HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-10-15, Page 23The Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba-NyandeWalton Bluevale UnitedChurches.
The Thanksgiving legacy has
been alive for hundreds of years. It
consists of stories of those who
believe that gratitude for blessings
is a virtue all must possess.
In North America, Thanksgiving
festivities traced its roots back from
the Pilgrim colonists and members
of the Wampanoag people at
Plymouth in 1621.
On this day people expressed
gratitude to God for his blessings
and give thanks to dear ones for
their love and support.
'Thanksgiving Day' is associated
with communal prayers in church
and in homes. It is also a day to
show gratitude to your friends and
relatives for all the good deeds.From the African perspective, thecustom of Thanksgiving is anancient tradition for expressing
gratefulness for God good creation
and the harvest of the land.
Thanksgiving takes place all the
times depending upon the season
and the occasion. Thanksgivings are
offered to God for harvest of the
fruits. Thanksgiving are offered by
the community’s peace and
prosperity of the community.
Students at high school, colleges
and universities observe
thanksgiving each year.
African harvest festivals are
characterized with lot of dancing
and singing. In African
congregations, fruits are gathered
into the church as part the
thanksgiving. These fruits are sold
and use the proceeds for variousministries in the church. Voices United No. 520 reminds usthat God’s grace is for all creation:
“We plough the fields and scatter
the seed on the land, but it is fed and
watered by your almighty hand; you
send the snow in the winter, the
warmth to swell the grain, the
breezes and the sunshine, the soft
refreshing rain.
All good things around us are sent
from heaven above, we thank you,
God, O Holy God, for all your
love….”.
In Thanksgiving, it is important
to give thanks for the presence of
God in everyday life, in the
moments that we discover
unexpected healing and wholeness.
We should not be like the nine
lepers in Luke 17:11-19 who are
healed by Jesus but then wander offwithout a word. Instead, we shouldbe like the tenth, the one whoreturns to Jesus, thanks him, and
praises God in a loud voice.
Jesus makes it clear that this
thankful leper is the one with true
faith, for he sends him away with
the words, “Get up and go on your
way; your faith has made you well”
(v.19)
Are we among the nine, who take
their health for granted? Or are we
like the tenth, who makes a
pilgrimage simply to give thanks?
If we can rediscover that all our
blessings are a gift from God, we
will experience the harvest of joy
described by Psalm 126 (RCL), a
raucous celebration of laughter and
rejoicing based on the realization
that “the Lord has done great things
for us” (v.3).Our true gratitude comes frombeing able to gather togetherthrough the joys and sorrows of life,
in times of abundance and in times
of our struggle, in worship and in
praise of the God of creation who
holds us all in a divine embrace that
will not let us go.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009. PAGE 23.
Melville Presbyterian Church
Women’s Guild and Women’s
Missionary Society met in the
church parlour on Oct. 6.
The meeting opened with
everyone repeating the Women’s
Missionary Purpose. The theme of
the meeting was Fathers.The hymn,
This is My Father’s World was sung,
followed by Alice Marks reading a
poem about fathers. The scripture
reading, Genesis 31: 1-21 was read
in unison. The hymn, Lead Us,
Heavenly Father, Lead Us was sung.
In the absence of pianist, Mary
Douma, Jean Bewley’s niece
Elizabeth (Bewley) Hopchin from
Edmonton filled in.
A poem, entitled Father’s Praises
was read.
Margaret Work gave an interesting
topic about the Orkney Islands
where the Work forefathers
originated. She told about the hard
times and sacrifices they endured.
She had maps, pictures, a plaque, a
watch and photo albums for display.
The Works came to Lot 1, Conc. 8,
Grey in 1853.
President Alice Marks thanked
members for attending the fall rally
in Molesworth on Sept. 21 and for
helping with lunches over the
summer.
Thank you notes were read from
Eluned McNair, Jean Bewley and
Cathrine Campbell. The roll call was
answered by telling great-
grandfathers’ names.
Plans were made for the special
meeting on Oct. 20. South Kinloss
WMS group will be guests with
missionaries from Listowel speaking
about their experiences in Thailand.
Fathers, theme of Guild, WMS meeting
From the Minister’s StudyThanksgiving legacy alive for centuries
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!
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, October 18
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
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
Sunday, October 18
Worship Service & Sunday School
at 11 a.m.
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
October 18
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, October 18
Ethel United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service and Sunday School - 11:00 a.m.
Silent Auction ~ October 16 & 17
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
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
Evangelical Missionary Church
October 18:James 1:17ff
“Hearing the
Word, Helping
the Distressed”
Hannah Uyl -
Dublin Christian
Mission
REV. 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 Service
WEDNESDAY
IS FAMILY NIGHT
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. there
are Bible-based programs
and small groups for
everyone between the ages
of 4 through to 94!
Nursery is also available.
Walk with us Hand in Hand.
The Knox Presbyterian Church
Christian Outreach Committee,
invites the public to join them for
supper and an evening to support
local organizations.
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Knox
Christian Outreach Committee is
hosting an evening that reflects their
mandate to help promote and co-
ordinate events and activities of a
missionary, outreach and service
nature. This Walking Hand-In-Hand
event will raise awareness of the
work done by the Huron Women’s
Shelter and Rural Response for
Healthy Children.
Supper is a celebration of Local
Cuisine featuring sausage, scalloped
potatoes and dessert. The evening
starts at Knox Presbyterian Church,
Goderich with displays and social
time at 5 p.m. followed by supper at
6 p.m. and presentations by both the
Huron Women’s Shelter and Rural
Response for Healthy Children.
Child care will be provided.
Tickets are $5 each and children
under four are free. Tickets are
available from any committee
member, at the church (519-524-
7512) or from the Huron Women’s
Shelter (519-524-5333) or Rural
Response for Healthy Children
(519-482-8777) offices.
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Walk hand in hand at Knox