Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-07-12, Page 12Office 887-6259 11:00 a.m. Church Wheelchair accessible .Aft" Visitors `Welcome - Morning Service. - Sunday School - Belgrave Service 11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Tim Purvis, interim Moderator We welcome you to come and worship with us. 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. 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 Manse 887-9313 Summer Worship Service Brussels United/Melville Presbyterian at Brussels United 9:30 a.m. Ethel Summer Worship Service God who fills the earth with beauty. Teach us now to laugh and praise you. Welcome PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1995. From the Minister's Study What is more commercialized than sports? By Rev. Randy Banks Walton-Bluevale Pastoral Charge It represents perhaps my version of a misspent youth — hundreds of hours given over to watching televised Maple Leaf games: Wednesday on CTV (joined in progress at 8:30 p.m.) and Saturdays on CBC, the original Hockey Night In Canada. Further gorging of my insatiable hockey appetite was possible most Sunday evenings as the immortal Foster Hewitt called the play-by- play on radio for Leaf away games. In those days, I could rhyme off statistics and team rosters with the alacrity of a Jerry Howarth. While living in Manitoba I hauled my radio outside on many a summer evening and listened to Blue Jays broadcasts as I worked in the yard or caught up on my reading. In the 1970s, I had also developed an addiction to watching televised Canadian Football League games. For the last two years, I have probably watched no more than an hour or two of hockey and baseball combined. And, with the increasing Americanization of Canadian football, my avidity for that sport is on the wane. The appetite of the most voracious hockey fan must have been well-sated despite this past season's shortness. I am dumbfounded that the NHL season ended June 24! Canada's winter pastime has become a spring and summer sport. Only in Canada would we fritter away the most glorious time of the year parked on our sofas watching hockey and dignifying the vacuous ramblings of Don Cherry on Coach's Corner. Just think, three more games and the season would have extended almost into July. What has happened to this ertswhile sportaholic? Work and family responsibilities and community involvements have assumed priority,' but that does not account for my growing indiffer- ence toward professional sports. The recent baseball strike and the hockey lockout have watered the seeds of disillusion and cyncism that have already been growing in me. The outlandish multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts secured through free agency have placed sports in something of an inaccessible stratosphere. An average patron could hardly take one other family member to a hockey or baseball game in Toronto for less than $100 once tickets, travel, parking, food, and souvenirs are factored in. Contrast this with the average player who probably makes that much in the first five minutes of the game even if he drops a routine fly ball or misses an open net. The love of the game no longer seems to be the primary motivation for playing. Perhaps, nostalgia clouds my judgement, but I cannot help concluding that a favourite hockey player of mine, such as Dave Keon, must have played mostly for the love of the game because I doubt that it made him a millionaire several times over. We in the church are forever lamenting the commercialization of Christmas or Easter. What is more commercialized than sports? It could actually be the case by the time this article is printed that the reigning Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils may be defunct, only to be resurrected in the name of more money and greater marketability as 'The Nashville Country Twangers.' (I wonder what kind of job Garth Brooks or Reba McEntyre might do of Canada's national Anthem when The Vancouver Canucks come to town). Huston Horn was a writer for eight years with Sports Illustrated. One day he said to himself: "Boy, add all this up and who the heck cares! Here's a picture in The Birmingham News of a police dog being set on a man protesting for human dignity and here I am writing this junk about Don Drysdale who used to lose his temper and break bats, and boy, what a man he is." Mr. Horn eventually felt called to a new vocation - the Episcopalian priesthood. Ever since organized religion and organized minor sports reached an accommodation that Sunday. afternoon hockey, baseball, and soccer tournaments were acceptable, it was not long before it became expedient to use Sunday in its entirety. The church has been griping and regretting ever since. Today's synagogues, churches, and mosques are arenas, golf courses, stadiums. They come complete with idols to worship (the star player's) and a multitude of rituals including singing the national anthem; the wave; chanting, cheering, booing, and hissing; a book of rules; and a 'eucharist of hot dogs, peanuts and beer, not to mention the millions of dollars that are forked over by those who are finding their spiritual fulfillment in helping to fill the coffers of players, managers and owners. One major different