The Citizen, 1994-07-06, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1994. PAGE 23.
From the Minister's Study,
Pastor talks on hearing the call of God
By Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
Melville Presbyterian, Brussels,
Knox Belgrave
At Pentecost a mighty wind filled
the house...it filled the disciples
with the Holy Spirit. To those
whose spirit had been dying, God
gave the breath of life.
Windsurfing has become a very
popular sport in the past few years.
Perhaps the simplest form of
sailing, all you need is a board and
a sail. You stand on the board, hang
on to the sail, then you adjust the
sail to the wind and off you go!
For beginners, off you go, means
literally OFF, into the water!
Simple, but not easy.
Last summer on Lake Huron I
watched people go back and forth,
and often UP and DOWN, on their
windsurfing boards. Experienced
surfers swept across the lake, a
thrilling picture with their brightly
coloured sails. The learners
teetered near the shore while their
sails flapped crazily. They
regularly tipped over and fell off.
But they kept at it.
Why? Well, of course, because of
the excitement when they finally
got it right...even for just a few
seconds.
Something within each of us
cries out to be driven by the wind
to sail with life, instead of paddling
painfully across it. To risk being
carried by the wind, and yet also to
struggle with that wind and make it
take us where we want to go...this
is the human experience of living.
It's a good metaphor for the
Christian life, if we think of the
wind as God's Holy Spirit, and our
daily quest to catch the spirit and
follow its leading. We are trying to
Melville Church to
By Bonnie Gropp
Within the next year some
noticeable changes are going to be
made to the 127-year-old Melville
Presbyterian Church in Brussels.
While the church basement has
for some time been accessible, the
stairs to the church sanctuary have
posed some problems for physical
ly challenged and elderly visitors.
Recognizing the problem a con
gregational meeting was called
June 12 and a 78 per cent majority
voted to proceed with the installa
tion of an internal lift from the
basement to the sanctuary.
Co-chair of the committee, Mar
garet Mclnroy said, "There was a
need in our church. There are mem-
bers who would benefit, so we
decided to proceed."
Architect John Rutledge was
called in to provide some recom
mendations and a cost analysis.
Mr. Rutledge suggested a lift be
installed within an existing sanctu
ary closet and alcove off the hall
way at the base of the west
stairway. He also recommended
that an upgrade and repair be done
to the existing basement entry and
enlargement of the walk down
ramp.
The sanctuary closet is not quite
big enough for the lift, so the interi
or walls will have to made thinner,
Mr. Rutledge said. While none of
the main hot water pipes will be
let our lives be filled with the spirit
of direction, rather than just drifting
aimlessly along. The greatest high,
the deepest contentment in the
Christian life, is when we let the
spirit have its way; when we are
willing to catch the wind and just
fly across the lake of our lives,
carried by God's spirit.
Have you ever had a time when
you just felt you should call
somebody on the phone, or drop in
on them? You didn't plan it, but
you followed up on that hunch and
when you get there, you realized
that it was so important, and
necessary that you followed up on
that 'holy hunch’? That's the spirit
of God, blowing where it will,
using us to accomplish God's will if
we are willing. God uses our
consciences, our inner thoughts, as
a vehicle to speak to us.
get lift
have to be removed it is probable
that a radiator will have to be taken
out to make room for one of the lift
doors. This should not affect the
heating performance in the church,
however, Mr. Rutledge determined.
Total high range cost of the
access project is $57,780 Mrs.
Mclnroy said.
A canvass of the congregation
has already resulted in a total of
$49,000 in donations and pledges,
to be paid over the next five years,
she said.
Church pastor, Carolyn McAvoy
said, "It is our vision that we will
be a loving inclusive community,
truly God's family reaching out and
welcoming all."
Some of us are very in tune with
the spirit. We can sense the
moments when the spirit is with the
congregation in worship; when
there is a holiness present between
a husband and wife sharing a
moment blessed by God; when two
friends smile at one another with
care and talk about something that
REALLY matters.
These are the peaceful moments
when we sense deeply that God
cares for us and has created us and
the world around us. These are
moments that make life worth
living.
