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The Citizen, 1992-12-02, Page 19PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2,1992. From the Minister's Study Time to open our eyes to God’s work Rev. Carolyn McAvoy Melville Presbyterian, Brussels Knox Presbyterian, Belgrave There's an old prayer that many of us were taught as children that goes: Now I lay me down to sleep I pray O Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray O Lord my soul to take It's a simple enough prayer, loaded with meaning if you think about it, and I guess it kind of brings peace, makes people comfortable, safe. There's a story about this prayer. It says that a little child was once reciting this prayer at bedtime as the parent listened, Now I lay me down to sleep I pray O Lord my soul to keep If I should wake before I die ...oops. But I think that this was a very profound ‘mistake’. If I should wake before I die. Perhaps all of us should be praying this prayer in this fashion. How many of us wander through life, through work, through relationships, never really Advent candle lit at United On Sunday, Nov. 29, greeters at Blyth United Church were Terry and Barb Richmond. The ushers were Evelyn, Tim and Kristy Caldwell and Mary Beth Brigham. Rev. Ramirez lit the first candle of Advent, then opened the service with the Call to Worship, Prayer of Approach, Prayer of Confession, Silent Confession and Assurance of Pardon. The first hymn was Hark the Glad Sound. The Responsive Reading was taken from Psalm 98 Sing a New Song to the Lord. The scripture reading was from Matthew 24: 36- 44. The children went forward during the singing of Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus. Rev. Ramirez spoke to them about Jesus' coming and our preparing for Christmas. We have to be ready in our lives and in our hearts for Jesus as we don't know when he is coming, but we do know when Christmas is coming. We must prepare our minds and our bodies for the coming, he said. The choir sang Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne. Susan Howson introduced the new mission project from London Conference. It is titled, “Self help - Helping Others Helping Our­ selves.” It is a joint membership of the United Church of Canada and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. By giving through the church, money goes to help the village of Wake Tiyo, which saw clean water because of the Church's help. The well had been dug and sitting for a few years. Now with more money a diesel pump has been brought in to pump the water. But diesel is expensive and hard to get to the village. One goal is to bring in hydro to operate the pump so the people can continue to have clean water. The sermon theme was, be ready watching and waiting for Christ. Rev. Ramirez said, we must always be ready for his coming. Christmas is always Dec. 25 so we can prepare. But we do not know the date of Christ's second coming. So how can we be ready? By having Christ in our hearts and lives we can prepare. We can be a disciple and follower. Judgement is God's total affair. We have to watch and be ready. Waiting is hard for us to do. We all become restless when we wait at the doctors or when we travel, so we take games and books for the children to be occupied. We must wait but we don’t have to sit and do nothing. When waiting we can do things to help others and therefore, God will recognize us as a follower. We can extend our hands and reach out to help others, said Rev. Ramirez. We are blessed here in Canada, he said because, we don't have to boil water to bathe. We just have to tum a tap. We don't have to carry oil to pump the water. It is so easy for us. We do though, have to wait for the second coming of Christ. May it be a time of hope and courage. The final hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel was sung. The congregation was asked to remember Jack McGee in their prayers. He is in Wingham Hospital. being alert to what is happening around us, all the beauty and the sadness. Sometimes we find ourselves just drifting along, merely existing really, asleep. There is so much more to life ... so many wonderful questions to consider and think about and spend our lives answering ... or at least pondering. Most of all, the deepest ’ and most satisfying meaning and living happens when we begin to realize that we were created to be in relationship with God, Certainly at Christmas time it seems appropriate to realize how God came personally into the world in the form of Jesus Christ. We are all challenged to have a personal relationship with God that transforms how we look at work, our relationships, the world around us. Lots of times all we need to do is WAKE UP, look around us, open our eyes to all that God is doing in the world. Especially at Christmas it's so easy and natural to think about the people, the things, all that really matters to us, and why it matters. So perhaps you will pray with me ... ‘let me wake before I die.’ you are Welcome at the BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults 11 -12:15 - Morning Worship Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. ‘Cornerstone ’ leads worship The “Comerstone” group was in charge of the worship service on Sunday, Nov. 29, at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship. The group is made up of Mervin and Tillie Lichty, Rob and Sharon Demaray, and Ken and Sharon Horst. Rob Demaray was worship leader. Sharon Demaray read the scripture and Mervin Lichty gave the message. The group ministered with music throughout the service. For the month of December, The Christian Education Hour (Sunday School) will follow an intergenerational program, with the theme “Journey with Jesus”. Children and adults of all ages will Melville plans for season Nov. 22 was a special day at Melville Presbyterian, Brussels, with baptism and a dedication. A ceiling fan in the kitchen was dedicated, given in memory of Wilma Hemingway, by her family, friends and neighbours. Baptized were Robert Lome Cronin, son of Tom and Lynne; Blake Murray Kenneth Cardiff, son of Scott and Kendra; and Matthew Murray Cardiff, son of Jeff and Cathy. It was a unique baptism in that cousins were baptized as well as the child of an elder. Melville congregation are anticipating a wonderful Christmas season, with most groups planning special worship or occasions. It all begins with the Brussels Santa Claus parade, where the youth will participate. They will be gathering food from the crowds watching, and loading it on their truck in order to take it to the Huron County Christmas Bureau to help the less fortunate. Please plan for this by bringing some food items along for them to collect. Sunday, Dec. 6 is the annual Mitten Tree/White Gift Sunday, when the children decorate the tree with handmade mitts and with food and toys ... all to be given to the Christmas Bureau. In the evening the Women's Missionary Society will lead in a special advent service of meditative readings and hymns. Christmas Eve worship, shared jointly with Brussels United, will be held in Melville this year at 7:30 p.m. Il will be a traditional service of carols, message and candlelight. The elders for the month of December are Wilfred Shortreed and Jim Armstrong. Worshippers will be greeted and Advent candles will be lit through the month by Mary and Maurice Douma and family, Brian and Elaine Armstrong and family, Tom and Lynne Cronin and family, Dave and Janet McCutcheon and family, Mary Tenpas and family and Leona and Jim Armstrong and family. form groups and will “travel” to various learning centres to gain a “hands-on” understanding of Jesus' life. The learning centres will include themes such as Jesus' experiences in Bethlehem, Nazareth, The Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem, etc. On Tuesday evening, Mary Baan and Joan Miller hosted the monthly Women's meeting. Dave Rapson spoke to the group and Deb Siertsema sang and played her guitar. The Venture Club enjoyed a bowling activity on Saturday, Nov. 28 at the Molesworth Bowling Lanes. They will hold a regular club meeting this week on Thursday evening. On Saturday, Dec. 5, a Self-Help Craft Sale will beheld at the church. The Missions Committee will also have a bake table, to raise money for the Church Mission fund. On Sunday evening, there will be an Advent Hymn-Sing at the church at 7 p.m. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday Advent 2 - December 6 Morning Prayer - BCP Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. The Rev'd E. Paul Acton, 887-9273 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 - 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study Friday - 7:30 p.m. - Youth - Morning Worship "Time to Repent" - White Gift Sunday - Congregational Pot Luck Luncheon********* - Ethel Morning Worship - Church School Children's Bazaar Saturday, December 5th 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. "Tomorrow Christ is coming as yesterday He came" , BLYTH CHRISTIAN A REFORMED CHURCH 4-|-A HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH GUEST SPEAKER: REV. GEHRELS of Collingwood Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.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. Uli Visitors Welcome Wheelchair accessible BRUSSELS MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP Pastor Tom Warner 887-6388 NEW! i--------------------------m 9:25 a.m. Worship Service Elder Sharon Freeman 887-6564 10:15 a.m. Intergenerational Sunday School Theme: "Journeys With Jesus" Saturday, Dec. 5: Self-Help Craft Sale 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6: Advent Carol Hymn Sing 7:00 p.m. "COME and CELEBRATE in WORSHIP" MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Carolyn McAvoy 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service We we/come you to come and worship with us. Come and Celebrate Christmas at Melville Presbyterian December 6th 11a.m. 7:30 p.m. 13th 11 a.m. Mitten Tree and White Gift Service Meditative Advent Service Church school presentation "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" Jr. Choir "Wise Guys & Starry Skies"20th 11 a.m. 7:30 p.m. Cantata "Gloria' 24th 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship with candles