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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2005-09-08, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005. PAGE 11. From the Minister's Study Speech talks of companions along the way By Rev. Robin McGauley Blyth United Church As many of you know I am a newly ordained minister in the United Church of Canada. The celebration took place at the meeting of London Conference in May. It was a day that I had been anticipating for many years since the preparation for ordained ministry requires years of study at University and years of process through the Church. The final requirement for ordination at London conference is to address the court of conference by way of a speech. The topic of this speech is to be on the theme of conference. This year’s theme was Companions Along the Way. The following is the speech I gave at the gathering of London conference in May: “Over the past few years the most common reaction that I have received from people in the church when they found out that I was 'becoming a minister’ was, “well, you are entering ministry at a very interesting time.” We all know about these so called 'interesting times.’ The comment speaks truth about the state of the 1914 Fall Fair at Doon Village Step back in time and take part in a 1914 Fall Fair at Doon Heritage Crossroads on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enjoy the musical entertainment, take in the fair exhibits, watch the sheep dog demonstrations, sawmill demonstrations,, have a horse- drawn wagon ride and spend some time visiting with the villagers and farmers. Set in the autumn amidst the blazing colours and cool, crisp air, fall fairs were an important event to the rural community. It was the culmination of a year’s worth of effort - the best of the best was ready for competition. Musical entertainment, the penny carnival and the display of fair entries made it a special event for everyone in the community. Call 748-1914 for entry rules for competitions in baking, produce and crafts. Doon will be accepting entries on Saturday, Sept. 17 between 1 and 4 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 18 between 9 and 10 a.m. Receive a free pass to the fall fair when you enter the competition. church today. It speaks of the church that no longer holds the same status in society that it once enjoyed. It speaks of the church that no longer has a clear sense of vision or purpose in a society that does not acknowledge the importance of the religious institution. It speaks of the church that often hears the words 'dying’ and ‘burnout’ when we attempt to sum up the state of affairs. The truth is the church just isn't what it used to be. And so, ‘entering the church at an interesting time’ speaks to the changing nature of the ministry that the leaders in the church are called to do. It seems that the ministry of the church has spent so much time trying to be relevant to secular society that the church now has very few distinguishing features from the culture in which we live. We seem to have lost the ability to speak the odd and foreign language of our faith and we seem to have lost the ability to understand the strange practices that mark us as Christian. I believe that it is the role of the minister in these interesting times to begin to reclaim the odd language and practice of our faith. It is as if being a minister is to be a language teacher; to help the community to learn and live out the faith in radical ways, radical because the origin of the word radical is rooted, grounded. Saying we are to live radically in the faith means that we are to be grounded in it. When we begin to understand ourselves as language teachers we find that words, words like companion take on significant meaning for how the church practices to live out radically in the faith. You see, the root of the word companion is Latin and it means 'bread together’ (com and panis). Those who break bread together arc those who can name themselves as companions. Our practice of breading together, of being companions, is realized when we remember that at the very heart of the Christian faith is a table. The most basic call of the church is to be a people who eat together. But, when we keep in mind the odd practice of our faith, a practice that is different from contemporary society, we are reminded that our companioning, our breading together, is to be done as Jesus did; as a people of gratitude, generosity. openness and acceptance. Gathering at the table as Jesus did is an odd practice because it operates under an alternative set of table manners, manners that don’t prize unnecessary consumption or uphold a mind-set of scarcity, but rather manners that reflect the abundant promises and gifts of God. It is my hope that in these interesting times the church will be a people who companion; a people who live out the odd language and practice of our faith so that we can truly encounter that Christ is made known in the breaking of bread." THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA TfleicMted (face to ctMie SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Christian Tdlaw&fup Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared Saturday 8:45 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Wingham: Women’s Discovery Morning (357-1923) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848 http://getlivingwater.org // Donation-based N. PASTORAL COUNSELLING • Marriage • Family • Budgeting Fellowship Bible Chapel • GAMES • SINGING • BIBLE STORIES Over 30 k*4» attend cock week! Starting September 15th Ages - Senior K to Grade 6 Thursday Evenings - 7 to 6:30 pm - Hullett Central Public School Londesboro For Info Contact Glen & Elaine Steinson AT 482-5218 Sunday, September 11 Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m. BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John's, Brussels ll:l5a.m. The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273 ^^Oiro'““tyC',UreAo/(;o<z "The Church is not a Building, It is People Touching > People" Sunday 9:15 a.m. - Prayer Meeting 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. - Pastor Les Cook 523-4590 HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH SING A SONCj OF Auburn - 526-1131 PASTOR DAVE WOOD Sunday 9:30 a.m.Family Bible Hour Tuesday Wednesday IS 10:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Morning Worship Service - Evening Worship Service - Jr. & Sr. Youth Bible Study - Olympians (starts Sept. 14th) - Adult Bible Study Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible Blyth United Church Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, September 11 Worship Service 11:00 a.m. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Sunday., Se.p.te.m.H.e.’c 11 11:OO am - Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, September 11 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Worship Service and Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. Worship Service and Sunday School Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship Minister: Rev. Robin McGauley • 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. grow in Love with Jesui together Grow with us this fall through... ... Sunday morning Worship 9:30 a.m. ... Sunday School for all ages 11:00 a.m ... Small Groups (groups for men, women, couples) ... Youth Group 250 Princess Street, Box 159 Brussels, Ontario NOG 1H0 (519) 887-6388 brusselsmennonite @on.aibn.com Pastor Brent Kipfer