The Citizen, 1992-04-22, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22,1992.
From the Minister's Study,
Love is a debt we will always owe
BY REV. PAUL ACTON
ST. JOHN'S TRINITY
ANGLICAN CHURCHES
Most people in Brussels and
Blyth have debts of one kind or
another. Financially speaking it is
very nearly impossible to make a
major purchase these days without
making a visit to our neighbour
hood bank. Depending on your past
performance they may be rubbing
their hands in delight or shaking
their head in dismay as they see
you coming through the door.
But then, who needs to make a
major purchase to pile up debt? We
can do that easily enough by just
pulling out the plastic too often.
The debt situation can get quite
complicated for some people. Our
liabilities can get out of control and
climb to gigantic proportions,
looming up before us like callous
creditors in the middle of a restless
night's sleep. When your supply
from a steady income dwindles to a
doled our dribble it is not easy to
make the appropriate adjustments
in your style of living and scale
down your spending. The old
adage, ‘champagne taste on a beer
salary’ can leave a bad taste in your
mouth if it speaks of how you accu
mulated your debts during the win
ter following a bad harvest, or
during another lay-off or strike.
This is not to say that there is
something wrong in owing some
one money. The scriptures are
clearly not opposed to borrowing or
lending money. The only difficulty
arises when we borrow without
having the means or the intention to
repay. The ideal, I suppose, is to
avoid owing others money alto
gether because it is true what the
book of Proverbs says, ‘The bor
rower is servant to the lender’.
However, allowing for the fact
that there are legitimate causes for
borrowing money, people ought
always to repay the sum as quickly
as possible while they have the
means to do so. You don't control
the weather, nor the larger econo
my, and so you have to act to
unburden yourself or debt ‘while
the sun shines’. Too often we live
high on the hog in good times and
forget that in the cycle of life there
will be a day of reckoning, a paying
of accounts. There is one solemn
verse which says, ‘the wicked man
borrows and does not repay’.
There is one debt that the Apostle
Paul says will always be owing. In
Romans 13:8 he says that first we
are to pay all our debts, our taxes,
our duty and customs at the border,
and all other moral (promises, for
instance) and financial obligations.
We are to do this so that we may
owe no one anything except love.
Love is the debt we will always be
owing. St. Paul explained that he
was a debtor to all kinds of people,
and the way he continued to dis
charge that debt was by sharing
with them the good news of the
gospel of Christ. Like him, all the
Christians in our small villages of
Brussels and Blyth owe a debt of
love to their neighbours, and must
pay that debt by loving them with
the unselfish, compassionate love
of Christ.
This is a large enough debt to
owe, why add money to it?
A BLYTH CHRISTIAN
A REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
GUEST SPEAKER
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.
Rtf Visitors ‘Welcome 'Wfieelcfiair accessible.
Pastor delivers Easter message
Greeters at Blyth United Church
on Easter Sunday, April 19 were
Linda and Tyler Stewart. Ushers
were Nathan Shannon, Anthony de
Boer, Ross Clark and Shawn Brom
ley all members of the Sunday
School. The church was beautifully
decorated with several Easter lilies,
hydrangeas, and arrangements
placed in memory of loved ones.
The service opened with the call
to worship followed by prayers of
invocation and confession.
Hymns were “Jesus Christ is
Risen Today” and “Thine Be the
Glory”. The scripture reading was
read by Sandy Walsh and Amanda
Howson from the senior class, the
senior choir's anthem was entitled
“Were you There” with a special
solo part by Garth Walden. They
were joined by the Choral Kids for
their second selection. “He Lives”.
During the offertory, John
Ramirez and Phyllis Boak com
bined for a special organ/piano duet
entitled “The Blood Will Never
Lose Its Power”. Their special
music was also enjoyed during the
prelude and postlude.
It was announced that next Sun
day, April 26, there will be the
U.C.W. 30th anniversary with spe
cial guest speaker Miss Lavonne
Ballagh. Lunch will follow the ser
vice.
The title of the Easter message
was “Resurrection, Hope Beyond
the Grave”. Rev. Ramirez said that
according to our hearts, there is a
great finality about the grave but he
said what is final here on earth is
only temporary to God. He said
that the Resurrection is the begin
ning and foundation of the Chris
tian Church - it is the reason for
worshipping.
The fact that Jesus arose at dawn
is significant because dawn is the
separation between darkness and
light. We associate darkness with
fear, gloom and problems whereas
with dawn and light comes the
promise of a new day and a new
life.
