HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-01-27, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2005.
From the Minister’s Study
Some reflections on the tsunami
By Rev. Eugen Bannerman
Blyth United Church
"The world is like a drum. Beat
any part of it and the whole
reverberates.”
I heard Marshall McLuhan use
this image in the 1970s. He was
illustrating the theme of the world as
a global village.
We can no longer hide away in our
own corners of the world. The
medium of communication has
made the world our stage.
The Boxing Day devastation in
Asia and the resulting tidal wave of
compassion reminded me of the now
obvious theme of global
interconnectedness. Every major
city in the world had family, friends
or vacationers in the devastated
areas.
Another message that struck at the
personal level of so many people
was the fleetingness of life.
Death can call us at any moment.
It can call through accident, fire, or
drowning. It can call when you are
playing with a beach ball in
Thailand; it can call when you are
lazing in the sun in Sumatra. Or
delivering a baby in Sri Lanka.
It can call when you are listening
to a teacher at an elementary school.
Half were taken within minutes of
the water crashing into the school;
half survived the ordeal and
Faith in Song concert Feb. 4
The ABC Women’s Ministry is
once again bringing to the Memorial
Hall in Blyth, Faith-in-Song. This
concert of Chrisian gospel music
will be held on Friday. Feb. 4 at 8
p.m.
The Women’s Ministry groups at
the Auburn Huron Chapel, Blyth
Living Water Christian Fellowship
and Heartland Community Church
in Clinton, have been working
together for over three years to
provide opportunities for families to
come together for fun, fellowship
and worship.
This February they are once again
inviting everyone to come to Blyth
Memorial Hall to enjoy a
celebration of Christian musical
talent. The artists include
Heartsong, a male Gospel trio from
London; and Jontue Kuyvenhoven,
a young woman from Wingham
who will be presenting. Christian
mime and Phil Main from
Wingham, who will once again be
the singing MC, sharing several
songs from his recently released CD
Father & Sons.
Both Main and Heartsong will
have CDs for sale.
All the proceeds will be going to
youth work in the communities.
Plans to
SERVE
struggled to safety.
“Who shall I say is calling?” asks
the Montreal poet, Leonard Cohen.
“Who by fire, who by water, who in
the sunshine...?”
And there is no answer that takes
away the question.
The tsunami also reminds us that
terrible things can happen to people
through no fault of their own.
I strongly disagree with the
doomsayers who said God was
punishing the world for wrongdoing.
No. The tsunami was not sent
because God was angry at the world.
It was not sent because our culture is
moving toward greater freedom for
all citizens.
Tsunamis are part of the natural
and normal geological environment
of the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere.
They are the result of undersea
earthquakes that spread their
energies upward and outwards.
The Boxing Day' earthquake near
Sumatra registered nine points on
the Richter Scale, one of the highest
ever recorded. It was strong enough
to shift planet earth one inch towards
east. That’s power! Divine, creative,
yet measurable power!
That’s another message. There is
more power in nature than humans
can control.
The tidal wave of compassion for
the victims that followed the disaster
offers another lesson. People can
work and live together peaceably
when they work together to help
others in need. We are able to set
aside religious and cultural
differences, break down centuries of
old barriers, and work together to
rebuild lives and communities.
Natural disasters help us to see our
common humanity.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the
tidal wave of compassion opened up
by this natural disaster could also
reduce the man-made hostilities in
places like Iraq and the Middle East?
Finally, where was God when the
tsunami struck?
Answer: Where He has always
been. In creation, in nature, in the
tsunami. And in the hearts of
humans. •
Everywhere.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
yew, to etwee
SUNDAY, JANUARY 30
&Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
Sing praises
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
The gospel trio Heartsong is among the performers for the
ABC Women’s Ministry concert, being held Feb. 4 at
Memorial Hall. (Courtesyphoto)
Pfeade fast m fat
Sunday, January 30
Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden -'Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
change
In last week’s issue of The Citizen
it was reported the three young
women from Blyth Christian
Reformed Church were going to
Juarez, Mexico in March.
However, those plan.> have since
been changed.
The Citizen was contacted last
Wednesday with information that
the three - Erica Thalen. Brianne
Schultz and Angela Nonkes --
would be going to Bradenton.
Florida from April 2-9.
10:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship
& Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848
www.getlivingwqter.org
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
January 30
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
^oiniftunity Churc^
°fOoa
"The Church is not a
Building,
*s ?eoPle Touching
Sunday 9:15 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
People"
- Prayer Meeting
- Sunday School
- Worship Service
Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 523-4590
Sunday, January 30
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Celebration of the Season of Epiphany
iJijL
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL Ik
SlNGASON^iOF
- Sunday
Tuesday
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
JJiL Wednesday
tlle\___________
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m
7:30 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Family Bible Hour
Morning Worship Service
Evening Worship Service
Youth Bible Study
Crusaders for grades JK-6
Adult Bible Study
Blyth United Church
Comer of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, January 30
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Living with illness, living with purpose.
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.
Sanctuary