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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-01-15, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2003. From the Minister's ‘Are we ready to hear the call?’ asks minister By Joan Golden Brussels/Ethel United Churches This coming Sunday one of our lectionary passages is from l Samuel 3: 1-20. This passage is about a young Samuel, actually a young apprentice to the temple priest who hears his name being called. Assuming it was the temple priest, who is getting on in years, Samuel goes to Eli thinking he is answering Eli’s call. It was not Eli who was calling, in fact Eli never heard anyone call Samuel’s name. Samuel returns to his room to once again hear his name being called. Eli then tells Samuel to answer to God and to listen to the message God has for him. It would seem unlikely that God chose this young boy to give a message to rather than the older priest. Eli is out of touch and blind to the actions of his sons, yet he is the one who recognized that God is speaking to Samuel. God’s message to Samuel is both harsh and a difficult one, the message is that the established authorities, in fact Eli’s household will be overthrown because of their unfaithfulness to God. What a difficult position Samuel Melville hosts supper On Jan. 25 Melville Presbyterian Church, Brussels will take part in a 200-year-old tradition when it hosts the Burns Supper. Held wherever Scots are in the world, the suppers are a nation’s tribute to its poet laureate, Robbie Burns. Begun soon after his death in 1796 each dinner begins with Burns' Address to a Haggis that particularly Scottish dish that is the centrepiece of the evening’s meal. When the Haggis has completed its ceremonial entrance to the sound of the pipes and been properly eulogized the meal itself is served. Surrounding the “Great Chieftain o the puddin’-race!” will be a traditional bill of fare featuring smoked salmon, cock-a-leekie soup and roast beef, tatties, bashed neeps, scones and trifle. After dinner, guests will be entertained with Burns’ poetry, highland dancing and, of course, the pipes. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. with entertainment following at 7:30 p.m. At 9 p.m. all those who wish to do so may retire to the Legion for a dance and traditional Ceilidh. Supper tickets are $ 10 adult and $5 for children, space is limited. Please call 887-9831, 887-9859, 887-6555 or 887-6162 to reserve your place for the supper. Ceilidh tickets are $8 and are available through the Legion. hidiuj IVater^ Cfiristian Tdlmfiip was in when Eli asks him about the message. Samuel told him the message that prophesied the destruction of his family. We are told that Samuel became a very trusted prophet. When I reflect on this story I am reminded that God often chooses persons to call that we might consider unlikely for the job. We know the stories of a young and poetic shepherd boy who defeats a giant and later becomes a king, a young woman who would bear a son and become a refugee to protect that son. Her son would change and challenge the world. The list goes on. Perhaps when we hear God’s call, we, like Samuel, may not know or recognize that it is God calling to us. Around us are many voices that call to us. I think this story is about discerning who is calling and also about being entrusted with messages that will be difficult to deliver. I also think this story reminds us even if we consider ourselves to be ‘the most unlikely’ to be called we must be open to hear the call of God. We must be ready to listen to what God is calling us to. We cannot do that if we are constantly busy and do not give ourselves some quiet time to open ourselves to truly listen voice of God. God may not always call only in the middle of the although that may be when it is easiest to hear, when all the other voices of our lives are still—and we may not always be called only in words, it may be that inner knowing that directs us to do God’s will. It may be a task of giving encouragement to someone or it _ could be to work for peace in the world. Are we ready to hear the call? Are we ready to listen to what we are being called for? Are we ready to respond to the call? There is a wonderful hymn in our Voices United hymnbook that has a chorus that says: Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. May we be open to hear God’s call to us and know we are worthy to hear that call. May we be ready to do what God calls us to do in our lives and hold others in our care and in our hearts. to the to us night, THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA "TVefeomee cfocc to- came amt cvff/t cce Sunday, January 19 w HOLY EUCHARIST - 2ND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY Trinity, Blyth St. John’s, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. k The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273 "Teaching that's Attractive not Addictive" Potbless & Congregational Meeting January 19 - Titus 2 254 Drummond St. E., Blyth Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m Father Lance Magdziak, Pastor 519-527-0142 email: stjames@rcec.london.on.ca St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church you are ‘Wefcome at the BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD 10:00 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship (Junior Church during service) 7-30 p.m. - Evening 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 - 526-1131 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 7:15 p.iri. - Adult Bible Study PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. BRUSSELS - Morning Service - Sunday School - Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 Blyth United Church Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, January 19 Worship Service & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Health Tips from the Minister Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman Office: 523-4224 foin cca. fan awta/tcp Sunday, January 19 Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m. Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:13 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 ' .Wheelchair accessible BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca January 19 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Come to celebrate with us the starlight and wonder in this Season of Epiphany Brussels Ministerial is hosting an Ecumenical Gathering for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Ethel 333333£__________ £ 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School § 6 at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill I Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848 S www.tcc.on.ca/~dowfam 3 Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared 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 - 9:00 p.m. - starting again February 27 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 Thursday, January 23 Brussels United Church, Brussels beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a potluck supper Ecumenical Service at 7:00 p.m. Offering in support of Brussels Ministerial Benevolent Fund 1