The Citizen, 2017-08-03, Page 16PAGE 16.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017.
From the Minister's Study
Celebrating B -L -Y -T -H after 140 years
By Pastor Ernest Dow, Living
Water Christian Fellowship
(EMC)
This past weekend, residents of
Blyth celebrated the 140th
anniversary of its founding. Having
lived here for 18 years, it seems
appropriate to take this occasion to
reflect on some of the factors and
values that help make it such a
unique place. I'll be using an
acrostic format (B -L -Y -T -H).
It's a community blessed with
BUSINESS. There are several
companies which have formed a
solid economic foundation. These
include Howson Mills and its
transportation arm; Sparling's
Propane; award-winning restaurants
and a thriving hotel; merchants such
as Blyth Building Supplies and a
very adequate grocery store; a bank
and more recently, new additions
like Tim Hortons and now Cowbell
Brewery. Also there are notable non-
commercial enterprises such as the
theatre (more on that later), the
Emergency Services Training
Centre, the post office and others.
The Bible commends enterprise
and urges followers of Jesus to work
industriously. Ecclesiastes (9:10)
counsels us, "Whatever your hand
finds to do, do it with all your might,
for in the grave, where you are
going, there is neither working nor
planning nor knowledge nor
wisdom."
In the New Testament, the Apostle
Paul urged people to follow his
example in working night and day so
as not to be a burden to others; one's
ambition should include working
with one's hands so as not to be
dependent on anybody (2Thess.3:7f;
1Thess.4:11f).
A second feature of Blyth is that it
has people who show LOVE. It's a
caring community - not so huge that
we don't know one another. We greet
one another on the street. We even
recognize one another's vehicles,
including licence plates reflecting
individuals' nicknames! When
there's a death or emergency,
neighbours may canvass their street
to take up a collection to help those
affected. Current fundraisers have
assisted a boy who's seeking
medical help at the Mayo Clinic. As
a pastor who changed
denominations, yet kept living in the
same town, I can personally attest to
others' graciousness and forgiveness
or at least acceptance of those whose
views differed from their own.
Jesus urged His disciples to love
one another (Jn.13:34f). New
Testament -style love is defined this
way - "This is how we know what
love is: Jesus Christ laid down his
life for us. And we ought to lay down
our lives for our brothers." (lJn.
3:16) Sacrificial love is the basis for
genuine community.
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Cfuistian, Tellawfiip
August -
VISITATION SUNDAYS
"I was glad when I heard
them say, 'Let us go to
God's house today!"
- Ps. 122:1
Evangelical Missionary Church
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
getlivingwater.or)
While celebrating our past, what
community would have any future
without its YOUTH? Blyth has been
very supportive of its youth. One
evidence of this is the Youth Park
(including skateboard park)
constructed at the Community
Centre even before some larger
nearby towns had anything similar
of their own. The arena is busy in the
winter with hockey and broomball;
there is baseball outside in the
summer and the soccer fields in
another part of town are also busy
from May to July. Dedicated adults
have devoted time year after year to
helping young people build
character in scouting. I have been
well received with a group of young
people when in previous years we
did a "Rake'n'Run" from one yard
to another, or when selling chicken
to raise funds for teens embarking on
a mission trip.
The Bible exhorts us not to
underestimate the value of children.
Jesus said, "See that you do not look
down on one of these little ones. For
I tell you that their angels in heaven
always see the face of my Father in
heaven." (Mt 18:10) Another time
when the disciples were arguing
about which of them was the
greatest, Jesus had a child stand
beside Him and said to them,
"Whoever welcomes this little child
in my name welcomes me; and
whoever welcomes me welcomes
the one who sent me. For he who is
least among you all - he is the
greatest." (Lk.9:47f)
Another unique feature of Blyth is
its theatre. The arts can play a
prophetic role in culture, helping us
both critique ourselves and laugh at
ourselves. Thus we are nudged to
examine our prejudices, and
rediscover key values that undergird
societal stability, and are in harmony
with the moral framework our
Creator planted within our
conscience.
Paul pointed out that people "show
that the requirements of the law are
written on their hearts, their
consciences also bearing witness,
and their thoughts now accusing,
now even defending them."
In the Old Testament, when King
David had an affair with Bathsheba
then had her husband conveniently
executed during a battle, the prophet
Nathan discreetly, yet bravely
confronted his king by means of
telling an artfully -constructed story
about a pet lamb, to which David,
having once been a shepherd, could
no doubt personally relate. Likewise
in the New Testament, Jesus used
parables of various sorts to teach the
crowds; these worked on multiple
levels - besides the surface narrative,
there was often a deeper meaning for
those who "had ears to hear"
(Mt.13:3,9ff). Some parables
registered hard with the religious
leaders, who recognized themselves
in the stories in an unfavourable way
(Mt.21:45).
B -L -Y -T -H: a last feature of this
village is its heritage. The signs
upon entering declare, "Blyth:
Historic Village". This 140th
anniversary has been an apt occasion
to look back and reflect upon where
we've been, the legacy from which
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BLYTH
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!
"ta4¢e4 eastrialacty 'dee &ewe
Sunday, August 6 - 10:30 a.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.
Evening Services July 9 to Sept. 3
6:30 p.m. at various homes
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
IfiL
HURON CHAPEL.com Every Sunday in Auburn @ 10:30
we benefit, and the efforts and
sacrifice of those who've benefited
us by this inheritance.
Last month as I was listening to
the voices of 70 children singing
enthusiastically during our
community Vacation Bible School at
the Christian Reformed Church, I
was thankful their voices were
ringing partly because the
Methodists built the structure with
good acoustics, designed in such a
way that it might resound with God's
praises. The very heart of Blyth is a
whole building dedicated to
remembering - not just a cenotaph,
but a hall that doubles as a memorial
to those who gave their lives
defending our freedoms, values and
way of life.
And I'm also thankful we have
people like Brock Vodden who not
only bring many decades of
experience to his role in municipal
governance and civic discourse, but
who also is ready to tell the stories of
yesteryear so that a new youthful
audience might learn from them and
appreciate their origins.
Psalm 78 recognizes the
importance of instructing our
children in our history, interpreting it
in terms of what God has done for
us: "...I will utter hidden things,
things from of old— what we have
heard and known, what our fathers
have told us. We will not hide them
from their children; we will tell the
next generation the praiseworthy
deeds of the Lord, his power and the
wonders he has done." Indeed, the
central symbolic repeated rite of
Christianity is a memorial meal
(communion or Eucharist), in which
we remember with thanks Jesus'
historic self -giving for us, until He
comes again. A heritage very worth
re -telling to the next generation.
So, Blyth has much to celebrate at
this auspicious occasion: Business,
Love, Youth, Theatre, Heritage. By
God's grace, may we each continue
to do our part to keep it noble and
vibrant!
You're 3nvitecI Jo Join `us 9n Vors4ip A \ 1
SUNDAYS
Morning Service
Evening Service
10:00 am
7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
44>
BRUSSELS
United Church
Join us at Brussels United
Sunday, August 6 at 11:00 a.m.
Welcome to our Melville friends
To reach Hillary MacDonald during July
Call: 905-246-7386
Email: macdonald.hillary@gmail.com
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
For the month of August we will be worshipping at
Brussels United Church
at 11:00 a.m.
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 a.m.
Sunday, August 6
Please join us
and see our
renovation process
— making us more
accessible to you
Hillary MacDonald
All are welcome
OFFICE: 519-523-4224