HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-08-10, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1994. PAGE 11
From the Minister’s Study
Minister envisions faith in a small flower pot
By Rev. Mary-Jane Hobden
Belgrave Pastoral Charge
I recently spent an afternoon
repotting some house plants. One
looked beyond help, but I decided
to keep a couple of shoots and see
if it could be nursed back to health.
At this point it is still touch and go,
although things are looking
promising.
Most of the other plants had
simply outgrown their pots and
needed room to expand. They are
vibrant and full of growth. New
leaves or shoots can be seen within
them quite often.
It was these different states of
plants which spoke to me of the
beginning of a ministry in a new
parish. Sometimes things have to
be cut back or weeded out and then
nursed back to health. Sometimes
things simply need room to expand.
As a brand new minister I like to
think of myself as one of those new
shoots on a well established plant.
My arrival has signalled a desire
for growth, not only in me, but also
in the people who have called me
to grow with them.
Watching the repotted plants in
my living room I realized that it has
taken some time for them to begin
to respond to their new
surroundings. First they had to
recover from the move to a new
town, then to a new pot. Both arc
traumatic on the plant. I am
reminded that the move to a new
parish can be the same for the
newcomer and the residents.
Unlike the plants for whom I
decided a move was necessary,
ministers and congregations have a
little more say in the decision.
However, when God calls it is
difficult not to respond. Il is
responding in faith which promotes
growth. Faith is like the new soil
we put in the new pot for a plant. It
is rich in all of the essentials which
are needed for nurture and growth.
One of the plants I put in a new
pot was newly bought, just to help
add to our new home. Il was a
small plant with its green leaves,
but with a promise from the florist
that it would flower by August.
With a home in a larger pot, some
fresh soil and some loving care it
does indeed look as though there
will be flowers in August. The
plant has responded and the
promise is beginning to be filled.
Ministers and their congregations
are like this plant. With much
promise the journey begins. The
mix of people is new and provides
the nutrient rich soil which
promotes growth and the loving
care comes from bolh sides. Our
faith in Christ is the basis for our
growth. It is the main ingredient in
our soil.
The loving care comes through
shared faith. Growth comes in the
shared experience of change. Every
change brings a chance for ever
greater growth. Shared faith
involves openness to one another,
to new ideas, and to new
possibilities. A new minister can
sometimes help us express that
shared faith; to challenge us to put
it in action.
Ultimately, however, it is we
who as a community of faith, have
to put our own faith into action.
The potential to grow is within
each of us whether there is
someone outside, or someone new,
to show us where it is. Christ has
shown us that we have this
potential. We need only to accept
the chances to do so.
Like my little plant who will
have flowers in August, we must
all allow ourselves to grow.
Allowing and encouraging one
another’s growth benefits us all.
Growing together only makes us
stronger and better able to face the
many challenges of living the
Christian life in today's world.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
August 14 - Pentecost 12
Morning Prayer - BCP
Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
Rector, The Rev. E. Paul Acton, 887/9273
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
Joint Worship Service for
United and Presbyterian congregations at Melville Presbyterian Church
August 7 - September 4, 1994. 11:00 a.m.
Ethel United Church closed
August 7 - September 4, 1994
Worship the Lord, Give Praise to God
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
Sunday 10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Gospel Echoes Singers
8 p.m. - Pastor Don Vair
Wednesday 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m. - Youth - Pastor Bob Lewis, 526-7441
‘You are dVeLcome 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
Summer concert
Julie and Angela Verburg were just two of the entertainers at the gospel concert held at Blyth
Lions Park on Sunday night. Rev. Van Geest of Blyth Christian Reformed Church organized
the event held under sunny skies.
Blyth United welcomes pastor
1 BLYTH CHRISTIAN
ZJa 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.
ALL Visitors TVeCcome Vfteelcfair accessible
On Sunday, Aug. 7 the Blyth
congregation of the United Church
welcomed their new minister. Les
Rutledge introduced Rev. Stephen
Huntley, his wife Kale and son
Andrew.
Greeters are Vera and John
Hesselwood. Ushers were Fred and
Linda Meier and their daughters
Laura and Kerri. The nursery was
in charge of Elaine Brown.
Call to worship was followed by
the hymn O Worship the King.
Prayer of Confession and Assur
ance of Pardon followed.
Rev. Huntley's conversation with
the children was on using a mirror
to see yourself. He asked one child
to pretend to be a mirror and
another to be in front of the minor.
Whatever one did, the other had to
copy. We are all children of God;
He made us all differently, Rev.
Huntley said. God loves us just the
way we are. We can't be exactly the
same.
The anthem The Wonder of it All
was sung by the choir under the
direction of Mrs. Phyllis Boak.
Rev. Huntley's sermon entitled
''Imitators" came from the New
Testament lesson Ephesians 4:25-
5:2 and Gospel lesson John 6:35
41-51. He asked the congregation
members if they had ever tried to
imitate someone. Where would we
start to be an imitator of God, he
asked. To imitate God is to be
ourselves. What we arc is God's
gift to us. What we become is our
gift to God. The theme of the
sermon was "you arc somebody, so
act like it".
Hymn O Master Let Me Walk
with Thee was followed by pastoral
prayer and the Lord's Prayer. The
closing hymn was Be Thou My
Vision.
Coventing service for Rev.
Huntley is on Wednesday, Sept. 14
at 8 p.m. Everyone is invited to
attend.
Church services throughout
August will be at 10 a.m.
Vacation Bible School is
11:30 a.m. from Aug. 22-26 at
Christian Reformed Church. All
children ages four to 12 are
welcome. Donations of cookies and
juice, to be left in the narthex
would be appreciated.
Men's Life and Coffee Break
potluck picnic is on Monday, Aug.
15 at 7 p.m. at Blyth Lions Park.
Bring your own cup.
MELVILLE
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.
to invite a friend to come with you to
BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP
Friendship Sunday Service
Jr. Achieve, receives support
Continued from page 10
entrepreneurs of the future."
During the next few weeks,
members of the North Huron
Education Committee will be
undertaking a fundraising cam
paign in support of the Junior
Achievement. In order to support
the local demand for programs,
S3,500 must be raised from the
business community. If the
fundraising campaign is successful,
Junior Achievement programs can
be offered in North Huron schools
as early as this coming fall.
For more information on the
Junior Achievement Program
contact Brian Treble of the North
Huron Education Committee, 524-
2188 or Paul Nichol al the Huron
Business Centre, 527-0305.
Sunday, August 14 - 9:15 a.m. Singing Tune-Up Time
9:30 a.m. WORSHIP SERVICE
with “Cornerstone”
10:30 a.m. - Sunday School For All Ages
Fellowship Meal to follow. All Are invited.
Remember every Friday morning form 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
“The Sound of Summer Players” for children ages 5-12
Pastor Tom
Warner
887-6388
Elder
Linda Campbell
357-1648