The Citizen, 2004-05-13, Page 12Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
Luang/ I'Vater
Orkin Tellawafiip
10:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship
Sunday School during Sermon
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848
www.tcc.on.cai-dowfam
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, May 16
London Conference
Sunday
/411
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.
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
Celebrating 150 years of Christian Witness and Service!
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
20etcoo5e4. you to come etwl coolatefr coit% ua
MAY 16
6TH OF EASTER
Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
The Rev. Torn Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
Cornerstone
Bible
Fellowship
Ethel
9:45-10:30
11:00 - 12:00
7:30 pm
day 7:00 - 9:00 pm
6:30 - 8:00 pm
John 14:6 - Jesus said, "
one comes to
- Communion
- Family Bible Hour and Sunday School
- Prayer & Bible Study
- Youth (ages 12 & up)
- Kids' Club April 22 to May 27 - Ages 4-12
t am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no
the Father, but through Me."
iotliC01-0.111unity church
f
4•°' Building,
It is People Touching
People"
Sunday 9:15 a.m. - Prayer Meeting
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Several mid-week events
Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. - Pastor Les Cook 523-4590
"The Church is not a coo, A N b%0
St. Michael's
Roman Catholic Church ?
254 Drummond St. E., Blyth
Saturday Night Mass
at 7:00 pm
Father John Johnson, Pastor
357-2435
Just desserts
Brenda Konarski had the sweet task of slicing up desserts
for the spring supper and silent auction at Londesborough
United Church on Saturday. (Vicky Bremner photo)
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
May 16
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004.
• From the Minister's Study
`God brings spiritual life to birth in us'
By Pastor Brent Kipfer
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Nicky Gumbel tells the story of a
Sunday school teacher who wanted
to help her young students
understand the difference between
physical birth and spiritual birth. So
she asked them, "Are you born a
Christian?" One little boy replied,
"No, Miss. You are born normal!"
A very good answer.
Jesus says that. "No one can see
the kingdom of God without being
born again."
The Gospel of John speaks about
an encounter between Jesus and a
well-respected religious teacher
named Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a
good man who is devoted to the law
of God. He is courteous to Jesus and
greets him with great respect.
He says: "Rabbi, we know that
you are a teacher who has come
from God; for no one can do these
signs that you do apart from the
presence of God."
That is a great start. Nicodemus
respects Jesus as teacher whO has
come from God - a colleague who
deserves being called Rabbi. It's a
far better welcome than many other
leaders will give to Jesus.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus on
friendly terms. He seems sincere.
He recognizes that the power of God
is at work in Jesus. If I were to meet
him. I have no doubt that I would
really like this man. But being nice
isn't enough.
Jesus gets to the heart of things:
"Very truly, I tell you, no one can see
the kingdom of God without being
born from above."
With one sentence, Jesus sweeps
away everything that Nicodemus has
accomplished for himself, his status
as a religious leader, his zeal for the
law. Jesus sweeps it away and insists
that he be remade by the power of
God.
Jesus uses a Greek word that has
two different meanings; it can either
be translated as born again or born
from above. Jesus probably means it
in both ways. This is a second birth -
and it is a gift that comes from
heaven. No one can see the kingdom
of God without it.
It's not enough to be born
naturally or physically. God wants to
bring new spiritual life to birth in us.
He wants to lead us into the kingdom
of God, into eternal life.
A Bible translator named Des
Oatridge was once trying to render
this Scripture into a language of
Papua New Guinea. When he came
to the words, born again - or born
from above - he asked a native co-
worker how to express it.
The local man explained a custom
in his culture. He said that:
"Sometimes a person goes wrong
and will not listen to anybody. We all
get together in the village and place
that person in the midst of us. The
elders talk to him for a long time.
'You have gone wrong!' they say.
'All your thoughts, intentions, and
values are wrong. Now you have to
become a baby again and start to
relearn everything right.—
That was the answer Des was
looking for. So today this Papua
New Guinea Bible translation says,
"No one can see the Kingdom of
God unless he becomes like a baby
again and relearns everything from
God's Word."
Jesus invites us to receive this gift:
a new birth that comes when we turn
our backs on sin and ask Jesus to
take charge of our lives. It's an
invitation he gives to everyone:
Nicodemus included. Pastors
included. Folks who attend church
and folks who have never set foot in
one. You and me.
He offers to give us life that's way
beyond normal.
Pee ewe 14(:a ‘4,t evandto
Sunday, May 16
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
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
SNGASOKOF
C'iitaEr,D
aitSe
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941
Auburn - 526-1131
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
Monday 7:30 p.m. Sports Night
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
Don't miss our Anniversary Service on Sunday, June 6
featuring the Huron Chapel Choir at 10:30 a.m. and
Middle Cross at 7:30 p.m. service. t