platform why not try? And so he crossed to the other side of the platform, grabbed a train in the opposite direction, and went to an almost empty platform a distance up the tracks. When he reached the platform that he had left some 20 minutes earlier most of the same people were still waiting for a train that had room for them. I took so many lessons from this story. It reminded me of the time when Jesus’disciples were caught in a storm on the lake of Galilee. No matter how hard they rowed they got nowhere. Jesus himself came walking on water to join them. Peter seeing Jesus walking so calmly toward them (once they got over the fear of thinking Jesus was a ghost) wantedto join Jesus on the water. He tootried to walk on water but found himself drowning. Jesus saves him and together they got into the disciple’s boat. Throughout this story Jesus is calm and although he recognizes that there is a storm all around him, he chooses to calmly walk through it. The global economy is a chaotic storm and many Canadians are being tossed about in their boats. What we need is someone with the calm of Jesus to come to us and bring that sense of calm to our lives. This allows us to see the bigger picture and to find answers that can not be seen while we are in the midst of the storm-filled problem. When the minister advised the man to learn to breathe, she was alsoasking him to breathe in the calm ofChrist. Yes the storm still rages but when we are still and breathe we become a different people in our boat. At first we might resist what seems to be backward steps but we need to get a wider perspective on life. Besides if you are not getting anywhere doing what you have been doing, than it’s time to do something else! As we seek to breathe in the calm of Christ we replace fear with hope and short sightedness with answers that will lead us to safe harbours. All this when we learn to just breathe. God bless and good breathing to you all. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009. PAGE 19. From the Minister’s StudyTaking steps to calm the inner storm Morning Star Rebekahs held their regular meeting March 24 with Noble Grand Sister Sharon Freeman presiding. Sister Joan Bernard introduced District Deputy President Sister Marie Broom. Fifteen members were present and six visitors from Pride of Huron Lodge of Exeter. Members were informed of the Good Friday rally, April 10 in St. Thomas. A motion was made to donate $150 to the Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society for summer camp. Birthday wishes were sung to Sister Jane Hall. A couple of humorous readings were given by Sister Joyce Jacklin. After closing ceremonies, lunch was served and fellowship followed. getlivingwater.orgPastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Evangelical Missionary Church Palm/Passion Sunday April 5 ~ Jn. 10:1-18 Fri., April 3 ~ 8 pm at Memorial Hall: Faith-In-Song Sat., April 4 ~ 9 am at BPS: World Day of Prayer “I am the Good Shepherd” Thurs., April 9 ~ 7 pm at BPS: “Matthew” - Life of Jesus movie (90 min.) Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Bible Study 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school) 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 Parish of New Beginnings Sunday, April 5 Eucharist - the Service of Holy Thanksgiving Palm Sunday Rev. Perry Chuipka Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Join us to celebrate Sunday School Play: “No Flowers for Easter” 11:00 a.m. Good Friday Evening Service 7:00 p.m. Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth PASTOR DAVID WOOD 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 Services Evening Services are cancelled for the winter months. MISSION FEST 2009 April 17th-19th As part of our upcoming Mission Fest Weekend we are hosting “ARTICLE ONE” in concert on Friday, April 17th at 8:00 p.m. Advance tickets: $10 or $12 at the door Call 519-526-1131 ext 4 for tickets or they can be purchased at The Gift Chest or Radiant Life Christian Book Stores District Deputy President visits Morning Star Rebekahs WHAT ARE ASTHMA TRIGGERS? Asthma triggers are allergens and irritants that can create breathing problems when people with asthma are exposed to them. Common triggers include: • Pollens including tree pollen, grass pollen and ragweed • Cigarette smoke • Dust and dust mites • Pets and other animals • Food allergies • Weather and air pollution • Cold air and high humidity MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, APRIL 5 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, April 5 ~ Palm Sunday Confirmation and Communion Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, April 5 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 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n i ty Church of God C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A “The Church is not a building, it is people touching people Sunday School 9:45 a.m. - Christian Education for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Mid-week Bible Studies See you Sunday!