HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-04-26, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1989.
From the Minister's Study
Believers find solace in faith
BY JAMES H. CARNE, PASTOR
THE MISSIONARY CHURCH,
AUBURN
Wars seem to go on forever. The
span of years may be relatively
short but, should one be involved
personally, the terror and the
stress are experienced in an etern
ity of moments.
Ask the people who remember
the siege of Stalingrad during the
Second World War. They were
holed up in their beleaguered city,
under constant bombardment by
the Germans, for a period of three
or four months before an effective
counterattack could be launched. It
doesn’t sound like a long time, but
the populace was reduced to such
starvation in that period of time
that many of them resorted to
cannibalism.
In the time of the Old Testament
prophet Jeremiah, Nebuchadnez
zar, King of Babylon, attacked
Jerusalem and besieged it for two
and a half years before he succeed
ed in breaching the walls. What
terrible conditions must have pre
vailed during that seeming eternity
of deprivation! It’s no wonder that,
under similar conditions, when the
prophet Elisha predicted that the
very next day, food which had
soared to exhorbitant prices be
cause of its scarcity, would be so
plentiful that it would be selling at
“on sale’’ prices, the king’s aide de
camp scoffed, “Even if the Lord
should open the floodgates of
heaven, such a thing couldn’t
happen.’’ (See 2 Kings 6:24 - 7:20.)
But, the unbelievable happened.
The Lord caused the besieging
Syrians to hear the sound of
chariots and horses and a great
army approaching through the
descending dusk and, thinking that
the King of Israel had hired Hittite
and Egyptian mercenaries to assist
him, they fled into the night,
leaving behind them their fully-
provisioned camp. When the Israe
lites had plundered the Syrian tents
it was as if “the windows of
heaven” had been opened indeed!
After such a long ordeal of starva
tion it would be difficult to believe
that their fortunes could have been
reversed so completely and in such
a short time.
That’s the practical difference
between the Atheist and the Be
liever. The Atheist has to content
himself with whatever circum
stances that Fate decrees. He can
expect no miracles; he must submit
meekly to the inevitable. The
Believer, however, takes solace in
his faith that a benevolent God
knows that he exists and is capable
of working out for good everything
in his life, to the point of “opening
the windows of heaven,” if need
be, to change in a moment his
circumstances.
This should encourage that per
son whose trials have been so
longstanding that he is tempted to
give up hope that anything could
ever change. If he has experienced
the transformation of conversion
whereby “if anyone is in Christ he
is a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come! All this is from
God...” he should be helped in his
hope that one can go from famine
to feasting, all in one day.
Melville
Presbyterian Church
BRUSSELS
Dr. Jim Ferguson, Stratford
11 A.M. MORNING SERVICE
SUNDAY SCHOOL
9:30 A.M. BELGRAVE SERVICE
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
AUBURN
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE 526-7515
10 a.m. - Family Bible School
11 a.m. - Morning Worship
8 p.m. - Evening Service
Wed., 8 p.m. - Prayer and Bible Study
Sat., 10:30 a.m. - Kids’ Klub and Young Teens
A
Five members of St. Michael's
CWL will attend convention
St. Michael’s, Blyth, C.W.L.
monthly meeting was held Mon
day, April 10 at the home of Joan
Middegaal. Ten members were
present and answered the roll call.
The minutes and treasurer’s
report were read. Four members
had visited the sick. There was one
convenor’s report, from Commun
ity Life.
One thank you was received from
Town and Country Homemakers.
On Friday, May 26 at 1:30 p.m. a
tour will be made of the Bluewater
Centre. Interested people should
sign up by May 19.
Five members will attend the
convention on May 2. The leader
ship course began on Thursday,
April 20 in Clinton.
The meeting was turned over to
past president Joanne for elections.
Results are as follows: Preisdent,
Wilma Rammeloo; President Elect,
Mary Sanders; Vice President,
Judy Van Beers; Secretary, Nellie
Van Bakel; Corresponding Secre
tary, Joan Middegaal; Treasurer,
Joanne Campschroer.
