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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-05-29, Page 23PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29.1991. From the Minister's Study Guilt poor motivation BY BONNIE COLE ARNAL WALTON-BLUEVALE PASTORAL CHARGE Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and one claimed personal ownership of any possessions, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resur­ rection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them. (Acts 4: 32-34). Here we have from the Bible a picture of what the very first Chris­ tians were like. They were together. They had that unity of one heart and soul. They were generous, sharing what they had among them­ selves so that no one was in need. They were powerful in their wit­ ness. As you think about how it was in those very beginning days of the church and compare that to your own experience of the church today, what is your reaction? For me, it's feelings of guilt. I look at those early Christians and then at myself and I have to say that I don't measure up very well as a Christian. The early church shared their possessions and held everything in common. I have to admit that I enjoy my possessions and I am not really taken by the idea of holding everything in com­ mon. The early church witnessed with great power while I am not sure that my witness has that much of an impact. So when I read this passage I feel rather uncomfortable. But then I have to ask myself is that what the writer of Acts intend­ ed? Is the purpose of this passage to lay a big guilt trip upon the read­ er? I would have to say no. I don't believe it is. Using guilt to motivate people is a skill many of us practice. Have you ever told a child who is staring sullenly at an untouched portion of vegetables on their dinner plate, "Eat your broccoli. There are mil­ lions of children around the world who are starving." In response to this comment most children don't suddenly clean up their plate and ask for seconds. It’s more likely that they'll tell you in no uncertain terms to package the offending vegetable and send it to a starving child! Most of the time using guilt as a motivator has limited success. We often end up resenting the per­ son who attempts to make us feel guilty. So I am relatively sure that the writer of Acts was not trying to use guilt to encourage people to be good Christians. What writer of Acts was trying to show was that encountering the risen Christ had an enormous impact upon people. It gave them a new common purpose. It gave them a new power as they shared their experience and it gave them a new lifestyle based on sharing and car­ ing. So the message for us is not "Hey, you had better pay attention to this early church. They had. unity, they had power and they shared. That is how you are sup­ posed to be so you had better pull your socks up and get your act together as a Christian." No the message is more one of telling the story of what happens when people have a real experience of the risen Christ in their lives. When a person somehow encounters the Divine as a real and loving and caring and beckoning presence in their lives, they are no longer quite the same. If they once responded out of duty; for example, "I should go to church each Sunday," they now go out for love - "I want to sing and praise and worship that God who loves and cares for me. I want to seek out the risen Christ who gives me new life." So looked at from this vantage point, our scripture passage becomes an invitation for us to seek out experiences of the risen Christ, to look for close encounters with the Divine in our everyday lives and to let ourselves be shaped and remade in God's image. Couple weds in Michigan HALL-TAYLOR Friends and family gathered at Riverdale Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan on April 13, 1991 to share in the uniting in marriage of Brenda Dee Hall to Murray Edgar Taylor. The Reverend Robert Bolander officiated. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Hall of Burton, Michigan. The groom is Brenda and Murray Taylor the son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. B. Taylor of RR 1, Belgrave. The matron of honor was Tammi Greer, sister of the bride; the bridesmaids were Marion Taylor, twin sister of the groom; Anna Hall, sister of the bride; Janice Hall, sister of the bride; and the flower girl was Theresa Clemmer, friend of the bride and groom. The best man was Graydon Stuckey, friend of the groom. The guests were ushered by Glen Tay­ lor, brother of the groom; Michael Bogie, cousin of the groom and Scott Blewett, friend of the groom. The ring bearer was Preston Mor­ row, nephew of the bride. Jeff and Chad Clemmer, friends of the bride and groom, were responsible for greeting the guests, lighting the candles and the unrolling of the aisle runner. The hostess of the Guest Registry was Lisa Taylor, sister-in-law of the groom. The soloist was Deanna Abel, a good friend of the bride. Jack Kopas was the Master of Ceremonies at a reception that fol­ lowed in the church hall. Honoured guests were Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Howatt of Belgrave, the grandpar­ ents of the groom. After a wedding trip to Walt Disney World, the newlyweds will live at 12 Chick­ adee Crt., Elmira. Friends and relatives are invited to a picnic June 2 at 2 p.m. on the Taylor Farm to honour the newly­ weds. Mennonites host special concert Pastor Gordon Bauman gave a message based on I Corinthians 12: 26, entitled "The Weak and The Strong Need Each Other ", on Sun­ day, May 26 at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship. Alice Knorr was worship leader for the service. On Sunday evening Brush Is Mennonite Fellowship hosted a concert at the Presbyterian Church. The Rockway Mennonite 40-voice choir performed. On Tuesday evening the ladies met with Mary Baan and Mary Keupfer in charge of the meeting. Erma Bauman gave her life story. Sharon Demaray, Sharon Horst, and Tillie Lichty provided special music. The Youth group hosted a Youth Rally at Brussels Public School on Saturday, May 25. Rev. Jose Angel Valentin was the speaker. The Prayer and Praise Group met at the Church on Thursday, as did the Life Leaders' Committee. BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Sunday Sacrament of the Lord's Supper June 2 Church School - Nursery 9:30 a.m. - Ethel Morning Worship Commit your way to the Lord BLYTH UNITED CHURCH REV. LORENZO RAMIREZ JR. 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service Junior Church - Nursery June 2 - Church - Sunday School Picnic Lion's Park 12:30 p.m. Church Office 523-4224 ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA REV. DAVID FULLER, B.A., M. DIV. June 2 Pentecost 2 HOLY EUCHARIST Blyth Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH DR. W. H. LAMMERS Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. 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 VISITOR 'WELCOME 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 u» HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 10:00 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service 8:00 p.m. - Evening Service Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study Friday 7:30 - Youth BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP •we like to hear the good news of Jesus •we like fun times as a family •we like potluck meals •we like special music Why don't you give us a try?4 9:30 a.m. - Worship Service 10:30 a.m . - Sunday school for ail ages Jesus is the Joy of Living Pastor - Gordon Bauman Elder -Elwin Garland 887-6388 887-9017