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The Citizen, 2000-07-05, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2000. From the Minister’s Study Time to clean out earthy storage rooms By Rev. Lynn Nichol Knox Cranhrook Three good friends of mine and my sister are all getting ready to move. It must be the season for it. And so begins the process of pack­ ing. You get the boxes, and some old newspaper to wrap the breakables, put all the stuff in the boxes and move. Simple right? Anyone who has ever moved knows that it’s not always that sim­ ple. When we start to go through the accumulated junk of several or many years, we inevitably discover that we have more stuff than we would have believed could fit in the space in which we live. We find things that we bought once that have never been used. (Mango forks and fondue pots?!)We find papers that once were important but now can be recycled. (There is some encouragement in reading three-year-old “to do” lists; most of the items are now checked off!) We find toys long outgrown, clothing long outgrown, piles of broken things that we thought we’d get around to fixing but never did. And when we’ve sorted through everything and there’s a huge pile of stuff to go in the garage sale or to the organized than I am, and wouldn't have found yourselves in this situa­ tion. I hope my friends who are packing right now do not end up so frantic. But even those with the least excess material stuff can stand to lis­ ten to Jesus’ advice from the Sermon dump, we still find that we need twice as many boxes as we thought we would. I remember one time when J was the one moving. I had sorted every­ thing and decided what I needed to keep and what I could get rid of. The funny thing was, that as the deadline approached, I decided more on the Mount, and more stuff really didn't need to be packed, because I didn’t need it. Forty-five minutes before the movers were to arrive, I was getting rid of lots of stuff that simply would take longer to pack than to throw away. Most of you are probably more • - «>60 attend WMS spring rally at Knox church, Mitchell He said: “Do not store up for your­ selves treasures on earth...but store up for yourselves treasures in heav­ en...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). Whether or not you believe in heaven, I invite you to think for a moment about those things that are true “treasures”, the things that can­ not be packed into boxes but are with you wherever you go. Friendship. Love. Truth. Honour. Joy. Faith. When a long-time neighbour moves away, do you miss his nifty model car collection? Or do you miss the heart-to-heart conversations and the helping hand? When you leave this life, what do you want people to remember about you? What will you take with you? Even if you do not believe in heav­ en, heaven’s treasures are lighter to carry and more fulfilling than all our material possessions. And that goes double for those of you who do believe in heaven. Maybe it’s time to clean out our earthy storage rooms, and start focussing more on the treasure that lasts. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Happy sorting! About 60 women attended the spnng rally of Huron-Perth Women’s Missionary Society in Knox Presbyterian Church, Mitchell. The theme was “Bloom Where You’re Planted. There was a good display of articles for the Camp Kintail kitchen shower. Vice-President Shirley Aitcheson presided for the afternoon and evening sessions which began with a sing-song. Following a welcome from Jean Edmunds, Ina McMillan, Atwood, introduced the guest speaker, Barbara Hicks, who spoke on the importance of forgiveness in the afternoon and the need to be a spoon for Christ and not a knife which cuts ora fork which pricks in the evening. Mrs. Hicks has worked at the United Church’s Camp Menesetung for 18 years and has the nickname Spoony. Janet Gibson, St. Marys, gave a talk on her family heirlooms and col­ lections. Many ongoing projects for WMS groups were suggested such as toys for the Salvation Army, caps and baby supplies and school supplies for Haiti and Guatemala, pennies for the Leprosy Mission, teddy bears for cri­ sis situations or Alzheimers' patients, Sleeping Children around the World, Mitts for Northern Ontario, etc. Following a salad supper, the Mitchell Presbyterian Bell Ringers played Amazing Grace, Jericho, The Rose and accompanied Marion McKay as she sang Lord, 1 Lift Your Name on High. In the Garden was sung with Audrey Vorstenbosch at the organ. The Presbyterial President, Pat White, Goderich, explained how the theme of FLAMES was developed. The fall rally will be held in Exeter when there will be a collection of small articles such as toiletries and toothpaste or money for Evangel Hall. The evening vespers were taken by Avonton ladies, Barbara Taylor, Barbara Scott, Rita McKay and Jean Aitcheson, using the theme. Courtesy remarks were given by Jean Evans of Motherwell. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Worshiping with the Brussels United Church at the United Church for the month of July. We welcome you to come and worship with us. Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 Christian ^ Instrumental Musics with the Paraguayan Folk Harp •A Harpist: Eduard Klassen Saturday, July 8 7:00 p.m. Outdoor Service at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Bring Lawn Chairs •A For more information - 357-3557 • • • • • • ••»••• Doing Business Without Advertising is Like Flexing Your Muscles in the Dark... You Know What You’re Doing But No One Else Does! !• •___________•••••••••••••••• • • join u& [<nt uwt&fup. Sunday, Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m. Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Corinthians 15:33 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-7555 PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017 Sunday, July 9 Wednesday Friday 10:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 :30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. - Outdoor Worship Service and Sunday School Picnic at Wawanosh Park - Evening Service • Prayer & Bible Study - Youth THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA cute atelcatne tfiib Sunday JULY 9 - PENTECOST 4 HOLY EUCHARIST Trinity, Blyth St. John s, 9:30 a.m. Brussels Wheelchair accessible 11:15a.m. Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273 74. BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Joan Golden - Supply Minister Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca July 9 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to come and worship with us Communion - 9:45 - 10:30 Family Bible Hour and Sunday School 11:00 - 12:00 Prayer & Bible Study Tuesday 8 p.m. ^<tu a-<.e incited at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 10:00 a.m. each Sunday during July and August (no Sunday School) Everyone Welcome Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388 Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Ethel 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 K Blyth United Church ^2ome Worship The Lord With Us Sj Sundays - 11:00 a.m. Worship Service I July 9 - Guest Minister Rev. Cecil Wittich A special welcome to our guests, The Blyth Church of God, for the month of July The congregations of the Blyth Community Church of God and the Blyth United Church will meet together for the month of July at the Blyth United Church Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow ALL ARE WELCOME x j 523-4224 _____________ Morning Worship Service Sunday at 11 a.m. Please join us for worship