Convenors are as follows: Com
munity Life, Joan Middegaal; Spir
itual Life, Joanne Campschroer;
Organization, Margeurite Halla-
han; Education, Nellie Van Bakel;
Christian Family Life, Theresa
Machan; Communications, Mary
Sanders; Resolutions and Legisla
tion, Anna Vander Heyden; Parish
Activities, Mary Sanders; Histor
ian, Dorothy Van Stcelandt.
Twenty-five and fifty year pins
will be presented at mass on May
Sermon theme - support the needy
26 at 8
speaker
will be
Turkey.
had expected.
This story reveals to us that wc
as Christians should first of all be
conscious of the less fortunate anc
around us and second to offer then
support and fill their needs. Wher
we stop seeing the needs of other;
we start seeing more of ourselve;
and gradually the evil spirit take;
over. Remember Jesus as ouj
example who, on the cross, did noi
think of his own plight but rathei
others when he said “Father,
forgive them for they know not
what they do.”
The service closed with the hymn
‘Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory”,
the benediction and choral re
sponse “God Loves You”.
Blyth Christian
Reformed Church
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Rev. W.H. Lammers
Sunday morning service at Blyth
United Church opened with the
Call to Worship followed by the
Prayer of Invocation and The
Lord’s Prayer.
The first two hymns were “Joy
ful, Joyful We Adore Thee” and
“Saviour Teach Me Day By Day”.
The ushers were Ernie, Emily, and
Karen Phillips and Kriss Snell.
Bonnie Shannon was in charge of
Junior Congregation.
The senior choir’s anthem was
entitled “Gentle Shepherd”. It was
announced that the Evening Unit of
U.C.W. will hold its regular meet
ing on Wednesday, April
p.m. with special guest
Mrs. Marion Zinn who
showing pictures from
Everyone is welcome.
Rev. Ramirez entitled his sermon
“Better Than Expected”. The
scripture reading from Acts:
3(1-10) revealed Peter and John,
two of Jesus’ disciples on route to
the temple being confronted by a
lame man begging for money.
Peter said (v.6) “Silver and gold
have I none but such as I have, give
I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ
rise up and walk.” The disciples
gave him something more precious
than money, more lasting and
fulfilling, they gave him healing by
the power of the Holy Spirit.
The man was so overjoyed at
suddenly being able to walk that he
jumped and ran and entered the
temple praising God because he
had received much more than he
Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
The Church of the ‘ ‘ Back to God Hour’ ’ and ‘ ‘ Faith 20’ ’
Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX, Sunday
Faith 20 5:00 a.m. weekdays, Global T.V.
ALL VISITORS WELCOME
14, as well as the Installation of
Officers.
A Blood Donor Clinic will be held
on Tuesday, May 9 at tHSS,
Clinton from 1:30 to 4:30 and 6 to
8:30 p.m.
Two resolutions will be voted on
at the convention, these were read
and discussed. The league will
cater to the Lions supper Thursday,
April 27. A motion was passed to
become a member of the Goderich
Pro-Life, as a league.
The meeting was closed with
prayers.
Monday night is
Red Shield Appeal Night
Your generosity can shed light into someone's life. Please give
generously when the Red Shield volunteer canvasser calls.
Or if you'd like to give, but aren't canvassed, please send your
donation along with the coupon.
ANGLICAN CHURCH
OF CANADA
April 30/89 Rogation Sunday
LITANY & MORNING PRAYER
REV. PATT NUNN 887-9267
Trinity, Blyth St. John’s, Brussels
9:30am- 11:15a.m.
X\ BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
■ King Street
, Minister - Reverend Charles Carpentier
Sunday, 11 a.m. Morning Service
April 30 Sunday School - Nursery Care
Minister’s Subject: “Finally-- Brothers and Sisters in Christ.”
God s Mercy is Everlasting.
God knows
you can make a difference
Enclosed please find $________
I would like someone to call □ Phone No_____________
If you'd like more information about us □
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
PROV POSTAL CODE
THE NATIONAL RED SHIELD APPEAL
Returnto: Box610, Wingham, Ont. N0G2W0
For more information contact: Lt. Calvin Barber,
357-1951