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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-02-28, Page 20n Does God Seem Far Away? Guess Who Moved? Find out what it means to follow Jesus every day. Join us for Worship at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Christian Education Interim Pastor Art Byer 887-6388 • With thanks THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You axe welcome thi/s, Sunday TRINITY, BLYTH ST. JOHN'S, 9:30 A.M. BRUSSELS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE 11:15 A.M. You are Welcome at the BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School - for ages 3 to adult 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Bible Studies - Wednesday morning 10 a.m. Wednesday evening 7:30 p.m. Phone 523-4590 308 Blyth Rd., Blyth HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-7555 PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017 Sunday Wednesday Friday 9:30 a.m. - Family Bible Flour 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service 7:30 p.m. . Family Night 7:30 p.m. • Youth BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street 11:00 a.m. Worship & Sunday School March 4 - First Sunday in Lent March 11, 7 p.m. - "The Way" - Craig Bauman Pastor: Ernest Dow 523-4224 We invite you to come worship the Lord with us! eTIN LENT 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. Adventure Club for children ages 4-12 Third Friday of each month - 7:15 - 9:00 p.m. Ladies' Time Out - Last Thursday of each month - 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Guest speakers, special music & interesting features. All ladies invited. 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 PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2001. From the Minister's Study • Lent a time for cutting through the clutter By Pastor Ernest Dow. Blyth United Church Feb. 28 is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Commonly thought of as a time for 'giving up' something, what does this season really mean? Lent as a 40-day period dates from 325 A.D. Having already undergone a long period of instruction not unlike our modern apprenticeship, initiates of the Christian faith to be baptized at Easter began their final intensive preparation for the final examination or "scrutinies". At the same time, church members subject to disciplinary action began the final period of "penance" prior to being reconciled to the congregation. , By Augustine's time, this became a period of general penance for the congregation, symbolized by putting ashes on the heads of both clergy and lay folk. Lent as a time of penance has been marked "by abstention from festivities, by almsgiving, and by devoting more time than usual to religious exercises". (Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church) A story traditionally associated with Lent has been the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, for a 40-day period in preparation for ministry (e.g. Luke 4:1-13). Note that this episode began when Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit"; he was "led by the Spirit" to this time of testing. The focus is a spiritual exercise, not deprivation for its own sake. To say "yes" to. God's empow- erment for service entailed saying "no" to diversions which would get Jesus off-track from God's loving, individualized purpose for him as Messiah. "No" to base satisfaction of flesh- ly appetites (turning stones to bread). "No" to worldly attractions that appeared desirable (shown the splen- dour of kingdoms). "No" to pre- sumption that comes from pride in exploiting opportunities which flaunt God and focus on self (jumping from high point of temple). M. Huether hosts Guild meeting The February meeting of the Melville Guild met at the home of Mary Huether on Tuesday, Feb. 20 with I I members present. Mary read a poem In the Garden of my Heart. The scripture 1st John 4: 7 - 21 was read by Cathrine Campbell. Leona Armstrong led in prayer. This was followed by the topic The Winning Power of Love read by Mrs. Huether and The Common Heart read by Mrs. Armstrong. President Armstrong read a /poem, then thanked the host- ess. The World's Day of Prayer is to be held in Melville Presbyterian Church on March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Joanne King will be the guest speaker. The Guild is hosting an ecumeni- cal meeting put on by the Alzheimer's Society March 20 in Melville Presbyterian Church at 8 p.m. The video is entitled Vow to Cherish. The Maytime Supper will be on Sunday, May 27 from 4:30 - 7 p.m. The price will be the same as last year. Eluned McNair and Mrs. Knight will be in charge of the April meet- ing. A contest was enjoyed by all Lent is a time for cutting through the clutter, the trappings of the con- sumer lifestyle which shield us from our true humanity — our being "built for" fellowship with God and love towards one another. "Lent is a time for evangelismand for true con- version — a time for growing through repentance, fellowship, prayer, fasting, and concentration upon our baptismal covenant... Ash Wednesday is a particular time...for returning to the Lord... we recall our mortality and wait upon the Lord for a renewing Spirit. This is a time for putting aside the sins and failures-of the past in the light of who we are yet to become by the grace of God." (H.L.Hickman et al, Handbook of the Christian Year) Lent is an ideal time to experiment with classic Christian spiritual disci- plines. Reading the Bible benefits us by helping us to discover God's viewpoint on life and the world. Prayer benefits us by giving us time alone in intimate conversation with our Redeemer and Guide. Fasting, besides the obvious health bonuses in a tending-to-overweight culture, is a real expression of our loving devotion to God with our whole being. "Almsgiving" (being extra charitable) benefits us with the joy and sense of blessing that come through giving. Lent, then, is not so much a time of "giving up something" as it is an opportunity to make ourselves recep- tive to spiritual benefits — which the materially-based "consumer society" can never deliver. Even in Lent, Sunday (the day of Resurrection) reminds Christians that the joy of the Lord is our strength; Sundays are not counted in the 40-day period. Lent was not originally a promi- nent season for early Christians. In the first three centuries, the period of fasting before Easter did not normal- ly exceed two or three days. The great 50-day "Easter Season" from Easter to Pentecost has tradi- tionally been far more important that Lent. "It is perplexing why modern Christians concentrate on Lent, the season of sorrow, rather than on the Easter Season, the season of joy." (J.F.White) Clearing away the clutter is not an end in itself; it's just for the purpose of making room for what really mat- ters, preparing us for something much better... a renewed experience of the blessing that comes from inviting in the Risen Lord Jesus! The Blyth Scouting group presented the awards of appreci- ation this year to Nancy Hakkers and Lavern Clark. It was a surprise for both as each had been led to believe that the other was going to be the recipient of the annual award. :Please yarn ua fot umnaliip, did, Sunday Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service 7:30 p.m. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in him. — 1 John 4:16 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 Guest Speaker - Joanne King - 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. BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca Ethel United Church 9:30 am Worship Service & Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 am Worship Service & Sunday School February 28E", at 7:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service . All are welcome to come and worship with us.