HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-11-03, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1999. PAGE 17.
From the Minister’s Study
Minister invites you to think about season
By Rev. Lynn Nichol
Knox Cranbrook
We just don't know what to do
with our holidays sometimes, do we?
There seems to have been quite the
controversy in some circles about
Halloween falling on a Sunday this
year, and what to do about it. Some
municipalities opted for having trick
or treating on the Saturday instead,
and some carried on with Sunday.
Where I live we left it on Sunday.
But we had many fewer trick or
treaters, and some who were out
walked past the manse, even though
we had the lights on and we were
handing out candy. We can only
assume that they bypassed the manse
because it was Sunday.
Quite honestly, I was surprised to
find so much controversy. It made
me think that the general population
still places more value on the
Sabbath than I had thought was the
case, which for me is encouraging.
But it also got me to thinking that
I wish we were so reflective about all
our holidays.
Every year, as I go out shopping
for Halloween candy, I am surprised
to find the stores already geared up
for Christmas. I don’f know why it
surprises me after this long, because
I know that Christmas has become
very commercial for many people.
Between now and Christmas,
many people’s lives will be taken
over by Christmas shopping. Some
people will buy gifts only out of a
sense of obligation. Some will com
pete with one another to see who can
buy the “best” gifts - and “best” will
be defined as “most expensive”.
For many, the celebration of the
birth of the Prince of Peace will be
anything but peaceful, because they
are so stressed out over frantic shop
ping and rising credit card bills.
I want to invite you to take some
time and think about what Christmas
means to you. I am writing this now
because I think we have to reflect
while we’re still some distance away
from it, and not already caught up in
the whirlwind.
Whether you celebrate a Christian
Christmas or a secular one, or a bit of
both, the question is worth asking: is
there a way this Christmas can be
more meaningful and less stressful?
If the answer is yes, then decide to
take action!
Here are some suggestions I have
run across. Make meaningful gifts
for family and friends, instead of
buying them. Give of your time and
talents, and remember those in need.
Set a budget and stick to it. Cut out
unnecessary activities. Watch less
television, and you will be exposed
to less advertising. Spend more time
with family. Tell others about what
you have decided to do.
I invite you also to make Christ the
centre of your Christmas. Remember
why the holiday exists in the first
place. The word “holiday” originally
comes from “holy day”. You can
choose to make your Christmas a
holy day, and the time leading up to
Christmas a holy season.
However you choose to celebrate,
I hope and pray that Christmas will
be a gift and not a burden.
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
Melville Guild hears THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
of Malawi mission work
Melville Women’s Guild met in
the Sunday School room on Tuesday,
Oct. 19 with Joanne King and Dona
Knight in charge of the meeting.
Mrs. King welcomed everyone,
including the male guests, and
opened the meeting with poetry of
Walt Huntley entitled Time and
Effort. Bringing in the Sheaves was
sung, followed by prayer by Mrs.
Knight.Mrs. King read scripture pas
sages from Mark 4’: verses l - 8 and
13 - 20.
Ken Knight introduced Miriam
and David Barrie of Kincardine, who
were the guest speakers. The Barries,
retired farmers, have been in Malawi
as missionaries, teaching farmers
there how to farm better. They gave
a most interesting talk, along with an
excellent slide presentation. Their
program in Malawi was called,
Food, Security, and Development.
Most farmers had only one to two
and a half acres, on which they grew
tobacco, sugar cane, coffee, tea, cot
ton, and ensema (corn meal), which
is their main food.
The people of Malawi are their
greatest asset. They are hard-work
ing people who are always happy.
They love to sing.
The Barries introduced them to
soybeans, which they cooked over an
open fire, and then pounded them
into flour. When they added boiling
water to this flour it was very nutri
tious.
In 35 working days they built a
school, which was much needed. On
the first day 250 students came. The
main building on the farm was called
the hostel, where they taught you
whatever you wanted to know.
In Malawi monkeys are a real
menace. On one occasion the Barries
counted 29 monkeys in their back
yard. The Barries thanked the
Women’s Missionary Society of the
Presbyterian Church for supporting
their work.
Welcome to
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
on
PEACE SUNDAY
November 7
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m. Christian Education
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
Nov. 7 8 p.m.- Evening Service at Blyth Memorial
Hall - Concert by Trevor Baker
Wednesday 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.- Family Night (Kids'Club)
Friday 7:30 p.m.- Youth
you are welcome this Sunday
NOVEMBER 7 - PENTECOST 24
HOLY EUCHARIST
Trinity, Blyth St. John's,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
/ata ua ufM&fap tliU Sunday,
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ
also loved the church"
Ephesians 5:25
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
November 7
Guest Speaker Scott Pettigrew
of Wingham
Blyth United Church
Come Worship The Lord. With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
Medic Alert
SPEAKS FDR YOU
1-8DQ-G68-15D7
www.medicalert.ca
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail: bepc@wcl.on.ca
123rd Anniversary Service - Brussels United Church
November 7, 1999
11:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
- Morning Service
- Sunday School
- Belgrave Service
HELPING THE
WORLD WRITE
NOW
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
11:00 a.m. - Worship
Rev. Bonnie Cole Arnal speaking
Lunch to follow
(The congregation of Ethel United Church joins Brussels today.)
Monday, Nov. 8 - 7 p.m. - Stewards
COME AND HELP US CELEBRATE OUR GREAT HISTORY!
CODE
Self-sufficiency through
literacy in the developing world
For information, call 1-800-661-2633
What if Z.da
Speak?
Or maybe you couldn't walk.
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with multiple sclerosis.
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1-800-268-7582
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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