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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2004-02-12, Page 16op, ithipe,„ ‘ c.i 4. 04 c, -csoi,,, Building, z .., k # .16,e It is People Touching s People" Sunday 9:15 a.m. - Prayer Meeting 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service 7:30 p.m. - Coffee House (in basement) Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. - Pastor Les Cook 523-4590 ° Community Chur ch Of 10 `4.0(1 "The Church is not a BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, February 15 Worship Service & Sunday School - 11:00 am Historical Vignette: 1881 Rev. J. Philp and the Wingham Romance 1 p.m. - Annual General Meeting ,rira 704-arace Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman Office: 523-4224 Blyth United Church is a welcoming community of faith. We celebrate God's presence through worship and study, and through - responding to the needs and gifts of each other St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church 254 Drummond St. E., Blyth Saturday Night Mass at 7:00 pm Father John Johnson, Pastor 357-2435 Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. Evening Worship Service Wednesday 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Crusaders - JK to Grade 6 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Youth 7:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS 11 :00 a.m. - Sunday Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Sunday Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 7,444e 7:clea ea den eaendtilt Sunday, February 15 Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m. BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible Cornerstone- . Bible Fellowship Ethel Sunday: 9:45-10:30 - Communion 11:00 - 12:00 - Family Bible Hour and Sunday School Wednesday: 7:00 - 9:00 pm - Youth (ages 12 & up) Friday: 7:30 pm - Home Bible Studies John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no one comes to the Father, but through Me." Call Pastor Andrew at 887-6123 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA weeetwted *sue, to eacie-e awd coepudefr wea ccd FEBRUARY 15 MORNING PRAYER SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca February 15 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School We Celebrate the Season of Epiphany PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2004. From the Minister's Study Reverend asks, 'Are you fishing for Jesus?' By the Rev. Tom Wilson, the Anglican Parish of Blyth & Brussels Luke 5:1-11 tells us about Jesus being pursued by the crowd and asks Simon (whom he will eventually nickname, Peter. meaning the Rock) to take him out in his boat to get away from the people. Simon and his companions have just completed a night of poor fishing. Jesus tells Simon to try again and Simon and his colleagues bring in such a huge haul of fish that it overfills two boats. Simon realizes that there's something supernatural going on here. He falls down in confession at Jesus' feet. Jesus responds, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." If your church has been following the Revised Common Lectionary of Sunday readings, you may have noted that recent readings have concentrated on two themes, 1) Jesus is God, and we need to believe that; and 2) that through that faith we will form loving communities of followers of Jesus. Jesus told Simon, "From now on, you will be catching people." This call was not only to Simon-Peter, but to all of us as well. The call of God to reach out 'to those who are hurting permeates the scriptures. God wants us to act on His behalf and restore people to life and health in His name. It has been said that many Christians are no longer fishers of people, but keepers of the aquarium. That is, we are so focused and devoted to the church building, the church institution, and our own church world, that we no longer try to restore other people to life and health. Many of us in mainline denominations have been remarkably silent when it comes to talking about our faith. We tend to get very passionate about the inner workings of the church, but we are rarely passionate about our outreach beyond the walls of the church. For many people even talking to fellow Christians about faith takes a lot of guts. Restoring people to life and health should be done in a life-giving way, through grace and mercy, not through threats and intimidation. But we can't just bury our heads in the sand and pretend not to care either. Jesus calls us to catch people, to restore them to life and health instead of ignoring them. A writer named Hugh Hewitt published a book in 1998 called The Embarrassed Believer. His premise is that while there are many who believe in Jesus, there are few who will talk about their faith in Jesus. He reminds the reader that in North America, we are not in physical danger when we share our faith. At /0111MMWAR.202M6.V LuaRgiVatera Feb. 15 - Luke 6:27-36 most, we risk embarrassment and the feeling that we don't know everything. For Hewitt, embarrassment is no reason to refuse to share one's faith. Hewitt makes a distinction between believers and bystanders. None of us should use these descriptions to point fingers at others, but if it helps us to explore our own devotion to Christ, then it's helpful. Hewitt admits that this distinction may seem judgmental and intolerant, but it might just help us to become better catchers of people for our congregations. The difference between believers and bystanders: Believers attend church services on a very regular basis. It is unusual for them not to'be there. Believers teach their children and others' children the essentials of the faith. Bystanders entrust that chore to others. Believers have spoken in public about their faith and church. Bystanders are theoretically willing to do so if approached, but have never been approached. Believers read Scripture even though it's a chore. Bystanders intend to get around to it." Believers honour those who are elected or appointed to leadership of the church. Bystanders, when they notice the church leaders at all, are consistent only in their willingness to critique. No job is beneath a believer. Bystanders don't want many jobs but can sacrifice themselves for leadership positions if coaxed and pleaded with. Believers are full of God's forgiveness and love. Bystanders know the rules. Believers savour and seek more and more teaching about God. Bystanders have what they need and would rather not be bothered. A while ago, while I was waiting for a haircut, I read an article in Business Week which said, "Companies are beginning to recognize employees as whole human beings and are exploring the full'range of their needs and desires. Conversations are emerging around spirituality and how to nurture its potential in both the individual and the company." Large companies like Xerox, Taco is Fd [T. Bell, Pizza Hut, and even Wal-Mart, "are hiring chaplains. These chaplains are on call 24 hours a day to visit employees in hospitals, deal with nervous breakdowns, and respond to suicide threats. They'll even say the vows on a worker's wedding day or deliver the eulogy at a funeral." Sounds a lot like what is expected of a parish priest, but the majority of employees of these corporations now have no church affiliation at all. This is a strong reminder that Continued on page 20 x 1 Christian, Tellauksfup. 1 1 E 1 4 1 R .815 Beyond 8 g 3 8 .1 3 I Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848 1 pj www.tcc.on.cai-dowfam a loorawwwwwoor 10:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH SING ASONWF Thyme Auburn - 526-1131 —404.4a.-9 PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941 01-4:-:171*:14-101-41:'41-1a: 01+1*:14T.if+l0.1-4-1-**VP:3F-Ii:441}44--0. SpiPtituat Neaeing Sunlit/aft Speaker: Pastor Les Cook Divine Healing (mental, physical and emotional) begins when spiritual alignment takes place. Saturday, February 21st 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Blyth Community Church of God 308 Blyth Road Registration: $30 (lunch included) Pre-registration recommended For more information contact: Mary Marsh 482-9623 or Gail Bailey 523-9796 No products or services will be sold. Ia1fIX4R1011:-44-1E41 0 014