HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-08-25, Page 11BE WATER SMART.
BOATING AND BOOZING DON'T MIX.
A MESSAGE FROM THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY CANADA
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
11:00 a.m. - August Summer Worship Services
9:30 a.m. - Ethel Summer Worship Services
" This Is my Father's world, He shines In all that's fair"
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.
BRUSSELS
MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP
e strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord'
Psalm 31:24
Elder
Alice Knorr
887-9203
Pastor
Tom Warner
887-6388
Invites you to their service that will be
held at 9:30 a.m. at Martin's Landing
NO SERVICE AT CHURCH
Please call for Information
NEWS ;_i/
aA
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
August 29 - Pentecost 13
Morning Prayer
Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
Rector, The Rev. E. Paul Acton, 887-9273
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
Sunday - 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 - Pastor Bob Lewis 526-7441
You are Welcome 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 CHRISTIAN
it\REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH--523-9233
Guest Minister
Sunday - 10:00 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 5:30 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V.
All. Visitors 'Welcome (Wheelchair accessible
From the Minister's Study
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1993. PAGE 11.
Does gambling belong in this society?
are harmless forms of entertain-
ment engaged in willingly by very
ordinary people. It may also be
argued that because of them, new
recreational facilities are being
built and that hospitals and nursing
homes can purchase new
equipment. Yet, is it not the under-
lying philosophy of gambling that
one gets something for next to
nothing? Whatever happened to the
Christian precept of giving without
expectation of receiving something
in return? Is it really morally
neutral that one average citizen
suddenly finds him or herself $110
million richer than the others?
The U.S. government has at least
demonstrated the wisdom to tax
away 40 - 50 per cent of such
enormous windfalls. Given
Canada's deficit doldrums, perhaps
our government should be
following suit.
One may wonder why the
church, instead of trying to impose
a certain ethical code on the rest of
society, doesn't just jump on the
bandwagon. Perhaps churches
could brighten their own revenue
pictures and increase attendance by
selling instant scratch-and-win
orders of worship at the entrance of
' the church.
I believe that churches must
continue to take the government to
task for its fervent promotion of
gambling. I doubt that lotteries will
ever solve our political and
economic problems, especially
when they offer a way out only for
By Randy Banks
Walton-Bluevale United Churches
The Bible reports that the first
king of Israel was selected by
casting lots (I Sam. 10.21-22). The
Roman soldiers cast lots at the foot
of the cross in order to divide Jesus'
garment. Likewise, the casting of
lots supplemented by prayer was
the method used to replace the
betraying disciple Judas Iscariot
(Act 1.26).
Lots were stones bearing
symbols or painted with various
colors that were placed in a vessel
and shaken until one fell out to
indicate God's will.
All human societies have been
fascinated with games of chance.
The most popular form of modern
lot-casting is the government-run
lottery which has become
something of a sacred trust.
I serve in a Christian denomina-
tion that has maintained a long-
standing opposition to gambling,
much to the everlasting resentment
of its own members who patronize
lottery kiosks. Congregations have
been admonished to neither raise
funds through any form of
gambling nor to apply for or
accept grants from lottery-
generated sources.
That is a difficult stance to
uphold in light of the fact that 47
per cent of Ontarians purchase
lottery tickets on a regular basis,
and by so doing, pour $4.1 billion
annually into lottery coffers.
Greeters at Blyth United Church
on Sunday, Aug. 22 were Dorothy
and Laurie Scott. Ushers were Jim
and Thelma Wilson, John
Hesselwood and Harvey Snell.
Guest minister, Mr. George Cowan
led the congregation in the call to
worship from Psalm 144:10. Hymn
of Praise, "Come Thou Almighty
King" was sung. The responsive
reading was Psalm 100.
Mr. Cowan's theme during
children's time was Jesus' shining
light. The children's hymn "Jesus
Bids Us Shine" was sung.
