HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-05-15, Page 11By Pastor Brent KipferBrussels MennoniteI am looking forward to a seasonof discovery, learning and growth.
This is my seventh year as pastor
of Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
(BMF). I love my life and work in
this church and community. It has
become home. I am grateful that
God has called our family here.
For the next three-and-a-half
months, however, I will be stepping
out of my usual role as pastor.
Instead of speaking up front at
church, answering e-mails in my
office or playing capture-the-flag
with the youth group, I plan to be
exploring other territory.
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
has granted me a sabbatical, a
chance to do things that are out-of-
the-ordinary for me - in order to be
refreshed for future ministry.
This is not something I have
earned or deserve. It is a gift.
While I am gone, John
Schwartzentruber will be a student
pastor at BMF. John has farmed and
run a small manufacturing company
(Better Bilt Products) outside of
Brussels for years. For the past five
years, he has also been studyingpart-time at Emmanuel BibleCollege in Kitchener. This past Sunday, Fordwich
Brethren in Christ Church (John’s
congregation), joined with us to
commission John for this new, short-
term role.
I am thrilled that he is available to
do this and know that it will be
mutually beneficial for both John
and our congregation. It is easy to
see God’s hand in bringing about
this partnership.
My sabbatical (May 16 - Aug. 31)
will be divided into three main parts.
For the first two weeks, I plan to
study leadership at Gordon-Conwell
Theological Seminary in Charlotte,
North Carolina.
I have been reading and writing
steadily over the past five months to
prepare for that time. I enjoy study -
and I hope that others will also
benefit from my learning.
I plan to spend June in Brussels,
tackling some chores around the
house, working on follow-up
assignments and research for my
study program, spending extra time
with family and preparing for the
third phase of my sabbatical: a twomonth family mission trip to Belizein July and August. Belize is a small country south of
Mexico and east of Guatemala. We
plan to spend our first week there
with Fred and Hilaria Valdez,
Belizean-born friends from BMF.
After touring the country with them,
we plan to settle in Dangriga – a
fishing town of about 9,000 people
on the Carribean coast.
Eastern Mennonite Missions has
helped us set up a partnership with a
small church in Dangriga that has
asked for help with preaching and
teaching this summer. As a family,
we hope to find ways to support the
church’s mission of sharing the good
news of Jesus in their region, build
relationships in the community,
learn from people of other cultures
and begin to understand God’s work
in that place.
We are also hoping to do some
fishing, swimming and snorkelling,
try new foods, visit a baboon
sanctuary, Mayan ruins and other
historic sites.
We expect that God will stretch us
through this experience! There is
much for us to learn. We know thatJesus Christ has gone ahead of usand trust that as we go, he will movehis agenda forward: for us and the
people we meet - and also back
home.
We also know that it will be
mighty good to get back to Brussels
in September!
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2008. PAGE 11. From the Minister’s StudyMoving on to a season of discovery, growth
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!
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, MAY 18
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
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Sunday, May 18
All Welcome
Worship Service and Sunday School - 11 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Jan Logtenberg
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
1st & 3rd Wednesdays - Women at the Well
Youth: Fridays - Junior 7:30 pm
Sun., May 18: Matthew 5:21ff
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
“The Priority
of Relationships
&
Reconciliation”
Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, May 18th
Brussels Public School
10:30 am and 6:30 pm
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
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, May 18
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
UPCOMING EVENT...
Saturday,May 24 - 6:00 pm
Beef BBQ
at Auburn Riverside
Tickets: $15.00
Proceeds go to building homes
in El Salvador!
PASTOR DAVID WOOD
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
- Sunday Services -
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
& Small Groups
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m.
Evening Service
NEWS
FROM BELGRAVE
There were 10 tables of shoot in
play on Friday, May 9 at the
Community Centre.
The winners were: high pink card,
Dorothy Carter; second high pink
card, Mary McIntosh; most shoots,
Jane Grasby; high white cat, Jane
Glousher; second high white card,
Marie Stewart; most shoots, Ross
Taylor.
The next shoot is Friday, May 23
at 1:30 p.m.
Rev. John Roberts was the guest
minister on Mother’s Day May 11 at
Knox United Church.
Joyce Vincent, clerk of session,
presented Jasmine Maria DeJong,
daughter of Alicia and Chris
DeJong, Phillip Jared Marks, son of
Janice and Darryl Marks and Taylor
Anne Van Beek, daughter of Tania
Pletch and Andrew Van Beek for
baptism.
Items are due for the church
newsletter on Sunday, May 18.
There is a session meeting at 7:30
p.m. in the church basement on
Tuesday, May 20.
The United Church Women
general meeting is on Thursday,
May 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the church
basement. Richard Anderson will be
showing pictures.
By Linda
Campbell
Call
357-2188
PEOPLE AROUND
BELGRAVE
The Canadian Cancer Society’s
annual canvass in Belgrave and the
surrounding area collected
$3,925.20 this April. The area
captain, Barbara Anderson
acknowledges the 18 canvassers and
all those who contributed in order to
make this amount possible.
Baptism at Knox
10 tables in play
at Belgrave shoot
BUY? SELL?
TRY CLASSIFIED
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Holy Eucharist - May 18
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Parish of New Beginnings
Rev. Perry Chuipka
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us