The Citizen, 1991-07-03, Page 25THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3,1991. PAGE 25.
From the Minister's Study
’What do you do when a church is falling apart?”
BY JAMES H. CARNE,
PASTOR
THE MISSIONARY
CHURCH, AUBURN
What does one do when his
church is falling apart? That's the
question of a former neighbour of
mine asked when he and his wife
dropped by the other day for a visit.
He told me that their Sunday
School in a large city church,
which once had boasted the largest
attendance of any Sunday School in
North America, had only four or
five children in it now. He was
appalled to discover that their Sun
day morning attendance was con
siderably less than half the number
of those attending our little village
church. When he heard the invest
ment that our church made in Mis
sions he walked away in mock
disbelief.
Part of the problem was obvious.
He spoke of a former pastor whom
they had had to "pay off' in order
to get rid of him. In his words his
pastor had "raped" the church. In
an effort to redeem the situation
before actually sending him pack
ing, they suggested that he should
do some visiting, only to be told
that, in order to comply, they
would have to increase his travel
allowance, set already at a very
generous figure. The church
agreed, finally, that it would be
money well spent to pay him a gen
erous severance allowance and to
pick up the tab for his move back to
Nova Scotia.
Their problem, however, in my
opinion, was not only their pastor.
Their church, like many others, had
come to the conclusion that "less is
more." The Sunday morning ser
vice is the only event held in the
church all week, with the exception
of a half-hearted attempt to ride
herd on a few Sunday School chil
dren while the morning service is in
progress. There is probably a
women's circle or two that meets
once a month. No Bible School for
the whole family, no Sunday
evening service, no prayer meeting,
no youth services. There are so few
teens and so little interest on the
part of youth that this couple's own
daughter will accompany them to
church no longer.
Many people want more involve
ment, not less. Most of those who
have been won by the cults come
from churches that have offered no
challenge and have asked for little
commitment. I have a suspicion
that when my neighbour's church
meets to hear the Gospel on a Sun
day morning, they arc subjected to
a pap of social issues and world
affairs that bears no resemblance
whatsoever to the hard-hitting mes
sage of the cross that confronts
every person with his sin and
insists upon personal repentance
and a "second birth" unto righ
teousness and true holiness.
No wonder people ignore the
church! If physicians refused to
diagnose and treat real diseases in
favour of prescribing placebos of
candy pills, lest they hurt or offend
their patients, there would be a long
line of people seeking different
doctors, too!
It's a sad day when the church
slays its own prophets and emascu
lates the Word of God. Let a thun
dering John the Baptist stand forth
proclaiming, "Repent, for the king
dom of heaven is near," and I sus
pect that the church will command
more respect and a host of people
with great needs of heart and soul
will crowd into its services to hear
and be healed.
Klopp hears group’s concerns
The regional Wingham Pro-Life
Chapter met for their monthly
meeting on June 3.
Nancy McKeon opened the meet
ing with the Lord's Prayer. This
was followed by Rev. Vaudry's
address of encouragement. He
emphasized every member should
stay true to the cause of the pro-life
movement.
The next year's board has been
established. They are: Chairperson,
Nancy McKeon; Treasurer, Ed and
Kelly Skinn; Secretary, Bert and
Brenda Sjaarda; Education Rep.,
Sally Campeau; Membership Rep,
Joan Van Den Assem; Newsletter
and Regional Reps., John Van Den
Assem.
Pro-life supporters across Canada
had the opportunity to participate in
a National-wide Demonstration on
June 9. Successful rallies were held
at various locations throughout
Ontario. Members from the Wing
ham area took part in the Waterloo
Square Demonstration in Kitchen
er-Waterloo.
Two of the board members had
the opportunity to discuss related
issues with Paul Klopp, our govern
ment M.P.P. for Huron on Satur
day, June 1. Members are confident
that they made Mr. Klopp aware of
very real concerns regarding abor
tion and society.
The Pro-life groups of Ontario
have embarked on an extensive
advertising campaign. City T.V.
welcomed five weeks of pro-life
ads commencing in July of this
year.
the group has once again
reserved a table at the Teeswater
Fall Fair on Friday, August 23, Sat
urday, August 24. Educational liter
ature will be available for all those
interested in learning more about
the pro-life movement and alterna
tives to abortion and past abortion
consequences.
The committee has adjourned for
the summer season and will resume
activities in September.
WMS hears of life in Guyana
"Reaching Out - In Friendship; In
Faith; and Into the Future" was the
theme of the 44th annual meeting
of the Hamilton-London Synodical
of the Women's Missionary Society
(WD) of the Presbyterian Church in
Canada, held al Chedoke Presbyte
rian Church in Hamilton, April 16
and 17. Some 208 women attended
the two day session.
