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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2007-03-01, Page 14By Ethel Miner ClareKnox United Church, BelgraveClara Barton, known as “the angelof the battlefield,” founded theAmerican Red Cross. One day an acquaintance of Barton’s was reminding her of some past wrong that had been done to her. Clara responded, “I don’t remember it.” Her assistant did. “Oh, yes, Miss Barton, don’t you recall, such and so...”. “No,” Clara said, “I distinctlyremember forgetting that.”In Isaiah 43 we hear God tellingthe Israelites, “I distinctly remember forgetting your past sins.” At the time, Israel was a demoralized, fearful nation living a life of forced exile in Babylon among hostile, pagan neighbours. God reminded them of their sinful ways - getting involved with other gods and forgetting to worship Yahweh, God, who has cared for them throughout the ages. God had grown tired of bearing this burden. After all, God created humans to be in relationship with their Creator. At this point theIsraelites were estranged from God,no longer sharing their lives with theCreator but rather putting their trustin other deities, looking back on former times and seeing them as the golden era. A competitive runner never breaks stride looking over the shoulder to see if anyone is gaining. Looking back can spell the difference between winning and losing. “Don’t remember the former things,” we read in Isaiah. “Don’t dwell upon sins long since forgiven and forgotten. Don’t dwell upon the past. You might miss the new things God is up to. Don’t hang on to the glory days…they are not as gloriousas you remember.”God is about to do a new thing.You are a forgiven people. Why?Because long ago in a time before now, God made a promise, and God keeps promises made. Remember the covenant - ‘I will be your God and you will be my people.’ I wonder if we are so very different from the Israelites to whom God spoke? Too often we, too, put our trust in other deities - security, power, wealth, popularity, things that society around us values. Welook at days past as ‘the good olddays.’ We forget God until we hit acrisis.Lent, a time for assessing where we are on our Christian journey, began a week ago on Ash Wednesday. During this period before Easter, I think we would do well to heed Isaiah’s words, words which tell we are to look forward to what God is calling us to be about, to the newness God is creating in our midst. PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2007.From the Minister’s StudyLent a time to assess one’s Christian journey The small land-locked country of Paraguay, the “heart” of South America, is the focus of this year’s World Day of Prayer celebration. Women from Paraguay have written the service for the 2007 World Day of Prayer on the theme “United Under God’s Tent” Wars and a long dictatorship have taken their toll on Paraguay. It lost its sea access and 80 percent of its male population following the Triple Alliance War in the 1800s. The 35- year dictatorship which ended in 1989, left scars of poverty, environmental destruction and repression. Despite their poverty and struggle to survive, Paraguayans are a caring and musical people, known around the world for folk music and handmade spider web lace known as “Nanduti” - and, of course, their Olympic winning soccer team. Attend the World Day of Prayer service and learn more about Paraguay and its unique culture and heritage. Join Christians in more than 170 countries around the world and 2,000 communities across Canada who will gather on the World Day of Prayer to pray and act in solidarity with the people of Paraguay. A local World Day of Prayer services will be held Friday, March 2 at Blyth United Church, Blyth, at 7:30 p.m.; Melville Presbyterian Church, Brussels, at 7:30 p.m. and Belgrave Knox United, Belgrave at 2 p.m. For more information on the WDP services in Blyth contact Deb Hakkers, 519-523-9400 and in Brussels contact Jean Bewley 519- 887-9047. In Canada, the World Day of Prayer is co-ordinated by the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada. For World Day of Prayer materials or to learn more about WICC, please visit the website www.wicc.org or contact Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada, 47 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3 or e-mail wicc.org. Welcome to BBrruusssseellss MMeennnnoonniittee FFeelllloowwsshhiipp Sunday, March 4 11:00 am - 1:30 pm Return Ministries presents a Passover Brunch Theatre Experience a taste of first century church life through this interactive time of worship, drama & brunch. Love offering for Return Ministries. Donations toward brunch appreciated. Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388 No worship service at 9:30 a.m. Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth This week’s message - Friend Loves at all Times - Luke 10:30-35 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us SUNDAY, MARCH 4 The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 519-887-9273 Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. FOR ALL AGES SUNDAY ~ 9:45 to 10:45 am WORSHIP SERVICE AT 11:00 am Phone 519-440-8379 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 BB ll yy tt hh CC oo mm mm uu nn ii ttyy CChhuurrcchh ooff GGooddLooking for a Great Sunday School Experience? THIS IS IT! P U P P E T S S T O R IE S DRAMAMUSIC 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 Sunday, March 4 Ethel United Church Worship Service & Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - Family Night with “Olympians” 7:00 p.m. - Adult & Youth Bible Study Something for everyone! Call the church for current Youth events HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 519-526-1131 PASTOR DAVE WOOD & PASTOR DON PLANT JR. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, MARCH 4 Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 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 Worship Service, Sunday School & Nursery 11:00 a.m. Guest speaker: Sandy Morris Sunday, March 4 All Welcome getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 March 4: Luke 13:31ff Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared Living Water Christian Fellowship at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School Mondays 7:30 pm -Power of a Praying Woman DVD Tuesdays 7:30 pm -Wingham Small Group Fridays 7:30 pm -Youth Group “Handling Rejection without Resentment” Potluck Friday, March 2, 7:30 pm at United Church: WORLD DAY OF PRAYER World Day of Prayer, Fri. “If My people who are called by MY name will humble themselves and pray and seek MY face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 JUST PRAY ER • if the evening news makes you sad or angry • if you are concerned about the direction our country is going • if you need a miracle in your family • if you think morals in our society have dropped to new lows... Come and join us for prayer There will be no gossip, no talking (except to GOD), no social time, just getting in touch with GOD and praying heaven down to earth. Call Paul or Nancy Buttar 519-482-8426