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The Citizen, 1999-07-07, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1999. A day to remember Beneath the shade of the trees, dozens gathered at Brandon Cemetery Sunday for the annual decoration service which Rev. Cathrine Campbell of Melville Presbyterian Church conducted. From the Minister’s Study Zacchaeus, a serious seeker By Dave Wood Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church, Auburn The story is told of a little boy who confided to his mother one day, “I think I’ll be a preacher when I grow up.” His mother beamed, so proud of her little man. “It’s a wonderful calling,” she agreed, “but why do you want to be a preacher?” “Well” said the youngster, “I figure I’ll have to go to church all my life anyway, and it’s harder to sit than it is to stand up and holler!” I guess it all depends upon perspective because the grass does look greener on the other side of the fence. The race of man are all seekers in one way or another, some seek prestige, fame, riches, education, pleasure and happiness while others merely ignore these so-called higher things and just struggle to find security and make a living. But it would appear that no matter what man seeks, he never seems to be able to come to that place of satisfaction, that place where the struggles, the climb, the rat race of life finally comes to an end and the void is filled and the heart is content and peace prevails. Two thousand years ago, the search of man was not all that different. There was also a seeker who sought meaning for his life and his search led him to fulfillment as is recorded in Luke 19: I-10. Here he was, a short man the Bible states, who was both secure in his employment, wealthier than most, yet not content with his life. What was his problem, he had it made!. Life for him, well, you think it would have just been great and yet it seemed something was missing, something was lacking in his life. Zacchaeus was not content. He was not happy. He wanted more. And so he searched, he sought, he was a man who had the courage to face his own life and recognize that there had to be more, something deeper, something lasting. Yes, the parties had been great, but they just seemed to flow one into the other and they were predictable and so much the same. He needed more out of life, there had to be more. And then along comes this miracle*worker, this Jesus, the One they call Master and Lord and he was different, he was radical and he appeared to Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus just had to get a look. But he was too short and the crowds, no way, they weren't going to let him through, not the vile tax collector. And so he climbs a tree, he literally goes out on a limb and because he did, his life would be changed. You know the story! Jesus sees Zacchaeus, invites Himself to this house and embarks upon a new journey that led him to that which he had been searching for all along. You see, Zacchaeus found in Jesus Christ everything that he had been searching for. A meaning and purpose to life; a relationship with God that was real, that went beyond the “religious” and was pure, whole and exciting. And he ran with it, he embraced it and his heart was changed! The seeker sought and he found and was it not Jesus who said, “Seek and you will find”? Zacchaeus was a seeker after truth, after meaning and he had the courage to go beyond the traditions of his people, the norm of his society, the flow of the current and because he did, he found that which he was looking for all along. We are seekers, we all want what is best for our lives but sad to say, it often takes a lifetime of seeking before we recognize that there has been One all along who has been waiting, calling, saying, “Come down from the tree, cease your searching, try Me, invite Me in and you will see, you will know, that I am the One you have been searching for.” Zacchaeus found the answer to his search, he found the solution to his problem and all he had to do was invite this Jesus in. Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, he is knocking but never pounding. Jesus comes to us walking down the streets of our lives, and to all who are serious seekers to them does he call and ask to come in. Ours is to invite Him in. 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 £leaae /am ua £a< ataia/Up. tAU Sunday Blyth United Church Come Worship The Lord With Us Sundays - 11:00 a.m. Worship Service Minister ~ Rev. Cecil Wittich ALL ARE WELCOME 523-4224 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS For the month of July we are worshiping with the congregation at Brussels United Church. Please join us there. We welcome you to come and worship with us. Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 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 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540 July 11, 1999 9:30 a.m. - Worship Ethel United Church 11:00 a.m. - Worship Brussels United Church Welcome to Melville Presbyterian Church! ALL ARE WELCOME FOR OUR SUMMERTIME WORSHIP SERVICES! The congregations o the Blyth Community Church of God and the Blyth United Church will meet together for the month of July jgg* at the Blyth United Church Morning Worship Service Sunday at 11 a.m. Please join us! THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA are. welcome this Sandau JULY 11-PENTECOST 7 MORNING PRAYER Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Worship Service We exalt Thee, O Lord” Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388 io Sunday School in July) Everyone Welcome Lfl Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m. How lovely is your dwelling place, 0 Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Trinity, Blyth St.John's, 9:30 a.m. Brussels Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m. Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273 St. John's Anglican Church, Brussels invites you to join a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the re-opening of the church building after the fire. Sunday, July 11,1999 at 11:15 a.m. Those who wish to are welcome to participate in reaffirming their baptism vows. Potluck lunch will follow the service. A Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible Pork Chop Barbecue at St. John's on July 25, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.