Mr. Cowan demonstrated his
Janine and Jeff Burgsma
80 attend
celebration
Continued from page 7
been many and are deeply
appreciated.
Over 80 people attended the
celebrations at the Wingham Golf
and Curling Club. It provided a
time to reminisce of days gone by
and a base to continue the vision
started 35 years ago — to provide
opportunities. This is summed up
in the Association's goal "That all
people live in a state of dignity,
share in all elements of living in the
community and have the
opportunity to participate
effectively."
I am profoundly disappointed by
the lottery fanaticism of the Ontario
government as it prepares to open
the first of several gambling
casinos throughout the province. I
am particularly bewildered by
Premier Rae who, in 1990,
expressed his moral indignation
about gambling casinos: "The
casino plays on greed, the hope
against hope that ... the shoot of
the dice will produce instant
wealth."
I appreciated some thoughts
expressed by Thomas Walkom, a
Toronto Star columnist: "When a
government encourages its citizens
to gamble in order to produce
revenue, it is admitting defeat. It is
saying that society is no longer
able, in an open and democratic
way, to tax itself for the services it
wants."
The argument that gambling
casinos will create jobs and
economic growth appears to be
specious. For example, gambling
has touted as the economic
salvation for Atlantic City, New
Jersey. Although that city may
boast luxurious gambling palaces
and wealth casino owners, it also
has the highest jobless rate in the
state. Casino jobs are notoriously
low-paying, low-skilled, and
unsatisfying. Casinos also have a
reputation for contributing to
increased criminal activity.
One may argue that lotteries and
government-run gambling casinos
story with a small flashlight. He
asked the children 'How can you
shine for Jesus?' By shining the
light in different places He
demonstrated again to the children
that we should not hide but shine
for Jesus. Then he sang, "Let Your
Light Shine."
The scripture reading was
Proverb 15 and 16, selected verses.
The hymn, "Tell Me The Old Old
Story" was sung.
The sermon theme was the
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's
Prayer. As we live our lives, do we
BURGSMA — BUFFING A
Janine Buffinga and Jeff
Burgsma were married on July 24
at the Blyth Christian Reformed
Church in Blyth. Rev. J. Quartel
officiated.
The bride is the daughter of
Ralph and Margaret Buffinga of
RR 1, Clinton and the groom is the
son of Harry and Gerda Burgsma of
RR 6, Goderich.
The maid of honour was Shelley
VanderGlas, aunt of the bride. The
bridesmaids were Glenna and
Stacey Buffinga, sisters of the
bride, and Elizabeth Burgsma,
sister-in-law of the groom.
wait for God to pick us up or will
we do our part and be an optimist
or a pessimist and say I can't
change? Mr. Cowan said the only
way to happiness is to forget about
one's self and help others. It is the
little things in life that we do that
counts or, he asked, do we just sit
back and put it in God's hands?
God, through Jesus, offers free
salvation. He said, "Seek ye first
the kingdom of heaven and the rest
will be added unto you." Are we
really helping others? Mr. Cowan
concluded•by singing, "Trusting
Jesus".
The best man was Wayne
Burgsma, brother of the groom.
The ushers were Byrne Burgsma,
brother of the groom, Henry
Buffinga, brother of the bride and
John Vandervelde, friend of the
groom.
The junior bridesmaid was Joleen
Peters, cousin of the bride, and the
junior groomsman was Robin
Burgsma, nephew of the groom.
Jillian Burgsma, niece of the
groom, was the flower girl and
Kyle Peters, cousin of the bride,
was the ring bearer.
Following the couple's honey-
moon in Florida, they will reside at
RR 2, Seaforth.
the handful of lucky winners.
Moreover, I doubt they will
improve the moral fabric of the
nation.
I, for one, would prefer to see
Canadians — Christian or otherwise
— engaging in a little less gambling
and a little more rediscovering of
the values of thrift, honesty, hard
work, and charitableness.
Blyth United hosts guest speaker
Couple resides in Seaforth