HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-21, Page 16MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Tim Purvis, Interim Moderator
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. Morning Worship
Church School Closing Service
Lunch and Pool Party
11:00 a.m. Ethel Church School Closing
at the home of Gary and Beth Earl
Picnic Pot Luck
Swimming and Games
For our comrades and our plays,
Father we Thank Thee
Welcome
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1995.
From the Minister's Study
Graduating to maturity most important
By Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Blyth Christian Reformed
Church
A few weeks ago, my wife and I
were privileged to attend the
graduation ceremony of our
youngest son from Queen's
University. These ceremonies are
impressive occasions.
A seemingly endless line of
dignitaries and graduate students,
all in academic robes, got the
proceedings started. Appropriately
weighty speeches, interspersed with
a good dose of humour, lent depth
to the occasion.
And the awarding of graduate
degrees (which seemed to take
forever) had parents and friends
snap pictures and break out in
spontaneous applause.
As a parent, you can't help but be
moved by such an occasion. We
were also saying to each other with
a little sigh of relief — this is the last
one.
Many parents will be attending
graduation ceremonies around this
time of the year. With elementary
schools and high schools coming to
the end of another school year,
many students will be graduating.
But after the euphoria of
graduation has faded away, these
students have to face the future. To
Blyth United Church was well
attended June 18, as it was Baptism
Sunday. It was the Second Sunday
after Pentecost, with the seasonal
colour being *white.
Greeters were Herb and Bonnie
Shannon while ushers were Marg
Caldwell, Lorna Fraser and Fred
and Debbie Hakkers. Kristy Cald-
well looked after junior
congregation and Karen Youngblut
was in charge of the nursery.
Rev. Stephen Huntley opened
with Call to Worship, Prayer of
Approach and words of welcome.
He welcomed all the fathers in the
congregation for Father's Day. He
also expressed words of thanks for
everyone who donated food and
helped at the catering for the
opening night dinner of the Blyth
Festival Friday evening, which
The service at Auburn
Missionary Church on Sunday,
June 18 was enhanced by a group
of ladies which consisted of
Madeline Burchell, Virginia
Stright, Mary Stoll, Helen
Baumbach, Elizabeth Bowman and
Lorraine Came. Their singing of
Jesus is the Friend of Sinners was
enjoyed by all.
Bob Lewis, the youngest father
Brussels Mennonite Pastor Tom
Warner based his Father's Day
message on the story of the
prodigal son and his father's
reactions.
Darlene Hemingway dedicated a
solo, Daddy's Hands to her father,
Ross Hemingway, and to all the
other fathers present.
Following the Christian Edu-
cation Hour, a surprise birthday and
retirement cake, in honour of Bev
Brown, was enjoyed by the
congregation.
Sunday evening, a farewell
gathering (friendship affirmation)
was held at Mervin and Tillie
Lichty's home for the Demaray
family. Rob, Sharon, Amy, Darryl,
what have they now graduated? For
some, it means going on to another
school. But others have reached the
end of their years of formal
schooling, and they now hope to
graduate to the world of gainful
employment.
When you come to think of it,
graduating is really an ongoing
process in life, if all is well. We
graduate from one stage to another.
And there usually is a lot of
excitement accompanying such
graduations. There may not be
formal ceremonies such as we have
with school graduations, but the
occasions are no less important in
many instances.
Even graduation to the standing
of a senior citizen has its benefits to
look forward to.
One of the more important
graduations is the graduation to
greater maturity. That isn't one to
which you can fix a date. That is a
process. Parents can be proud of
seeing their children being awarded
professional or academic degrees
upon years of schooling, but they
should be even prouder, and
certainly more thankful, when they
see their children grow to social,
moral, and spiritual maturity. And
they don't need to be average or
above average students for that
either.
raised over $2,000.
He also announced the passing of
Vera Badley's mother, Sarah
MacDonald.
