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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2008-11-06, Page 17Rev. Perry ChuipkaTrinity Blyth,St. John’s BrusselsAnglican Churches One Sunday morning in church the minister had just started his sermon when all of a sudden the lights went out and the congregation heard a huge crack. A woman in the front row gasped, “What on earth”. An elderly man near the back said, “My ears are ringing”. A small boy near the front yelled out, “Boy that was close- it scared the heck out of me” A bolt of lighting had just hit near the church and it knocked out all the lights. Everything else seemed okay. So one of the Guild ladies went to the back of the church and found some candles, then placed them around the chancel area. It was enough light for everyone to see. So the minister went back up to the pulpit, shuffled his notes and muttered out loud, “Now, where was I?” In the dark at the back of the church, a voice called out, “You were right near the end!!!!” Like the minister shuffling his papers around sometimes we need to reshuffle our life around. I don’t know about you but I find that the autumn weather moves me to take a second look at what I am doing in my life. Sometimes I find that my life can be too focused on one thing. I need to re-evaluate, prioritize and find a better balance. I remember being in my former parish feeling overwhelmed with allthe activities and work that I wasinvolved in. My wife said to me,“Why don’t you do something just for you, something outside of the parish work.” So I decided to take up tai chi. This is an exercise of stretching your body through many different types of movements. The Chinese people believe that our bodies have within it a chi energy that can become stagnant. The tai chi exercise helps the chi to move through your body giving you a healthier balance to your body and mind. I joined an 18-week course. After the first session I felt like an elephant trying to move on one of those circus balls. I had very little balance to move through the exercise. However, halfway through the course I found myself doing the movements without even thinking. I also found that I had a renewed sense of energy and that I felt much more aware of the things around me. All I did was start something new and in the process left my worriesand stress behind.Sometimes we focus on the wrongthings in life. We think like we have always thought instead of trying something new that can bring a new balance to our life. It will also help you to leave behind the past that makes you think in an old way. Now you might be saying to yourself, “This is only for successful people in life. I can’t do that!” Did you know that Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas? Walt Disney also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. Think of what he had to leave behind before he became successful. Do you also know that Winston Churchill failed Grade 6. He did not become prime minister of England until he was 62 and only after a lifetime of defeats and setbacks. His greatest contributions came when he was a senior citizen but only after he left behind all those defeats and setbacks. Sometimes we need to keepfighting for what we believe in orderfor change to come about in ourlives. Let me return to my original story. We don’t need to resign ourselves to simply reshuffling papers and other things in our houses to revitalize our lives. Sometimes we need to reshuffle our lives so that we can rediscover the power of finding the right balance in our lives. In this season of reflection you may be thinking that you want to do something different in your life. Start by thinking what you want to do that is new. You may end up leaving behind the things that are holding you back in the first place. Then you you will be re-energized and find a better balance in your life. No one will do it for you. Think about it. Then simply go do it. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008. PAGE 17. From the Minister’s StudyFinding the right balance in your life Welcome to Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service - 9:30 am Coffee Break - 10:45 am Sunday School - 11:00 am Noon Potluck Fellowship Meal Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388 on Peace Sunday, November 9 Lord, Open my eyes and ears to do some work of peace. Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Remember at Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark All Welcome Saturday, November 8 Annual Fall Supper 4:30 - 7:00 pm Price for the meal is $12.00 for adults, children 6-12 are $6.00 and under 6 are free Sunday, November 9 Remembrance Day Sunday - 11:00 a.m. Wear a poppy. Why is it important? Sunday, November 16 Baptism and Birthday Sunday for November THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Parish of New Beginnings Morning Prayer - November 9 Trinity, Blyth 9:15 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth 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 Mathematics 101 Mr. Lowell Hunking, Emmanuel Bible College Evangelical Missionary Church 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) Hike the Bruce Trail at Tobermory with us this Saturday! Sun., Nov. 9: 2 Kings 4:1-7 308 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! Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, November 9 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 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9 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, November 9 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 COFFEE HOUSE WITH ERIN ROY Sunday, November 23 at 7:30 pm at Huron Chapel Erin will be sharing her amazing experience of being an Olympic Torchbearer in honour of her late uncle Detective Constable Robert Plunkett. Everyone is Welcome! 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 Service 7:30 p.m. Evening Service & Youth Service Operation Christmas Child Collection Schedule November 25th & 27th 10 am - 6 pm; November 28th 6 pm - 9 pm; November 29th 9 am - 12 noon BE A FACE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER BECAUSE CANCER IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, SO ARE WE. Open your door and give generously when a Canadian Cancer Society volunteer comes knocking this April. www.cancer.ca HELP US MAKE CANCER HISTORY.