Sometimes the spirit challenges
us to make decisions; perhaps to
say difficult things to a loved one;
to deal with a bad habit that is
controlling us; to make a move to
Oshawa!
At times like this we arc always
comfortable with the spirit's
direction, but we can no more
control it or make it go away, than
we can control the wind.
The spirit blows where it will.
When it blows our way are we
ready to sail where it leads us; to
enjoy the moment and experience
God fully?
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
BLYTH UNITED
CHURCH
During July Rev. Jock Tolmay will conduct services
Services begin at 10:00 a.m.
Services return to 11:00 - Sept. 11
Rev. Stephen Huntley will begin August 7
T. de Jong, worship leader
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
Thys de Jong was worship leader
for the regular Sunday morning
service at Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship. Lloyd Koch was song
Missionaries
hear soloist
Doran Rolston sang a solo at
Auburn Missionary Church on
Sunday, July 3 entitled, I'm Glad I
know who Jesus Is.
Pastor Carne's message,
"Footsteps" with scripture from
Matthew 26:36, was about going a
little further. Jesus went a little
further, he said. Jesus precedes us
in judgment. He was made to be
sin. All must face death but Jesus
goes before us to show us the
results, Pastor Came said. Death
for the Christian is simply a
transition. Jesus took upon Himself
all that should have been ours.
Summer Kids Klub starts July 25
to 29 with Hester Dugan.
Pastor
ordained
in Blenheim
Continued from page 3
best of our ability. They will tell
me where to invest my energies and
what the agenda should be. We
begin where the people are."
Rev. Van Geest was bom in the
Netherlands and immigrated to
Canada in 1951. He was educated
in Grand Rapids, Michigan and
then served five parishes before
arriving in Blyth.
He was ordained in Blenheim
and served in Calgary, Drayton and
Trenton as well.
The Van Geests have four grown
children.
leader and Denise Hiller was
pianist. Andrea Hiller, accom
panied on the piano by Joy-Ellen
Greenwood, played the flute for the
offertory.
The scripture reading was Mark
10: 13-16. Pastor Tom Warner
preached on the "The Giver of
Life". A baby dedication ceremony
was held, during which Jim and
Rhoda Horst from Atwood,
dedicated their son, Joshua Joseph,
and Doris and Andres Wiedler,
from Switzerland, dedicated their
son, Thomas Patrick.
Mr. and Mrs. Norm Keupfer,
Joshua Horst's grandparents from
Atwood, and Mr. and Mrs.
Gunthart, Thomas Weilder's
grandparents from Brussels, were
present at the special dedication
service.
Following the Christian
Education Hour, a potluck meal
and time of fellowship was held in
the gymnasium of the church.
The elders met on Tuesday
evening. The Grade 5/6 class
enjoyed a campout at Martin's
Landing on Thursday evening. On
Sunday afternoon a group from
BMF held a service at Huronlea for
the residents. Ursi Eigenheer and
Micha Wiegersma sang a duet for
special music at the service.
Jimmy Lee Fuller will be the
guest at an outdoor service on the
church lawn on July 10.
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259
11:00 a.m.
Manse 887-9313
- Morning Worship Service
Welcome to members of Melville
Presbyterian Church who will worship
with us for the month of July.
************
- Ethel Morning Worship Service
The summer days are come again - We lift our song to Him
Welcome
9:30 a.m.
MELVILLE
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH-523-9233
Sunday 10:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Rev. A. Van Geest
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.
AU Visitors Welcome. Wheelchair accessible
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
July 10 - Pentecost 7
Morning Prayer - BCP
Trinity, Blyth st. John’s, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
Pork Chop Barbecue
July 8 - 5 to 7:30 p.m.
at St. John’s
Rector, The Rev. E. Paul Acton, 887-9273
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
- Morning Service
- Sunday School
- Belgrave Service
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
11:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, July 10: Singing Tune-Up Time 9:15 a.m.
WORSHIP SERVICE 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School For AU Ages 10:30 a.m.
7:00 p.m. Concert on the Lawn with Jimmy Lee
FuUer and Special Guests
Bring lawn chairs. Free will offering.
Pastor Tom Warner Elder Elwln Garland
887-6388 887-9017
GUESTS EXPECTED