Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-28, 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. Summer Worship Service Brussels United/Melville Presbyterian at Brussels United 9:30 a.m. Ethel Summer Worship Service This is my Father's World I rest me in the thought Welcome HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 Sunday 10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 11 a.m. & 8 p.m. - Anniversary Services with Rev. Ed Prosser & Mark Woods 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 It-Sh 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. Aft `Visitors Welcome Wheelchair accessible THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA 9/i311 are welcome this Sunday JULY 2 - PENTECOST 4 HOLY EUCHARIST Rev. Nancy Beale Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Annual Pork Chop BBQ Friday, July 7 5 to 7:30 p.m. PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1995. From the Minister's Study Church can be a great stress reliever By Rev. Nancy Beak St. John's and Trinity Anglican Church Lately I've been wondering about my generation, the 40 year olds and younger. Specifically I've been wondering, "Where are you on Sunday mornings?" When I look at what has been happening politically in our country, both at the national level and provincially, it strikes me that people arc dissatisfied. We're not happy with what's happening around us, and so we keep sending a resounding 'NO' to our governments by voting them out and trying a different party. But isn't that kind of like putting the blame for everything on our politicians? Perhaps if we're not pleased with what's happening in the province or in the nation, perhaps we need to start at home. Perhaps we need to learn how to live better. I see us as a generation of seekers. We're searching for something that will fulfill us. Whether it's dabbling in New Age philosophies, or Wicca or finding 'community' on the Internet, it seems that we're saying we want more out of life. Well, I would like to suggest another option. Why not try out the The third Sunday- after Pentecost was celebrated at Blyth United. Church June 25. The seasonal colour is green. Greeters were Bonnie and Herb Shannon, while ushers were Devon and Nathan Shannon and Fred and Debbie Hakkers. Lorna Fraser looked after junior congregation and Karen Youngblut was in charge of nursery. Rev. Stephen Huntley opened with Call to Worship, Prayer of Approach and Words of Welcome. The hymn, Crown Him With Many Crowns was sung. Rev. Huntley talked to the junior On Sunday, June 25 Pastor and Mrs. Came sang a duet, How can I Help But Love Him, during the morning service. Pastor Came's message "Gifts of Grace" had scripture from II Corin- thians 9: 6-16. Grace is the ability to give, even to becoming poor, as Christ gave His life on the cross. Grace is not pushing ideas, but giving to those who don't deserve it. When He gives the recipient is Pastor Tom Warner preached his farewell sermon to the congrega- tion at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship on Sunday, June 25. He chose Revelation 1: 1-3 as the scripture reading. Elwin Garland was worship leader for the service. Phailop and Manivan Larprom ministered with church for our major life events - weddings, baptism and funerals. We will use the church for those major events. But when was the last time you came to church just for your own mental and spiritual health? In talking with a friend of mine, we looked at some reasons why our generation doesn't go to church ... and I'd like to address some of those reasons/excuses. I wasn't raised in the church. I don't know how to follow the service - when to stand, sit, etc. Over the past decade things have changed a fair bit in the mainline churches. One of the things that has changed is that ministers do try to make the service more 'user- friendly,' especially when we see a new face in the congregation. Church is irrelevant. In the church you hear the same old Bible stories. It's got nothing to do with me and my life. The Bible contains many stories of people and their experience of God. Preachers generally try to show the parallels between the people in the bible stories and our own lives. One can learn a great deal from hearing the stories and faith experiences of others. Church and the Bible is relevant and it may just help fill some of your spiritual hunger if you give it a chance. congregation and had each of the children blow bubbles, then watch them as they went up in the air. They were big, little and different colours. He said how amazing creation is. "God creates us and everybody is different. He can create something, out of nothing," he said A quartette of Bodie Craig, Gayle Poore, Bev Snell and Garth Walden sang Though your Sins Be of Scarlet. Brenda Edgar read New Testament Lesson from Galatians 1: 11-19. The Gospel Lesson was from Luke 7: 11-17. Rev. Huntley delivered a sermon well blessed. God is able to make all grace abound. The gift is grace, but it must be the twin of love. God's love is not self-seeking. It is not touchy and doesn't notice when others do something wrong. Then there is the grace of giving. Grace separated from giving is useless. The grace of God is without meaning if it is not giving. "Are you a grasper or a giver?" Pastor Carne asked. special music. Lucy Hesse and Nancy Elliot-Greenwood were in charge of the congregational singing. Doris Gascho, conference minister was present at the service to bring farewell greetings to the Warner family. A light lunch was held in the foyer following the service. I can't come to church on Sunday morning. I have to take the kids to hockeylbaseballlswimming practice. What happened to Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon practices? Probably part of why you have your kids involved in sports (besides the obvious reason, that they want to do it) is for some of the other benefits of sports - such as social skills, learning how to play fair, follow rules, friendly competition, etc. But what about the values you are depriving your kids of by not taking them to church? Sharing, caring, forgiving and loving are critical values. I believe they're more important than friendly competition. Not to mention, who is going to teach them how to pray? They likely won't learn that in school or on their sports team. Don't your kids deserve to know how to pray so they can share their concerns with God - so they can ask God to help them and encourage them? Sunday morning is my only day to sleep in. We often sleep in because we're exhausted. I suspect part of that exhaustion is from carrying too heavy of a load. Worrying too much. Jesus once said, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will entitled "The Miracle." He said the miracle of God has been under great scrutiny. Miracles are to get the more out of life. There are such magnificent things around the trees, the fields or a first smile or a baby's face. He closed with "Are you working for a Miracle." The hymns, Tell Me the Old, Old Story and Take My Life and Let it Be were sung, followed by Commissioning and Benediction, Go Now in Peace was sung. The flowers were placed by Vera Badley and family in the passing of her mother Sadie MacDonald. Members are looking forward to the anniversary services July 2, when the guest speaker will be Rev. Edwin Prosser, former district superintendent of the Canada East Evangelical Missionary Church. The guest musician will be Mark Woods of Goderich. Many of the teens are attending "Advance" at the Missionary Church Conference grounds at Stayner. Pastor Warner will be continuing studies out west this fall. Elwin Garland will be bringing the message next Sunday, July 2. The Ladies Fellowship had their final gathering before breaking for the summer on Tuesday, June 20 at J.J.'s Fireside Cafe, where a dinner meeting was held. Monthly meetings will resume in the fall. refresh you." Perhaps if you tried getting up and coming to church on Sunday morning - a place and a time set aside specifically for prayer, for sharing your concerns and hopes and fears with God, you might not feel so tired. You may even feel refreshed, renewed. As for your other reasons for not coming to church, well, let's see... It's more important that you come to church than how you dress for church. God is not going to get made at you if you can't afford to put anything on the collection plate. God will NOT strike you down dead/the roof will not cave in on you because you haven't been to church in years. God is a loving and forgiving God. The other members of the church will not judge you. As Christians they should welcome you and rejoice in your presence. Life can be complicated, stressful and confusing. Coming to church, acting on your faith in God is an opportunity to alleviate that stress, be refreshed and renewed. Jesus said. "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." I hope that you will give yourself and your family the opportunity to experience a richer, fuller life. I pray that it won't take four strong men carrying you in your casket to get you into church. Shannons greet at United Pastor, wife sing at service Mennonite pastor says farewell This Saturday celebrate being Canadian Happy 128th Canada!