The angel that declared His res
urrection, that rolled the stone
away, not only had great power but
also was a messenger of purity. He
was like a bolt of lightning dis
pelling darkness.
In conclusion: Rev. Ramirez
emphasized the hope of Christians
life after death, by quoting John II
v. 25. Jesus' words “I am the resur
rection and the life, he that
believeth in me though he were
dead, yet shall he live.”
Following the service Kathy
Fraser and Kim Lee distributed
packages of seeds and Easter eggs
as signs of new life.
Pro-life reflects on new life
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
April 26 - 2nd Sunday of Easter
at
Trinity, Blyth St. John’s, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
The Rev’d E. Paul Acton, 887-9273
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 - 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m. - Youth
you are ‘Wetcome at
the
BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD
9^5 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
The Wingham Pro-Life chapter
met for its monthly meeting on
Monday, April 6 at 8:30 p.m. Rev.
Vaudrey opened the meeting with a
scripture reading, followed by
prayer.
As spring begins to come clearer
into focus with all its beauty and
newness; the Pro-Life members
reflect also on the newness of life
for the innocent unbon? children.
A reminder that a regional meet-
ing will be held at the Hartley
House in Walkerton on Saturday,
April 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
This is bound to be a very inspiring
meeting and everyone is encour
aged to attend. The chapter feels it's
important to keep on top of the
issues at hand and are encouraged
to see the good things happening in
regard to the Pro-Life cause. An
example of this is Dr. Fred Offel-
mann, the only abortionist in the
Kitchener-Waterloo region who
Deacon leads CRC service
The Good Friday service at Blyth
Christian Reformed Church was led
by deacon and member, Fred
Vander Sterre. The sermon was
entitled “Pierced and Crushed For
Us,” and was prepared by Rev. Ron
Fischer of Whitney, Ont.
The choir favoured the congrega
tion with several selections focus
ing on “Christ's Crucifixion”.
Readings from Isaiah 53 were read
intermittently throughout the
singing. Hinke Bakelaar served as
choir director with Angela Verburg
playing piano and Tina Bos playing
clarinet. Lovely Easter lilies deco
rated the sanctuary.
Mr. Vander Sterre reflected on
the intense emotional and physical
suffering Christ experienced prior
to and during the trial on the cross.
He said that all our sins are lumped
into one location, the foot of the
cross of Calvary. We receive inner
peace and renewal through Christ's
loving sacrifice on the cross.
On Easter Sunday, ministry stu
dents Ken Benjamins and Jim Pot
led the morning and evening ser
vices respectively. Both sermons
examined the joyful occasion of
Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
The choir shared five exuberant
Easter hymns with the congrega
tion. During the morning service
the three-year-old Sunday School
class enjoyed an Easter story with
Liz Burgsma serving as this week's
teacher. The class appears to be
really enjoying this new program.
Easter Sunday is celebrated with
joy because Jesus returned to life
and that gives us life.
announced on January 16 that he
had stopped doing abortions.
The question of euthanasia has
become a continued area of con
cern. Pro-Lifers believe that they
must examine attitudes and open
their minds and hearts to the prob
lems facing those people consider
ing euthanasia. Rather than worry
about “death with dignity”, until
they die. It's their hope to promote
positive alternatives to euthanasia
and ensure legal protection for all
human life.
If you are interested in hearing
more regarding the topic of
euthanasia plan to attend the annual
banquet meeting at the Presbyterian
Church in Wingham on Wednes
day, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. Dr. L. L.
DeVeber will be addressing this
issue.
The Pro-Life Chapter is proud of
a young girl who recently chose to
do her grade 13 biology project on
abortion. After presenting the facts
many young people were found to
be very uncomfortable about the
idea of abortion and were encour
aged by the alternatives that Pro-
Lifers have to offer.
The group is also encouraged to
have two more people express a
desire to be on the board.
The group is presently working
on a fundraiser in the form of a
cook book. They would like recipes
to include in this. For more infor
mation you can contact one of the
board members.
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
11:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
- Worship Service
-"Doubting Thomas"
- Church School - Nursery
-Ethel Worship Service
Church School******
"God reveals His presence, let us now adore Him"
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.
Easter Hope all Year
God is Love
and
We'd love to have you visit us.
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
9:30 a.m. - Worship Service
10:30 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages
Pastor Tom Warner Elder John Baan
887-6388 887-6967