The Citizen, 2017-03-30, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017.
From the Minister's Study
Make your life's mission to follow God: Royall
By Pastor Mark
Huron Chapel Evangelical
Missionary Church, Auburn
Jesus tells us, "If any of you wants
to be my follower, you must give up
your own way, take up your cross,
and follow Me," Matthew 16:24.
The most powerful and effective
position we can take up in life is this
one, "God leads - I follow".
Really. If we just lived our lives
knowing and seeking where God is
leading us and following Him there,
we would know life to its fullness.
No one wants us to live a more
fulfilling life than God. He created
us. We are His. He is our perfect
loving Father and we are His
children. He wants the best and most
for you and He will lead you to it,
but you have to follow.
But following is not something
people often like to strive for. I was
reading of an author who wanted to
write a paper on `followership'. He
went to his big box bookstore and
discovered there was over 125 books
on the shelves ready to buy on
leadership but not one on how to be
a great follower. It seems no one is
interested in being a follower.
A story is told of a young man
filling out his college application.
One of the questions on the form
read, "Are you a leader or a
follower?" He checked off,
"follower". A few weeks later the
dean of the college phoned him and
said, "I don't normally call students
to congratulate them on their
acceptance to our college, but in
your case, we are particularly glad to
have you. We've accepted 500
students for the coming year — 499
of whom identified themselves as
leaders."
Jesus didn't call people saying,
"Go and lead Me." Rather, Jesus
would walk up to a fishermen
working on the nets or a tax collector
at his booth and say, "Follow Me".
He said to the rich young ruler who
knew something was missing in his
life, "One thing you lack. Go, sell
everything you have and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven. Then come, follow me,"
Mark 10:21
I have told my wife I want my
gravestone to say, "Mark William
Royall, A Follower Of Jesus Christ."
I want to live my life in such a way
that this would best describe who I
UCW hosts World Day of Prayer
Continued from page 9
the guest speaker, Lil Hill of
Clinton, the ladies became more
familiar with the Philippines.
The Philippines is actually an
archipelago consisting of 7,107
islands. The three largest and main
islands are Luzon, where Lil was
raised, Visayas and Mindanao,
represented by the three stars on the
country's flag. The islands have
been inhabited for 67,000 years and
controlled for periods by Spain, and
the United States until becoming an
independent nation in the years
following World War II. The country
was occupied during that war by the
Japanese.
There are more than 120
dialects/languages in the
Philippines. The government has
decreed Filipino the official
language with English being
universal. Lil commented that
because of the many languages,
when she meets another Filipino
they communicate using the Filipino
national language.
Christianity is the major religion
of the country and it was evident in
her talk that Lil credits God for the
good things in her life.
The country's government
facilitates its peoples to migrate to
other countries to find work. Many
of the women are vulnerable to
exploitation, violence and
discrimination when they work out
of their country. They leave in search
of a better life. Lil became a nanny
in Singapore at the age of 26.
She thanks God that that experience
was a good one. However, she left
behind four siblings, a mother and a
son.
Through an international agency
Lil and Ian Hill met and
corresponded for many months.
Twenty years ago Lil came to
Canada and married Ian. Lil credits
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Apr.2, 5th in Lent: Rom. 12:1-8
Daring Faith #5:
"Daring to
Commit"
Evangelical Missionary Church
Small Group (1). Mon. 8:00 pm at J&R Uyl's,180 Noah, Blyth
Small Group (2) • Tues. 7:30 pm at G&M Lisle's, Wingham
Coffee Break Women's Bible Study • Wed. 10 am at Blyth CRC
Youth Group • Wed. 6:30.8:30 pm at Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn
10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
getlivingwater.or)
God with her courage to come to
Canada and start a new life. Ian
passed away in 2015. In 2016, Lil
and her daughter visited the
Philippines. Lil met her grandson
for the first time on that visit.
From Lil's most interesting talk
and the video it became obvious that
life in the Philippines is difficult.
