The Citizen, 1991-03-27, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1991.
From tiie Minister’s Study
Life lived with hope is a real joy
BY REV. PETER D. TUCKER
BELGRAVE UNITED CHURCH
Talking to ordinary people is one
of the greatest joys attainable in
this life of ours. There are such
riches in human beings, many of
which remain untapped for the
most part.
All of us know what it feels like to
see the familiar face and form of a
known friend approaching us as we
walk along the streets of our
communities. As we watch their
approach, we experience a sense of
joy. We long to stop and talk to
them; to engage them in conversa
tion; to share with them their
interests and their concerns.
Certain people seem to have the
ability to lighten our spirits; to
inject a little sunshine into our
lives. Such people are a blessing to
any community. They help to make
our villages, our towns, our country
a special place for which we have
no difficulty in giving thanks.
This ability to share with others
the joy of living is not dependent
upon life having treated them well,
either. If we get to know them well,
as well as their particular circum
stances, we discover that in many
ways they have adequate reasons
for having dispositions which could
be less than sunny. Life has in
many cases treated them rather
harshly. They have had burdens to
bear; many of them heavy burdens.
They have known loss through
bereavement, sometimes through
divorce or separation. They have
experienced isolation from friends,
partings from loved ones who have
married and moved away, but none
of those experiences have succeed
ed in making them bitter, frustrat
ed or anger people.
Many of these people could not
be considered affluent by any
means. Often they have reared
Sermon at Blyth
United Church,
“Christ’s example
of Humility”
Greeters at Blyth United Church
on Sunday, March 24 were Marlene
and Vaughn Toll. Ushers were Jim
Walsh, Lenore Davidson and Shir
ley Fyfe.
Cheryl Cronin led a sing-song of
Easter hymns prior to the service.
Rev. Ramirez opened the service
with a call to worship followed by
the hymn “All Hail the Power of
Jesus’ name”.
Responsive reading #625, Psalm
24 and scripture reading Phillipines
2: 5-10 and John 12: 12-19 were
followed by the hymn ‘‘Ride on,
Ride on in Majesty”. Beneath the
Cross of Jesus” was performed by
the ladies choir.
A blue hydrangea was placed in
memory of Eleanor Anne Heseler
by her mother Maty Wightman and
sister Susan Howson and family.
Baptism is May 5. Anyone inter
ested should contact an elder,
minister, or office (523-4224) be
fore April 1.
Good Friday church service will
be Friday, March 29 at 11 a.m.
Next Sunday, March 31 Easter
Sunday there will be no Sunday
School as it is Family Sunday and
Confirmation of new members.
Rev. Ramirez’ sermon was
‘‘Christ’s example of Humility”
and the question, ‘‘How do we view
Jesus Christ”.
Holy Communion was then serv
ed by the elders. Service closed
with ‘‘Rejoice the Lord is King"
followed by benediction and choral
response.
large families on small incomes.
They have known what it was like
to do without even the necessities
of life from time to time. But
somehow or other, in spite of life’s
adversities, they are still living
lives of hope and optimism. They
have not been crushed.
On the other hand, we all
experience from time to tithe the
sinking feeling which comes upon
us as we walk down the street and
see someone coming toward us
whose life is lived in a spirit of
despair and negativity. Our instinc
tive feeling is that we would like to
cross the road, perhaps even
pretend that we have not seen them
at all.
But basic good manners makes
us realize that we cannot do that.
We clench our teeth and give them
a cheery “Hello” anyway. We
hope that we can get away with
that, again to a tale of woe which
crushes our spirits and leaves a pall
of darkness hanging over our
heads.
Ironically, these people really
have very little about which to
complain legitimately. Life has
often been quite kind to them. They
have enough money with which to
get bv, and may even be quite
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE
AUBURN 526-7515
Good Friday Service - 10:30 a.m. ~
10:00 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
Sunday - 11 a.m. & 8 p.m. - Easter Services
8:00 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday, 7:30 - Youth
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMEDCHURCH
HIGHWAY4, BLYTH
DR. W. H. LAMMERS
Sunday at 10a.m. and 2:30p.m.
Sunday School 11:00a.m.
The Church of the “Back toGod Hour” and “Faith 20’’
Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX Sunday
Faith-20 5:00a.m. Weekdays, GlobalT.V.
ALL VISITORS WELCOME
A
comfortably off financially. They
may be surrounded by plenty of
family and communal support, but
somehow or other the milk of
human kindness has curdled in
them. They are unhappy, depress
ed and often bitter people. They
have no hope nor optimism. Life for
them is a burden to be borne, not a
joy to be shared.
The key word in this matter is
“hope”. Life lived without it is a
burden. Life lived with it is a real
joy. That is why Easter is such an
encouragement to us. Out of the
tragedies and defeats of our yester
days comes the triumph of our
todays. The power of God shown
out in the events of Easter has the
ability to transform our lives and
our outlook. It is not by accident
that the committed Christian can
sing -
“There is sunshine in my soul
today,
More glorious and bright
than glows in any earthly sky,
for Jesus is my life.
0 there’s sunshine,
blessed sunshine, when the
peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling
face,
there is sunshine in my soul.”
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
invites you to
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
MARCH 29-11 a.m.
AND
EASTER/CONFIRMATION SERVICE
MARCH 31-11 a.m.
ANGLICAN CHURCH
OF CANADA
REV. DAVID FULLER. B.A., M. DIV.
March 31 The Great Feast of Easter
HOLY EUCHARIST
Blyth [B.C.P.] Brussels
9:30a.m. 11:15a.m.
Melville
Presbyterian Church
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
We welcome you to come and worship with us!
Pastor
Gordon Bauman
887-6388
Christ the Lord is risen!
Elder
Elwin Garland
887-9017
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
7:30 A.M. Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast
Hosted by MYF Youth
9:30 A.M. Worship Service
10:30 A.M. Christian Education Hour for all ages
Everyone Welcome
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
EASTER SUNDAY
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
March 31 Sermon: What Resurrection Means
Family Service
Nursery
9:30 a.m. Ethel Morning Worship
9:30 a.m. Good Friday Service
March 29 Sermon: Symbols of Good Friday
Jesus Christ is Risen Today • Alleluia
ECUMENICAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE BRUSSELS AREA
•Maundy Thursday, March 28th, 7:30 p.m. at Melville
Presbyterian Brussels:
a musical and dramatic observance of the Last Supper
•Good Friday, March 29th, 9:30 a.m. at Brussels United
Church:
a symbolic remembrance of the events of Good Friday
•Easter Vigil, March 30th, 7:30 p.m. at Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship:
a time of watching for the light which comes out of the
darkness
a time of fellowship and refreshment to follow
•Easter Sunrise, March 31st, 8:30 p.m. hosted by Melville
Youth at the yard of Doug and Wilma Hemingway [end of
Ellen St. at the river]
•Easter Breakfast, 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. hosted by Melville
Church School
•Easter Worship in all of the area churches.
The gathered Christian communities in the Brussels area
welcome you to come and share in these special worship and
fellowship opportunities. “Christ the Lord is Risen indeed! "