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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-01-19, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19,1994. I i From the Minister's Study, Pastor gets spiritual lesson By Steve Webb Knox, Cranbrook The best sermon I've heard in a long time! That was my thought as I drove home from a meeting late one evening. The voice was consistent, it was full of conviction and enthusiasm. It came from a young man that was obviously excited and yet bothered by certain trends in our church today. He spoke with a wisdom that seemed unmatched by years. He spoke with a clarity that came from a great deal of study. He spoke from the heart with as much compassion as I have ever heard. He spoke right to me and at times, right through me. What he said, hit like a lightening bolt, jarring me to my very soul, leaving me feeling a sense of wonder, a little guilty, more convinced and ready to tackle the problem he had just outlined. Our church is in big trouble, not just our church, but OUR church. We have lost sight of what church should be, the culmination of body and soul, the working together for the benefit of each other, the church and God. We tend to take from worship what we need, look after ourselves and forget that God calls us to serve. Our satisfaction shouldn't be derived from what we obtain in the way of physical possessions and achievements but from the service of God. We need to put back the spiritual into our worship, our lives and our work. People can't continue to fool themselves into thinking they can be good people for an hour a week and still think that they are serving God. They have to realize that if they want the benefits of serving God, their faith and the grace of God, they have to become more spiritual in their intentions, devotion and life and work. They aren't fooling God, just themselves. I wish I could have recorded what this young man was saying, or was able to let you see and hear for yourselves the love with which he spoke. My recounting does it a poor justice, but I hope you can hear him. Who was he? He wasn't a late night radio preacher, he wasn't an evangelist representing any particular phone in your prayer broadcast church, he was a young man sitting beside me in the truck. I don't know whether the darkness gave him the courage to talk or whether it was my silence for a while. Maybe it was the Spirit speaking through a Samuel for the rest of us to hear. Anyway, I'm glad he spoke to me, (he preached to me actually) his words, his courage, his conviction and insight were all very rewarding and inspiring but mostly they were pure and simply right I am also glad that I chose to listen to him, me the preacher, he the parishioner. He taught me a lot and reminded me of even more. All of us are ministers, serving one another, willing to teach and hopefully willing to listen. I learned a great deal about spirituality that night, because I chose to listen, truly listen to a younger different voice. I hope and pray that you will take the opportunity to do the same when the opportunity is presented to you. ‘Call of God,’ sermon topic A prelude of organ music was played by organists Etoile and Mary Lou Johnston while the Bluevale United Church congre­ gation gathered on Sunday morning. Rev. Banks reminded all of the announcements, then the hymn, "All People that on Earth" followed. The Lord's Prayer was sung after the Prayers of Approach and Confession and the Assurance of Pardon. Rev. Banks chose his scripture passage from I Samuel 3: 1-20 and told the children the story of Samuel sleeping over in the temple as a boy, 12 years of age and hearing God's voice calling to him as he slept. Simon couldn't believe that God would call him by his own name. The children's hymn was "I Am the Light of the World". In his message "The Call of God", Rev. Banks questioned whether we are listening to God or are our minds on vacation when God is trying to get through to us. In our daily living we should all be tuned in to God and listen for His calling and follow His word. Shirley Gamiss assisted with the scripture readings and Bruce Corrigan and Murray McFarlane were ushers. The service closed with the hymn "Songs of Thankfulness", followed by the benediction. The Bible Study of the Gospel of John, using the eighth Study’ session on "Light and Dark" will be held at Bluevale on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. On Sunday, Jan. 23, morn­ ing worship at Bluevale will be at 10 a.m. BERTHA MAY WEBSTER Bertha May Webster of Goderich passed away on Jan. 13, 1994 at St. Joseph's Health Centre in London. Miss Webster was bom in Hullett Twp. on March 30, 1910 to the late Joseph and Alice Maud Mary (Gar­ rett) Webster. She was a retired secretary from Scotiabank and was a member of the Eastminster United Church in Toronto. Miss Webster is survived by sis­ ters Elizabeth Riley of Parkhill and Gladys (Mrs. Ralph Caldwell) of RR 3 Blyth. She was predeceased by sisters Mary Young and Isabel Partridge. The funeral service was held at McCallum & Palla Funeral Home in Goderich on Jan. 17. Rev. Phil Rodgers officiated. The pallbearers were Wayne Caldwell, Stephen Caldwell, Leslie Caldwell, Ron Riley, Laverne Riley, Ken Riley and Donald Young. Interment was at the Blyth Union Cemetery. JEAN M. DRAGOMATZ Jean Marie Dragomatz, beloved wife of Peter Dragomatz of Oshawa, passed away peacefully, in Oshawa General Hospital on Sunday, Jan. 9, 1994. Jean was bom on June 4, 1933 at Ethel, Ont., Grey Twp., a daughter of Cecil and Edythe (Ames) Bateman. She is survived by her husband Peter, two sons Terry, and his wife Monica, and Donald, one daughter Mary Ellen and two granddaughters Michelle and Sarah. She was the dear sister of Helen and her husband John Coghlin of Listowel, Marjorie and her husband Jim Struthers of Ethel, Doris McNeilly of Waterloo, Bruce Bateman and his wife Ursula of Stratford, Robert Bateman and his wife Margaret of Ethel, and a sister-in-law Joan Bateman of Ethel, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and one brother Donald. Visitation and funeral services were held from the Armstrong Funeral Home in Oshawa. Cremation has taken place. JOSEPH MCDOUGALL Joseph Kenneth McDougall passed away peacefully at Clinton Public Hospital on Saturday, Jan. 8,1994. Mr. McDougall was born in Egremont Township on Aug. 30, 1915. He was the son of Henry and Ethel (McEachern) McDougall. His only brother, Elmer, predeceased him. He farmed at East Wawanosh Township and later was employed with the Regional Assessment Department. Besides his cherished friend Mary Deveau, left to mourn his passing are his children, Bernice and Gordon Gross of RR 1, Auburn, and Allan and Mona of Sudbury. He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren Anita, Bryan and April Gross and Angie, Shane and Marcie McDougall. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Paul at the Beattie and Falconer Funeral Home in Clinton on Jan. 11. Honorary pallbearers were Harry Arthur, John Brown, John Bradley, Don Jackson, Ross McDougall, and Elmer Murray, Wayne Dupuis, Shane McDougall and Bryan Gross acted as flower bearers. There will be spring interment of ashes in Mount Forest Cemetery. Mennonite youth go sledding On Sunday, Jan. 16, Rod Steinman gave the message at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship on the theme, "The Lure of the South Wind". Thelma Steinman was worship leader. The Worship Band, consisting of some of the youth, was in charge of the music for the service. The annual business meeting is scheduled for this week. The Youth Group has an activity day planned for Saturday, Jan. 22, at Margaret and Irwin Campbell's. The Grade 5-6 children will hold a toboganning party at Tim and Michael Procter's the same day. Next Sunday, following a pot luck supper at the church, the congregation will hear a presentation by John and Chrissie Graber, who are passing through the area as they are home from die Mission Field. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday January 23 - 3rd after Epiphany 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. 11 a.m. 8 p.m. Wednesday 8 p.m. Friday 7:30 p.m. Family Bible Hour Morning Service Evening Service Prayer & Bible Study 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 A REFORMED CHURCH HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH-523-9233 Sunday 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Guest Preacher Mr. Vic Vandermolen of Kitchener 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 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 UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 11:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. - Morning Worship - “Jesus' Challenge To Us" - Church School - Nursery - Congregational Visit by Stewards and Elders **** - Ethel Morning Worship - Church School Welcomes you on Saturday, January 22: “Community Praise” 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 23: WORSHIP SERVICE - 9:25 a.m. Sunday School For All Ages -10:30 a.m. Evening Mission Service with John & Crissie Graber who served in Brazil beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Fellowship Meal and then a service at 7:00 p.m. Everyone Is Invited to attend. Please call for more information. Elder Alice Knorr 887-9203 O God, whose mighty wisdom moves the minds of men to seek Thy way BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP Pastor Tom Warner 887-6388