The Citizen, 2000-04-19, Page 15From the Minister's Study,
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2000. PAGE 15.
The hope of robins and the resurrection
By Pastor Ernest Dow, Blyth
United Church
For some weeks now the robins
have been with us. They gladdened
our hearts when they first arrived
during mild weather, the traditional
harbingers of spring.
It’s just as well they were around
to cheer us up in the weeks since, for
wintry weather returned. Snow cov
ered the ground again and tempera
tures plummeted.
We might have lost hope, but we
knew our red-breasted feathered
friends were still around, suffering
with us through it all. Their presence
gave us hope of warmer weather to
come.
The death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ also give us hope in the
stormy periods of life: times of loss
of loved ones, periods when our own
health suffers, or our well-being is
affected in any way.
Like the robins sticking with us
through the last throes of snow, the
Easter story is a promise for us of
better things to come, if we will
accept it.
“But Christ has indeed been raised
from the dead, the first fruits of those
who have fallen asleep. In Christ all
will be made alive. But each in his
own turn: Christ, the first fruits;
then, when he comes, those who
belong to him.” (1 Corinthians 15:
20, 23)
Jesus is the first fruits as the robin
is the first bird. Christ is the initial
showing of the harvest, the guaran
tee of more to follow — the resur
rection of those through the ages
who have trusted in Him.
Belief in Jesus as the Christ, then,
is accompanied by acceptance of
two wonders, His resurrection and
His return: because He is alive now,
that must mean he is still involved
with us, and will come back to
accomplish the mopping-up aspect
of God’s plan. This gives us hope
when death or sickness or loss would
freeze us with fear; we grieve, but
not as those who have no hope. (1
Thessalonians 4:3)
Robins don’t just hop around on
the grass for pleasure. They are there
for a reason — worms! Similarly,
Christians don’t just believe the
Creed (or get crucified as in Sudan,
or imprisoned as in China) for the
sake of amusement: there is real his
torical evidence behind our world
view. Here are half a dozen reasons
for starters.
(1) Scripture predicted the events
centuries before, and the motive —
forgiveness of our sins. This was not
an unexpected blip or fluke on God’s
timeline for the universe (see Isaiah
53).
(2) Jesus predicted his death and
rising at least three times before they
happened. This wasn’t wishful
thinking on the part of the disciples,
for it was totally contrary to their
expectations of a Messiah; they did
n’t understand.
(3) The authorities of the day
failed to produce the body, even
though it had been carefully guarded
in an officially sealed tomb.
(4) Eyewitness accounts were
available from those to whom the
risen Christ appeared. (Paul lists six
sources his readers could check out,
1 Corinthians 15: 5-8).
(5) There was a dramatic transfor
mation in the disciples from terrified
fugitives who denied and fled, to
people who boldly proclaimed the
event before the very powers who
had crucified their Lord. And they
stuck to their story despite martyr
dom.
(6) In our own time, there is the
transformation of those who believe
in Christ today. Lives are turned
around, long-fought habits are over
come, forgiveness becomes possible
towards those who wronged us. Paul
says, “By this gospel you are saved,
if you hold firmly to the word I
preached to you.” The gospel “is the
power of God for the salvation of
everyone who believes”. (1
Corinthians 15: 2; Romans 1:16)
God’s righteousness, a setting
right in our life and relationships, is
released within when we receive
Jesus. He suffered in our place to
demonstrate God’s incredible love
for each one of us.
Robins were designed for worms;
we’re designed for the good news of
another who emerged from the earth,
the risen Christ! Hallelujah!
you are Welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth
You are invited to
Revival Meetings
at
Zion Mennonite Church
Monday, May 1 to Sunday, May 7, 2000
7:45 each evening (Sunday evening 7:30)
Speaker: Aden Troyer
Sugarcreek, Ohio
Directions: From Newry, go 5 miles west, then turn left. Turn right
at first crossroad; go 1/2 mile. Church is on the right.
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
Good Friday 10:30 a.m.- Communion Service
Sunday 8:45 a.m.• Morning Worship Service
10:00 a.m.- Family Bible Hour
11 a.m.• Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m.- Evening Service
Wednesday 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.■ Family Night (Kids' Club)
Friday 7:30 p.m.- Youth
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Supply Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wc!.on.ca
April 21, 2000
Brussels United Church
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE at 9:30 a.m.
Everyone is Welcome
April 23, 2000
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Come and Celebrate the resurrection with us!
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
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BLYTH - MAUNDY THURSDAY - 7 PM
GOOD FRIDAY - 9:30 AM
BRUSSELS - MAUNDY THURSDAY - 9 PM
GOOD FRIDAY - 11:15 AM
wetcome tfiii Sunday.
APRIL 23 - EASTER DAY
HOLY EUCHARIST
Trinity, Blyth St. John s,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
invites you to...
Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.
Easter Sunrise Service 7:00 a.m.
Easter Breakfast 8:00 a.m.
Easter Worship Service 9:30 a.m.
Everyone
Welcome
Pastor Ben Wiebe
887-6388
Blyth United Church
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
April 21-7 p.m. - Good Friday Worship, special music
Easter Sunday April 23-6 a.m. Sunrise Service at Howson's Feed
Mill; Pancake Breakfast
11 a.m. Easter Worship, Confirmation, Communion
Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
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.
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
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m.- Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m.- Belgrave Service
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2000
8:30 a.m.- Sunrise Service
9:30 a.m.- Easter Breakfast at the Church
11:00 a.m.- Service of Worship
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
Hallelujah! For our Lord God
Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and
give him glory.
Revelation 19:6b, 7
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Good Friday
Communion Service
April 21 10 a.m.
Easter Morning Service
Sunday, April 23 10 a.m.
Sunday Evening Praise
& Worship Service
7:30 p.m.
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