HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-04-21, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1999.
From the Minister’s Study
Rev. Murray talks of responsible attitudes
By Rev James Murray
Duffs United Church
When I was a teenager I was very
active in Toe Alpha, which is a
youth conference dealing with
developing responsible attitudes
towards alcohol and drugs, and
developing a healthy spirituality.
I particularly remember one
session where we were led through
a guided meditation. We were
asked to close our eyes, and
imagine a place where we felt very
comfortable and relaxed. We were
then asked to imagine Jesus coming
to visit us in this special place.
Afterwards, we were asked to
describe the place and what Jesus
looked like. People described
meeting Jesus at the shopping mall,
at their home, and at the church.
Most described Jesus as wearing
the long robes we are used to
seeing him wear in those Sunday
School pictures.
I still laugh at my response. I had
pictured Cavendish beach on Prince
Edward Island. The Jesus I pictured
had the long hair and the beard, but
he was wearing a pair of cut-off
jean shorts, which had been
bleached white from the sun.
This image shocked a few in the
group, but it came as no surprise to
me. For me, the beach, with its
coming together of the land, the
water and the big sky, is one of
those truly remarkable places
where I feel very much at home. I
used to joke that my real ambition
in life was to be a beach bum.
The ancient Celts, those early
people of Ireland and Scotland
called such spiritual spots a "thin
place." My understanding of "thin
places" is they are locations where
the veil between earth and heaven,
God and creation indeed is thin,
Walton UCW
What an interesting evening
UCW members had last
Wednesday night as guest speaker
Jackie Rowe told all about garlic.
Shannon McGavin and Monique
Baan opened the service by reading
a poem called, 'Eternal Spring" and
the meditation was read called,
"Food for Thought". Roll call was a
favourite use of garlic.
Shannon then introduced Jackie
who is the manager of The Garlic
Box in Stratford. She told how
Ontario is now producing some of
the best garlic in the world. Last
year the consumption of garlic
increased in the States by 70 per
cent and 30 per cent in Canada.
Ontario garlic can be identified
by the hard stem. The soft-stemmed
garlic are imports from China and
elsewhere.
Garlic should not be put in the
fridge but should be kept either in
actual garlic pots or onion bags.
She told of an old saying that
Continued on page 20
transparent. It is a place where, for
a moment, you and God are one.
Some people think it is a matter
of geography, with certain
locations having this special power.
Others believe it is perhaps a place
or moment in the heart or soul.
However you describe it, the thin
place is where your experience of
God is real, immanent, and
powerful.
Every year, many people travel
to Israel, seeking out those thin
places in the Holy Land, seeking a
special feeling by standing in the
towns and places where Jesus once
stood.
A few years ago the United
Church Moderator Stan McKay
said that every land is a Holy Land.
In the Native tradition, as with
the Celtic tradition, all places have
the potential to be thin places,
where all people may fully
experience the power and truth of
God's presence.
Whenever I have had to face
profound moments in my life,
whenever I have had to struggle
with doubt, or I have just had the
craving to see the face of God, I
have found it by walking on a
beach, listening to the roar of the
waves-. Those moments in the thin
place, in the presence of God have
made it easier to go back and face
whatever has been happening in my
life.
For that is the purpose of thin
places, of mountaintop experiences.
While we are enriched by the
encounter, it is but a momentary
lift, to give us strength for the rest
of the journey.
It is tempting to want to stay and
dwell on the mountaintop of past
experiences. But our task in life is
to eventually come down and be
used by God to create thin places
for others who are unaware of the
world of spirit. We might crave the
high, the intense spiritual rush of
the mountain top, of the thin place.
But that is not our home. We are
not to be junkies who crave high
after high. A mountaintop
experience is supposed to be
special, to give perspective, lift and
energy for the rest of life which is
lived in the valleys and in the
fields which are the places of
everyday life.
As the warm weather of spring
slowly arrives, we become more
mobile. We are free to travel
around the world, to discover many
special historic places. We can
open up the cottage, and relish the
beauty of the view. We can work in
our gardens and create an earthly
paradise. In each of these locations,
we once again have access to those
special places which touch our
soul. Which speak to our heart
Which proclaim to us God is truly
present and active in every
moment.
The mountaintop experience, the
thin place remind us of this truth
which we sometimes overlook. We
are always precious and loved by
God. No matter what. God’s
unconditional love for us, is the
greatest gift of all. We can draw
close to it in many different thin
places and ways.
In your summer work and
travels, keep your eye open for the
thin place, and open your heart to
the possibilities.
Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m. Christian Education
Everyone Welcome
Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388
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
Finding
Lyn Housser of the Brussels area, was one of 42
Christian home school students participating in a science
fair at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship on Saturday.
Hosted by the Seaforth and Brussels home schoolers this
was the first year for the event. Housser's project was
alternative energy. Her findings showed that wind energy
is the most efficient, environmentally-friendly form of
energy.
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
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
[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 25, 1999
9:30 a.m. - Ethel Worship - Baptism
11:00 a.m. - Brussels Worship - Baptism
Friday, April 30 - Possibility Day field trip to Goderich
- need’ to register by April 23
Sunday, May 2 - 4-7 p.m. - May Supper - Ethel
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
ASSOCIATE PASTOR - YOUTH - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788
Sunday 8:45 a.m.- Morning Worship Service
10:00 a.m.- Family Bible Hour
11 a.m.- Morning Worship Service
8 p.m.- Evening Service
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.- Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m.- Youth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
you are. welcome this Sunday
APRIL 25 - EASTER 4
BRUSSELS - HOLY EUCHARIST
BLYTH - MORNING PRAYER
Trinity, Blyth St.Johns,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
/am ua ^at <aa<aA»p. tftia Scmda^
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
"Behold I am coming soon! My reward is with me,
and I will give to everyone according to what he has
done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and
the Last, the Beginning and the End."
Revelations 22:12
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
A Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible