HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-01-11, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018. PAGE 17.
From the Minister's Study
We're finding answers together: Hymers
By Pastor Brian Hymers, DLM
Dungannon Trinity and
Knox United Church, Belgrave
Is there anyone like me totally
exhausted following the Christmas
Holidays rush?
In my case, we added a move on
Dec. 15 just to really get things in
high gear and cause mass confusion
as we packed and unpacked our
belongings and stuff gathered over
the past 25 years in Listowel, our
previous location, and moved them
all into our new home in Wingham.
Patience and calm are not the words
of the day for the past three weeks
leading up to Christmas at my house.
I was preaching during the time of
Advent that it was a time of calm and
waiting. I have been preaching being
patient, calm and relaxed for the
arrival of the Messiah, the Saviour,
the one to change our entire lives
from the slavery of our humanness.
It is to be a time to reflect on our
lives as we journey to get closer to
understanding our place with God.
This ,of course, all leads up to the
big day: Dec. 25! This is when
everything stops but for just a
moment, the snow softly falls and
you can see your breath outside as
the carols of the Christmas Eve
Service ring in your head. "Silent
Night, Holy Night".
You feel the presence of Christ
within your heart. Silently the birth
happens, in the cold and still of the
night air. You feel warm and secure,
friendly greetings are exchanged
outside, good wishes are all around
you.
This is the presence of Christ
among us. In all the chaos of our
21st -century lives, the Lord finds a
way to silence the noise around us
and touch us in a special way. That
is the magic of Christmas, the
wonder of the Shepherds as the
Angel spoke, the interest of Magi
from afar and Herod's fear that
something great has happened.
This feeling of utopia may not
have struck you this way or possibly
not even that day, but some day it
will. Maybe in May, June, July or
August, we do not know yet, but the
Holy mystery of the birth of Christ
will come to you. I hope the wonder
and magic and the mystery of this
special evening has been found by
you. If not, I hope it does soon.
Rejoice and be glad in it. For the
saviour has again been presented to
us in the most humble of states as to
allow all of God's children to receive
him.
He was delivered to you on that
great day long ago so as to free us all
from all human harm.
As I write this message for you,
I'm completing my sermon for this
week the second Sunday following
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Christmas; it is the celebration of the
Epiphany Jan. 6, and the Baptism of
Christ. It is almost a shame that both
occur on the same Sunday. The topic
is so important to all Christians.
We in the United Church have
infant baptism. Therefore, I have no
recollection of it happening to me. I
am, however, very proud and glad
my parents saw to have me baptized
to be presented to the church as a
member of God's family and that I
am a child of God just as Jesus was
named and circumcised on the
eighth day of his life. The Epiphany
in our lives, the recognition of Christ
as our saviour, is embedded in our
minds. The acceptance of Christ into
your life is refreshing and enjoyable.
This emotion does not come with
the flash of a lightning bolt, or the
smashing of a wave on the shore, but
rather as a gentle breeze of warmth
that enters in, quietly, peacefully,
and fills you with good feelings.
If you have wondered about this
feeling, this emotion that has come
over you, I plead with you to go to
church, any church in the area, and
get to meet others just like yourself.
We all are questioning, wondering
and mystified by this event in your
life.
The most important thing of all is
4
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The Citizen
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BLYTH
Trinity
L� 9:15 am
Church Office
519-357-4883
BRUSSELS
St. John's
11:15 am
Church Office
519-887-6862
Everyone Welcome!
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
BRUSSELS
United Church
Welcome to Sunday morning worship
& Sunday School
at 11:00 am
Hillary MacDonald (905) 246-7386
Macdonald.hillary@gmail.com
Everyone welcome
6
You're gnvitec(
to come worsht p
with us
Sunday, January 14
at 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School)
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers
during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
Sunday, January 14 - Worship at 9:30 am
Guest Preacher: Sandra Cable
Hillary MacDonald
OFFICE: 519-523-4224
stated twice in our church's creed:
"You are not alone" We are all here
to help find the answers together on
our journey with Christ. The
members of the local church would
love to have you attend and join in
the worship of this special child.
See histories and historic
photographs on the
Huron History section
of our website
www.northhuron.on.ca
You re e1nvited Join Is e9n Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
,pp•� Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14
We invite you to join our church family in:
Worship & Sunday School - 11 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
Come out and meet our new minister, Rev. Charmila Ireland
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Nursery care available
519-887-6687
stuck?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own
understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path
to take. Proverbs 3:5-6
HURON CHAPEL
Every Sunday in Auburn @ 9am & 11 am
huronchapel.com
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Winaham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph's
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.