The Citizen, 2001-05-16, Page 12HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
Sunday
Wednesday
Friday
9:30 a.m. . Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship
7:30 p.m. • Family Night
7:30 p.m. - Youth
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 •
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Illeicante,s, you to came and woloiiip, witfi uo,
TRINITY, BLYTH ST. JOHN'S, BRUSSELS
9:30 A.M. 11:15 A.M.
Lay Pastor Mr. Tom Wilson
Wed., May 16, 7:30 p.m. CONGREGATIONAL
INFORMATION MEETING
Re: General Council Decisions, with Presbytery &
Conference Officers
Sun. May 20: RURAL LIFE SUNDAY -
"How to Escape the Sheep Snatcher"
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
11:00 a.m. Worship & Sunday School
Pastor: Ernest Dow 523-4224
Check us out, Live or Online www.tcc.on.ca/-dowfam/church.htm
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
Ethel United Church
9:30 am
Worship Service & Sunday School
Brussels United Church
11:00 am
Worship Sefvice & Sunday School
Come and worship with us!
`.please pan ue, (o tuatallip t&ia Sunday
Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service 7:30 p.m.
Please Note: Our worship services this Sunday, May 20 will be held
al Blyth Memorial Hall due to upgrades.
Nursery will remain in Blyth Christian Reformed Church.
Ascension Day Service will be held
Thursday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Blyth United Church
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by
his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your
heart and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
— 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
A\ 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
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2001.
From the Minister's Study
`Why do Christians like sheep so much?'
Rev. Ethel Miner Clare
Knox United Church, Belgrave
One day in the university resi-
dence, a music student was listening
to Handel's Messiah. As the strains
of All We Like Sheep tilled the room,
the roommate who was Jewish
exclaimed. "Why do you Christians
like sheep so much?
We smile at this story; but I won-
der about the question. Psalm 23 is a
favourite. We are comforted by the
image of a shepherd, God, protect-
ing, leading and feeding us. We refer
to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. But
do we really understand what being a
good shepherd entails?
I gained a better understanding
when I read Phillip Keller's book A
Shepherd Looks- At Psalm 23. Keller
informs his readers that sheep, more
than any other class of livestock.
require endless attention and meticu-
lous care.
Keller grew up in East Africa, sur-
rounded by native herders whose
customs closely resembled the shep-
herds of the Middle East. the area
where as a boy King David, who we
credit with writing Psalm 23, once
cared for his father's sheep.
Keller owned and ranched sheep.
The day he bought his first ewes, a
neighbour came over to admire his
flock. The neighbour handed Keller
a large, sharp, killing knife and
Members and attenders of the
Religious Society of Friends
(Quakers) gathered on Sunday, May
6 at a meeting centre between
Hanover and Durham.
The Lucknow worship group
(north Huron-south Bruce) was rep-
resented by Brent and Carol Bowyer
and Gord Chiddicks from the
Wingham area, Fran and Tony
McQuail from Lucknow area and
Stewart Vriesinga from Clinton.
There was also a good number from
the neighbouring Owen Sound-Grey
worship group. Following worship
in the Quaker tradition, with periods
of silent reflection and meditation
interspersed with speaking from
those so led, Jerrine Verkaik of
Elmwood moderated a discussion on
issues of mutual concern. These
included issues common to many
small groups whose members are
widely dispersed over a rural area:
finding ways of being more visible
and active in the local community,
nurturing children and youth, estab-
lishing and maintaining links with
other groups of like spirit, and iden-
tifying priorities.
It was heartening for those present
to discover that, while no one had all
the answers, there are a wealth of
creative ideas within both groups
Lodge plans
night
of friendship
The regular meeting of Morning
Star Rebekah Lodge, Brussels was
held on Tuesday, May 8.
Plans were finalized for
Friendship Night May 22. Guests are
expected from Stratford, Listowel,
St. Marys, Teeswater, Exeter and
Clinton. A dinner will be held at
Brussels United Church at 6:30 p.m.
followed by the regular meeting.
Sister Joan Stephenson will be
receiving her 25-year Veteran Jewel
at her home.
Nominations for election of offi-
cers were held.
Two sisters are celebrating birth-
days, Sister Lorraine Edwards and
Sister Marie McTaggart who will be
90 years young on May 18.
remarked tersely, "Well Phillip,
they're yours. Now you'll have to
put your mark on them."
Keller knew exactly what was
meant. Each shepherd has his own
distinctive earmark which he cuts
into one or other of the ears of his
sheep.-Even at a distance, it is easy to
'determine to whom the sheep
belong.