The Sacrament of Baptism was
performed. The infants baptized
were Wyatt Steven Harold Bearss,
son of Steve and Frances Bearss
and Jason Christopher Meier, son
of Chris and Jane Meier.
Rev. Huntley had the junior
congregation assist with the
pouring of the water, lighting the
candle and holding the towel. Then
the choral kids surrounded them in
a circle and sang, Welcome to the
Family in an impressive ceremony.
The Old Testament Lesson was
from Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7, read by
Bodie Craig. The Gospel Lesson
was from Luke 3: 15-18, 21-22.
The choir anthem was Because
in the congregation, brought the
message with scripture from
Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 and 23-25.
"What do you remember of your
father?" he asked. "What is the role
of the father in the home today?"
In these days when both dad and
mother work outside the home the
responsibilities must be shared.
Fathers must have love for God and
and Heather Demaray, who have
been part of the church family for
several years, will be moving to
Cambridge later this month.
Grade 5-6 children enjoyed a
campout at Martin's Landing on
Friday evening. Rod and Thelma
Steinman organized the activity.
Graduating to maturity is the
most important graduating we can
do. It made James, one of the Bible
writers, say that we should even
find joy in facing trials of many
kinds, because this kind of testing
develops perseverance.
And then he says: "Perseverance
must finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything." (James 1:4).
If you want to know more about
some of the things James meant by
this "maturity," read the rest of his
letter. The maturity of which he
speaks is an all-round maturity,
touching almost every aspect of our
lives. It is a maturity that ultimately
is a spiritual maturity, but one that
very much affects our every day
activity as well as our relationship
with others.
That is a maturity that in the final
analysis can only be attained when
Jesus becomes the Lord of our lives
and when his Spirit moves our
human spirits and raises them to
that level of maturity that makes
human beings noble imagebearers
of their Creator.
That is indeed a "graduation"
worth working and praying for.
That is a graduation which not only
affects our future in this present
world but also in the world to
come.
He Lives, with Phyllis Boak,
director of music, pianist.
Rev. Huntley delivered a sermon
entitled "Recreating God's World".
We talked about physical and
spiritual baptism.
He said, "Our lives are more a
physical part than a spiritual one as
we are all still procreating. Each of
us is given talents and it is our-
responsibility to turn darkness in
our lives, into light."
Lenora Davidson read Minute for
Missions which was followed by
hymns A Little Child the Saviour
Came and Guide Me Now Thou
Great Jehovah.
The flowers were placed by Don
and Marilyn Craig and families in
loving memory of David Craig ane.
Charlie Johnston.
respect for God's Word. There is no
problem that can't be solved by
God's Word, he said.
Fathers should talk about God at
the table, driving on the road, or
during leisure time.
Children often ask questions.
Lewis said answer and explain
these questions from God's Word.
Share testimony of what the Lord
has done in your life.
"If we follow what is in the Word
of God we will inherit eternal life.
It is the father's responsibility to
model Christ in the home."
Congregation members are
looking forward to the church's
anniversary on July 2 when Rev.
Edwin Prosser, former district
superintendent of the Evangelical
Missionary Church will be the
guest speaker.
You are Wercome 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
REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH--523-9233
Sunday 10:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Rev. Adrian 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.
Aff Visitors Welcome Wheelchair accessible
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Special Speaker & Music
by Kurt Johnson
London
Community Outdoor Service
Sunday, June 25 7:30 p.m.
Lion's Park/Rain - Christian Reformed Church
• For all ages. Sponsored by C.C.Y.
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Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
invites
the Brussels Community to the
Farewell Service for
Tom and Andrea Warner and family
Sunday, June 25 at 10:30 a.m.
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THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
JUNE 25 - PENTECOST 3
MORNING PRAYER - BCP
Rev. Nancy Beale
Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
Annual Pork Chop BBO
Friday, July 7 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Mennonites bid farewell to family
Blyth pastor baptizes babies
Group sings at Auburn service
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