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The Citizen, 1991-04-03, Page 15From the Minister’s Study THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1991. PAGE 15. Through Christ’s death we live with the Lord forever BY JAMES H. CARNE, PASTOR THE MISSIONARY CHURCH AUBURN If Easter means that death is dead, I know some people who will welcome that word. This past week, a friend of mine was shocked to discover that his heart was in such poor condition that it was a marvel that he had not suffered, already, a heart attack. When he heard that the tests which he must undergo could result in a stroke, or even death, he found himself confronted shockingly with the facts of his own mortality as he called the funeral home and his pastor, in order to arrange for the possibility of a memorial service that, not long ago, seemed to be something about which he need not. worry in the immediate future. The experience was frightening, and understandably so. Ruth was in worse shape still. I met her and her husabnd 20 years ago when they operated a service station where I used to fuel my truck. They were a friendly sort and invited me often to their quarters over the station for a cup of coffee. They were not a church­ going family and, had they known i that I was a minister, they might have been quite uncomfortable, but, by the time that fact became known, we had become good friends. More than that, Ruth’s husband was positively intrigued; he had never before met a “priest” who drove transport. Now Ruth’s daughter was on the phone. With breaking voice she told me that her mother had been diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumour that was inoperable and her time was short. She wanted to know whether or not 1 would conduct her mother’s funeral when the time came. Two weeks ago I made a special trip to visit Ruth and her family. She told me that she almost died in the hospital but that she had fought off death vehemently because, while she did not fear death itself, she was afraid of that which might come after death. She has good reason for her fears. The Bible says ... “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judge­ ment...” (Hebrews 9:27b). But the death of Christ has changed all that. The apostle Paul alludes to that momentous change when he exults, “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15: 54-57). 1 was glad to confess to Ruth that, when I had quoted to her the sober words of Hebrews 9:27, about death and the following judgment, 1 had not quoted the verse in its entirety, and I had not quoted the verse following it. These verses read in their fullness: “Just as man destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” I can tell you that it was a great comfort to Ruth to hear these words of assurance, having heard earlier from her doctor that she had a relatively short time to live. The awesome truth of Easter is that, “since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that, by His death, He might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who, all their lives, were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Heb. 2:14-15). So, the devil is defeated and death is dead. While it is true that Christ's followers continued to experience the formality of death, yet the Bible speaks of a day when “the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud com­ mand, with the voice of the OF CANADA REV. DAVID FULLER, B.A., M. DIV. April 7 Easter 02 HOLY EUCHARIST Blyth Brussels 9:30a.m. 11:15a.m. HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 10:00 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service 8:00 p.m. - Evening Service Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study Friday 7:30 - Youth W ANGLICAN CHURCH archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first ... And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encour­ age each other with these words.” (1 Thes. 4:16-18). 'God does love us9, minister says i BLYTH CHRISTIAN A REFORMEDCHURCH HIGHWAY4, BLYTH DR. W. H. LAMMERS Blyth United Church Good Fri­ day service was held at 11 a.m. Rev. Ramirez opened the service with call to worship and the hymn, “O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile” and prayer of confession. Rev. Ramirez read the First Word scripture Luke 23: 32-38 and placed a nail in the cross. Other readers of scripture were Vera Hesselwood, Susan Howson, Bill Burkholder, John Ramirez, Nikki Snell and Fred Howson, each placing another nail in the cross. Rev. Ramirez’ sermon was “God Does Love Us” and that we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Offering was presented by Herb and Nathan Shannon. A service closed with Litany of Commitment and hymn, “O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded”, after which congrega­ tion all left in