HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-04-08, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8,1992. PAGE 19.
From the Minister's Study
Praise God, for what he’s done
MELVILLE
BY THE REVEREND
VICARS HODGE, RECTOR
THE ANGLICAN PARISH OF
ST. PAUL’S , WINGHAM AND
TRINITY CHURCH,
BELGRAVE
This morning I have been reading
Isaiah 43: 16-21. If you have a
Bible handy look it up and read
these words from God for people in
pain. These are words of encour
agement for people who feel like
they have wasted large pieces of
their lives and wish they could
make some decisions over again.
These are words for everyone who
feels a bit “beaten up” by life. And
that is how it is for most people I
know. God says to us: take heart.
Don't give up hope. Forget the for
mer things; do not dwell on the
past.
That is easy to say and hard to
do, isn't it; to forget about the past?
I hear myself thinking, “Yeah, sure
God. Maybe for some people. But
if you knew my circumstances ...”
But then I recall that God indeed
does know my situation ... perfect
ly. He knows me because he made
me and loves me. And his words
here arc indeed for me. God contin
ues See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not per
ceive it?"
Isaiah is really a timeless piece of
writing. It was first written as God's
words of comfort to his chosen
people who were prisoners of war
and captives in a far away place. In
Babylon, they longed to return to
Israel and home, and they despaired
of hope. In their despair, God
spoke. He said to them that He
could and would do the impossible
thing and restore his people. Isaiah
continued: I am making a way in
the desert and streams in the
wasteland. Nothing lies outside of
the power of our God to redeem.
Years later, after the chosen
people returned from the Exile, Isa
iah's prophesy of God doing a new
thing was again of comfort to his
chosen people. Longing for deliver
ance from the oppression of the
Roman occupation of Palestine,
they heard in these words, God's
promise that He would do a new
thing, and send his messiah to
deliver his people. And God did!
Christians look back over the
span of God's history of his loving
interaction with humanity. From
our vantage point we see how
clearly Isaiah's prophesy of God
doing a new thing has been ful
filled. God sent his son, Jesus, into
the world to live and die as one of
us to win the human race back to
himself. By dying for us on the
cross, Jesus took your place and
mine, and paid the price of our sin.
And that made possible the most
incredible new start for all who put
their trust in Jesus Christ.
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and
next week is Easter. At Easter,
Christians throughout the world
celebrate the most incredible new
things that God ever did. He made
possible a new beginning and a sec
ond chance for all who will receive
it. If you are like me and wish you
could live life over, this is Good
News for you. Praise God for what
he has done! This Sunday why not
attend the Church of your choice
and celebrate anew the incredible
New Thing that our God has done
for you and me.
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.
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
Tuesday - 4:13 p.m. - Kid's Klub
Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m. - Youth
Devotion to Christ, sermon topic
Greeters at Blyth United Church
on Sunday, April 5, were Fred and
Mary Howson. Ushers were Emily
Phillips, Mary Walden, Les and
Shirley Rutledge.
The service opened with the call
to worship, followed by prayers of
invocation and confession. Hymns
were “God of Grace” and “God of
Glory” and “O Master Let Me
Walk With Thee”. The scripture
reading John 12 (1-11) was read by
Julie Ritchie and Leanne Haggitt
representing the grades three, four
and five girls. Laurie Sparling was
in charge of Junior Congregation.
Evelyn Caldwell led the Nursery.
The anthem, a lovely solo, entitled
“I Walk Into The Garden” was
Baans sing
at Missionary
service
The morning service on April 5
at Auburn Missionary Church was
opened by singing “For God So
Loved The World.”
Dianne and David Baan sang a
duet “Lord, Lay Some Soul Upon
My Heart”. The words of that song
really struck a chord in everyone's
thinking.
