The Citizen, 1999-04-07, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7,1999. PAGE 13.
From the Minister's Study
For Christians Easter celebration continues
By Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Blyth Christian Reformed
Church
Easter is once again behind us. If
it meant nothing more to us than
bunnies, coloured eggs and Easter
baskets, then indeed Easter is all
over again for another year.
But if Easter meant for us the
celebration of Jesus rising from the
dead, whereby he proved his
victory over the powers of
darkness, then the celebration of
Easter really continues. It means
new hope and new life for those
who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
The Christian faith stands or falls
with the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead. The apostle
Paul wrote in his first letter to the
ancient church of Corinth: "If
Christ has not been raised, your
faith is futile; you are still in your
sins."
In other words, the Christian
faith is pure nonsense if Jesus did
not actually come back from death
to life again.
Paul staked his whole ministry on
the literal (ruth of the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead. Without
that Easter event, he saw no hope
for the people of the world. So he
made quite a point of this historic
event in I Corinthians 15.
Some Christians today deny that
Jesus actually physically came back
from death to life. They aren't the
first ones and won't be the last
ones. People have trouble believing
things that aren't part of their own
experience.
The apostle Paul already had to
deal with those kind of people in
his day, almost 2000 years ago.
Some of these apparently belonged
to the church in Corinth to which
he addressed the letter from which I
quoted. So he told them that more
than 500 people had seen Jesus
alive after he had died on the cross
and was buried. And most of those
were still living. In other words, if
they.did not believe Paul, they
could check it out with these other
people.
In any other arena, this would
have constituted overwhelming
proof of the fact of the resurrection.
If such things had been written
about any other person in history, it
would have been accepted at face
value. But when it comes to the
resurrection of the saviour of the
world, people still question the
reliability of the reports of that
resurrection.
Strange, when you think of it.
To deny the physical resurrection
of Jesus amounts to undermining
the Christian faith. The Christian
faith stands or falls with what we
believe about the resurrection of
Jesus. If Jesus wasn't raised from
the dead to new life, we have no
legitimate hope of ever rising from
the dead and enjoying a new life
either.
The hope of the Christian is tied
to having a living Lord, who by
being raised from the dead assures
all who believe in him that his
payment for their sins was accepted
by God.
It is that fact which gives us a
bona fide hope for one day seeing a
new world in which we shall live
together with Christ. That world
shall be free from the pain and
suffering we see in this present
world, because the risen Christ
shall be its eternal King. /
Stay Alert launches 9th campaign
Stay Alert ... Stay Safe (SASS)
launches its ninth annual SASS
Month this April by encouraging
children and parents alike to trust
their own instincts or "radar" - that
little voice inside that tells you
when something doesn't feel quite
right.
"In children, instincts can be
quite strong,” said Toronto child
and family therapist Susan
Leventhal. "Unlike adults who are
taught to hide their feelings,
children are more in tune with their
intuition".
Stay Alert ... Stay safe believes
that acting on your radar can be
your most important defense
against danger.
SASS was founded in 1987 after
the abduction and murder of 11
year-old Alison Parrott in Toronto.
Since then, and with the help of
police, teachers and community
leaders, this charity has reached
approximately 13 million Canadian
children.
In addition to premiers
proclaiming Stay Alert ... Stay
Safe in their province, many
communities across Canada will be
hosting streetproofing activities.
These include safety concerts,
clinics, displays and live
appearances by SASS mascots Bert
& Gert - all designed to give young
children the chance to learn some
important streetproofing tips and
safety measures, especially
important in the spring when days
are longer and routines are
changing.
SASS is endorsed by the
Association of Chiefs of Police and
funded by the Canadian Tire Child
Protection Foundation.
Program aids women with epilepsy
Breaking the Silence is the latest
program launched by Epilepsy
Ontario to improve the quality of
life for women living with epilepsy.
In 1995, Epilepsy Ontario was
the first North American Associa
tion to produce and distribute a
brochure dealing specifically with
issues for women living with this
leading neurological disability.
This literature soon became the
most requested and among the first
files placed on the new internet
site. It is still one of the most read
files.
Because of the overwhelming
interest, a Women and Epilepsy
conference was launched at the
University of Toronto in March of
1997. The latest project is a
complete kit outlining all facets of
living for women who are vulner
able because of their disability -
"Towards a new millennium for
women living with epilepsy".
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder
resulting from sudden bursts of
electrical energy to the brain. These
electrical discharges produce
seizures which vary from one
person to another in frequency and
form. Epilepsy can develop at any
age. Il is estimated that up to two
per cent of the population have had
or will have some form of seizure
disorder in their lifetime.
This kit offers help and resources
for women living with epilepsy
who are, because of their disability,
exposed to increased violence and
abuse.
For help and additional informa
tion contact your local chapter, or
Epilepsy Ontario 1-800-463-1119
OR info@epilepsyontario.org
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
are welcome this Sunday
APRIL 11 - EASTER 2
MORNING PRAYER - BLYTH
HOLY EUCHARIST - BRUSSELS
Trinity, Blyth St. John's,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
‘Mea&e fain u& £ai uiaiahip thia Sunday
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice! Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Phillipians 4:4 & 5
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
A Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Cornerstone
Bible
Fellowship
Ethel
Communion - 9:45 - 10:30
Family Bible Hour and Sunday School
11:00 - 12:00
Prayer & Bible Study
Tuesday 8 p.m.
John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no
one comes to the Father, but through Me."
Everyone Welcome
For more information call 887-6665
Blyth United Church
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Minister ~ Rev. Cecil Wittich
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
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
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister
Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540
April 11, 1999
9:30 a.m. - Ethel United Church Worship
11:00 a.m. - Brussels United Church Worship
Wednesday, April 7-8 p.m. - UCW Evening Unit
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
ASSOCIATE PASTOR - YOUTH - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788
Sunday
Wednesday
Friday
8:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11 a.m.
8 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Morning Worship Service
Family Bible Hour
Morning Worship Service
Evening Service
Prayer & Bible Study
Youth
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. , - Belgrave Service
7:30 p.m. - Tuesday - Bible Study - Faith and Life of Jesus
2:00 p.m. - Wednesday - Bible Study - Old Testament
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
SOUTH HURON YOUTH FOR CHRIST
50th ANNIVERSARY
MAY 1,1999 @ 8 PM
Guest Speaker WES AARUM
PAST PRESIDENT YOUTH FOR CHRIST OF CANADA
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF CIRCLE ‘C’ RANCH
DELEVAN, NEW YORK
SPECIAL MUSK FROM THEN & NOW J’
Renew old and make new acquaintances at our celebration at
HURON CENTENNIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL, BRUCEFIELD