The Citizen, 1991-08-14, Page 16PAGE 16. ThE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14,1991.
Brussels Mennonites welcome new pastor
After a long period without a
full-time pastor, members of Brus
sels Mennonite Fellowship wel
comed the arrival of Pastor Tom
Warner and his family al the begin
ning of this month.
Pastor Warner, his wife Andrea
and children, Tom 15, Jeremy, 13,
Matthew, 11, and twins Stephen
and Rachel, 7, moved from Port
Rowan, Ontario, south of Simcoe,
to a large old home, just north of
Brussels this summer. Pastor Warn
er, who had been at the Port Rowan
parish for eight and a half years,
said the decision to change was a
mutual one among the family.
"The children were in favour all
the way," he said, "which helped.
As the family grows, decisions
become more complicated."
The decision to leave was precip
itated by Pastor Warner's feeling
that the church there needed
change. Unlike other denomina
tions the pastors are not sent to
parishes, but instead choose where
they would like to go, the Warners
said, so the family started investi
gating Brussels at the end of last
September. After an interview with
the search committee, they arrived
at a decision on the first of Febru
ary
It was the style of the church and
the variety of the people within that
were key to reaching that decision.
Also, Pastor Warner said there was
a lol of youth in the church and
working with young people is
something he finds pleasurable.
Like Pastor Warner and his fami
ly, many members of the Brussels
congregation are not ethnic-Men-
nonites, but Mennonites by choice,
which he says was something they
identified with as well.
Pastor Warner, began his minis
terial profession in May of 1977 at
Calvary Mennonite in Ayr, where
he remained for three and a half
years before moving to Calvary
Mennonite in Monetville, which is
located on the west arm of Lake
Nipissing. His two years work
there involved what he called,
whole mission work, so each
church has presented its own indi
vidual challenge for the pastor.
Thougn Pastor Warner didn't
begin leadership at the Brussels
parish until August, the family inte
grated themselves into the commu
nity earlier. "We wanted that
chance to be part of the church," he
said, "to sit beside the people and
get to know them."
Now, Pastor Warner is estab
lished, though he still has some
families to meet, which he does
afternoons or evenings, in addition
to hospital visits. He spends his
mornings in the church study,
Tuesday through Saturday where
he says he is very "available and
open to people coming to see me."
Mrs. Warner, who made a per
sonal choice to not pursue a career
at this point, but remain at home to
raise the children, is settling nicely
into the new surroundings. The
young family love the house she
says, with each having a room of
Church enjoys day
of fellowship
Rod Steinman led the worship
service at Brussels Mennonite Fel
lowship on Sunday, August 11.
Manivan and Phailop Larprom
accompanied the congregational
singing on the piano and drums.
Fred Valdez read the scripture, Isa
iah 29: 9-14, on which Pastor Tom
Warner based the message, entitled
“Pause and Wonder”.
Following the Christian Educa
tion Hour the congregation enjoyed
a pot luck meal and time of fellow
ship in the gymnasium.
New pastor
The new pastor at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship, Tom
Warner, his wite, Andrea and their children, from left, Tom,
15, Matthew, 11, twins Stephen and Rachel, 7 and Jeremy
13, are looking forward to their life in Brussels and to
meeting the many people in their congregation.
their own, and enjoy the space of
living in the country.
Pastor Warner says he envisions
the Brussels church at a point of
transition. "They have had a good
history of growth , but they are in a
transitional period from a small to
medium church." He sees his role
as identifying what's happening and
leading the church through this
change and into further growth.
"This church has a good habit of
getting people involved. They are
ready to try something fresh,"
something he says he discovered
during discussions with the mem
bers prior to the change. "I found-
that attractive. I have a good idea
that we will fit together because I'm
very open to new ideas," he said.
New priest
Father Joseph Nevett has taken on the pastoral role at St.
Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Brussels and Sacred
Heart Roman Catholic Church in Wingham. Familiar with
the area, having visited family here as a child, Father
Nevett says he is very happy to be here and "cant think of
a place I'd rather be."
ANGLICAN CHURCH
OF CANADA
AUGUST 18 MORNING PRAYER
Blyth Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
Sun., Auq. 18 - Morning Worship
11:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m. - Ethel Worship Service
‘Jathcr u)t than fiber for morning light
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Speaker: George Cowan
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
Junior Church - Nursery
What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits toward me?
Psalm 116: 12
Church Office 523-4224
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Morning Service
8 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m. -Youth
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
....Join with Brussels United for
Aug. 4, 11, 18,25 and Sept. 1 - 1 la.m.
(Belgrave Presbyterian Church joins with the
United congregations of Belgrave and Calvin Brick
for same Sundays)
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength"
A BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
GUEST MINISTER - DR. JOHN VAN DORP, WIARTON
(morning and evening service)
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 Visitors ‘Welcome.
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?&
9:30 a.m. - Worship Service
10:30 a.m . - Sunday School for all ages
Jesus is the Joy of Living
Pastor: Tom Warner Elder: Elwin Garland
887-6388 887-9017