Pastor Came's message entitled
“The Bottom Line” was taken from
Matt. 26: 31-35 with the text from
Matt. 16: 24. The bottom line in an
underground church is, that you
come by choice. How well would
your faith survive if you were put
under oppression with a literal
thought of death. If you are just a
hanger-on, your faith will not hold
on the bottom line. To be a Chris
tian at the bottom line you will
need a flourishing faith. A faith
that has been strong in the Word of
God and also in prayer. How flour
ishing is your faith? You must ded
icate yourself to the high calling of
God. If you follow the Lord only to
a point you will never finish the
high calling.
On Sunday, April 12 there will
be special music by the King's
Messengers. A pot luck dinner will
follow.
Good Friday service is at 10:30
a.m. Everyone is cordially invited
to come and share the joy of Easter
and the resurrection.
sung by Cheryl Cronin.
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and
Communion. Rev. Ramirez
expressed deepest sympathy to the
family of Ron and Diane Ferguson
in the passing of Ron's mother, Eva
Ferguson. A special thank you to
the family for flowers placed in her
memory.
The sermon title was “Expressing
Our Gratitude and Devotion to Our
Lord Jesus Christ”. The scripture
reading from John tells the story of
Mary and Martha preparing a spe
cial dinner for Jesus, who had
recently raised their brother Lazu-
rus from the dead. This dinner was
an expression of love, gratitude and
devotion. Rev. Ramirez said that
even today families get together
over a meal, to share love and
affection and we use dinners to
express thank yous which we find
hard to convey in words. Sharing a
meal is a sign of closeness and
Jesus used “The Lord's Supper”
himself as an expression of love
towards his disciples before he
departed from them. Martha was an
excellent hostess at this special din
ner and Rev. Ramirez said she rep
resents all the people who work
exceptionally hard for their church
and community.
Her service was consecrated
towards the Lord. Mary showed her
love and gratitude by pouring a pint
of very expensive perfume on
Jesus' feet. She didn't count the
cost, to her there is no waste in
love. Mary and Martha showed
love and gratitude to Jesus in three
material ways; by giving a dinner,
offering good service and by giving
a very expensive gift. Rev. Ramirez
concluded with the hope that in our
daily living may we all find con
crete ways through service to show
our love and gratitude towards our
Lord Jesus Christ. The service
closed with the hymn “Take My
Life and Let It Be.”
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
April 12 - Passion/Palm Sunday
at
Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
The Rev'd E. Paul Acton, 887-9273
you are ^Weicome at
the
BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11 -12:15 - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McCONNELL ST., BLYTH
Blyth United Church
Rev. Lorenzo Ramirez Jr.
April 12 - Palm Communion Service 11
April 17 - Good Friday Service 11 a.m.
April 19 - Easter Service 11 a.m.
"He is not here, for He has risen
Matthew 28:6
Be joyful always; pray continually
1 Thessalonians 5:17
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
Prayer Sunday
9:30 Worship Service
10:30 Christian Education Hour for all ages
12 Noon Potblessing Fellowship Dinner
Everyone truly welcome
Pastor Tom Warner Sharon Freeman
887-6388 887-6564
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
Palm Sunday
- Morning Worship Service
-"Triumph or Tragedy"
-Holy Communion
-Confirmation of new church members
- Church School -Nursery
-Coffee Hour
-Ethel Morning Worship Service
-Church School******
"All glory, laud and honour to Thee, Redeemer King
A BLYTH CHRISTIAN A REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
GUEST MINISTER:
REV. J. DROST from Kitchener
Sunday at 10 a.m. & 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 TVheelcfiair accessible
SPECIAL EASTER SERVICES
AT ST. AUGUSTINE
HOLY THURSDAY 8 P.M.
Mass - Washing of feet
GOOD FRIDAY 3 HR. WATCH
Meditating on the 7 last words of
Jesus on the Cross.
(12 noon - 3 p.m.)
including Stations of the Cross
and Good Friday Liturgy
HOLY SATURDAY 7:30 P.M.
Blessing of the New Fire, the Paschal Candle,
the Easter Water
Mass of the Resurrection
EASTER SUNDAY 10:00 A.M.
Blessing with the Easter Water followed by
the Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 a.m.
Confessions will be heard before and
after all the services
Father Joseph F. Lupo officiating
All are welcome