The Citizen, 1996-10-16, Page 22IFE
IS TOO
SHORT
To Let A Day Pa ss Wi t hout
Hugging Your Children
Children—And 11
of human touch. Stay in
touch Wi th these basic needs by
r.irr or :1 church family. Our
church ucLun'c, you.
Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship
9:30 am. Worship Service
10:45 am. Christian Education (tor all ages)
You're invited to worship with us this Sunday
10 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship Service
-Guest Speaker: Mr. George Lubbers
7 p.m. - Sunday Evening Service - Elder Martin Wilts
I am excited dout...others. I have a purpose in life so big it
will challenge every part of me to be at my best.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 9-lorwur one
another above yourself
- &qtrzans 12:10
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible zots,
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister
Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540
11:00 a.m. 120th Anniversary Service
Rev. Rick Hawley - President of
London Conference Guest Speaker
Church School - Nursery
7:30 p.m. Anniversary Service of Music
9:30 a.m. Ethel Morning Worship
Church School
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices
A warm welcome to everyone
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
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
YOUTH PASTOR - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788
Sunday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Morning Service
8 p.m. - Evening Service
7:30 p.m. - Addictions Support Group
7:30 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study
7:30 p.m. - Youth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
OCTOBER 20 - PENTECOST 21
HOLY EUCHARIST
Rev. Nancy Beale
Trinity; Blyth
St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
Annual Beef Supper - Blyth Memorial Hall
Thursday, October 17 - 5 to 7 p.m.
PAGE 22 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1996
From the Minister's Study
Minister confesses to frustration
By Rev. Nancy Beale
St. John's & Trinity
Anglican Churches
They say that confession is good
for the soul. Well, I need to confess
to all of you that I'm rather
frustrated. I'm frustrated by
people's lack of commitment . . .
their lack of commitment to their
own faith communities. I'm not just
referring to the absentee 'Anglicans'
in this area, I mean absentee
Christians, regardless of
denomination. I can't begin to
count the number of people I've
met over the past few years, who
have made mention of their
'denominational affiliation' and
then with a sheepish grin have said
- "But I haven't been to church in
years."
Membership in a Christian
community requires more than just
having been baptized or married in
a particular church. Membership
requires more than perfect Sunday
School attendance 20 years ago.
Membership means showing up
and getting involved.
I wonder how many people
would join a local organization like
the Lions Club, Women's Institute
or sports organization only to never
show up at any of the meetings or
games? We probably would not.
Nonetheless, when it comes to our
churches, we seem to be taking it
for granted that the church will
always be there for us - even if we
don't go.
It was Thanksgiving Sunday at
the service at Blyth United Church,
Oct. 13, with the church being
beautiful, deedrated in the brilliant
colours of autumn. It was also food
bank Sunday, with a large amount
of non-perishables donated by the
congregation.
Rev. Stephen Huntley conducted
the service. Michael Duthie was
organist. Greeting the worshippers
were Fred and Hanny Meier, while
ushers were Warren and Donna
Moore, Lois van Vliet and Steve
Cook. Looking after the nursery
were Debbie and Michelle Cook.
Following greetings, Call to
Worship and announcements, the
Sacrament of Baptism was held. In
an impressive ceremony, Braydon
Earl Dale Whitfield, son of Dale
and Sharon Whitfield, was initiated
into the body of church. Joe and
Connie (Westburg) Heitkamp of
Las Vegas were godparents. A
Little Child the Saviour Caine was
Churches host
PD programs
Several local United Church
congregations are joining together
to offer a new program which will
offer children at creative alternative
on school PD days.
On Friday, Oct. 25, the first PD
day of the fall, will be the first
Possibility Day at the Brussels
United Church. It will be like a one
day Vacation Bible School, with a
Christian based program of fun and
adventure for children aged four to
14.
The program is a joint venture
between Bluevale and Walton and
the Brussels-Ethel United
Churches. It is spearheaded by Rev.
Johnson and Rev. James
Continued on page 24
Regardless of what your
denomination is chances are your
church has undergone some
changes since you last attended.
Since its beginning, the church has
been in a constant state of change,
just as the world around you has
been. If you left the church a
number of years ago, because you
didn't like this or that about the
church, go back. You might be
pleasantly surprised by the
changes.
I know that I may be upsetting
my own parishioners by saying
this, but it's something that I am
willing to risk. I am a Christian and
a Priest, and I have a responsibility
to all of you. If you stay at home on
Sunday mornings because you
weren't getting anything out of your
former church, visit another church
- either another congregation of
your own denomination, or try one
of the other denominations.
Your souls are very precious and
tender. They are part of what
makes you who you are. You
would not deprive yourself or your
children from food, sleep or
exercise. Your spiritual self needs
Ito be fed. Find yourself a place in
which you can worship God, and
nourish your soul.
Now when I say that, I'm not
referring to some of the spiritual
junk food that's out there; psychic
hotlines or New Age stuff. I'm
referring to the meat, potatoes and
vegetables of the spiritual world,
good scripturally based faith that
the baptism hymn. Choral anthem
was God Will Take of You.
Old Testament lesson, read by
Donna Moore, was from Exodus
32: 1-14. Gospel reading, delivered
by Rev. Huntley, was from
Matthew 25: 1-14.
The theme of the sermon was on
an invitation to a, party. Perhaps
Thanksgiving Day plans included
advance planning, Rev. Huntley
said. "You all may have been asked
to respond to an invitation, RSVP.
The Kingdom of God, Jesus said, is
like a King who held a wedding
feast, a party for his son."
Jesus often talked of parties, Rev.
Huntley said. He was at a wedding
party, in Cana of Galilee where he
turned the water into wine which
saved the party from going bad.
The Christian life is one filled
with festive celebration. The word
"feast" comes from the word
"fictional" and celebrating is a key
component to the Christian faith.
Most of the festivals or holidays,
short for holy days come from
Christian heritage. Celebrating is
an integral part of Christianity.
In conclusion, he said, "God
loves to party and you're all invited
to the biggest party ever, the
Kingdom of God. Don't miss- it!
RSVP."
Hymn We Plough the Fields and
Scatter preceded choral response,
"Go Now in Peace".
allows you to use all the gifts God
has blessed you with - including
your intellect and inquiring mind.
If you're a little unsure about
going back to church, because
you're worried about where to stand
and sit or kneel in all the appro-
priate places...see if you know
someone who goes to that church.
I'm sure they would be glad to'
guide you through the service. If
you don't know someone who goes
there, you could mention to the
greeter that you're feeling unsure.
The greeter would be happy to seat
you in a pew with someone who
would help you through an
unfamiliar service.
Don't forget, as Christians, we're
always more than happy to share
our faith in God, the love that we
ourselves have-received, with
others. No church should ever be a
place of criticism and judgment.
The church is a place of love and
acceptance. Every last one of us in
the church (including the clergy) is
a sinner who needs God's love and
forgiveness. We all receive that
forgiveness because of the depth of
love that Jesus showed.
As long as the church exists, we
will always offer outreach to those
who don't come. We will do our
best to offer and share God's grace
and God's love. As Christians, that
is our responsibility.
But the church may not always
be there for you. As congregations
shrink due to the lack of attendance
and commitment, it becomes harder
and harder for the handful of
people who do come to keep the
doors of the church open. I also
know that for the people who are in
these shrinking congregations, it's
hard on them to look at all those
empty pews week after week. We
miss you.
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
ANNIVERSARY SERVICE
October 27
11:00 a.m. -
Guest Speaker: Rev. Ramirez
Potluck lunch following service.
Baptism at United
You are Welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY 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