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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1992-08-05, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5,1992. Elizabeth Boven and Oscar John Van Den Assem wed at Blyth. Couple weds in Blyth ceremony Elizabeth Christine Boven, daughter of Gerrit and Nel Boven of Seaforth, and Oscar John Van Den Assem, son of John and Joan Van Den Assem of Brussels were united in marriage on Saturday, May 30, 1992 at the Blyth Christian Reformed Church. Matron of honour was Joanne Heimpel of Seaforth, sister of the bride. Best man was Dylan Van Den Assem of Brussels, brother of the groom. The couple now resides in Ancaster, Ontario. Fred Vandersterre leads service at Blyth CRC Ushers for Sunday, Aug. 2 at the Blyth Christian Reformed Church were Tony Vanderlei and Wayne Bos. Sunday school for 3-4 year olds was taught by Sylvia Parish and Sandra Benjamins. Dick and Elizabeth DeWitt greeted everyone at the door. The worship service was lead by Deacon Fred VanderSterre. The scripture passage was taken from Matthew 17: 14-20 with the sermon entitled ‘Mustard Seed Faith’. There is a difference between little faith and faith the size of a mustard seed. Little faith is short lived. All things are possible until the impossible comes up. With seed like faith nothing is impossible. If the seed is in contact with a nourishing environment nothing can stop it. If our faith is deeply rooted in God, mountains can be moved. After the service, Darlene and Andy VanderVeen served coffee. The evening service was led by Elder Martin Wilts. The service was opened with singing, ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness.’ The sermon was entitled ‘The Covenant of God’ with scripture taken from Genesis 17: 1-8. The covenant of grace, God's promise of His presence, was not only for Abraham, but for us too. God keeps His promises. He is our God and He remains faithful. From the Minister’s Study Religion helps us survive BY REV. CAMERON MCMILLAN BRUSSELS AND ETHEL UNITED CHURCHES My last religious column in this paper generated much response in your “letters” section. Perhaps all this print got some of you thinking about Christianity. There was a time when I viewed Christianity in the same critical way as the first responder to my column As a child, my father sowed seeds of doubt in my mind about the truth of Christianity. Little David, killing the huge giant Goliath with a slingshot, Noah surviving in the belly of a whale. “It ain’t necessarily so,” the words of a popular song proclaimed, and my father agreed with the sentiment. At university, my medieval history professor joked about the immoral, lying way Christian “holy” men behaved. Monks took women into their cells, turned monasteries into brothels and produced scores of illegitimate children. They got drunk and made mistakes copying out Bible words into beautiful scrolls. They placed enough pieces of the “true” cross Jesus died on in European churches to build a very large boat. I decided that Christianity was all superstition, myth, silliness. I did not need to pay attention to it. I could survive without it. I stopped attending church and listening to boring sermons. My views changed when I left home and university and tried to start a life of my own in the real world. Two things happened to me that were totally unexpected. They showed me that I could not survive in this world simply on my own wits and intelligence. There was a higher power that shaped and controlled my destiny and I must reckon with it. My first disappointment was rejection by my girl friend. Next, I failed my exams for the good paying government executive job that all my friends were offered. I was given a poor paying, boring job at the lowest level of the Federal government, sorting letters in a mail room. For this, I went six years to university? It made no sense. My mother pointed out that sometimes the higher power we call God, like a wise parent, grabs our hand when we are about to make a bad mistake and shoves us in a new direction we did not expect to take. I moved to Ottawa and explored Christianity again. As I listened carefully to the minister's sermons, I found they made a lot of sense. I decided to seek and accept the guidance of God in my life. I have had a much happier and more satisfying life since then. In six months, I was offered a much better government job than my friends had received. Five years later, I was called to be a Christian minister. Nine years later, I got married and established a home and family. We raised four children that we are proud of. We have lived in four Canadian provinces, U.S.A; and Australia and have enjoyed all places. I believe that God does show us a better way to live our lives. This happens especially as we follow the life of Jesus and the lives of great Christian saints who followed him. We must each make up our own mind about who Jesus really was. We are never pressured into accepting Christian beliefs. As the gospel hymn put it: “We must walk this lonesome valley, we must walk it by ourself. Nobody else can walk it for you, you must walk it by yourself.” Finally, remember that old proverb given us by our aboriginal people: “Do not judge another person until you have walked in their moccasins for 14 days.” George Cowan preaches at Blyth United Church Greeters at Blyth United Church Sunday, August 2 were Lance and Melanie Bearss. Ushers were Joan, Shawn, Erica and Ross Clark. George Cowan, supply minister, opened the service with call to worship and the hymn “Stand Up and Bless the Lord”. The responsive reading was Psalm 103. The scripture readings were Matthew II, 28-30 and II Corinthians 6: 14-18. Cheryl Cronin sang a beautiful solo “When Morning Dawns” with Phyllis Boak at the piano. “The Lord is My Shepherd” was sung. Mr. Cowan's sermon was “My Yoke is Easy”. The service closed with Mr. Cowan singing “He Touched Me” followed by hymn “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah”, prayer, benediction and choral response. For any emergency Mr. Cowan may be contacted at 352-8310 or 887-9342 until August 21. Mother Was Right! Double Up On Your Fibre If you’re like most Canadians, you’re not getting enough fibre each day. It’s estimated that most people need twice as much as they’re getting now. That amounts to about 25 to 30 grams of fibre each day. It sounds like a lot of fibre, but it’s not hard to get if you choose the right foods. HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF ONTARIO BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 11:00 a.m. - Joint Summer Worship Service at Melville Presbyterian Church "This is my Father’s world" THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday August 9 - Pentecost 9 Morning Prayer - BCP Trinity, Blyth st. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. The Rev’d E. Paul Acton, 887-9273 ‘you are ‘Welcome at tfie 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 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 BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Invites you to join them in Worship at 11 a.m. Guest Speaker: George Cowan Phone 523-4224 . BLYTH CHRISTIAN A REFORMED CHURCH HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH GUEST SPEAKER: Robert Datema Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.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 Wheelchair accessible MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Carolyn McAvoy Joint summer worship service with Brussels United at Melville Presbyterian Church in August 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service We welcome you to come and worship with us. Consider the benefits of being a part of a church family: • Friendship • Service • Love • Worship • Purpose in Living • Hope BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for all Ages Fellowship Meal Elder - John Baan 887-6967 Pastor - Tom Warner 887-6388