As Christians. does our living bear
the mark of Christ who we claim as
our shepherd?
The welfare of any flock of sheep
is entirely dependent upon the man-
agement afforded it by the owner,
Who or what we choose as our
Master determines our destiny. The
Lord is my shepherd, 1 shall not
want.
He makes me lie down in green
pastures. Sheep will not lie down
unless they are free from all fear;
there is no friction with other sheep;
they are' not troubled by flies and
parasites; and they are not hungry.
Keller says that the presence of the
shepherd, their owner and protector,
puts sheep at ease as nothing else
can. A good shepherd keeps the flock
quiet, contented, and at peace so the
sheep thrive. Green pastures are the
result of tremendous labour, time,
and skill. Clearing rough rocky land,
seeding and planting special grains
and legumes, irrigating arid areas are
that seem worthwhile to try.
Other memorable aspects of this
gathering were a time of enthusiastic
singing, including a duet led by two
of the children from the Owen Sound
area, and a hearty potluck meal.
It was noted by Norm Wilmer of
Durham that, in pioneer days, there
were Quaker meeting houses in
many rural areas of Ontario, includ-
ing nearby at Heathcote and
Singhampton, as well as at Sparta,
Norwich, and Coldstream near
London. Today the largest Quaker
meetings in Ontario are in Kitchener,
Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa.
On the preceding day, some of the
participants had been at the same
location taking part in an AVP
(Alternatives to Violence Program)
workshop led by presenters from
Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto.
Others of the group had also partici-
pated in a Justice Circles presenta-
tion at the Coldstream Meeting the
previous Saturday when they had
heard of a very promising alternative
to the court system for young offend-
ers. whereby offender and injured
part and parcel of being a good shep-
herd. As well, the shepherd knows
where to find pure, quiet water for
the sheep.
He restores my soul. If a sheep
turns over on its back, it cannot get
up. A "cast down" sheep is one lying
on its back, feet kicking in the air,
unable to roll over and get back on
its feet. This animal is helpless, vul-
nerable to attack by a predator. The
shepherd must put it on its feet again
or it will not survive.
Your rod and staff comfort me -
Keller points out that a rod is instru-
ment of protection against danger
from predators, often used to 'heat
brush and discourage snakes and
other creatures from disturbing the
flock. With a staff, the shepherd
reaches out to catch an individual
sheep an draw it close for examina-
tion. The staff also guides sheep onto
a new path or along difficult and
dangerous routes. Sometimes the
shepherd will hold the staff against
the side of a favourite sheep, simply
to be "in touch." This offers person-
al, intimate contact with the sheep.
You prepare a table in the presence
of my enemies. According to Keller,
a table is a flat topped plateau. The
shepherd walks the area to ensure
there are no poisonous weeds. He
determines where best grasses are
found and which areas should only
parties are brought together to
encourage restitution and reconcilia-
tion, through mediated sessions.
The Religious Society .of Friends
started in the 1600s in England in a
time of religious turmoil when many
groups were looking for a return to
the early roots of Christianity. The
writings of one of the early leaders.
George Fox, mention a teaching that
is still at the heart of Quakerism, a
belief in "that of God in everyone."
Quakers led in the fight against
slavery, were early advocates of full
equality of women with men, and
have tried to find non-violent solu-
tions to problems. They continue to
be be involved in prison reform
issues, peace and disarmament cam-
paigns, and ecological alternatives to
agriculture and forestry.
The Lucknow and area Quaker
group meets three times a month
near Bluevale and welcomes visi-
tors. For further information phone
Tony and Fran McQuailat 528-2493,
Carol and Brent Bowyer at 357-
1883, or Jeanette Sears and Roger
Stryker at 482-7295.
be grazed lightly. As well, animal
spoor, indicating the presence of
predators in the area, are noted so the
shepherd is prepared to deal with
wolves, cougars, coyotes which
would harm the sheep.
You anoint my head with oil. In the
summer time, flies are a serious
problem. Sometimes sheep will
panic, trying to avoid insects, and are
injured. A mixture of linseed oil, sul-
phur and tar is smeared on a sheep's
nose and head to protect it from flies.
Once this oil is applied, the sheep
relax.
The image of God as shepherd
speaks of the intimacy and caring of
God in the midst of the realities of
our lives. Think about this the next
time you drive rural roads where
sheep are grazing in green pastures
and beside gently flowing streams.
Quakers meet at Waysmeet