The Citizen, 1991-08-07, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7,1991.
From the^ Minister's Study
We are different, but all play our part
BY REV. CAROLYN
McAVOY
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN, BRUSSELS
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN,
BELGRAVE
Take a minute to do a little per
sonality test. Which of the follow
ing list of characteristics relates
most completely with your person
ality?
List A: perfectionistic, reliable,
conscientious, list maker, well
organized, critical, serious, scholar
ly-
List B: mediator, fewest pictures
in the family photo album, avoids
conflict, independent, extreme loy
alty to your peer group, many
friends, a maverick.
List C: manipulative, charming,
sometimes indecisive, blames oth
ers, sometimes shows off, a people
person, good salesperson, preco
cious, engaging, fun.
If you picked List A, you are
likely the first or only bom in your
family, If you picked B, chances
are you are a middle child, if you
picked list C, you are likely the
baby in the family.
This is a summary of a test from
a Birth Order book one of the latest
crazes in the psychological/socio-
logical world. Certainly every birth
order position isn't the same exact
ly, but there sure seem to be a lot of
parallels when you begin to study
in this area. I think it helps us fig
ure out our families, our fellow
workers, and even our friends at
church.
The author of the book tells this
story of experiences at his semi
nars. He separates all the birth
orders, firsts, onlys, middles and
babies into different comers of the
room. He walks into he centre of
each group silently and places a
piece of paper face-down on the
ground. Almost invariably at every
seminar it is someone in the first
borns or only group that picks the
paper up first in the room. They
begin to follow the instructions,
introducing themselves and noting
similar characteristics within their
group in career or personality.
Soon, all the groups are busy doing
their assignments ... except the last
borns, babies, who often still
haven't begun and are enjoying
themselves tremendously with lots
of hooting and laughter. A little
later the leader tells everyone they
have a few more moments to finish
their assignment and report back to
the group. The firsts and onlys dou
ble their efforts, really keen to get
done. The middles kind of look
over at the leader and sort of finish
up in a relaxed way. The last boms
didn't even hear the instructions
and in one group of babies a man
had actually wound up standing on
the piece of paper!
Have I got you thinking about
your family? It's kind of fun isn't it,
even if you don't completely buy it
all. But there is a lot we can learn
about each other, when we accept
that we are all different. The Bible
has some fun with birth order ...
think about Jacob and Esau and the
birthright. How about David being
selected as the anointed king over
all his older brothers? Remember
favoured baby Joseph and his
many-coloured coat, not to mention
the pit!
The best story, maybe, is the
New Testament parable that Jesus
told about the prodigal son. Talk
about sibling rivalry! The decent
reliable first born, and the rebel
baby. And what do we learn in this
great story? Both of them are
equally loved, equally important,
and equally in need of forgiveness.
We are different, but we all have
our part to play and we all are
equally important. Helpful to
remember when we consider our
families isn't it? The body, God's
family, has many parts (see 1
Corinthjans 12) but all are neces
sary.
Maybe that will cross your mind
the next time your baby brother
drives you crazy, or vice versa!
-W ANGLICAN CHURCH
OF CANADA
AUGUST 11
Blyth
9:30 a.m.
MORNING PRAYER
Brussels
11:15 a.m.
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
Sun., Aug. 11
11:00 a.m.
- Morning Worship
- Ethel Worship Service9:30 a.m.
I will .lift up mine, eyes unto the Hills, from whence cometh my help.
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Speaker: George Cowan
God's challenge, sermon topic
George Cowan opened the ser
vice at Blyth United Church,
August 4 with the call to worship
followed by the hymn “Come Let
Us Sing of a wonderful Love”, fol
lowed by the scripture reading from
St. John 15, verses 1-12.
Children's Time followed and the
baptismal hymn “A Little Child the
Saviour Came” was sung. Trevor
Kevin Ritchie and Jessica Elizabeth
Sparling were received into the
Holy Christian Church by Rev.
Lorenzo Ramirez.
The sermon was “God’s Chal
lenge to Us.” “Love God and love
your neighbour,” George Cowan
said; “believing, forgiveness and
love is the Lord's, start living love”.
George Cowan sang a solo, “He
Touched Me”. The service closed *
with the hymn “How firm a foun
dation” and the benediction.
Obituaries
IDA ELIZABETH
McGOWAN
M iss Ida Elizabeth McGowan
died at her residence in Goderich
on Monday, July 29, 1991. She was
84 years of age.
She was one of the last descen
dants of the McGowan settlement
in East Wawanosh still bearing the
McGowan name. She was bom on
the family homestead, on the third
concession of East Wawanosh on
July 22, 1907. She was the daugh
ter of the late Daniel McGowan and
the former Isabella Ross. Mr.
McGowan was the son of Walter
McGowan one of the original
McGowan family members who
settled 1000 acres northwest of
Blyth and built their own school.
Miss McGowan was a retired
receptionist-secretary at Victoria
Hospital in London and also
worked for the Post Office for
many years in Clinton and Blyth.
She is survived by one sister,
Clare McGowan of Goderich. She
was predeceased by her aunt, Dr.
Annie Ross, formerly of the
Ontario Agricultural College in
Guelph, and uncles Rev. R.W.
Ross, D.D., Toronto; John T. Ross,
L.L.D. and O.B.E., Edmonton and
Blyth, and James Ross, Edmonton.
The funeral service was held at
North St. United Church, Goderich
on Thursday, Aug. 1 with arrange
ments by McCallum and Palla
Funeral Home, Goderich. Rev.
Robert O. Ball officiated. Interment
was in Blyth Union Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers were
Ralph Davidson, Robert Charter,
Eugene McAdam, Bill King, Gor
don Sutcliffe and Jim Walsh.
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
Junior Church - Nursery
What shall 1 render to the Lord
for all his benefits toward me?
Psalm 116: 12
Church Office 523-4224
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Morning Service
8 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m. -Youth
MELVILLE
A
Consider the benefits of being part of a church family:
•Friendship ^Service -Love ’Worship
•Purpose In Living «Hope
WE WARMLY INVITE YOU TO CHECK US OUT
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
9:30 a.m. - Worship Service
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
....Join with Brussels United for
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25 and Sept. 1 - 1 la.m
(Belgrave Presbyterian Church joins with the
United congregations of Belgrave and Calvin Brick
for same Sundays}
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”
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 VlSHOZS 'WELCOML
10:30 a.m . - Christian Education Hour for all ages.
Pastor: Tom Warner
887-6388
Elder: John Baan
887-6967