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The Citizen, 2005-03-10, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2005. PAGE 19. From the Minister's Study Refresh and stimulate the mind positively By Rev. Dave Wood Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church Groundhogs! You just can't rely on anything these days! Last time 1 looked out the window it was still pretty white and I have to admit. I am so looking forward to spring. No more snow to shovel, icy windshields to scrape, and the big one. house to heat. 1 guess 1 have an advantage over most when it comes to determining the advancement of spring because without fail, my methodology is much more scientific than relying on a mere groundhog. Every year, 1 carefully watch the sfgns to determine Presbyterial meets in St. Marys St. Marys was in charge of registration for the postponed annual meeting of Huron-Perth Women’s Missionary Society. The group was welcomed to Avonton Presbyterian Church by Jean Aitcheson. Ina McMillan presided for the meeting and announced the Spring rally for May 18 and that the Synodical is to be held in Woodstock on April 19 and 20. The literature secretary, Lois Horne, recommended several books available from the bookroom in Toronto. Nancy Schneider read the minutes of the last annual meeting. The roll call was answered with a plan each group has for mission in 2005. Rev. Gwen Brown, assisted by the new Kintail camp director, Graham Gould, showed a video update of the camp’s improvement and future plans. A report from the WMS council in Toronto was given by Margaret McGillivray, president of council. Mrs. McGillivray, Goderich, has been invited to attend a conference in the Korean Church in Japan. Following lunch, devotions were given by Nancy Schneider and Vola Purcell, Listowel. Mary Scott introduced the guest speaker, audiologist Susan Schlacht. Stratford, who described her experiences when she went to El Salvador with a group to fit children with hearing aids. Elizabeth Stewart, Sally Scott and Jean Peebles, Monkton, presented the in memoriam. Jean Aitcheson, who is leaving for Guatemala with Friends of the Orphanage, thanked the women for the donations to take with her and also requested help for sewing pyjamas with donated t-shirt material. Janet Gibson presided for the 2004 reports which were given by Yvonne Knight. Lois Horne, Lillian Sparling, Mary Scott, Ruth Laing and Helen Dunseith, and Janet Gibson for Laurine McIntosh. The slate of officers was presented by Lois Horne, and installed by Jean Edmunds, Mitchell. Courtesy remarks were given by Lillian Sparling. Officers for 2005 are: past president, Shirley Aitcheson, Avonton; president, Ina McMillan, Mitchell; first vice-president, Bernice Richards, Stratford; second vice-president, Janet Gibson, St. Marys; recording secretary, Nancy children/youth, Barbara McCallum, Stratford; literature. Lois Horne, North Easthope; historian, Laurine McIntosh. St. Marys; without portfolio, Mary Duffin, Stratford and Margaret Peebles, Atwood; financial advisors. Marion Smith Schneider, Listowel; corresponding secretary, Mary Scott. Stratford; treasurer, Elizabeth Stewart, Monkton; publicity secretary, Bessie Thompson, St. Marys; adult groups. Special service Eleanor Ward was the guest speaker for the Blyth World Day of Prayer service held on Friday. (Cappyonn photo) join uwidAifi Sunday, March 13 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 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Sunday, March 13 11:00 a.m. - Sunday Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Sunday Belgrave Service Evangelical Missionary Church Daring to Defy Death Jesus Movie at Memorial Hall, March 24 10:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 523-4848 Li stor: trnest uow ~ // www.getlivingwater.org Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 Community ChurcZl Qf "The Church is not a Building, It is People Touching People" Sunday 9:15 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - Prayer Meeting - Sunday School - Worship Service Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 523^4590 when I can hang up the shovels. And every year, it is usually right on. All I have to do, you probably guessed it, is look next door, see if Fran is out of doors and then 1 know without fail, spring has come! She is much' more reliable than any groundhog and maybe Blyth should elevate her to celebrity status because we all know she is so deserving of it! Just imagine the revenue we could generate. Fran mugs, t-shirts, calendars and pencils just to name a few. (See what lack of sun does to my mind!!!) But you know what, the mind docs need refreshing, it needs stimuli that is positive and encouraging, uplifting and buoyant. When time is taken to read the Word of God, to pull back from the busyness of life and to just be still and know that He is God, there is a refreshing that is even better than Spring. In Psalm 119 the psalmist exhorts the beauty, the power and the necessity of God’s Word. By experience, the writer of the Psalm came to understand that if life was to be lived in a meaningful and purposeful way, the Word of God needed to be embraced. This living Word became for the psalmist life and hope, strength and purpose and he writes, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and light for my path.” In these days when things are changing so rapidly, when societal norms are being rewrittep and evil is on the increase, the Word of God stands firm and “though the grass withers and the flowers fade, the Word of our God shall stand forever.” Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” and in it we will find direction and strength, hope and purpose. Take the lime to read it, lo study it and live life standing on (he promises it brings because the Author is trustworthy and you will find within it, a breath of spring! THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA ‘2Ueicwte4 yacc to and catvid&ift SUNDAY, MARCH 13 I £““] Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels|O»| 9:30 a.m. ll:15a.m. Guest Musician at Trinity Anglican Church will be Juanita Wilkins 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 Sunday, March 13 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Continuing our Pilgrimage Journey in the Season of Lent HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL SING ASONK^OF Sunday Tuesday Wednesday MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-1131 PASTOR DAVE WOOD 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 Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, March 13 Worship Service & Sunday School 11:00 a m. Lent V “The Valley of Dry Bones 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.