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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2007-03-29, Page 15THE CITIZEN. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2007. PAGE 15.By Pastor Brent KipferBrussels Mennonite FellowshipEight years ago I received a letterfrom the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England. They were planning to publish a book called, 2000 Outstanding Religious Personalities of the 20th Century. They were inviting me to send information about myself so that I could be included in the book - together with Billy Graham, Mother Teresa and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I thought, “Wow. These people sure have great judgment!” They asked me for details about my family, church, education, civic activities, honours and awards, publications, and a statement of faith. They assured me that this kind of invitation was based on merit alone – none of my friends could buy one. The letter was clear that I could complete the questionnaire at no commitment whatsoever...but I might want to reserve my own personal copy of the Grand Edition of Outstanding Religious Personalities of the 20th Century - only $165 U.S. or I could have my name printed on an Outstanding Religious Personalities of the 20th Century diploma to hang on my wall - only $165 U.S. or I could receive an engraved silver medal identifying that Brent Kipfer is one of the Outstanding Religious Personalities of the 20th Century (something to wear to the grocery store!) - again only $165 U.S. Or, I could save $10 and order all three for only $485 U.S. Vanity has its price. I confess that I turned down this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wonder how many versions of the book they churned out to honour all the outstanding personalities who took them up on their offer! This invitation threatened to expose my conceit in all its ugliness. Usually my pride rears its head in far more subtle ways (like congratulating myself that I am too smart to fall for a marketing ploy like that one!). So, who is the most outstanding religious personality of the 20th century? Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? The disciples of Jesus were arguing about a similar question on the night he was arrested. Which one of us stands head and shoulders above the rest? Who has the most influence? Who is the most brilliant? The most gifted? Who is the most spiritual? The most respected? Luke 22 tells about the argument; John 13 fills out the story. Jesus hears the squabble. How does he respond? He gets up from the table, takes off his outer robe, ties a towel around himself and goes to work. He pours water into a basin.He sets it down by a set of feet andstarts to wash. Then he takes thetowel and wipes them clean. Imagine what that does for the conversation! You could hear a pin drop. Jesus is doing the job of a slave. Every first century Jewish home had a basin ready at the door for washing feet. People wore sandals. Every day their feet got hot and sweaty and dirty. Normally when someone walked into a house, they would take off their own dusty sandals and wash their own feet. To clean someone else’s feet was seen as a terribly menial task: a job for a slave. Now the Master is washing his servants’ feet. They can hardly believe it! Jesus comes to Simon Peter. Knowing Peter, he had probably been in the thick of the argument. He asks, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus says, “You don't understand now why I am doing it - but someday you will.” It’s too much for Peter to take. “You will never wash my feet!” hesays. It is unthinkable that Jesus shouldever stoop to wash the feet of his servants. Peter is humble enough to feel uncomfortable with Jesus kneeling in front of him – but he’s proud enough to tell Jesus what to do! If you translate his words literally, it comes out, “Absolutely never will you wash my feet for eternity!” Peter is pretty clear Jesus answers just as strongly: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” If Peter refuses this washing, he will have to part company with the Lord. He would be turning down a different path. Why is it so important for Peter to receive this - to allow Jesus to serve him? I like what William Temple says about this. He says: “We rather shrink from this....We are ready, perhaps, to be humble before God; but we do not want Him to be humble in His dealings with us. We [would] like Him, who has the right, to glory in His goodness and greatness; then we...may be entitled to pride ourselves on suchachievements as distinguish usabove other men...man’s humilitydoes not begin with the giving of service; it begins with the readiness to receive it. For there can be much pride and condescension in our giving of service.” It can be much harder to receive than to give. Jesus is calling Peter to a deeper humility. When Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, he is painting a picture of their need to be washed clean of their sin, to receive forgiveness, to depend on him to make them holy. They cannot do that on their own. Neither can we. We need to receive from Jesus. We have noreason for arrogance; we have everyreason to be humble.When he finishes, Jesus puts on his robe, returns to the table and asks: “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord - and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done for you.” What does it mean to be outstanding in the kingdom of God? Follow Jesus to the cross and see. From the Minister’s StudyBeing outstanding in the kingdom of God THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 519-887-9273 Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. April 1 Palm Sunday with Palm crosses for all attending 9:30 am Trinity, Blyth, 11:15 am at St. John’s, Brussels April 2 - 4 Brussels Ministerial Holy Week Services & Luncheons 12:05 pm - Brussels United Church April 5 Maundy Thursday Service & Luncheon 12:05 pm - St John’s, Brussels April 8 - Easter Day 9:30 am Trinity, Blyth, 11:15 am at St. John’s, Brussels With Easter Egg Hunt for kids under 11 at both congregations following the Service April 6 Good Friday Service at Trinity, Blyth 10:30 with Rt. Rev. Bob Bennett, Bishop of Norfolk preaching and luncheon to follow Regular Sunday Services 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, April 1 ~ Palm Sunday Ethel United Church Worship Service & Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, APRIL 1 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 April 6 - GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE 11:00 am April 8 - EASTER SUNDAY 8:30 am - Sunrise Service at 701 Maple 9:00 am - Easter Breakfast at Melville 11 am - Easter Worship Service 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 - Jesus is the Best Friend — John 15:9-17 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. Brussels Mennonite Fellowship is holding two events this Saturday. Christian storyteller Rob Neves is going to lecture on how to tell a gospel story in an engaging way and then he’s going to show you how it’s done. At 1:30 p.m. at the Fellowship, Neves will host a one-hour workshop exploring the teaching strategies of Jesus himself and relate them to everyday life. This workshop is sponsored by the Brussels and area Ministerial and is a free event. Contact Sandra Cable to register at 519-887-6259 or at cables@ezlink.ca. Then at 3 p.m., Neves will share Good News stories in an event that should be lots of fun for the whole family. Admission to Neves’ reading is free as well. Mennonite Fellowship hosts events Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 Worship Service, Sunday School & Nursery ~11:00 a.m. Guest speaker: Rev. Gwen McNichol-McDonald Sunday, April 1 - Palm Sunday All Welcome getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 April 1: Luke 22:28-46 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 Palm/Passion Sunday “Pride, Prayer & Preparation” Lenten Lunch- Tuesday noon at Anglican Church