from church, of course, is that, at sports matches,. people will pay top dollar to sit at or near the front row. • I certainly value the role of sports and recreation in our society. God has given us a physical body which we have a responsibility to keep fit. The last time I checked, it was clear to me that I could stand a little more cardiovascular activity. Body, mind, and spirit all need attention for the sake of one's complete well- being. An interesting footnote to these summertime ruminations has to do with the question of who, recently, has packed more people into the SkyDome: the Blue Jays? The Argos? (not!) Rita McNeil? The Stones? None of the above. The Rev. Billy Graham, that's who. Is there unfulfilled spiritual hunger out there, sports fans? You wanna believe it. Whaddya have to say about that Grapes? Elwin Garland leads service THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday JULY 16 - PENTECOST 6 HOLY EUCHARIST Rev. Nancy Beale Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. 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 Elwin Garland brought the message to the congregation at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship on Sunday, July 2. He chose Philippians 3 as the scripture reading. The message was based on verse 13 - "But one thing I do; Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." We all remember some things, and forget many, he said. Memories can cause us to experience the same emotions as we did at the time of the actual event. Therefore, if we live only in the past, we go in circles. Yet we do need to remember some things. A balance of remembering and It was the fifth Sunday after Pentecost for the service at Blyth United Church, July 9. The seasonal colour was green. Greeters were Joann MacDonald and Lenora Davidson. Ushers were Hary and Ferne McDowell, Jim Walsh and Jack Blake. Rev. Stephen Huntley opened with Call to Worship, Words of Welcome and announcements. The "beautiful" flowers he said, were from the Cudmore wedding. Also, next Sunday will be his last virginia Stright sang a solo at Auburn Missionary Church on Sunday, July 9. Her rendition of He is Here, Hallelujah was enjoyed by all. Pastor Carne's message, "Count your blessings" had scripture from Job 1 and Romans 8: 28,31. "What does one do when he loses everything?" he asked. Job's wife didn't give any comfort when she told Job to curse God and die but, Job had faith. Job forgetting is necessary for growth. We must consider what is worth keeping. There are three basic kinds of forgetting. Insignificant events will naturally fade from memory while significant events will stay. Secondly, if remembering becomes too painful, minds will suppress these memories which are too much to bear. However, this is not the natural way to forget. Thirdly, Christ offers the gift of forgetting through repentance. The memories may still be there, but the pain is gone. The forgiveness accompanying repentance, frees us and enables us to forget and go before departing for Australia on a six month exchange. Rev. George Cowan will fill in the following two Sundays. The exchange minister from Australia will then be here for six months. Everyone was happy to see former minister Rev. Lorenzo Ramirez, his wife Norma and family seated in the congregation. They are holidaying in this area. The sermon Rev. Huntley delivered was entitled, "Eye of the never got past his resources, he had God. Job had an unshakable conviction because he knew he was right with God. Bad things are bound to happen to everyone. Disaster is universal but the real disaster is in facing the disaster alone. Then here is the counter balance, which is; the power of God, Pastor Came said. God is still in control, he said. God brings that control as shown in Psalm 34: 7. The angel forward. God forgives us in spite of the pain we have caused him. Elwin encouraged us, as Christians, to accept God's gift of remember- ing and forgetting so that we can press forward. Linda Campbell was worship leader and Lucy Hesse accom- panied by Christy Pardys was song leader. Andra Dettweiler played a piano solo for the offertory. Next Sunday, Thelma Steinman will give the message. Following the Christian Educa- tion Hour next Sunday, there will be a fellowship meal and a shower for baby Daniel Winger, son of Lowel and Tracy Winger. Storm". He talked about a severe storm he ran into while crossing a long bay in Newfoundland during, his time as pastor there. There is a calm that exists as we trudge along life's storms, trusting in God, showing us the way," he said. Rev. Huntley, accompanying himself on guitar, beautifully sang Christ is the Light of the World. Following choral response and benediction, coffee and muffins were served and a social time was held. of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. God is available to those who love Him. Job was a man of faith so he made it easy for God to come to him. In conclusion, he said Job came out of this disaster well blessed. He lost 3,000 camels but gained 6,000 camels. He lost 7,000 sheep but he was restored 14,000 sheep. There is certainly in the text 'And we know...Romans 8: 28. "Do you know?" he asked. Blyth United exchanges pastor Pastor says 'Count your blessings'