HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-03-09, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9,1994.
From the Minister’s Study
Pastor says Canada has flown the coop
By Don Vair
Westfield Fellowship Hour
I am surethere are those of you
who read this column who share
my great love for animals of all
kinds. At present, I have two cats in
the house (Ivory and Bernie), one
dog (Sam) and a budgie named
Toby. There is a stray cat who has
taken up housekeeping in the
garage.
The cats have a never-ending
fascination for the bird and
likewise the bird for the cats. Often
when I have held Ivory up to the
cage to see Toby, Toby will quick
as a flash fly over and grasp hold of
the bars to get as close to Ivory as
possible. Ivory drools and licks his
lips and I know what he has on his
mind, for I see what he drags up to
the front door on occasion.
It is a perpetual scene - the bird
wants to get out and the cats want
to get in. Each cat in his own tum
has knocked the cage down from its
high stand, but Toby, though a bit
ruffled and wet, is fine. I try to
make sure that Toby is fully
protected at all times, and is never
let out of his cage.
The other day however, while
going from one room to the next,
the bird to my surprise, flew past
my head and into a bedroom. My
wife was changing the cage and
removed the bottom, thinking all
would be well for a few seconds (it
always has been!). Toby, seizing
his opportunity, quickly flew down
and out. To the family I yelled
"Grab the cats!" Ivory with tail
twitching, was on his way to catch
Toby, but luckily I beat him to it.
Soon Toby was back in the safety
of his cage and the cats were left to
dream of a repeat performance.
Those bars are a friend to Toby,
though he does not understand that
that which is a nuisance to him,
protects him from real danger and
sure death.
I thought of how much the bars
on Toby's cage are like God's word.
It protects us so long as we live
within its framework, so long as we
take heed to it, and obey it.
The Bible is the one book that
contains God's glorious Gospel of
salvation, through Jesus Christ -
indeed a message if believed and
received, will not only result in a
safe haven of abundant life here
and now, but will save us from
eternal death and give us eternal
life in Heaven.
It is not hard to see that our
nation once founded on Christian
principles, has long since flown the
coop and we are abundantly
reaping what we have sown.
I can go after Toby and put him
back into his cage, for I am in
control. No one however, can force
anyone else to love God and fear
God and obey the Gospel.
My prayer for my country is that
it would choose to get back into
that framework our forefathers
lived in, and know the real
freedom, safety, security and
blessing that is the experience of
those tho take heed to and obey
God's word.
While I pray for this nation, I
pray for myself, for that is where it
all starts, a personal decision within
the individual heart, to God's way
not ours.
Guests attend Thankoffering
The United Church Spring
Thankoffering will be held on
Wednesday April 6 at 8 o'clock.
Guests from Walton, Blyth,
Bluevale, Belgrave, Ethel and
Brussels Sister Churches will be
present.
Several ladies plan to attend the
London Conference UCW meeting
in Stratford on April 11 and 12.
A delicious lunch was served by
Ida Evans and Dorothy Steffler.
The general meeting of the
Brussels UCW was held on March
2 in the church parlour with 16
members present. In the absence of
the president, Barb McMillan
chaired. She welcomed the ladies
and asked each one to introduce the
lady on her right.
The theme for the meeting was
"Lent and Sacrifice." Luella
Mitchell read the poem
"Throughout These 40 Days"
followed by a reading "What Is
Lent?"
Alice Brothers introduced the
guest speaker, Rev. Cam McMillan
who spoke on sacrifice. He
showed a video on "The Life of
Robert McClure." The story told
how he decided to go to China - a
country in turmoil, but he loved the
work. At one point he asked for
safe passage to get the sick to the
hospital.
He trained Chinese students;
some of whom became Christians.
His wife, Amy, went to China to
marry Robert McClure. They had
four children. In February 1939 he
sent his wife and four children back
to Canada.
In 11 years he only saw his
family for 11 months. He wasn't
able to attend any of his children's
weddings but came quickly when
one of his girls had a nervous
breakdown. What a sacrifice was
given by both Robert and his wife.
The ladies will be serving a hot
luncheon on Wednesday, March
30, served from 11:30 to 1 o'clock.
W. Metzger delivers message
Jopim (Just Ordinary People in
Ministry) was in charge of the
Sunday Service at Brussels
Mennonite Fellowship on Sunday,
March 6. Wiliard Metzger gave the
message on the theme "I'm onto
You" based on the scripture
passage II Corinthians 2:5-11.
Mark Hallman provided special
music. Elwin Garland was worship
leader.
Next week, following the
monthly fellowship meal, a prayer
meeting will be held for adults with
alternate activities for the children
and youth.
The adults gathered in the chapel
for the Christian Education Hour
and began a new quarter in which
the topic "Confession of Faith: A
Mennonite Perspective" will be the
focus.
On Saturday evening the
Community Praise Group met in
the cellar of the church to simulate
the settings of Christian gatherings
such as were shown in the film
"The Radicals" which had been
shown recently at the church. Next
week the Community Praise Group
will use the topic "An African
Adventure".
Friday evening, March 11 there
will be a games and gym night at
the church for people of all ages.
During March Break, March 23 a
day long activity for the children of
the church and the community will
be held. The programme will be
called "Kid's Break."
Missionaries hear ladies trio
A ladies’ trio consisting of Diane
Baan, Wally Peper and Bev
Walden sang a number at the
morning service at Auburn
Missionary Church on Sunday,
March 6. Their song "Freely,
Freely You have Received" was an
excellent beginning for the
Forms
at church
Continued from page 3
Registration forms are available at
the church office or from Bonnie
Shannon.
The Junior Teen Club is holding
a "Starvathon" on March 15-16. If
you would like to support this
event contact Lorna Fraser 523-
9687.
In the hospital are Irene Ament,
Clinton; Roy Easom, Clinton; Betty
Nethery, Goderich. Home from the
hospital is Gord Jenkins.
Missions Conference.
Dorothy Reid from Aylmer will
be leaving for Russia in August.
While she was in Bible College she
joined a prayer group that
concentrated their prayer times to
eastern Europe. Dorothy is going
with teams from Co-Mission to
Russia where she will be teaching
teachers and students Christian
education.
Russian education, at this time, is
open to Christian values. The
remainder of the missions
conference will have missionaries
from Brazil, Nigeria and Sierra
Leone. The church is artistically
decorated for this special occasion.
PdPT UPdLT OH
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
March 13 - Lent 4
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
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
- "God's Amazing Grace"
- Church School - Nursery
****
9:30 a.m. -. Ethel Morning Worship
- Church School
God will my shield and portion be as long as life endures
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.
i BLYTH CHRISTIAN 4k REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH-523-9233
Sunday 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Guest Preacher - Rev. Ed Den Haan from Guelph ****
• Wedi. sday evening prayer service 8 p.m.
Rev. D. Miedema from Clinton
All Visitors ‘Welcome. ‘Wheelchair accessible
Saturday, March 12 - COMMUNITY PRAISE at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 13 - 9:15 a.m. - Singing Tune-Up Time
9:30 a.m. - WORSHIP HOUR
1
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.
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
invites you to worship with them
10:30 a.m. - Sunday School for All Ages
Fellowship Meal to Follow
1:00 p.m. Circle of Prayer Time
Pastor Tom Warner - 887-6388
Elder Elwin Garland - 887-9017
GUESTS EXPECTED