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The Citizen, 1997-04-09, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9,1997 PAGE 15. From the Minister's Study Slightly used room for rent in Israel By James H. Came, Sr. Pastor The Missionary Church, Auburn There are no TADS in tombs. The reason is obvious: a TAD is a device that allows one to say in tones most serious and sepulchral, "Sorry I missed your calla, I just stepped out for a moment. Please leave a short message after the beep and I will get back to you;" the dead do not "step out for a moment." The record states, however, that when the women went for visitation at Jesus' tomb, (not "2-4, 7-9," this time), "They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus." I visited recently a funeral home and found everything as I had expected: a casket containing the deceased, a grieving family. If it had been otherwise, I would have concluded that I was at the wrong mortuary or that I had missed the funeral. I did have a recent experience, nonetheless, not unlike that of the women at the tomb. I visited a "dead" friend of mine, a former truck-driving buddy, and found that he was not at home. Now, he was not dead physically, but, rather in the sense of which Ephesians 2:1 speaks: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins..." Then he called me a week later and said, to my amazement, "Rev. Jim, today I became a Christian," and, lo and behold, he had vacated the tomb! The incidence reminded me of Bill Gaither's song: Today I went back to the place where 1 used to go, Today I saw the same old crowd I knew before. When they asked me what had happened, I tried to tell them, "Thanks to Calvary, I don't come here, anymore." Thanks to Calvary, I am not the man that I used to be; Thanks to Calvary, things are different than before. While the tears ran down my face, I tried to tell them, "Thanks to Calvary, I don't come here anymore." And then we went back to the house where we used to live. My little boy ran and hid behind the door. I said, "Son, never fear, you've got a new daddy; Thanks to Calvary, we don't live here anymore!" Hallelujah, the tomb is vacant! The room is for rent! There is a shock factor in this resurrection event: "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The guards are so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men." (Matt.28:2). The dead cannot forsake the tomb on their own; it requires a miracle of Dfvine deliverance to introduce one to newness of life and to neutralize all the obstacles to living for Him. There is also the element of surprise: the angel was surprised that they "sought the living among the dead." The women were surprised that they shouldn't! That's where they left Him on Friday night. We shouldn't be surprised at that which God does, but we are. I told my newly-resurrected truck-driving friend, "There was a time when I could hardly believe that your conversion was possible." After the shock and surprise of resurrection, surrender is the only appropriate response. The disciples were told to go to Galilee as they had been instructed, and go they must, under the circumstances, in spite of their doubts and fears, to receive there the great commission to evangelize the world. Somewhere in Israel there is an empty tomb, perhaps with a sign on it: "Room for rent; vacant; slightly used." THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA you are welcome this Sunday APRIL 13 - EASTER 3 MORNINQ PRAYER Rev. Nancy Beale Trinity, Blyth St. John's, 9:30 a.m. ~ Sunday Brussels Wheelchair Accessible 11:15 a.m. ~ Sunday you are TVeCcome 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 D. Procter leads worship Don Procter was the worship leader at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship on Sunday, April 6. Angie and Erl a Koch looked after the congregational singing. Becky and Heather Heipel provided music for the offertory with the piano and violin. Tim Goodland led the congregation, singing his favourite song, This Is The Day the Lord Hath Made. Linda Campbell brought the message on the topic of the Holy Spirit, the music-maker of the trinity. The Holy Spirit helps in daily living by comforting, convicting, and conveying the truth. He offers constant companionship for those who allow Him to be part of their lives, she said. On Tuesday, the women will be guests for dinner at Wilmot Mennonite Church. The weekly Bible study groups will meet at Garlands' (youth) and Steinman's (Grade 7/8). Pastor Glen Brubacher will bring the message next Sunday. Locals join peace mission Lena and Susannah Siegers of Wingham ON joined a team of peacemakers bound for Haiti April 2-14. The team plans to visit areas in Haiti where violence is a major problem and be a supportive presence to Haitians working for peace. With over 200,000 uncollected weapons still in the hands of former military and paramilitary personnel, many Haitians fear that the same forces that ousted Jean-Bertrand Aristide will once again take control of the country. "At a time of increasing insecurity and violent attacks in Haiti, it is important to let the Haitian people now that they are not alone, that the world is watching," say the Siegers, members of Brussels Mennonite Fellowship. The group is organized by Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), a project supported by the Mennonites, Brethem, and Quakers to reduce violence and promote the resolution of conflicts through nonviolent means. CPT has trained and maintained violence reduction teams in Haiti since the fall of 1993. FWIO and CAPRO join forces At the recent provincial board meeting, directors of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario agreed to partner with the Ontario Farm Women's Network in promoting the Community Abuse Program of Rural Ontario (CAPRO). The Women's Institute will have a seat on the advisory committee of CAPRO. Branches will be including CAPRO in their action plans for Safe and Healthy Communities projects. CAPRO is implementing a community development approach in designing rural models for social needs. Too often universal needs, such as childcare, abuse shelters, employment needs and transportation have had solutions designed for urban centres. These are not necessarily effective in rural Ontario. Through CAPRO, rural communities define problems within their own context, take responsibility for the concerns and design prevention methods suitable to the unique capacities already part of the community. There are two specific objectives to the program. The first is to raise the awareness of the issues of domestic violence and abuse facing some rural families. This is directed to rural residents, to agencies mandated to serve the rural com­ munity and local and provincial governments. The second objective is to promote a community-based partnership to develop means of prevention and effective interven­ tion. CAPRO uses the "train the trainer" approach to educate facilitators. Training skills include community development tech­ niques, facilitation techniques and e-mail training. Community members, including churches, service groups, citizens, businesses, agencies, and govern­ ments, can raise their level of awareness and take action by sharing information and working together. This project is being funded by the Trillium Foundation. This partnership is one of the projects undertaken by FWIO during their focus on Safe and Healthy Communities. To get involved in your own community call FWIO 519-836-3078 or CAPRO 888-573-6396. Give Someone a Second Chance. Discuss organ donation with your family and sign a donor card today. $ The Kidney Foundation of Canada HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 YOUTH PASTOR - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788 Sunday 10 a.m.- Family Bible Hour 11 a.m.- Morning Service 8 p.m.- Evening Service Monday 7:30 p.m.- Addictions Support Group Wednesday 7:30 p.m.- Prayer & Bible Study Friday 7:30 p.m.- Youth 11:00 a.m. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS - Morning Service - Sunday School - Belgrave Service - Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Wednesday 2:00 p.m. Wheelchair Accessible We welcome you to come and worship with us. Rev. Cathrlne Campbell 887-9831 you're invited to worship with us this Sunday Sunday Morning Service -10 a.m G.E.M.S. will participate in the morning service Sunday Evening Service - 7:30 p.m. Rev. Van Geest will lead both services. ‘Ephesians 4:20 9fyw to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask. or imagine, according to his power that is at work. within us. BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest I 523-9233 accessible BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540 3rd Sunday of Easter Morning Worship Nursery ***** Ethel Morning Worship ***** 11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 13 -12:30 p.m. - Meeting of Session Wednesday, April 20-11 a.m. - Worship at Brussels United Church only- Special District Divine Service of the Masonic Temple Friday, April 25 - Possibility Day at Duffs United Church, Walton