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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2003-03-19, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2003. PAGE 15. From the Minister’s Study A book for those frustrated by church Theresa McDonald-Lee Knox Presbyterian Church, Cranbrook I am just finishing a very interesting book by Philip Yancey entitled, Soul Survivor: How My Faith Survived the Church. I had never read anything by him before, but was so intrigued by the title that I had to pick it up. The book is a story of the author’s journey of faith and those who inspired his faith. Yancey grew up in a church that had very tight definitions of who was in and who was out, including very racist assumptions. As he grew older, he realized that he could not live with much of what his church had taught but was uncertain what to do with the faith that he had J, Bernard hosts inherited. As the book progresses, Yancey tells of 13 individuals who connected faith and daily living, the mystical and the mundane, transcendence and suffering. In spite of a difficult childhood church experience, Yancey has continued to have faith in part because of these thirteen individuals. Some of the names are familiar like Martin Luther K ng Jr., Leo Tolstoy, and Mahatma Gandhi. Others are only well known in Christian circles like Frederick Buechner and Henri Nouwen. Some people will connect to some of the names and stories, while others will not inspire. This is a book for those who are frustrated by the church, those who attend and those who choose not to. For church can be a difficult place for many. Churches have often hurt people. Churches are supposed to be places of healing, comfort, joy, and forgiveness. But often, because they are filled with ordinary flawed human beings, churches can be places where judgment, hypocrisy, and routine can be normal. Churches don’t set out to be hurtful, but they often can be. We all need to find inspirational people who can be there to remind us that faith is more than church and that spirituality is essential to connect with our Creator and Redeemer. Yancey’s book might be a place to begin to make that connection if you are searching. Consider those people who have made a difference in your faith. For me, certain counselors at summer camp loom as large as public figures in my faith. Those people can connect you to the Spirit when all else seems to fail. But in the end, we do need places that can sustain us. One of Yancey’s inspirations, John Donne famously stated that no one is an island. We need one another. We need the support that we can offer each other. And so every Sunday, there are churches throughout this community who would welcome you in to find some of what God has to offer. Churches gather, failed und flawed human institutions, to point the way to God. Sometimes that path might be obscured, but there are moments of brilliance when we too connect with the holy. Frederick Beuchner, one of those individuals commended in Yancey’s book, gives an excellent description of a Christian. He writes, “A Christian is one who is on the way, though not necessarily very far along it, and who has at least some dim and half-baked idea of whom to thank.” We are all too human. Consider joining a Christian community this Sunday to connect to the holy and to thank the One who put us on this earth. In spite of the hurt that churches can offer, they also offer a glimpse of the holy. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA (face to cotne cuccC ouon^Acft uict/i uo-Jm Sunday, March 23 3RD SUNDAY IN LENT HOLY EUCHARIST Evening UCW The March meeting of the Evening Unit of the Brussels WUCC was held at the home of Joan Bernard with eight members present. Nelva Scott opened the meeting with the UCW purpose and thanked the host. Joan Bernard and Joan Golden were in charge of the meeting. Mrs. Bernard gave two readings: The Last Snow of the Season and Nature’s Talk as well as reading the scripture Luke 15: 3-10. Mrs. Scott led in prayer and Joan Golden gave a reflection of the season of Lent and how it has evolved over the centuries. The business of the meeting opened with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting by Mrs. Bernard. Isabelle Wheeler gave the treasurer’s report. An additional $120.38 was received in tape money for a total of $674.46. This money was used to help pay for the carpet in the choir room. Upcoming events and dates were discussed. March 20 is the hot luncheon. Joan Golden has offered to set up a book display for the day. April 14-18 are holy week meetings. Members will need to supply one luncheon meal. The annual garden party was discussed. Several dates were suggested. Sunday, May 25 was favoured and after further investigation, the date has been booked at the arena. The schedule of meetings for 2003 was completed and will be ready for distribution at the next meeting which is April 2 at the home of Mrs. Wheeler with Audrey Cardiff helping with the program. St. Michael*? Roman Catholic Church Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John’s, Brussels 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273 254 Drummond St. E., Blyth Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m. Father Lance Magdziak, Pastor 519-527-0142 email: stjames@rcec.london.on.ca HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL't MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn-526-1131 PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941 Sunday BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca March 23 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Come and join us as we journey in the Season of Lent 9:30 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.- Crusaders 8t Youth 7:15 p.m. - Adult Bible Study 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 Sunday, March 23 Morning Worship Service -10 a.m. Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m. Blyth United Church Corner of Dins'ey & Mill Street Sunday, March 23rd Worship Service & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. "Why Not 12 Commandments?" Also Lectionary Readings Bible Study Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the parlour "WeteotM. Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman Office: 523-4224 "The Church is not a Building, It is People Touching People" £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ ’’But for uou who fear Mm hauk, the Suu of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings." r 0:2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. -Psalm 24:1-2 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible J L(ll[ ■”•1 __ 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School § I ■ at Blyth Public School, m comer of King & Mill ® Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848 S Ql www.tcc.on.ca/~dowfam ^1 ^3 Moving forward with God {/tin "A, Wq^aIu^ at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 9:30 a.m. - Worship Service 10:45 a.m. - Coffee Break 11:00 a.m. - Sunday School (for all ages) Everyone Welcome Pastor Brent Kipfer 887-6388 Sunday - 10:00 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. - Bible Studies Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. Pastor Les Cook 523-4590 Cornerstone Bible 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 - 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