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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-09-14, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1988. PAGE 15. From the Minister's Study Minister's summer work brings autumn reflection Local couple weds in Londesboro church POPP-WRIGHT Karen Wright, daughter of Garnet and Margaret Wright of RR 1, Londesboro, and David Popp, son of Lome and Evelyn Popp of Blyth, were married on August 20 in the Londesboro United Church with Rev. Dave Snihur officiating. Maid of Honor was Kim Wright, sisterofthebride. Bridesmaids were Betty Holme, sister of the groom, Margaret Wilson, friend of Blyth UCW unit learns of South Africa A Blyth, U.C.W. September meeting of the Sunshine Unit is always a refreshing event after a two-month summer recess. This year’s was held on September 8 with 22 in attendance and with Alma Madill and Pat Sparling leading the worship and Rena Watt at the piano. They chose a seasonal medita­ tion - Autumn (emphasis on Sept.), thecalltoworshipbeing averse from Ecclesiastes - * ‘To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose.” Alma read three passages from Exodus and a poem entitled ‘‘Moulders of the Future” which illustrated the influence of school instructors upon the charac­ ter of students both young and old. Pat recited apoem, an old favourite of hers, ‘‘Let us grow lovely growing old.” She also offered a beautiful prayer which was self­ composed. Mary Wightman’s topic was South Africa, its historical back­ ground and its effect on the development of apartheid. To facilitate the study, she wisely defined, as they pertain to that country, such words as African, Africaner, Coloured, Boer and Apartheid which devel­ oped through economical, racial and religious strife throughout many years. Gradually, under the domination of colonial rule chiefly, by the British and the Dutch, the natives became only cultivators of the land they once owned. The whites now possess it. At present 14 per cent of the African population lives on only 37 per cent of the land. Co-leader Evelyn Smith, after thanking those participating in the program, asked Feme McDowell for: the Roll call, answered by a verse from “James” and also the June minutes; Marj East for the the bride, and Joy Roetcisoender, friend of the bride. Bestman was Tony Roetcisoen­ der, friend of the groom. Ushers were Paul Popp andDoug Popp, brothers of the groom and Kevin Wright, brother of the bride. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Goderich Township Community Centre. The couple honeymooned in Kitchen­ er, Ontario and will be residing at 386 James Street, Clinton. treasurer’s report from May - Sept.; and Gene Snell for birthday money. Atthis meeting, each of six members paid “her dollar” in gratitude for another September birthday. Evalena Webster reported a U.C.W. schedule of eight meals in all for this summer’s Festival, the last of which will be served September 17. Evelyn Smith announced that the U.C.W. Regional Meeting, - the Rally for West Huron Presby­ tery, will be held in Auburn Church on October 5 at 9:30 a.m. with program by Queen’s Bush Rural Ministry. At the close of the meeting, sandwiches and tea were served by Effie McCall, Gene Snell and Viola Sanderson. X BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH KingStreet Children Welcome to Sunday School Opening September 18th 11:00a.m. "The Whole People of Cod" the new popular and highly recommended all-Canadian teaching programme for children from 3 years of age to Grade 10 wi 11 be used. Children have a special place with us for Christian learning and howto link the Bible and its teachings with our life today. CHILDREN: Please come to God's house on Sunday and bring a friend. Mom and Dad are invited for the morning also for the morning service at 11:00 a.m. Let the children come unto Me fortheirsis the Kingdom of God BY DOUGLAS J. ZEHR BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP One morning two weeks ago 1 realized my heart was singing as I reached for the alarm clock. I was back in Brussels. Like many others, a different pace or completely different venue was changed with the end of summer. Some say a change is as good as a rest. I got both for the most part of the summer. I am very grateful for a sensitive church community. They released me from many of my responsibili­ ties to assist in a children^s camp through July and August. Itwas not a vacation. It was a change with a purpose. The change in work setting, conditions and expecta­ tions brought freshness and relax­ ation as well as a special kind of challenge. Most of the children and teens we worked with were not the Sunday School children we are accustomed to. Most of our campers would rarely darken the Missionary tells of Zambia The September meeting of Melville W.M.S. was held on Friday evening when other church­ es were entertained in the Presby­ terian church. Mrs. Helen Elliott, the Presi­ dent, opened the meeting with everyone singing “Jesus thou Joy ofLovingHearts” followedby a poem “We Cannot Reach the Horizon”. The scripture was read by Thelma Cardiff and the medita­ tion on prayer by Isobel Gibson and Ruby Steiss led in prayer. A solo was sung by Margaret Shortreed: “We Have This Mo­ ment Today”. The hymn “O Spirit of the living God” was sung. Mrs. Ruth Martin introduced the guest speaker Miss Ellen Waldock from Molesworth who is a missionary from Zambia in Africa and is home on furlough. She spoke on her work as a nurse and showed slides. Leona Armstrong thanked Miss Waldock and pre­ sented her with a gift. Margaret Shortreed sang “Just a closer walk with God” and “May the good Lord bless and keep thee”. The offering was taken by Isobel Gibson and Evelyn Mair and dedicated by Helen Elliott. The hymn ‘ ‘Great is thy faithful­ ness ’ ’, was sung. Joanne King was pianist for the evening. A tasty lunch was served in the school room by the lunch committee and all enjoyed a social time. door of a church in their home community. Many were street wise, coarse and had little respect for God. With some time for reflection, I remind myself that this experience was simply pushing us to face reality. In Canada, we have a rich heritage of highly committed. God-fearing forefathers and moth­ ers. Much of our cultural heritage is rich in Christian influence. But, we are becoming very shallow and fragmented in our religious be­ liefs. As we surrender pieces of our belief systems, there is a tendency for that system to have very little significance on the values and concerns of our day to day experience. When our religious expressions are relegated to the status of one more convenience item, they rarely influence our decisions. They could never transform a life. I guess that is why it doesn’t bother me if religion dies. On my summer reading list was Reginald Bibby’s book, “Fragmented Gods”. His studies indicate that as Canadians, we treat religion as a consumer item. We acquire what welikeorwant. Wetakewhatis convenientfor our lifestyle. We don’t mind dropping the rest. I guess that is why it doesn’t bother me if religion dies. Bibby says, “religion-relegated to a consumer item and uninvited into many and perhaps most spheres-is having a limited impact on Canadian lives. Even in the case of people who claim they are committed, the tendency to com­ partmentalize faith frequently means that their lives are little different from those of other consumers of fragments. Reli­ i Blyth Christian highway 4^ Reformed Church 4 BLYTH September 18-10a.m. & 2:30p.m. Rev. Ken Gehrelds from Collingwood. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. The Church of the “Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20' ’ Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CK NX, Sunday Faith20 5:00a.m. weekdays, GlobalT.V. ALL VISITORS WELCOME IVe ivarmly irwite you to check us out. cohere the emphasis is on looe, not on rules. If you re prone to making excuses, consider the benefits of being part of a church family: Friendship Worship Service Love. Purpose in living Hope BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP Worship Service 9:30 a.m. Christian Education Hour 10:30 a.m. Classes for the whole ’amily Douglas & Miriam Zehr, Co-Pas tors 887-6388or887-6112 VISITORS EXPECTED gion’s impact is consequently specific and limited, rather than general and comprehensive.” Few of us have an organized system of beliefs we are highly committed to. We have perhaps a few traditions that we hold to dearly, but we tend towards being quite pragmatic in a consutner sense. We don’t think of building up a resource of spiritual values for the long-term. I say, let religion die. What we need is a relationship. Personally, I find relationships are the tools that often reshape me. Interacting with children and teens without strong faith commitments or morals helps to reinforce the validity of my faith. To meet their needs and challenge them meant a challenge and a stretching for me. Now at home in my faith community, it is the relationships with individuals who are on a spiritual journey that are import­ ant. Individuals who don’t have all the answers but who are searching. These are the individuals who stretch me to think, reformulate and verbalize my understanding of faith and faithfulness. They chall­ enge me to keep my personal relationship with God, as I under­ stand God to be, current, relevant and continuing. Let religion die. Unless we can speak and live out of a living, growing, dynamicrelationship, we have nothing to say. As Bertrand Russell once said in explaining why he, as a non-believer, would occasionally go to hear a particular preacher: “I don’t believe in God, but he does!” That’s the challenge. To be so in tune with the living God that those around us care about what we have to say.