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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-04-24, Page 18Reluctant bidders Lloyd Koch appears to be looking to wife Erla for approval as he bids on an item at the Brussels Mennonite Fellowship auction. A good-natured debate ensued on whether to keep going before the Kochs gave up. Funds from the event go to mission work. Pietrek leads Mennonite 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 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 BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship "Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Lffe" Church School - Nursery Welcome to the members of the Brussels Women's Institute attending our service this Sunday. Ethel Morning Worship Church School "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee God of Glory, Lord of Love" Welcome 9:30 a.m. (Cease join us for Worship SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m. Rev. Adrian A. VanGeest • "Fear not; for I am with you; 0e not dismayed; for I am your God; I will' stren:ghten you; yes I will help you." Isaiah 41:10 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible You are Welcome at the BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults 11:00 a.m. - 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 APRIL 28 - EASTER 4 Huron Hunger Fund Sunday ST. JOHN'S - MORNING PRAYER BCP TRINITY - MORNING PRAYER BAS Rev. Nancy Beale Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Yard & Bake Sale - Saturday, May 11 9 to 2 at St. John's From the Minister's Study Nothing more wondrous than eternity By Rev. Randy Banks Walton-Bluevale United Churches When I look at your heavens the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established, what are human beings that you are mindful of them. Psalm 8: 3, 4 The heavens are calling you and wheeling around you displaying to you their eternal beauty and still your eye is looking upon the ground. Dante To infinity and ... beyond! Woody the toy cowboy in Toy Story What is more wondrous and unfathomable than the eternity and infinitude of God, time, and space? Whenever I behold a clear, night sky, my infinitesimal mind nearly short-circuits from an overload of imponderables: "What are we doing here?" "What is my raison d'etre?" "Where does God reside?" "Where and what is Heaven?" "Is there intelligent, friendly, or belligerent life elsewhere in the cosmos as Star Trek, Star Wars and E.T. would have us believe?" "Or, are we alone in a vast and purposeless universe?" "Will the Missionaries hear quartet A male quartet consisting of Clare Smith, Clarke Teal, Bruce and Graham Russell sang an inspiring number during the morning service at Auburn Missionary Church on Sunday, April 21. Their rendition of I'm a Child of the King was enjoyed by all. Pastor Carne's message, from Acts 17: -12, was "Going By the Book". In this passage of scripture the Bereans received the apostles but checked out what Paul said. "We must approach the Book, the Bible," said Pastor Carne. "We must know it and believe it. Those who seldom read the Bible are the ones who criticize it the most." Then there are the fickle followers. If you don't stand for something you will fall for everything. Many children raised in a Christian home go the way of the transgressor, because they will not take their stand for what they know is the truth - the Word of God, Pastor Came said. Then there are the spiritually healthy people who believe and live by the Word of God. The Bible is no reference book taken out periodically but to live by, he said. "Do not add or subtract from the Word of God. If we do subtract from the Word of God Revelations 22: 19 states that God will take our part out of the book of life." Dorothy Bolton has just returned from spending four months in Jamaica doing volunteer work with the Rosemount Missionary Church and Hemingay Preparatory School in Montego Bay. She has had a rich and rewarding experience. The congregation is sorry to report that John Baumbach is in the hospital in London and are praying that the Lord will undertake in this situation. Jeffrey Bowman, who is attending Radio College of Canada in Toronto, was home for the weekend. fires of the sun burn themselves out in a few billion years as astronomers predict or will a gargantuan meteorite or a comet collide with and obliterate this 'little blue planet third from the sun?" Is life nothing more than a continuous random clashing and clanging of atoms?" "If God made the heavens and ear.h, who made God?" You can appreciate why I do not star-gaze every evening? Sometimes we have to preoccupy our minds with mundane matters such as: Will the Detroit Red Wings choke their way out of the Stanley Cup playoffs? When I was a child, I wanted my own telescope and private observatory so that, on a clear night, I might be able to see forever. Although space 'the final frontier' has always fascinated me, I have no desire to, say, become the first clergy-person or even the 1,000th for that matter, to conduct weddings aboard a space station or on the surface of Mars. Earth suits me just fine, thank you very much. Nevertheless. I can tell you that, like all bedazzled earthlings, I was glued to our black-and-white television in the early morning hours of July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren left their epoch-making footprints on the arid and lifeless surface of our unnamed moon which had remained undisturbed for who knows how many billions of years. The Canadian astronomer, Terence Dickenson, states in his book Exploring the Night Sky that "when our grandparents were children, no one knew of anything Pat Pietrek was the worship leader at the regular Sunday morn- ing service at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship on Sunday, April 21. Lloyd Koch, as song leader, and Kathy Procter, as pianist, led the congregational singing. Tobi Farrell and Sue Huigenbos played a piano duet for the offertory. Sandy MacEacheran brought the message. He spoke on "Another One Thing". Luke 10: 38-42 was the main scripture passage, but selections from Luke were also read. The issue of destiny is the most critical thing. God has planned a life for us, MacEacheran said. Studies have shown that money, fame, and education do not make us happy. Yet those three things are sought by many. What that existed beyond the stars. The discovery of the essential components of the universe has been largely a 20th century enterprise. The accelerated pace of discovery in recent years has given astronomers reason to believe that there is an end to space and time ... that the universe is finite." Well, that is the first time I have ever heard about limitations being applied to space. In any event, the inscrutable mysteries of the universe are certain to remain just that - mysteries - at least for me. So, I concur with the sentiments expressed in the exclamations of the psalmist, Dante, and yes, even that latter-day philosopher, Woody the Cowboy: "Wow! What a wondrous universe God has created! Who can comprehend it?" And, even though I may consider myself to be an insignificant speck in the universe, I am reminded in scripture that even the tiniest sparrow does not escape God's notice. I believe that you and I serve a unique and special purpose both on this earth and beyond. Physical life is only one part of that journey toward discovery of our purpose. The psalmist elsewhere reminds us that although everything in the material world is subject to death, destruction, and decay, God is eternal and unchanging: "Before the mountains were brought forth or even you had formed the earth and the world ... from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (from Psalm 90) "To infinity and...beyond." Hey Woody, expect to find God there. does make people happy are relationship and fellowship with another person. God wants us to have a relationship with him, Mac- Eacheran said. Martha was so busy serving that she missed the important thing, the relationship. Mary chose to be with Jesus and give Him her undivided attention. Joy stays constant despite the circumstances in our life but happiness doesn't. "God wants us to have a relationship with Him. God wants us to have joy, an abundance of joy." On Friday evening a talent auction was held at the church. The Youth had a food booth as a fundraiser, as well. Proceeds will Continued on page 22