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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1995-07-05, Page 24You are WeCcome 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 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. 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 All things bright and beautiful the Lord God made them all. Welcome MELVILLE 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. PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1995. From the Minister's Study Pastor talks of knowing Jesus as a friend By Rev. Stephen Huntley Blyth United Church "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I call you friends, for everything that 1 learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15: 15) Friends. One of the experiences often identified with the summer- time is friends and friendship. The summertime claims a special significance in the making of friends, friends we hope to meet again, friends just getting acquainted, and even friends we haven't yet met. Friends come in many different shapes and sizes. Fortunately, friends know no boundaries of race, religion, or any other artificial boundaries mankind creates. In the summertime youngsters going to camp often meet new friends that become life-long buddies. Mom and Dad get an opportunity, perhaps on vacation or around the barbecue to renew old friendships and to make new ones. Whatever shape, size or circum- stance of friends, one thing is for certain, friends are very important to us and it is hard to imagine life without a friend or two. Jesus often used the word friend in describing his relationship to his peers. God is not spoken of as friend in theological circles of our world. The concept of friendship is also unique in the field of religion. Why is Jesus using this loaded psychological and sociological term - friend when he speaks of our relationship to God? The reason why I believe Jesus held the word friend in such high esteem is because friendship is such a lifegiving force. Friendship is essential to our living, important for our spiritual and emotional well-being. True friendship is devoid of the kind of manipulation and control that enhances a great majority of relationships today. Specifically, friendship or peership by definition brings an equality of status. Relating to another as a peer is the kind of friendship Jesus refers to when he speaks of friend. Peership is opposite to hierarchy. Hierarchy infects and destroys so much of our human relationships. If we are into hierarchy as a form of relating to others, than we are always trying to one-up or one- down someone. We have .all experienced, I'm sure, the kind of friendship where this is the dominant thread. The result is a kind of frustration born out of excessive competition; a strained relationship exists at best. Superficiality, not intimacy is the order of the day. One-upmanship, or hierarchy also leads to burnout and a feeling of being unappre- ciated. Peership, on the other hand, brings an equality to friendship and an energy to life. If we engage in friendship treating others as our equal, not lesser, nor greater than ourselves, we engage in something that our Lord himself held as the highest of human/divine relation- ship. There is an inherent spiritual quality to friendship when we relate to others as peers. Jesus speaking to his disciples one day said, "You know how the Gentiles lord it over them...But you are not to be like that. Instead the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. (Luke 22: 25-26). Jesus said, "I call you friends". This is how much value He placed on you and me. No higher status could He afford. If this is how Jesus related to us, who are we to do less? Do you relate to others as peers; equal in status? Or, are your friendships strained and lacking in closeness. Check it out for yourself. Are you into peership or hierarchy? Give yourself the best you deserve, and be a true friend. Know that Jesus is your friend, a friend constantly calling you toward a very special friendship. Decoration in memory The parish of the Anglican Church gathered at Brandon Cemetery near Belgrave on July 2 !or the Decoration Service. Rev. Vicars-Hodge of the Wingham congragation led the service. 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. All Visitors Welcome Wheelchair accessible Missionaries mark anniversary Anniversary services were held at Auburn Missionary Church on Sunday, July 2. The guest musician was Mark Woods of Goderich, who sang Lord, I Stand Amazed of Who You Are and The World Behind Me, the Cross Before Me, I will Serve Him. During the evening service Mark and Elizabeth Bowman sang duets and Mark also played his trumpet which was enjoyed by all. Guest speaker was Rev. Edwin Prosser of Wasaga Beach, a former district superintendent of the Canada East, Evangelical Missionary Church. The fourth Sunday after Pentecost was celebrated at Blyth United Church, July 2. The seasonal colour is green. Greeters were Vera and Jack Hesselwood while ushers were Marlene, Kaitlin and Bryce Toll. Rev. Stephen Huntley opened with Call to Worship, Prayer of Approach and Words of Welcome. Hymn The Lord is My Shepherd was sung. Rev. Huntley explained to the Rev. Prosser chose John 17: 13- 26 for his scripture reading. In this scripture passage we learn that Jesus prays for all that we might have joyfulness. Jesus brings joy and joy characterizes lives. People can have joy even in the midst of the storm if their foundation is in Jesus. In this scripture, he said there is holiness of life. Christians strive to please God, but are distracted by things of this world, yet He will come and fill them with His spirit. Christians can live by the truth of God. In verse 18, it reads that Christ Junior Congregation that choices can be either right or wrong. It is easy to choose wrong, but good if the next time the choice is different. The anthem Something Worth Living For was sung by the choir, accompanied by Phyllis Boak. Hary McDowell read the scripture. The sermon "The Man Who WoUldn't Look Back" was about Eric Ladul a marathon runner, whose story was the movie sends people into the world. All they need to do is to look around to see people who need Jesus. In verse 21 Jesus prays that "they may be one". "We must accept each other because Jesus loves us and there is oneness in the body of Christ," Rev. Prosser said. In verse 23 Jesus portrays love. Subtract love from mission and there is tyranny, he said. "Love for God, gives us joy." "Love for God, leads to truth." "Love for God, leads to unity." "The greatest revelation of love is at the cross." "Do we portray love?" Chariots of Fire. He said if there is emptiness in our lives, make a commitment to God and put your hands on the plow and not look back. The hymns He Leadeth Me, 0 Blessed Thought and Tell Out My Soul were sung, followed by commissioning and benediction. Go Now In Peace was sung. The flowers in the sanctuary were placed in memory of Robert Marshall and Ruby Pattison. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are weCcome this Sunday JULY 9 - PENTECOST 5 MORNING PRAYER 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. United hears story of inspiration