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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-6-7, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2018. PAGE 17. From the Minister's Study Overlapping circles represent intersection By Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector The Anglican Regional Ministry of Hope The first course that I took when I started my undergraduate degree was an introduction to social work and there was much information about social systems theories. That was years ago and I've forgotten many of the finer points of the theories, but what remains in my memory are diagrams with circles, overlapping circles of individuals and groups representing how we all intersect with each other. People, while individuals, don't live in isolation. Many aspects of our lives interact, overlap and impact others in multiple ways. Think about that for a minute - it makes sense! You come from a family, so interact with your family members. If you are married, you have interactions with your spouse, your spouse's family, your children, your grandchildren and these all interact with each other too in multiple overlapping connections. And then you are a part of other social circles, like church, various friends and maybe a service club. So, we move in multiple circles or social systems. The circles are a way to show relationships that we have with others. Where the circles overlap is where the relationships overlap. For example, you, your sister and your friend from school and your friend from church overlap with each other. You are in relationship with each other. You are part of many social systems. Okay, so what you're probably asking now is, "What is the purpose of all this drivel"? When humanity tries to grasp a concept that is challenging to the intellectual mind, we often try to find visual constructs to help us understand. This brings forward the idea of the Godhead, the three "aspects" or the "three persons" or "personas" within the one God Almighty - a way to help us understand the doctrine of the Trinity, which is truly one of those very difficult theological conundrums that is nearly impossible for us to fully wrap our intellects around. Yet, on Sundays, most Christians will say the Apostle's Creed; we regularly say that we believe in One God, the Father, the Almighty... and we believe in the one Lord Jesus Christ, son of God... and we believe in the Holy Spirit. Meaning that as Christians we believe that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are manifestations of the One God, although if asked to explain it, we'd be hard pressed to do so! It's one of those beliefs that over time, if you really spend any time considering this at all, you do get a sense of it - kind of within yourself, in your heart, your soul, but to rationally explain it - well, according to one source I read this past week, we shouldn't feel bad about it if we don't really get it completely, or are not able to explain it, because the church fought about it for over a century before they came up with an agreed-upon Doctrine of the Trinity. There is no explicit doctrine of the Trinity In the Bible per se; this was developed by the church years later after decades of many scholars diligently working on it. The Godhead, of course, is not perfect. How could we as humans come up with a perfect image of God? However, it appeals to me in that it shows the interrelatedness between the three aspects or personas of God, who all together are God, they are within themselves a social system. This image shows that there is an ever flowing relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who together are the fullness of God. They are by their very nature relational, and invite us into that relationship with them. How do know we are invited into that relationship with them? In the story from John's Gospel of Nicodemus coming to meet Jesus at night, Jesus says to Nicodemus "the wind blows where it chooses". And we know that the word `wind' when used in the Bible can mean the Spirit of God and/or the breath of God. And the wind, as we know, we sometimes can hear it, we feel it, but can't see it. That is what it is like to feel the touch, the presence of the Spirit. The Spirit is forever moving; the Spirit is there like the blowing wind, touching us all. But we're not always fully aware of its presence, or completely understand that presence when it blows over us. But the Holy Spirit nudges us nonetheless. It's a bit like in Nicodemus' situation - he had been touched by the Spirit's presence working in Jesus. He knew there was something about this man; something was nudging him on to find out more. So he sought Jesus out, at night, on the sly so the other religious leaders wouldn't know - for if they found out, he would put himself and his position as a leader of the synagogue at risk. He just knew that he needed to know more about this special man from God. Yet, when Jesus tried to explain it to him, he found it too challenging to jump on board totally with Jesus' teachings - this went against his training as a Pharisee. Being re -born into the faith it seems isn't any easier than being born from the womb! BRUSSELS United Church Join us June 10 at 11:00 am Worship leadership by pastors from Huron/Perth Everyone Welcome The Regional Ministry of Hope cy2-0 Everyone Welcome! Trinity Anglican Church St. John's Anglican Church BLYTH BRUSSELS 0. 9:15 am 11:15 am MINISTRY OFFICE 519-357-4883 Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The Regional Ministry of Hope COME WORSHIP WITH USI MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, JUNE 10 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 Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service at 9:30 am Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited @tcc.on.ca . Accessible n Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Jesus is inviting Nicodemus into a new faith with him, inviting him into relationship with him, the Son of God, and with God the Father through the indwelling of the Spirit. That's what Jesus means by being born again. A new life, a life directed by God's Spirit living in us. This coming to faith, this being infused by the breath, the Spirit of God and being so full of the Spirit of God changes your life to being God -centered in your living. That is the re -birth of oneself as a child of God - to be in constant relationship with all personas of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to have the love of God within you guiding your life, your decision making, your interaction with others, instead of your own ego and personal agendas and other worldly influences guiding your life. God wants nothing more than for us to be in a relationship with God. How do we know that? Just even the briefest look at the Bible shows us a book full of writings by many people's experiences with God over thousands of years, how God affected them and their lives. Over and over God calls us back to Continued on page 18 Huron Chapel Summer Services Will Be @ 10:OOam beginning this Sunday in Auburn huronchapel.com ou re 9nvited join us Al 'Worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH • Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 You're gnvite d to come horshp with us Sunday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) SundaVP) y 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 Coming Soon! Vacation Bible School July 2-6 -- Ages 5-12 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 Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph's Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N.