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The Citizen, 1991-03-20, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1991. From the Minister’s Study What Easter is all about BY REV. CAMERON McMILLAN BRUSSELS AND ETHEL UNITED CHURCHES In many of our churches as we approach Easter, we have been looking at the Covenants that are contained in our Bible. The Covenants are agreements that God has made with human beings. The most famous of them is the 10 Commandments. God pro­ mised to bless us and make us his chosen people if we would promise to obey these 10 basic laws. It has proved to be very difficult for people to obey the law. even when it is as simple as these 10 basic rules given to us by Moses. A wise old Jewish prophet named Jeremiah saw the root of our problem and prophesied what needed to be done. He said in Jeremiah 31: 31-34: ‘‘The time is coming when God will make a new covenant with the people of Israel. It will not be like the Old Covenant made with their ancestors when God took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. In the New Covenant, God will put the law within them and write it upon their hearts. He will be their God and they will be his people. None of them will have to teach his fellow countrymen to know the Lord, because all will know God. from the least to the greatest, and God will forgive their sins.” The trouble with laws carved in stone like the 10 Commandments is that they seem very remote and distant and ancient. They are old words tucked away in some obscure law book. They are laws that we know ought to apply to everyone else. But we do not see how they ought to be applied to our own personal lives. The law has to become much more personal and distinct for us to apply and implement it. It has to become written upon our hearts, a part of our innermost being, some­ thing that we do instinctively, naturally, as automatic as our heartbeat and our breathing. For the law to become that personal for us, we need to get to know the lawgiver, the God who made this wonderful Covenant with Moses. Two things happened since the time of Jeremiah that make this personal knowledge of God poss­ ible for us. First, God sent his son Jesus to live amongst us and show how the law ought to be applied in a human life. Second, after Jesus death and resurrection, God sent his Holy Spirit to live among us, to instruct and guide all people who would listen. The Holy Spirit is the voice of your conscience that prods you along into the proper course of action. The New Covenant promised by Jeremiah is now here. It is seen in the life and work of God’s son, Jesus Christ, and the ever present action of God’s Holy Spirit that instructs and guides us. That is what Easter is all about. Explorers meet March 21 Greeters at Blyth United Church on Sunday, March 17 were Marlene and Greg Toll. Ushers were Jim Walsh, Vera Badley, Murray and Barb Musty. Rev. Ramirez opened the service with call to worship followed by the hyrnn “.Fairest Lord Jesus” and a responsive reading. Scripture read­ ing was from John 12, verses 1-11, followed by the hymn “Jesus the Very Thought of Thee”. The choral anthem was “I be­ lieve in a hill called Mount Cal- Area hospitals get renovation funding Hospitals in Clinton, Exeter and Wingham will receive a total of $583,160 for renovation programs, Paul Klopp, MPP for Huron, announced last week on behalf of Health Minister Evelyn Gigantes. The health ministry is making $39.7 million available for new capital projects across the province as part of the $700-million anti-re­ cession program announced in December by Treasurer Floyd Laughren. Eighty health care facilities, including hospitals and children’s treatment centres, in 59 Ontario communities will be participating in the program. One hundred forty-two projects are expected to begin within the next three months and be completed by the end of March 1992. Clinton Public Hospital will re­ ceive $498,000 for renovations to its outpatient services area. South Huron Hospital Association in Exe­ ter will receive $50,000 for base­ ment renovations, and Wingham and District Hospital will receive $35,160 to renovate the hospital entrance and replace the operating room roof. ‘‘The new funding will help the three hospitals to improve their facilities for the benefit of both patients and staff,” Mr. Klopp said. “The projects will also create new employment opportunities in the three communities and sur­ rounding area.” Priority was also given to projects that would be labor-intensive and to those that would produce greater public benefits in areas such as workplace health and safety, envir­ onmental improvements and ener­ gy conservation. In addition to the 142 projects being funded by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Energy is providing another $1.87 million for 11 hospital capital programs. vary”, with Mrs. Phyllis Boak accompanying the choir. Two beau­ tiful floral arrangements were placed in loving memory of Albert Skelton by Cora and family. Rev. Ramirez’ sermon was “What can we give Him?” saying that we are to express our love to the Lord and give our best to him. The service closed with the hymn “Take my life and let it be” followed by benediction and choral response. Explorers will meet March 21 at 4:30 p.m. The U.C.W. executive meeting is March 21 at 2 p.m. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and Com­ munion will be served. Baptism is May 5. Anyone interested to con­ tact elder, minister or office before April 1. Next Sunday, March 24 at 8 p.m. the Blyth U.C.W. will host their Spring Thankoffering. Guest spea­ ker is Mrs. Verna Burgin with special music by the ladies choir. Everyone is welcome including men. SOUTH AMERICAN FOLK HARP PLAYED BY EDWARD KLASSEN and his brother Gustav with his guitar Musicians from Winnipeg CONCERT Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Sat., March 23 7 p.m. Admission Free BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Have you been thinking about starting to attend church? Easter is a time of new beginnings ... Pastor BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP 9:30 a.m. - Worship Service 10:30 a.m. - Christian Education Elder Gordon Bauman 887-6388 Sharon Freeman 887-6564 March 31 - Easter Sunrise Service & Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 10:00 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service 8:06 p.m. - Evening Service Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study Friday, 7:30 - Youth Melville Presbyterian Church BRUSSELS Rev. Carolyn McAvoy 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service We welcome you to come and worship with us! i BLYTH CHRISTIAN A REFORMEDCHURCH HIGHWAY4, BLYTH OR. W. H. LAMMERS Sunday at 10a.m. and 2:30p.m. Sunday School 11:00a.m. The Church of the “Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20” Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX Sunday Faith20 5:00a.m. Weekdays,GlobalT.V. ALL VISITORS WELCOME Prayer Service - Wednesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. Everyone Welcome BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 Morning Service of Worship Sermon: Jesus’ Last Week - Its Shame and Its Glory Church School - A Seder meal, part of The Jewish Passover Festival, will be the Church School Activity All children most welcome. Nursery available. 11:00 a.m. Palm Sunday, March 24 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m.Ethel Worship Service Lift high the Cross, the Love of Christ proclaim. invites you to PALM/C0MMUNI0N SERVICE MARCH 24-11a.m. AND EASTER/CONFIRMATION SERVICE MARCH 31-11a.m. The three hospital projects are expected to produce 784 weeks of work. Provincewide, the Ministry of Health program is expected to produce more than 51.000 weeks of work. In funding the hospital projects, the health ministry gave priority to regions of the province experienc­ ing serious economic difficulties. March 24 Palm Sunday HOLY EUCHARIST Blyth Brussels 9:30a.m. 11:15a.m. ECUMENICAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BRUSSELS AREA ‘Maundy Thursday, March 28th, 7:30 p.m. at Melville Presbyterian Brussels: a musical and dramatic observance of the Last Supper *Good Friday, March 29th, 9:30 a.m. at Brussels United Church: a symbolic remembrance of the events of Good Friday ‘Easter Vigil, March 30th, 7:30 p.m. at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship: a time of watching for the light which comes out of the darkness a time of fellowship and refreshment to follow ‘Easter Sunrise, March 31st, 8:30 p.m. hosted by Melville Youth at the yard of Doug and Wilma Hemingway [end of Ellen St. at the river] ‘Easter Breakfast, 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. hosted by Melville Church School ‘Easter Worship in all of the area churches. The gathered Christian communities in the Brussels area welcome you to come and share in these special worship and fellowship opportunities. “Christ the Lord is Risen indeed!"