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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-02-13, Page 24HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-7555 PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017 Sunday 9:30 a.m. • Family Bible Hour 10:30 a.m. • Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. Evening Worship Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. • Crusaders & Youth 7:30 p.m. Adult Prayer Meeting Friday 7:30 p.m. • Youth MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available 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 Sunday, February 17 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Worship Service and Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. Worship Service and Sunday School Please come join us in worship and in our Lenten Journey! THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA 7,Veleowee4 944 to, coosse aced usevaiteft wit% cut Sunday, February 17 Morning Prayer Scouts & Guides Service at St. John's Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. Ash Wednesday Services with Imposition of Ashes Wednesday, February 13, 7:30 p.m., St. John's The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273 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. Ladies' Time Out: the last Thursday of each month 7:30 to 9:00 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 Call Pastor Andrew Thursdays or Fridays at 887-6123 PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2002. From the Minister's Study Today, Lent often overlooked, says minister By The Rev. Tom Wilson Priest & Rector St. John's, Brussels and Trinity, Blyth Anglican Churches This week, we begin the church season of Lent. This is what is described as a penitential season, a time of reflection and sacrifice, to remind us of the greatest sacrifice that Jesus made for us in his death upon the cross. In these modern times, Lent is often overlooked, although Shrove Tuesday, often now called Pancake Tuesday is still observed by many people. The period leading up to Shrove Tuesday has been, historically one of celebration and making merry, as Christians knew that after Shrove Tuesday, all merry making would cease until Easter Day. In New Orleans, they celebrate Mardi Gras and in Latin and South American countries they celebrate Carnaval leading up to the climax of the festivities on Shrove Tuesday We now associate pancakes with Shrove Tuesday, but the origins of this tradition are more obscure. The word "shrove" is the past tense of "shrive", and that gives us some clue. "Shrive" is a transitive verb said to come from the Middle English "shriven", in turn from the Anglo- Saxon "scrifan", which in turn owes it roots_ to the Latin "scribere", "to prescribe penance". It is akin to the German "schreiben" meaning "to write". From the same base the English language has "scribe," "script", etc. The archaic meaning is to hear confession of and, usually after penance, give absolution to those who have made their confession. Shrovetide is the name given to the three days before Ash Wednesday, which naturally enough, are called Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday. In the old English church, it was a special period for going to confession in preparation for the start of Lent. Like the Mardi Gras, it was probably one last fling before the abstinence of Lent. Taking the "greasy Tuesday" from the French Mardi Gras, and the origins of giving up eating food from animals during Lent, it was a time to use up the leftover animal products such as lard. We have to make a leap of faith to tie pancakes to this period. Probably earlier pancake or pan bread might have been grease and flour based, similar to many rolls today. Alternately, even today in parts of Canada, it is not unusual to find pancakes being offered with gravy, which is animal fat based. Certainly pancakes with maple syrup would have to be a North American tradition, although in England, they also use pancakes. So after all the excitement of Shrove Tuesday we encounter Ash Wednesday, the first day of the penitential season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday Christians have a smudge of ashes placed on their foreheads as a sign of penitence. In many denominations the ashes are obtained from palm branches that were distributed at the previous year's Palm Sunday, they are burned and blessed before service on Ash Wednesday. When the ashes are placed on a forehead the penitent is reminded of our mortality. The Christian churches observe two penitential periods, one is Advent, before Christmas, but it is a more joyful penitence, really a time of waiting, as we know that the birth of Christ is coming soon. The Lenten time of penitence is more sombre, as Christians know that at the end of Lent comes Good Friday, the day our Lord and Saviour died upon a cross so that all those who believe in Him should have eternal life after their earthly life is complete. Lent is traditionally a time of giving up something we enjoy, such as sweets, an extra cup of coffee, swearing, etc. This self-denial helps to remind us, if even in only a small way, of the sacrifice that Jesus made for His believers. The scripture readings provided by the Revised Common Lectionary, which is now used by many Christian denominations around the world, so that - churches all use the same readings each Sunday and Holy Day, are from Matthew this year. The first from Matthew 6: 1-14: "Beware of the practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. (2) "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. (3) But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (4) so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (NRSV) This passage reminds us that we are not to look for earthly recognition for the good things we do, God sees our actions and will reward us in our eternal life in Heaven. This passage also has led to a tradition, often used by Sunday Schools, but also by adults as well, of "Lenten Coin Holders or boxes", where coins are placed each day as a reminder of our penance, and a way, especially for children, to make a small sacrifice for Lent. These coins are then collected on Easter Day and are used by the churches as part of their outreach to the wider world. The other passage from Matthew that is used on Ash Wednesday is Matthew 6: 16-18: "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. (17) But when you fast, put oil in your head and wash your face, (18) so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (NRS V) This passage serves to remind those who are being penitent, perhaps even by fasting during the daylight hours of Lent, that they are not to make a big deal of their sacrifice, that God is aware of our sacrifices and that is enough. We do not make penance for others, but as a show of our respect for the gift of eternal life that Jesus gave us by his death. Now before you think that the whole period of Lent is very solemn, it should be remembered that in the Christian churches, Sundays are meant to be joyous days, days we come together to celebrate Christ's rising from the dead on Easter Day. So on Sundays during Lent, we can put aside our penance and come enjoy all the things in our lives and give thanks to God for all things. Many mature citizens will tell you of the time during their youth that they looked so forward to Sundays during Lent, as penance was more severe in the earlier part of the 20th century for Christians in Canada, and children were limited in their activities during Lent, except on Sundays after church. As you think back on the delicious pancakes and syrup you might have had on Shrove Tuesday, I urge you to look forward, to reflect on the Lenten season, to try and give up something for Lent, as a reminder to yourself of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for his believers by giving up his own life and to look forward also as we journey through the Lenten season, to Easter Day, the most Holy Day in the Christian Year, when we can rejoice at Christ's rising from the dead to ensure eternal life for all who follow him. Ammmier...261.200.2. 3 LR Lg Living' Water g Cfirifstiart Telltuaup 3 1030 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School 3 at Blyth Public School, 3 corner of King & Mill Pastor: Ernest Dow n 523-4848 www.tcc.on.ca/- dowfa rn BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, February 17 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m. Sermon: Jesus as a weatherman Feb. 24 - Sunday School Luncheon after services Weletwoce Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman Office: 523-4224 This Friday 6:30 p.m. Family Fun Night! Yotide44, gante5 lot ail February 17 "Can I be Free" Lenten Communion, Congregation Meeting Alpha starts at noon: 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 7:45 p.m. - Evening Worship Kids' Club - Tuesday - 3:45 - 5 p.m. Ages 6-11 welcome. Bible Studies - Wednesday morning 10 a.m. Wednesday evening 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1 - 7:30 p.m. - Youth Movie Night Saturday, March 2 - 7:30 p.m. - Family Movie Night Phone 523-4590 308 Blyth Rd., Blyth Peeale 7a9t g4 j42 00414/40 Sunday, February 17 Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m. "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father who loved us by his grace give us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." — 2 Thessalonians 4:16 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH it Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible