Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-10-18, Page 20BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 11:00 a.m. Manse 887-9313 Anniversary Service The Very Rev. Dr. Bruce McLeod. former Moderator, United Church of Canada, Guest Minister 7:30 p.m. Evening Service An hour of music- Barbershop Quartet - Harriston, Special Guests, Favourite Anthems, Church Choir, Congregational Singing How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord Is laid for your faith in his excellent word. A warm welcome to all on this 140th Anniversary Sunday MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Cathrine Campbell 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service We welcome you to come and worship with us. 887-9831 Wheelchair Accessible Blyth United Church ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY October 29 - 11 a.m. Guest Speaker: • Rev. Roger McCombe Lunch to follow PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1995. By Rev. Cameron McMillan Brussels and Ethel United Churches "Ask and it will be given you, seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened unto you." These words of Jesus, given in Matthew 7: 7, assure us that we have a God who cares for us, who listens to our prayers and has many good things that He wants to give us. The way we are to approach God, is by asking, seeking and knocking. Asking is making our requests known to God, talking things over with God, telling God what is troubling us, what is on our minds. We should let it all out, talk over frankly and openly the problem that is before us. God listens to us. God hears our prayers. The seeking time is searching out the right solution to our problems, the direction in which God wants It was the 19th Sunday of Pentecost at Blyth United Church, Oct. 15. Greeters were Donald and Linda Stewart while ushers were Erica Clark (leader) and members of the Brownie groups. Phyllis Boak, director of music, was organist. Rev. Ian Diamond opened with words of welcome, announcements. This was followed by the hymn God Who Made the Earth, the Sky, the Sea. The conversation with the children was about Thanksgiving. There was a tree at the front completely bare of leaves, which appeared dead. During singing of the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful, the children, then the adults, came forward and hung beautiful coloured leaves, each with a message of thanks written on it. The tree transformed into the brilliant colours of autumn. Erica Clark, David Sparling and Giselle Kelly presented Life Certificates to members of the Brownie groups. The quartet "4 All Ages" comprised of Garth Walden, Shane Snell, John McDowell and Dan Snell sang Farther Along and In Times Like These. us to go. We explore different alternatives, look at possible solutions. This is the most difficult and confusing time in our relationship with our God. God doesn't seem to be listening. God is not answering our prayer immediately, in the way that we want. Events are not unfolding in the way that we want to see them happen. This is the time when our thoughts get purified and refined. Selfish desires are cast out. As we talk the matter over further with God, our thoughts change, our wishes shift, we discover new things we might do that we never dreamed of before. We try to open several doors, but find that they are firmly shut and can't be opened. We keep on trying, seeking, praying. Finally, we knock on the door that God wants us to enter. We find that it opens easily before us. God Rachel deBoer read the New Testament while the Gospel Lesson was from Luke 17, 11-9 on which Rev. Diamond based his sermon entitled, "Healing and Wholeness ... Gifts of God." said, "When we are sick we experience our vulnerability. Sickness, at its worst, is a foretaste of what it is like to have the world go on without you, to be nothing." Sickness, he said, reminds that life is fragile, limited, and terminal. "Serious sickness, at times, is a brush with death." Rev. Diamond talked about the 10 lepers Jesus encountered. They had leprosy and were thrown out by their families and were outcasts in society. They were not only sick but were in a sense, dead or doomed to die, he said. They asked Jesus to heal them and Jesus did nothing. He only said to them, "Go on, show yourself to the priest, as if you are whole, healed, accepted, living people!" "Strange?" Rev. Diamond asked. "But that is the way Jesus worked and still works, with people. But they go and as they go, they are healetr Bev Snell, clerk of session, read opens it and welcomes us into this new room that He has prepared for us. The route is laid out before us. We slide easily into it. We experience great peace of mind. Many years ago, my great desire was to minister in Alberta. After an initial detour to Saskatchewan, I got an Alberta church. I was happy and content. The time came to leave that church, and I sought another church in Alberta. I could not find one. Finally, a call came to come to serve a church in Manitoba. I had never thought of moving there, but I came to see that this was where God wanted me to be. The door opened easily and I moved eastward. The journey east continued, ended up in Brussels. Prayers are answered, but not always the way we hoped for: We ask, seek and knock and then move forward in the way God wants us to go. a letter from Rev. Stephen Huntley in Bowral, Australia, who is exchanging pulpits with Rev. Diamond. He said, "Spring is in the air. At least it is on this side of the world. It is tulip time here in Bowral (Annual Festival). We've had great rain here to break the drought. During August and July little or no rain and temperatures have been unseasonably hot, 30°C, cool 10°C." "There is a lot of wheat grown and great herds of sheep. I have had a chance to witness "sheep shearing" first hand and saw two emus in a field." "Trust that everyone is well and enjoying the Diamonds. Take care and God Bless!" Choral response "Go Now In Peace" concluded the service. The beautiful floral arrangement was from the funeral of William Dale of Seaforth, father of Deanna Snell, placed by her and the family. The Variety Concert that was held last Friday evening was well attended. Many came out to support this event and the time and effort was much appreciated. Ann Hollinger is in University Hospital, London undergoing surgery. 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 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 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday October 22 - Pentecost 20 MORNING PRAYER - BCP Rev. Nancy Beale Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. It\ 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 An uplifting occasion The congregation of Melville Presbyterian acknowledged a momentous occasion on Sunday evening with the dedication service for the new access lift. Cutting the ribbon withformer Melville pastor Rev. Carolyn McAvoy, second from left, and Rev. Cathrine Campbell, second from right, were three congregation members who worked on the project's committee, Margaret Mclnroy co-chair, Gerald Gibson, who shared skill and talents in the refinishing of the west entrance stairwell and Murray Cardiff, co-chair. From the Minister's Study Move forward in God's way Letter arrives from 'down under '