Highlight of the meeting was the
evening address by Council Presi
dent, Joan Sampson of Ottawa,
who had just stepped off the plane
from her two-week visit to Guyana.
The invitation to visit Guyana and
attend the 12th Biennial conference
of Guyanese Presbyterian Women
had been issued by the Moderator
of the Guyanese Presbyterian
Church during his visit to Council
in Toronto in 1990.
Joan staled that she did not suffer
"jet lag" but cultural shock. She
continued to be impressed by the
resourcefulness of the people; their
ability to cope in the midst of
unimaginable hardships due to
inflation; lack of transportation and
the general breakdown of the coun
try's infrastructure. Food prices
such as sugar at $30 (G)/lb. and
flour at $23 (G)/lb., and gasoline
costs of $44 (G)/litre make a large
dent in the average weekly wage of
$100 (G).
Even school teachers who, at
$4,000 (G) per month are relatively
well paid, are turning to cattle
ranching so they can raise their
own food. School supplies are
almost non-existent and buildings
are in poor repair. The laity lake a
leading role in the churches. Nine
presiding elders are allowed to
(men and women) do such things as
communion and burial services
under the direction of six ordained
ministers.
In spite of all the problems (lack
of material goods, loss of trained
people to emigration) the church
remains strong. In contrast to Cana
dian churches, there are many
active young people in the congre
gations.
Joan wanted WMS members to
be aware of the very real material
needs of these people e.g. bicycle
for the moderator, Sunday School
supplies, a communion set for the
new church, gospel music tapes for
song leadership. Glad Tidings sub
scriptions. Her lasting impression
of the Guyanese people is one of
warmth, friendship, hospitality and
generosity. "If you want real hospi
tality, visit the poor".
Bible studies on the conference
theme, under the able leadership of
Evelyn Murdock, Helen Sinclair,
and Frances Nugent assisted by the
Presbyterials were very thought
provoking, as was the discussion
on the proposed restructuring of the
Presbyterian Church in Canada.
The group was unanimous in
approving Councils recommenda
tion to the General Assembly.
"That the present status of the
WMS (WD) as an autonomous
organization within the structure of
the Presbyterian Church in Canada
be reaffirmed, with the General
Assembly noting the society's will
ingness to co-operate with the
agencies of the General Assembly
in the overall life and work of the
Presbyterian Church in Canada."
Retiring President, Margaret
Strang, in her final address to Syn
odical commented that "the things I
worry about never happen”. She
recommended that we worry some
times and the worry will not come
to fruition. She closed with a quote
from Dr. Mary Whale; "God hand
in hand with Jesus, and we will
push aside the power of evil."
The new President for 1991-92 is
Mrs. Helen Billiald of Hamilton
Presbylerial. Delegates attending
from Stratford-Huron Presbyterial
were Mrs. Donald McTavish,
Shakespeare; Miss Jeanette Laing,
New Hamburg; Mrs. Margaret
Sharpe, RR 2, Seaforth; Mrs. Mary
Scott, Stratford; Mrs. Floyd Wil
lows, Stratford; Mrs. Doria
McTavish, Shakespeare; Mrs.
Rachel Schwalm, Hensall; Mrs.
Robt. Edmunds, Mitchell; Mrs.
Gordon Alexander, RR 4, Listowel;
and Mrs. Robert McTavish, RR 1,
Stratford. *
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
Funfest Weekend
11:00 a.m. - Ecumenical Service
July 7th Brussels - Morris - Grey Arena
This is my Father's World
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
REV. LORENZO RAMIREZ JR.
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
Junior Chifrch - Nursery
What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits toward me?
Psalm 116: 12
Church Office 523-4224
ANGLICAN CHURCH
OF CANADA
REV. DAVID FULLER, B.A., M. DIV.
July 7
Blyth
9:30 a.m.
Pentecost 07
MORNING PRAYER
No service at St. John's
Join us at Community Service
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
10 a.m.
11 a.m.
8 p.m.
Wednesday
Friday 7:30
-Family Bible Hour
-Morning Service
-Evening Service
-Prayer & Bible Study
-Youth
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
A
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
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
DR. W. H. LAMMERS
Sunday at 10 a m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20"
Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday
Faith 20 5:00 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V.
ALL VISITOR 'MLLCO^L
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
9:30 a.m. - Christian Education Hour
‘ * Please note change of time this week
11:00 a.m . - Community Worship Service
Arena Park
- Potluck Picnic to follow
Elders: John Baan 887-6967
Sharon Freeman 887-6564
Elwin Gadand 887-9017