HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-09-13, Page 13By Sandra Yule,Duff’s Walton, Bluevale UnitedChurchesMatthew 35: 25 “I was a stranger
and you welcomed me”.
How many times have I read that
quote in Matthew and never really
gave it a second thought in terms of
myself? After all when would I be a
stranger really needing welcome.
I had the second half of my life all
planned out neatly. I would leave
my career in social services and
undertake the call to ministry. I
would study part time and my being
ordained would coincide with my
last child leaving the nest and I was
convinced that I would be settled
near my home and all would be
familiar and cozy.
But alas, you know the saying, the
best laid plans….!!! Halfway
through the road to ministry I foundout that I might not be settled nearhome and that there was a goodpossibility I would find myself in a
different part of Canada. Yet I still
held on to my hope and desire to be
near home.
Well at the end of my studies I
found out quickly that life as a
minister means finding yourself “a
stranger in a foreign land”. Now
you might find my calling Walton ‘a
foreign land’ strange but when you
have been raised in Montreal,
Quebec that is exactly what it feels
like.
My very first night here was to
wait for the arrival of my furniture
the next day. So there I was with my
best friend of 40 years (Laurie) in
this huge empty manse with nothing
but a basket of wine, butter tarts and
many goodies given to me byWaltonites. “I was a stranger and youwelcomed me in”.
We explored the manse in the dark
of the night and my friend was
adamant that I turn the moving truck
around the next day and head home
to live with friends and family.
“What are you thinking of living
in a place like this all by yourself?”
she asked.
“Not quite sure,” was my feeble
answer.
Well the furniture arrived the next
day and we quickly decided to head
for home. Two weeks later I headed
back up to Walton but this time all
by myself. That night after it got
dark I wondered “What indeed am I
doing here all on my own?”.
Well it didn’t take long to find the
answer to that question and thatanswer came through the people Ihave met. I believe that realhospitality is about us opening
ourselves and our private lives to the
stranger and this is exactly what my
experience in this community has
been. The folks from my two
congregations and the community at
large have been more than hospitable
to me and have indeed invited me
into their private lives.
Hospitality here in this community
seems as natural as breathing.
Everywhere I venture I meet people
who welcome me as if I am a long
lost relative.
It has not been easy to move away
from family and friends but I feel
with this warm welcome that I have
been blessed with a new and
wonderful family.
I am a big fan of Celtic
Christianity and in this tradition
hospitality was an inflexible rule of
all Celtic settlements. The care of
the stranger was regarded as a mostimportant practice of the CelticChristians and the Rule of Ailbe, oneof the bishops of Ireland,
recommended a clean house and a
big fire for the guests.
Well, I may not see the big fire in
people’s houses as I visit this
summer but I certainly have had the
best butter tarts anywhere.
Words fail to express my sincere
gratitude for the welcome I have
received as a stranger but in light of
all the kindness shown to me I would
like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone in the community for
making this transition such an
enjoyable experience for me.
Blessings to you all.
“Hospitality is a lens through
which we can read and understand
much of the gospel, and a practice
by which we welcome Jesus
himself” (Christine Pohl—Making
Room: Recovering Hospitality as a
Christian Tradition p.8)
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2007. PAGE 13. From the Minister’s Study‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’
The fifth annual Remembrance
and Dedication Service will be held
at the Blyth Greenway Memory
Garden, Drummond Street East in
Blyth on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.
The suggestion of a
Memorial/Celebration Forest was
brought to the attention of the
Communities in Bloom committee
approximately six years ago. The
suggestion was to take some land
that was currently scrub, and plant
trees and perennials in memory of
local people, descendants who have
passed away, special anniversaries,
etc.
The service is held each year to
help people deal with their loss, and
to remind them that memories live
on.
The garden provides a way
for people to be closer to nature,
to reflect upon and enjoy the
beautiful scenery of the Blyth
Greenway.
The Foundation will create,
cultivate and enhance all aspects of
conservation, helping to provide
present and future generations with
a safe and healthy environment.
As the Memory Garden survives
totally on donations, the donation
cards are available at Falconer
Funeral Homes in Clinton and
Blyth, or by contacting Bev Elliott
at 519-523-4323 for more
information.
All donations are greatly
appreciated and are tax deduc-
tible.
“One generation plants a tree or a
flower, so the next can enjoy the
shade or beauty. A tree and
perennial program like this is
important to the community and
reminds them that harmony with the
land is like harmony with a friend.
Planting trees and perennials is a
permanent way to recognize a loved
one and at the same time give back
to the earth,” said Elliott.
To find the Blyth Greenway
Memory Gardens, turn east on
Drummond Street at Scrimgeour’s
Food Market and travel to the end of
the street.
Bring a lawn chair to the service.
Refreshments will be served.
Everyone is welcome.
Memory Garden service, Sun.
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
invites you to a
Community Pork Barbecue
Saturday, September 15 ~ 5:00 pm
Concert by Cedar Strength
(during and after the meal)
rain or shine ~ bring lawn chairs
Donations accepted toward expenses
Join us September 16 for
Friend Sunday
9:30 am Worship Service
10:45 am Refreshment Break
11:00 am Sunday School for all ages
Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388 brusselsmennonite@on.aibn.com308 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!
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Worship Service 11 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Tom Dunbar
Sunday, September 16
All Welcome
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
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
Knox Belgrave Anniversary Service
September 23rd ~ 7:30 pm
Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - Adult Bible Study
Something for everyone!
Call the church for current Youth events
HURON CHAPEL
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 519-526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, September 16
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
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Sunday, Sept. 16
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Emmanuel
Bible College
Speaker Ryan Erb
Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
Evangelical Missionary Church
1st & 3rd Mondays - Prayer Warriors
Tuesdays - Wingham Small Group
Fridays - Youth Group