No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-01-10, Page 12By Pastor Brent Kipfer,Brussels Mennonite FellowshipYears ago, a cable repairman cameto my house in Waterloo to replace an underground wire that had been accidentally cut. After he finished his work, he came to the door and cheerfully told me that my TV emergency was over and I could again watch anything I wanted. “Actually, I don’t subscribe to cable, but thanks for your work!” “You don’t get cable? Well, you should sign up!” “No, thanks. I don’t have a TV,” I confided to him. “What? Seriously? That’s odd. Are you Mennonite or something?” I grew up in a Mennonite family, watching more TV than I probably should have. Today our family is selective about what we watch, but we are definitely not unplugged. The confused cable employeesimply caught Sarah and I during abrief interlude, early in our marriage,when we had decided to not rush too quickly into TV ownership. As a pastor of a Mennonite church, I sometimes get puzzled looks when people find out what I do. My lack of a horse or any skills in furniture-making makes it hard for some to believe that I am who I say I am. “If you are not that kind of Mennonite, what do you believe?” Like the majority of Mennonite churches in Canada, people from Brussels Mennonite Fellowship cannot be picked out of a crowd by the way we dress or drive or cook. When our congregation began in the early 1980s, founding members wrestled with the question of whether to include the word, “Mennonite” in our name. Does ithelp people know who we are?Would it create misunderstanding?Does it set up barriers for someone who is looking for a new church? In the end, we included it, as a way to be upfront about our understanding of Christianity. About half of our congregation grew up in some type of Mennonite church; half come from a variety of other backgrounds. Here are a few key things that we believe: 1. Jesus Christ invites us into a living, joyful, world-changing relationship with God. Risen from the dead, he comes to us in our brokenness and sin, bridging the gap between us and God, between us and our fellow human beings, and between us and creation, so that God’s good and loving plans for us can be fulfilled. Day by day,he calls us to follow his lead –speaking to us through the Bibleand his Spirit. His presence and direction should make a difference in our families, workplaces, schools and neighbourhoods. 2. Jesus gives us companions on our journey with him. The church is not a building or a program or the project of professional ministers – but a community of Jesus-followers that learns together, worships together, encourages each other and serves together. 3. Our life with God is not mainly to be for our own benefit, but for the blessing of the world. Jesus sends us into the world as he was sent into the world, sharing the good news of his reign – and giving us his Holy Spirit to make our mission possible. 4. God has overcome evil throughthe life, death and resurrection ofJesus. The self-giving love of ourSaviour is more powerful than any human weapon or any other kind of force – and challenges us to love our enemies, forgive those who wrong us, seek peace and justice in the world, renounce all violence and trust God to complete his work of making all things right. This probably sounds a lot like the faith of other Christian churches you know! We believe that God’s main concern is not to multiply Mennonites (or Presbyterians, Baptists, Pentecostals or Catholics), but to grow authentic disciples of Jesus. His kingdom is greater than any congregation, community or denomination – and for that we praise God! PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2008. Habitat for Humanity Huron County (HFH HC) has announced that it has selected the partner family for its 2008 build in Goderich, Mary- Lee Cyr and her four children,Avery, Jonathan, Rory and Rowan. This will be the organization’s fourth house in Huron County to be built over a four-year period. Previous builds include Clinton, Wingham and Hensall. Terry Taylor, HFH HC chair said, “The selection of a partner family is always a difficult decision, but we believe we have a great family who will partner with us to make our 2008 build a success. My thanks to the Family Selection Committee members for working so hard in making this possible.” Habitat is open to people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds and gives careful consideration to the reality of the need of the applicants. Families who are selected must have a steady income but are unable to qualify for a conventional mortgage. Along with the financial commitment, the family must be willing to contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” in the building of the home or in related Habitat activities. The selected family must also be willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity Huron County’s Family Partner Committee in learning about and preparing for the responsibility of home ownership. Habitat for Humanity is a non- profit, independent housing program made up of local affiliates that are locally managed. Habitat for Humanity Huron County is entirely operated by volunteers. Habitat provides a “hand up, not a hand out” by selling homes to qualified families through “sweat equity”, no profit builds and no interest mortgages. Each local affiliate must meet the strict guidelines of Habitat for Humanity Canada. Started in 1976 in the United States, Habitat for Humanity now enjoys success in 87 countries around the globe. Habitat came to Canada in 1985 and thus far has built over 900 homes. Habitat for Humanity Huron County can be contacted at www.habitathuroncounty.ca, or at PO Box 68, Hensall, ON N0M 1X0, or a message can be left at the office by calling 519-262-5222. Habitat for Humanity selects 2008 partner family From the Minister’s StudyGod’s kingdom greater than any congregation The God Rocks!®cartoon characters and universe is based on Luke 19:40, “If the people fall silent, the stones will cry out.” Fun rock characters, including main character Chip Livingstone, live in the imaginary town of Rocky Ridge, where they live to sing and praise God - just in case the people fall silent! Beginning on Monday, January 7, 5-5:45 p.m. Living Water Christian Fellowship will be offering children aged 4-6 (JK-Grade 1) an opportunity to become energized with the Good News. This program will be held at Blyth Public School from 5:00 - 5:45 pm. Overview:“Because God Created Me, I Am Special” • I Will Worship God • I Will Trust God • I Will Be Kind • I Will Forgive People • I Will Encourage People. For more information about the God Rocks!Program in Blyth, contact Angela at 519-523-4800 or email redcastle1@ezlink.ca For general information visit the website www.godrocks.ca or watch an episode on Saturday mornings at 8:00 am on the CTS network. Using high quality animation, original music, books and other creative resources,God Rocks! was designed to teach kids important lessons from the Bible in a fun way. Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n ity 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! THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Worship Service and Sunday School - 11 a.m. Sunday, January 13 All Welcome BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, January 13 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 Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Sunday School 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - Olympians (JK to Grade 6) 7:00 p.m. - Youth and Adult Bible Study HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 519-526-1131 PASTOR DAVE WOOD MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 1st & 3rd Mondays - Women at the Well Tuesdays - Wingham Small Group Youth: Mondays - Senior - Fridays - Junior Sun., January 13: Ruth 2 Evangelical Missionary Church “Boaz’ Benevolence: Welcome the Stranger” 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Jan. 20: Potbless & Annual Congregational Meeting