HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-12-24, Page 39By Rev. Gary ClarkBlyth United ChurchI have been troubled by the levelof shear anger and ugly behavior inthe politics of our country.Politicians, radio talk show hosts
and letters to the editors resemble a
group of rabid shoppers on Boxing
Day scrapping over the single door
crasher special.
Perhaps even more troubling is the
use of words like traitor, subversive,
and dictator that are tossed around
without a second thought.
I have also heard that the
government is in chaos. I disagree
with that statement. The government
of Zimbabwe is in chaos. The
governments in the Congo and
maybe even in Greece with rioting in
the streets, are in chaos.
But in Canada we don’t have
chaos we have an embarrassment.
Grown men fighting like kids and
pointing fingers saying, “he started
it.”
Maybe they cannot help it.
Somehow power has a way of
twisting the attitudes of those who
hold it so that the only thing that is
important is the maintaining of that
power.
A story that is really popular at
this time of year might explain what
is going on in Ottawa. It seems thatthe Supreme Ruler, High God andsimply the Creator of everythingdecided that having power overhumanity wasn’t working well. Nomatter how well intentioned, loving
and caring God was, humanity just
didn’t want to get with the program
of world peace.
Maybe we thought that if God
didn’t have to share power that
neither did we. Might was right, and
those without power have to obey
those who have it.
So God created a new story of how
God really is and wants to be known
in the world. So it was, in an
oppressed nation, to an unwed
teenage girl God chose to be known
in the flesh. You don’t get more
powerless than that!
God chose to be as vulnerable and
needy as a baby. God needed help to
be born, to be fed, to be washed and
protected. God needed us.
It would be like making a lone
independent MP the prime minister.
That poor MP would know, withouta doubt, that she or he needed a lot ofsupport. This is a new way oflooking at God and a new way tolook at how those with power are toact.
In the gospel of Luke 1: 46-55,
Mary sings about this child and what
he will do. She says of him that he
will scatter the proud, pull down the
mighty from their thrones and lift up
those of low degree.
I don’t think God wanted Jesus’
mission to be making the rich and
powerful into the poor and the poor
into the rich and powerful. That
would simply be a case of getting
two teams to exchange jerseys but
not changing the game. I believe
God wants to change the rules of
power and how those who have
power ought to act.
In other words since “pride comes
before the fall” (Proverbs 16:18)
those with power, which is all the
leaders of the national parties ought
to set aside some of their pride, to
work for the well being of those whodo not have power. More than everthe wellbeing of the poor andpowerless must be the top priority.For the global issues that threatenhumanity to be dealt with we need
more cooperation and less pride.
We need each other rich and poor,
powerful and powerless to work
together. After all as God was trying
to teach us, we need each other as
much as we need God.
It seems to me that all the party
leaders have forgotten just how
much we need each other. The very
From the Minister’s StudyTime for heads to cool, hearts to warm
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
Parish of New Beginnings
Christmas Eve - December 24
Eucharist - the Service of Holy Thanksgiving
Rev. Perry Chuipka
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Trinity, Blyth
7:00 p.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
5:00 p.m.
519-887-6862
Parish of New Beginnings
December 28
Eucharist - the Service of Holy Thanksgiving
Rev. Perry Chuipka
308 Blyth Rd. E.
Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n i ty ChurchofGod
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, December 28
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
2 to 11 years of age
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
Celebrate Jesus,
the Light of the World
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
welcomes you to a
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00 p.m.
Pastor Brent Kipfer ~ 519-887-6388
Refreshments to follow service
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
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well
Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school)
W e d n e s d a y,December 24Christmas Eve Worship 7:00 pm“The King’s Startling Arrival”Matthew 1:18ff, 2:1ffDecember 28 and January 4
“Regular Sunday Morning
Worship”10:30 am
Evangelical Missionary Church
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Wednesday, December 24
Christmas Eve in the Barn
“Bob Alexander’s in Ethel”
(dress accordingly) 5:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
at Brussels United Church 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 28
Sunday Worship
at Brussels United 11:00 a.m.
Stories and songs ~ no Sunday School
Sunday Worship
at Ethel United Church 9:30 p.m.
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
December 24
Christmas Eve Service
7 pm
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, DECEMBER 28
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Christmas Eve
Candlelight
Service
Wednesday,
December 24th
7:30 pm
Huron Chapel E.M.C.
119 John’s Ave.,
Auburn
You and your family
are warmly welcomed
to join in this
very special
Christmas Eve service.
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
No Evening Service
Upcoming Events...
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
7:30 p.m.
Everyone is warmly welcomed!
Sunday, December 28 ~ 10:30 a.m.
Guest Speakers:
Jordan and Joel Scott will be
sharing their amazing testimony of
God’s faithfulness in their lives.
Don’t miss it!
Continued on page 42
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2008. PAGE 39.
December 28
Worship Service and
Sunday School ~ 11:00 a.m.
Mark Nonkes will be the guest speaker