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
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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
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