HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-07-12, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2000. PAGE 11.
From the Minister’s Study
A grain of sand and the universe
By Ben Wiebe
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
The Hubble Space Telescope -
launched in 1990 - and other large
telescopes have opened great new
windows to the universe. We are
reminded afresh of the sheer size of
our universe. According to the speed
of light, the length of time it takes
light to travel a certain distance
(186,000 miles per second), the clos
est star is about four and a half light
years away. Our earth is a part of a
galaxy that is about 100,000 light
years in diameter and that is only the
beginning.
The most distant galaxy discov
ered by Hubble, according to the sci
entists, is about 10 billion light years
away. The data from Hubble also
highlights the reality of change, and
movement in the universe. At the
same time there is an order of frame
work within which the earth, the sun,
the galaxies have their place.
This poses certain questions. How
did all this come to be? Who is God?
What is our place as humans?
Some will simply say, “our uni
verse began evolving billions of
years ago. Energy was transformed
into atoms and atoms collected into
stars.” That is, everything, all reality
can be reduced to physics and chem
istry (mechanistic materialism). This
is true whether it is the'rock that falls
or the thinking and choosing of
human beings.
Actually, how can there be a place
within this framework at all for pur
pose or choice? So the eminent
British scientist M. Polanyi claims
that “to speak of life as something to
be explained by the laws of physics
and chemistry is strictly speaking
absurd, for physical and chemical
processes do not determine by them
selves-any finite system”.
Is all that happens a matter of
chance? Or looked at from the other
side, is everything determined
through some inevitable cause -
effect process? Or is it a world
bounded by purpose but open for
human choice and action?
How do we make our way to the
truth on this? For example, the reali
ty is all living things exist in rela
tionship. Without immediate relation
to water the fish dies and without
appropriate relation to water and air
the human dies. To understand
everything real and living is simply
to understand the network of rela
tionships, connections and surround
ings.
According to mechanistic theory
things are primary and then their
relations according to “natural laws.”
But in reality relationships are just as
basic as the things that exist. For
nothing in the world exists, lives or
moves of itself. Everything exists or
lives in relationship. If this is true of
everything now, what about the ori
gin of all things? Are we to think this
simply “happened” of itself?
This is one pointer to the God of
purpose and order as the origin of all
things. Here is the ultimate relation
ship: creator and creation. Science
itself speaks of a beginning for all
things (example - “the big bag”). In
accord with the word of scripture it is
by the word of God that all things
have their beginning. He can act
with purpose and life giving power.
God does not “act upon” something.
Creation comes into being out of
God’s creative purpose by his word.
Creation says that to be here at all, to
be named and have a place in this
order is “of God”.
What is our place? Do we again
need to learn that we are creatures?
As a creature I am not above creation
but part of the whole network of life.
To pollute the water or the air is to
contaminate the relationships within
which I live and exist. At the same
time it is the purposeful thought and
action of humans that can build a
marvelous instrument like the
Hubble Telescope by which we can
peer deep into the universe.
Nevertheless, ail creatures receive
before they give, and give only as a
response to their receiving. To recog
nize myself as a creature is to be able
to receive like a child. And to receive
the greatest gift - the kingdom of
God. To exist in relationship to God
who gives meaning that is greater
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Worshiping with the Brussels United Church
than all the frustration we experience
and love that is stronger than death
(Romans 8: l9-23, 35-39).
at the United Church for the month of July.
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Supply Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
/°\ July 16
THERE WILL BE NO MORNING WORSHIP
fcpjSj) IN ETHEL- THEY BE JOINING
\^7BRUSSELS FOR A SPECIAL MUSICAL SERVICE
WITH “THE SAINTS”
All are welcome to come and worship with us
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
Sunday 9:30 a.m.- Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m.- Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m.- Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.• Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m.• Youth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
join foot ui-di&fiip tfiio, Sunday,
Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life
of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God. ”
Ephesians 5:1
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Oft give
thanhs
to the.
invited to,
us
at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
10:00 a.m. each Sunday
during
July and August
(no Sunday School)
Everyone Welcome
Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388
l/au aie ujelcvme tfiiy Sunday
JULY 16 - PENTECOST 5
MORNING PRAYER
Trinity, Blyth St. John s,
9:30 a.m. . Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
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.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
is the leading genetic
cause of infant
death.
year, counties. Canadian kids
are diagnosed with SMA. Which
means they may not see their first
day of school. Sadly, there still
isn’t a cure. But until there Is,
there's us. And until we find a cure,
we’re making the lives of people
with neuromuscular disorders
better. Call and donate, because
together we can put neuromuscu
lar disorders where they belong.
Behind us. 1 800 567-CURE
Blyth United Church
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service
A special welcome to our guests, The Blyth
Church of God, for the month of July
Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
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
Muscular Dystrophy
Association of Canada
Morning Worship Service
Sunday at 11 a.m.
Please join us for worship
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
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
July 24-28, 2000 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.