The Citizen, 2001-04-04, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2001.
From the Minister's Study
Death not the end, says Rev.
By Rev. Cathrine Campbell
Melville, Brussels,
Knox, Belgrave
Presbyterian Churches
All who hdve experienced the
death of a loved one know the black
hole of despair that seems to open.
Whether the loved one was young or
old, in the peak of health or wracked
with the pain of disease there is a
feeling of profound loss and no
amount of "It was for the best" or
"He/she is at peace" will negate
these feelings.
Yet, in the Christian religion we
celebrate a death! In fact it is the first
half of the bedrock of our under-
standing of our whole faith. How can
this be? How can the death of a
beloved son be the cause of
happy lives 2000 years, and more,
later?
How can the God who understood
Abraham's anguish over the request-
ed death of Isaac not apply that same
graciousness to himself and let his
own son live?
His Son was doing well, He was
doing God's will and many had
already come to ask for healing and
salvation. Many had been baptized,
many had now understood what a
true life in the Creator meant so why
- in modern terms - "mess with suc-
cess"? _ -
These are the questions that
humans ask - the answer is God's.
"For God so loved the world that He
gave His one and only Son that who-
ever believes in Him shall not perish
but have eternal life" (John. 3:16).
Jesus death on the Cross is an affir-
mation that God understands our
very human reality. God knows of
our sins, our suffering and the pains
of loss. God also knows that these
are not to be our eternal state. For
God knows that His ways are ways
of growth and creation.
In the death of Christ we have that
powerful reminder of the hurt and
anguish that humans experience but
also we are told that this is not the
end, it is the beginning! In the
R,:surrection of Christ we have the
powerful message that no matter
how horrible, how distressing or how
sad things are in our lives there is
Hope that there can be renewed life
and that hope comes through faith in
God "who doeth all things well".
And so we come to Easter as a
time of thanksgiving for we know
that God cares, God cares deeply,
and so his Son tells us "In my
Fathers house there are many rooms;
if it were not so, I would have told
you. I am going there to prepare a
place for you (John 14:2) and He fur-
ther reassures us "Peace I leave with
your; my peace I give you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled and do
not be afraid" (John 14:27)
We have much to learn and much
to celebrate and I hope that during
the time of Holy Week in Brussels
you will be able to attend at least one
of the Ecumenical services that are
listed in the advertisement on this
page. In this time of Easter we are
called to celebrate Life!
Please join with us in the
Celebration.
Beautiful music
Blith and area residents were treated to the sounds of music when Ann Marie Sparling, far
right, performed at Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth, March 31. Accompanying her were Susanna
Lyman on flute, Barb Bosman on piano and Sharon Johnston on piano and harp.
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
April 13, 2001 11:00 a.m. - Good Friday Service
April 15, 2001 8:30 a.m. - Sunrise Service at the
home of Marguerite Krauter
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Easter Breakfast at Melville
(Proceeds to support Geni
our sponsored child
in Africa)
11:00 a.m. Easter Celebration
Service
There is no Belgrave service on the 15th
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
Yteatte join aa fa* utaicaliip did Sunday
Palm Sunday - Morning Worship Service -10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service 7:30 p.m.
"The next day the great crowd that had come for the feast heard that" Jesus was on
his way to Jerusalem. They took branches and went out to meet him, shouting:
"Hosanna! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Bkssed is the King of Israel!"
—John 12:12 & 13
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
it\ Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
Sunday 9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
7:30 p.m.
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.
Friday 7:30 p.m.
• Family Bible Hour
• Morning Worship Service
- Evening Worship
• Family Night
- Youth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
'Wu wie welcome tlib, Sunclail
TRINITY, BLYTH ST. JOHN'S,
9:30 A.M. BRUSSELS
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE 11:15 A.M.
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Corner of Dinsley & Mal Street
11:00 a.m. Worship & Sunday School
"Women's Day Out" THIS SATURDAY!
April 8 Palm/Passion Sunday: "Kingdom Cost"
Pastor: Ernest Dow 523-4224
Check us out, Live or Online www.tcc.on.cai-dowfamichurch.htm
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
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
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
Palm Sunday. April 8th, 200)
Ethel United Church
9:30 am Worship Service & Sunday School
Breakfast following the Service - donations supporting the Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Brussels United Church
11:00 aril Worship Service & Sunday School
Pancake Breakfast - 8:00-10:00 a.m.
ALL are welcome to come and worship with us.
Brussels Community
erf Ecumenica l
eek Services
Monday, April 9
to
ilitop
Holy
m
Wednesday, April 11
12:05 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
at Brussels United Church
Lunch following each service
Maundy Thursday, April 12
8:00 p.m.
at St. John's Anglican Church
Donations to
Brussels Ministerial Benevolent Fund
gratefully accepted
(Services sponsored by Brussels Ministerial
with all denominations assisting)
Sanderson greet
Greeters at Blyth United Church
on Sunday, April 1 were John Uyl,
Fred and Deb Hakkers. Ushers were
Maria, Elmer, Jonathan and
Stephanie Sanderson. Barb Bosman
was the organist.
Deb Hakkers read the gospel les-
son: Luke 12:13-21. The worship
song was More Precious than Silver.
The theme of the sermon was
Kingdom Values: Don't Be Fooled!
Rev. Ernest Dow spoke about the
fact for many people, what's valu-
able is how much they have; but to
Jesus, what's valuable is how much
they've given away." He talked
about how the world's wealth is
fleeting. Rev. Dow said, "For the
Christian, it's all God's money any-
way. We're just stewards."
Referring to the fact that it was
April Fool's Day, Rev Dow told two
parables about fools. In Luke 12:13-
21, it's explained that life is richer
for sharing, not just having. The man
in the story was a fool for not realiz-
ing "my" goods don't guarantee
security," Rev. Dow said. In Luke
16:1-13 Jesus told another story that
teaches that people are smart to
barter what they can't keep for what
they can lose."
The Sanderson family collected
the offering.