silence. Easter Sunday, March 31 was Family Sunday at the Blyth United Church. Greeters were Marlene and Vaughn Toll and ushers were Sahra McNichol, Ashley Howson, Leanne Haggitt, Angie Walden, Heidi Meier and Michelle McNichol. Rev. Ramirez opened the service with the call to worship and the hymn “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” and a responsive reading. The junior and intermediate choir sang “Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks”. Scripture readings were from Acts 10: 34-43, Matthew 28: 1-10; and the hymn, “Thine Be The Glory” was sung. The choral anthem, “Open The Gate” was sung. Rev. Ramirez’ children’s story was “Why Is The Easter Egg A Symbol Of Easter”. Several beautiful Easter plants were placed in memory of loved ones and a beautiful floral arrange­ ment in memory of Norma Glou- sher by her sister Viola Sanderson and family. Rev. Ramirez’ sermon was “The Story of Resurrection and Re-Affirming Our Faith”. The Apostles Creed was read in unison. Twenty-one youth of the congre­ gation were confirmed into mem­ bership by Rev. Ramirez assisted by the elders. They were: Tina Burkholder, Erica Clark, Michael McNichol, Brian McNichol, James McNichol, Kimberley Richmond, Nikki Snell, Erin Bolger, Christo­ pher Howson, Ian Caldwell, Brad Walsh, Andrew Wharton, Joe Fraser, Pauline Stewart, Jodee Medd, Carrie Ansley, John Rami­ rez, Kimberley Ferguson, Jamie Bromley, Mark Pawitch and Kevin Ansley. Sunday at 10a.m. and 2:30p.m. Sunday School 11:00a.m. The Church of the “Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20” Back to God Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX Sunday Faith20 5:00a.m. Weekdays, GlobalT.V. ALL VISITORS WELCOME Melville Presbyterian Church BRUSSELS Rev. Carolyn McAvoy 11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School - Belgrave Service We welcome you to come and worship with us! Pastoral care unit starts at Huronview A unit or quarter of Clinical Pastoral Education started at Hur- onview in January of this year. What is “clinical pastoral educa­ tion?” It is the special training required for anyone who wishes to serve as a Chaplain in an institu­ tion: hospital, nursing home, developmentally handicapped cen­ tre, prison, psychiatric hospital, hospice. Usually abbreviated to “C.P.E.”, this training is required over and above the usual education a minister of a congregation gets in a B.A. program of theological seminary. A unit of C.P.E. consists of a minimum of 400 hours of classroom and practical work. Some institu­ tions require their chaplains to have only one or two units of C.P.E.; other institutions -- parti­ cularly government -- require four or five units of C.P.E. The training assists people in skills needed to become effective “team” workers with other professionals in an institution. Another aspect of C.P.E. is to equip people to become more aware of their own personali­ ties and how they function in personal relationships. They be­ come more aware of personal strengths and weaknesses and learn what changes they may need to make in order to become better able to minister to others in institutions, parishes and in a wide variety of human situations and experiences. A definite “plus” of the quarter at Huronview is that it is extended over a longer period of time, enabling locaL ministers to study and, at the same time, carry on their regular congregational work during the training period. Super­ vising the C.P.E. unit at Huron­ view is Fr. Joe Denys PHD. Co-ordinator of Pastoral Care and professor of Theology and Pastoral Care at St. Paul's University. Ottawa. Assisting him is Rev. Ian Wallace. Directoi of the Canadian Institute of Spirituality and Aging, located at Freeport Hospital in kitchener. The service closed with the hymn, “Crown Him With Many Crowns”, Benediction and Choral Response. JANICE DAER Ross and Evelyn Daer of RR 1, Auburn are proud to announce that their daughter, Janice, recently passed the Chartered Accountants Uniform Final Examinations. Janice is a gra­ duate of G.D.C.I. and Wilfrid Laurier University and contin­ ues to be employed with Ernst & Young Chartered Accoun­ tants in London. Her parents and Angela DeThomasis, also of London, attended the Convo­ cation Ceremonies at the Har­ bour Castle Westin Hotel in Toronto on February 16, 1991. Jesus died for us. ALLELUIA Jesus lives! Ifil J ' • BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP 9:30 a.m. - Worship Service 10:30 a.m. - Christian Education Hour Pastor - Gordon Bauman 887-6388 Elder - Elwin Garland 887-9017 BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship Sunday, Sermon: Have you anything to declare April 7 Church School - Nursery 7:15 p.m. Committee of Stewards Thursday, April 4 9:15 a.m. Ethel Morning Worship Sunday, April 7 Give to us laughter O Source of our life