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The Citizen, 1989-07-19, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989. ThishappycoupleisReverend Peter Tucker and his wife Nancy who arrived in Belgrave July 1 to take pastoral charge of the Knox United and Calvin-Brick United churches in Belgrave and East Wawanosh. Rev. Tucker is the second Welsh minister to preach in the churches. Belgrave Compiled by Mrs. Helen Stonehouse. Phone 887-9487 ‘Touching’ sermon topic Red roses in a silver bowl, a sweet pea arrangement and varied summer flowers beautified the sanctuary and vestibule of Knox United Church, Belgrave for the Sunday service, July 16. Harold Keating and Leslie Vincent wel­ comed members of the congrega­ tion as they entered. Mrs. George Procter, organist, presented a prelude of sacred numbers and accompanied the singing of the hymns “All Crea­ tures of our God and King”, “The Love of God”, and “Rescue the Perishing.” A new pulpit light was dedicated by the Rev. Peter Tucker, minister of the charge. He prayed for illumination through God’s Word and light to spread the gospel, before pressing the light switch. The scripture readings were Leviticus 13: 1-8: “When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy and the hair in the plague is turned white and the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, the priest shall pronounce him unclean”; and Luke 5: 12: “Behold a man full of leprosy; who seeing Jesus fell on his face and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will’, be thou clean.” Immediately, the leprosy departed from him. Leviticus describes the laws of the people of Israel. In the children’s story, the minister described the affects of leprosy. Anyone afflicted was ‘left out’. Some child may have an affliction of a sort and is ‘left out’ by his comrades. As Jesus put things right, so Second Welsh minister at Belgrave children must, by saying, ‘ Play with me”. Each must try to love one who is different. ,ln his sermon Rev. Tucker stated: ‘There is always something special about the touch of a hand.’ A Child’s may be hot and sticky; but refreshing to the touch. We are living and breathing parts of God’s creation. A dog through touch seeks affection. A colt runs, jumps and kicks with the sensations of the newly bom then runs to its mother. Lambs seek nourishment and warmth from their mothers. Every­ thing comes alive through touch­ ing. For Western Hemisphere people touching is difficult and restrained, but not so far the population of the East. Jesus was well trained. When the outcast leper, carrying his ringing bell and crying aloud “Unclean”, came to the Master pleading for help. Jesus touched him and said “I will; be thou clean.” Jesus touched him. This was never to be done; but the touch restored the man’s body and soul. He was a changed person. The cost to Jesus was great - the cross. He had touched the untouch­ able. Our Lord always went the second mile; but paid the price with His life. Are you unclean? Touch Jesus. His response to you will be, “I will, be clean.” Offertory stewards were: Heath­ er McIntosh, Sharon Keller, John Nixon and John R. Taylor. People Mr. Douglas Tucker, Morriston, visited on the weekend with his parents Rev. and Mrs. Peter D. Tucker, Belgrave. Area visitors tour famous School-on- Wheels Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Edgar of Sault Ste. Marie and Mrs. Winni- fred Johnston of Wingham had lunch on Wednesday, July 12 with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Stonehouse and later the same day all, along with Mrs. Irlma Edgar of Wing­ ham, were dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Edgar and Don of RR 4, Wingham. Mrs. Larry Mayberry and Mari­ lyn of Londesboro visited with her mother Mrs. Elizabeth Procter, Belgrave Sunday, July 16. They motored to Clinton in the afternoon and one of the interest­ ing places they called at was the Clinton “School on Wheels” where they talked with two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sloman who had grown up on the school train. Mr. Vincent Makas and Alicia, London spent the weekend with Mrs. Mabel Wheeler. Patricia Makas and her mother Mrs. Ronald Keith of London also visited at the same home on Sunday. 