Twenty per cent of the population
controls 80 per cent of the country's
wealth and the poor are vulnerable
to abuse and exploitation. The
women are subordinate in the home,
church and society. The poor earn
their living working on the sugar
plantations or participating in
`dagyaw' around the rice fields. In
this system workers from the
villages go from field to field
helping plant the rice. Each field has
to be planted in a day. They are not
paid for this work but share in the
harvest.
This system of agriculture in the
Philippines was referred to in
Matthew 20: 1-16 and read and
explained by Keri Whyte, God's
economic justice.
President Helen Lobb held a short
business meeting following the
prayer service.
was. Being a faithful follower of
Jesus Christ is the optimum
summary and achievement of my
life. Yes, the church has given me a
title to put in front of my name and
schools have given me degrees I can
put after my name. I am a loving
husband to my wife and to my
children a loving father. I also want
to be known as a good friend and
neighbour in my community. I care
about my family, my community and
my career but the one description
that would be most meaningful and
sum up who I sought to be above all
things is this, "a follower of Jesus
Christ". It has been the following of
Jesus that has enriched my family,
my community and the church. It is
in the following of Jesus where I
have discovered hope and adventure
and purpose for life.
Since this is my goal, I wake up
every morning asking, what is God
calling me to be and do in my
marriage and family? What is God
calling me to be and do in career and
workplace? What is God calling me
to be and do in my community? I
want to know where is God leading
because I know when I follow Him
this is where the miraculous and
wonder is going to happen.
Many of us may say we believe in
God. We say we believe He exists
but how many of us can honestly say
to ourselves, "I believe in God and I
make it my life's mission to follow
Him?" The most powerful and
effective position we can take up in
life is this one, "God leads - I
follow".
BRUSSELS
United Church
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am
April 2, Springtime Songfest 7:30 pm
featuring Brussels Church Choirs
sponsored by Brussels Ministerial
Everyone welcome
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. -- 226-963-1175
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
B LYTH
Trinity
(. 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!
Eiva.2e€4, eoorroc2forrtv &Wee eitaftee
You're 'invited
to come worsh p
with us
Sunday, April 2
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
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
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.
You're e9nvited Jo loin CUs Jn Wars/ ip
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am -
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH v, r•* ``
1 . Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Ll & Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, APRIL 2
We invite you to join our church family in:
Worship & Sunday School - 11 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
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
6.
;.A Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 2
Lent 5
•
AV _
"It wasn't me"
- Peter
•
MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. 6, OFFICE: 519-523-4224
was. Being a faithful follower of
Jesus Christ is the optimum
summary and achievement of my
life. Yes, the church has given me a
title to put in front of my name and
schools have given me degrees I can
put after my name. I am a loving
husband to my wife and to my
children a loving father. I also want
to be known as a good friend and
neighbour in my community. I care
about my family, my community and
my career but the one description
that would be most meaningful and
sum up who I sought to be above all
things is this, "a follower of Jesus
Christ". It has been the following of
Jesus that has enriched my family,
my community and the church. It is
in the following of Jesus where I
have discovered hope and adventure
and purpose for life.
Since this is my goal, I wake up
every morning asking, what is God
calling me to be and do in my
marriage and family? What is God
calling me to be and do in career and
workplace? What is God calling me
to be and do in my community? I
want to know where is God leading
because I know when I follow Him
this is where the miraculous and
wonder is going to happen.
Many of us may say we believe in
God. We say we believe He exists
but how many of us can honestly say
to ourselves, "I believe in God and I
make it my life's mission to follow
Him?" The most powerful and
effective position we can take up in
life is this one, "God leads - I
follow".
BRUSSELS
United Church
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 am
April 2, Springtime Songfest 7:30 pm
featuring Brussels Church Choirs
sponsored by Brussels Ministerial
Everyone welcome
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. -- 226-963-1175
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
B LYTH
Trinity
(. 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!
Eiva.2e€4, eoorroc2forrtv &Wee eitaftee
You're 'invited
to come worsh p
with us
Sunday, April 2
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
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
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.