The Citizen, 1999-09-01, Page 25THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1999. PAGE 25.
From the Minister's Study,
All may do the work of God, says minister
By Rev. Cecil Wittich
As a minister, I sometimes
receive greeting cards with the
inscription. “For Someone Who is
in the Lord’s Work.” As much as I
like to receive cards, and I
appreciate the thought of those who
send them. I cannot help but feel
bothered by the implication of such
an inscription. Cards of that sort
seem to say that the minister or, the
person who is in what we call “full-
time church work", are the only
people who are doing the work of
the Lord.
If that is the case, does that mean
that God is not concerned about the
other 99 per cent of the world's
labour and working people? Are we
saying that God is not interested in
how we bake our cake, drive our
truck, sell our goods, cultivate our
field, feed our steers or do our
home work?”
The Bible and our Christian faith
teach a larger conception of God. “I
will never leave you nor forsake
you," says the Lord, (Hebrews
13:5), affirming that God is with us
wherever we are and in whatever
we do. “God so loved the world,”
(John 3:16), indicating that God is
concerned for the whole world,
especially mankind and all that
pertains to him.
Jesus saw the presence and
purpose of God in life and the
world. He detected the loving care
of God in the needs of the birds and
in the beauty of the flower. He
acknowledged his whole ministry
to be that of the work of God. At
the close of his life, he said, “I have
accomplished the work which thou
gavest me to do." (John 17: 4). St.
Paul wrote “Whatever you do, do
all to the glory of God.” (1
Corinthians 10:31).
Martin Luther, the leader of the
Protestant reformation, said “The
maid who sweeps the floor and
does so to the glory of God renders
just as acceptable a service as the
nun in her cloister.”
If we could see our tasks and
responsibilities as being the
concern of God, our labours would
become more meaningful.
Blyth United Church welcomes new minister
Introducing
missionary with Christian Blind
Mission International, teaching
farming practices and handicrafts to
blind people.
He then felt the call to pastoral
ministry and served congregations
at St. Joseph’s Island and Goulais
River, from 1987-1999, after earn
ing a Master of Divinity at
Emmanuel College, Toronto.
From 1996-1999, Rev. Dow
served as the military chaplain for
the 26th service battalion in Sault
Ste. Marie and North Bay. In that
capacity, he had training in critical
incident stress.
In coming to Blyth United, Rev.
Dow looks forward to pastoral
counselling and developing a min
istry for men.
“Women's programs have tradi
tionally been very strong,” he says
and he would like to incorporate
some of his involvement with the
Promise Keepers into a men’s min
istry.
He is also hoping to provide
contemporary worship services as
he and his family enjoy contempo
rary music and it works well with
groups already formed in the
church, he says.
Natural church development will
work towards church growth. Rev.
Dow says he hopes to develop the
eight quality characteristics needed
for growth.
He loves music and plays the
guitar and piano. He likes to read
and take walks along the Greenway
Trail with his wife Yvonne. They
have four teenaged children: Emily
is attending King’s University Col
lege, Edmonton; Keith is in Grade
12; Allison is in Grade 10 and
Meredith is in her eighth grade of
home schooling.
Rev. Dow also loves spending
time with the children, particularly
at the ping pong table.
He looks forward to his ministry
in Blyth as it “has a lot going for it
both culturally and agriculturally,
he says.
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
Rev. Ernest Dow and his
family moved to Blyth
recently, where he will
minister at Blyth United
Church.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
After spending many years in the
north. Rev. Ernest Dow returns to
Southwestern Ontario to assume
the pastoral charge of Blyth United
Church.
Born near Mitchell on a
dairy/cash crop farm, Rev. Dow
attended the University of Guelph
were he earned a Master’s degree
in crop science.
He then spent three years in
Congo, Africa as an agricultural
Or maybe you couldn't walk.
Or your vision was blurred.
That's what it's like to live
with multiple sclerosis.
But with your help, we can
connect with a cure.
1-800-268-7582
Multiple
Sclerosis
Society of Canada
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
you are welcome this Sunday
SEPTEMBER 5 - PENTECOST 15
HOLY EUCHARIST
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister
Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540
September5, 1999
9:30 a.m. - Worship
Ethel United Church
11:00 a.m. - Worship
Brussels United Church
^Just moved in?^.
You probably didn't bring your
house along with you. You
couldn't bring your church along
either, but we hope you didn't
leave your faith behind!
Whether you're old or new
here, we invite you to move into
our church! Join us in our search
to make Christ Lord of our lives.
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
St. John s,
Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
Blyth United Church
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service
Sunday School begins
Sunday, September 19
Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship
9:30 a.m. Sunday
Worship Service
Sunday School begins
Sunday, September 12
10:45 a.m.
Everyone Welcome
Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388
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
/ain ua £a* taatd/Up t/Ua Sunday
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
"Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring
them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
Communion - 9:45 - 10:30
Family Bible Hour and Sunday School
11:00 - 12:00
Prayer & Bible Study
Tuesday 8 p.m.
Cornerstone
Bible
Fellowship *
Ethel
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