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The Citizen, 1992-12-09, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9,1992. From the Minister's Study: Minister talks about giving up on church By Rev. E. Paul Acton St. John's, Brussels and Trinity, Blyth There area quite a few of you in the area of Brussels and Blyth who have given up going to church altogether. Let me visit with you on paper for a minute and see why that is. Since it's Christmas, we might as well talk now. I'm going to assume you've had some contact with the church in the past, if only briefly in Sunday School. I'm wondering if your parents were dedicated, faithful Christians who showed you by their loving example the power of Christ's new life? Have you never wished for a faith like that, especially now that some of you are raising your own children? I can understand that if your parents professed to be Christians at church and in company and then lived badly before you at home, then that kind of religion would turn you off. In that case, however, I would suggest to you that you have not really seen genuine Christianity, and perhaps it's time to re-examine the faith that you dismissed too soon. If your parents were never Christians to begin with and you have only a passing acquaintance with Christ, then it would only be fair that you find a person who is strong in their faith and filled with Christian virtues and talk to them. For the most part, though, I think that you may just have found church boring or irrelevant. That's the case with many others, so you are not alone. Why do people still go then? Why haven't they stopped torturing themselves with that hour of agony? I'm going to try to answer that. There are some people who have found Jesus Christ and are really alive with His risen life. When they find others who have shared the same experience of God in Christ, they naturally come together. No matter if the singing is weak, they will sing His praises as best they can. No matter if The Reverend So- and-So drones on incoherently, they will hunt and pick like barnyard chickens to find a scrap of nourishment among the stones. No matter if there are some people there who are there for the wrong reasons and prefer to show off talents or clothes, or fight for power, or whatever, they will continue to love Christ, and love these poor specimens as well. The people who go to worship know that the church is not an institution, in spite of what we've made it sometimes. The church is the living body of Christ in the world. No amount of encrusted brick and mortar can change the underlying reality that the Church is alive. It is the gathering and discipline of people with true faith in the midst of a congregation that may not always reflect that very well. If you consider yourself a Christian I must tell you it is a Kathryn and Scott Macdonald Blyth man marries in Clinton DAVIS - MACDONALD Wesley Willis United Church, Clinton was the setting for the marriage of Kathryn Ann Davis and Scott Brigham Macdonald on Sept. 19, 1992. Reverend Jack Tweddle officiated. Kathy is the daughter of Barry and Sheila Davis of Clinton and Scott is the son of Enid Macdonald-Arnold of Goderich, formerly of Blyth, and the late Kenneth Macdonald, and the step­ son of Ben Arnold. Christine Taylor, sister of the bride was matron-of-honour. Bridesmaids were Cindy Crich and Dawn McLeod-Dyck, both friends of the bride, and Lynn Chalmers and Lisa Whitfield, sisters of the groom. The duties of the best man were fulfilled by Bill Giousher, friend of the groom. Guests were ushered by Barry Macdonald, brother of the groom, Craig Snell, nephew of the groom, Jerry Hoggarth, friend of the groom, and Ray Taylor, brother-in-law of the bride. Flower girl was Kendall Whitfield, niece of the groom, and ring bearer was Scott Taylor, nephew of the bride. Also taking a special part in the wedding ceremony were Bev Snell, sister of the groom, who read a scripture and Brian Macdonald, brother of the groom who lit a candle in memory of Kenneth Macdonald. The couple honeymooned at the Five Finger Region, N.Y. and Pennsylvania. They are now residing at RR 1, Blyth. delusion to think heaven is to be gained by ignoring the fellowship of those who will eventually share heaven with you. To despise the church and absent yourself from its instruction and nourishment is to court spiritual disaster. You are like a baby toe trying to live apart from the foot by claiming a direct invisible link to the heart. As for the church services being irrelevant, well, in some cases this is too true. In a mistaken attempt to i be relevant some leaders of the faithful have made the message of their social gospel no different than that of any good lodge, club or service organization. You don't need the church to tell you a life of virtue is better than one of vice, or that you should give to the poor, though the church certainly will tell you this because it is the essential living out of the gospel. But there are lots of clubs and lodges that will educate you in these moral duties if that is all you want. You don't need the church to offer you financial assistance in difficult times, though it willingly shares what it has out of love for Christ. But there are many other sources of financial help, including the government, if that is all that is needed. You don't need the church to provide entertainment for your children, though it will do that because Jesus loved the little children. But any of the many good Packs can give your child this if that is the extent of your desire. It is not the place of the church to compete with the secular arm in things which are done better by others. It must concentrate on what it has that is unique, or become terminally irrelevant. Do you need the church? You do need the church to tell you that Jesus Christ has come to forgive the sins of all those who will turn to God and ask. You do need the. church to baptize you and your children into the faith of that forgiveness. You do need the church to share the assurance of that forgiveness with you, time and time again. You do need the church to pass on to you the essence of the apostolic faith so that you are not tempted in your isolation to believe a lie. You do need the church to invite you to communion, a common sharing in the mystery of the incarnation. You do need the church to pray for you now and at the hour of your death, preparing you by Word and Sacrament to meet God. Melville church plans activities There are many activities planned for the week's before Christmas at Melville. Saturday, Dec. 12 is a big day for fun. At 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. the children of the church will practice for their big presentation the next day. Alice Marks will coordinate a lunch to be served to them. That evening at 6:30 p.m. the congregation gathers for a family pot luck service and then some will go out carolling in the village. The following morning the church school will lead in worship, presenting the ‘Best Christmas Pageant Ever’. Monday is the time for the WMS Christmas meeting at the home of Isobel Gibson. The Ladies' Guild follows the next day with their festive meeting at Jean Bewley's. On Christmas Sunday, Dec. 20, the Junior Choir under the leadership of Joanne King, will bring all their hard practice to fruition as they present a mini-cantata “Wise Guys and Starry Skies”. HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 Sunday -10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 11 a.m. - Morning Service 7:30 p.m. - Community Christmas Service Wednesday - 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study Friday - 7:30 p.m. - Youth THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday Advent 3 - December 13 DECORATING SERVICES: Brussels 11:15 & Lunch Blyth 5:00 Pot Luck & 6:30 Service Regular 9:30 a.m., M.P. BCP The Rev'd E. Paul Acton, 887-9273 BLYTH CHRISTIAN A REFORMED CHURCH Z-4-* HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH GUEST SPEAKER: 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. Rtf Visitors 'Welcome ‘Wheelchair accessible 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. - Morning Worship "Finding Joy In Difficulties" - A Sacrament of Holy Communion - Church School/Nursery******** 11:00 a.m. - Ethel White Gift Service - Pot Luck Luncheon******** "Hark the glad sound, the Saviour comes." BRUSSELS MENNONITE Pastor Tom Warner 887-6388 FELLOWSHIP Welcomes You! Elder John Baan 887-6967 =£> LOOK1 9:25 a.m. Worship Service 10:15 a.m. Intergenerational Sunday School Theme: "Journeys with Jesus" FELLOWSHIP MEAL TO FOLLOW Thursday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments. Come and be a part of our family 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. Come and Celebrate Christmas at Melville Presbyterian December 13th 11 a.m. December 20th December 24th 11 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Church school presentation "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" Jr. Choir "Wise Guys & Starry Skies" Youth Dramatic Presentation Cantata "Gloria" Christmas Eve Worship with candles