4-H club learns how to care for baby lambs The fourth meeting of the Huron County 4H Sheep Club was held July 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Agricul­ ture Office, Clinton. Cindy Campschroer, the youth leader, taught lesson four and six. The members started lesson four, which was entitled “The Maternity Ward” with the roll call. They learned how to get ready for lambs and how to take care of them once they are born. Membecs then went on with meeting six, “Putting on the Ritz”. It taught us how to prepare our lamb for the fair. Lila Rintoul served cookies and juice and the meeting was closed with the 4H motto, “Learn to do by doing.” BY USA BOONSTOPPEL Churchgoers of the Belgrave Knox United and Calvin-Brick United Churches chose their new minister, Reverend Peter Tucker from Aberaeron, Wales; but Rever­ end Tucker says God chose Bel­ grave for him. “The minute 1 came into Bel­ grave, I genuinely felt absolutely certain that God would have me serve here,” said 55-year-old Rev. Tucker who took charge of the two ministries July 1. Rev. Tucker and his wife, Nancy are the second Welsh couple to come to Belgrave to preach in the United Church. John and Kay Roberts, who recently retired, were also from Wales. But for the Tuckers, this isn’t their first excur­ sion to Canada. In 1956, the newly married Tuckers came to Canada as a bit of a fluke. The couple had originally decided to go to Australia but they ended up with tickets to Canada due to a mix-up. So, they decided to stay and Rev. Tucker found employment with the Ontario De­ partment of Highways in Downs- view, Toronto. They attended the Welsh church in Toronto where Rev. (then titled Mr.) Tucker became the Sunday School superintendent. This led him into the ministry, for one day, when the church’s minister could­ n’t make it, the congregation asked Mr. Tucker to preach the adult service. “After the service, a little old lady came up to me and said I ought to be a minister,” remem­ bers Rev. Tucker, “I laughed, but the idea wouldn’t let me go.” Unsure of his calling into the ministry, Mr. Tucker consulted the church who advised him to go North and do God’s work at an Indian reserve. Mrs. Tucker, a registered nurse, worked in a hospital nearby. After two years, Mr. Tucker was sure he wanted to be a minister and went back to Toronto for aptitude and I.Q. testing. “Fortunately the tests said I had enough brains to go into the ministry,” said Mr. Tucker who then went to Waterloo-Lutheran University and got his Bachelor of Arts in 1964. He then received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree at Emmanuel College in 1967 and was ordained a minister. During this time, their two children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker then tra­ velled to Zambia as missionaries but Rev. Tucker became ill from an African virus and could only stay for six months. Returning to Toronto, Rev. Tuc­ ker became minister of the Rock­ wood and Stone United Church outside of Guelph^ He was also part-time chaplain of the Guelph Reformatory and Hillcrest Maxi­ mum Security for boys. Then in 1970, he became the minister at St. Mark’s United Church in Dundas and was there for five years. After this active life in Canada, the couple returned to Wales to fulfill parental responsibilities. While in Wales the Tuckers attended -an Anglican Church. Once again, he was persuaded into ministry by the congregation and he was ordained as an Anglican Minister after studying Anglican theology. This makes Rev, Tucker an Anglican and United Church minister. “It is decidedly unusual,” ad­ mits Rev. Tucker, “but if it will enable me to serve Christ more efficiently, I don’t care what I say or do. I don’t care to emphasize little differences in organizations; we’re here to follow and serve Christ.” Once the time came when they were free to return to Canada, the Tucker’s got in touch with the United Church in Canada and sent over a tape of two sermons he’d preached that an associate was going to send to a small commun­ ity. That tape ended up in Belgrave and prompted Belgrave church­ goers to call Rev. Tucker to their church. “I was very surprised to get the call,” said Rev. Tucker, “not many people get a long distance call without an interview.” The Tuckers plan to stay in Belgrave and have bought a house on McRae street which they hope to move into by the end of August. For now, they are staying with Mabel Wheeler. “She was kind enough to give us a roof over our heads and has made us feel like we belong in Belgrave,” said Rev. Tucker. The first thing that Rev. Tucker plans to do is visit everyone. “Once someone unburdens themselves about who they are and what they feel and what circumstances they’ve met, they assert them­ selves indelibly in your memory,” he said. And, to Rev. Tucker, visiting and getting to know people is just one of the many aspects to ministry that makes it the “most challenging, fulfilling and thoroughly enjoyable role.” P.O. Box 429 Blyth, NOM 1H0 Clip & Mad P.O. Box 152 Brussels, NOG 1H0 SUBSCRIBE TODAY Enclosed please find my cheque for $17.00 for a 1-year subscription to The Citizen. 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