The Citizen, 1999-04-14, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1999.
From the Minister’s Study
The Christ of Easter
Choir of angels
The Londesborough United Church junior choir sang
three selections at the 19th annual Songfest held on
Sunday evening. The children delighted the audience
singing Sandy Land, The Sower Parable and One Big
Hallalujah. (Mark Nonkes photo)
By Rev. Cecil Wittich
Blyth United Church
One of the revelations of the
Easter event is that Jesus Christ
comes to us before we come to
him. In all the New Testament
accounts of meeting the resurrected
Christ, we learn of Jesus revealing
himself to individuals and groups.
We read of Mary Magdalene
standing outside the empty tomb
and weeping, not knowing what
has happened to Jesus' body.
Suddenly, Jesus comes and stands
beside her, speaking her name, and
she recognizes him.
On that first Easter Sunday
evening, the followers of Jesus
were gathered behind closed doors
in fear of those who had killed
Jesus. Jesus comes into their .midst
and says, "Peace be with you".
Then, there is Thomas, who
would not believe that Jesus was
Buy a book for Canada Day
alive until he saw for himself the
nail marks in his hands and the
wound in his side. Jesus, knowing
Thomas' unbelief, comes and
presents himself to Thomas who
immediately believes.
The first people to go to the tomb
on that memorable Sunday were
some women who had been
followers of Jesus. There they met
an angel who said, "He is not here.
He has risen. Go and tell his
disciples."
As they ran to tell, Jesus meets
them and says, "Peace be with
you".
On another occasion, Jesus
reveals himself to 500 of his
followers at one time. (Please read
the last chapters of the four Gospels
and I Corinthians 15: 1-28).
In all these references and others
Jesus comes to his followers in
various situations and makes
himself known to them. We learn
from this that we can go only so far
in our search for the living Christ,
then we are dependent on him to
reveal himself to us.
If we could find Christ on our
own, then we would be making
Christ subject to us rather than us
being subject to Christ. He is
superior to us. He is the One who
saves and reveals.
The good news, however, is that
Christ is seeking us before we seek
him. True, we need to be searching
for him but at the same time
realizing that we are dependent on
him to open our spiritual eyes to
see him, to open our spiritual ears
to hear him and to open our
spiritual heart to know him and to
love him.
He is alive. He is real. He wants
you to know and experience his
saving grace, his forgiving love, his
transforming power and his eternal
life.
That is Easter. Let it be yours
now and forever.
Flowers, chocolates, greeting
cards ... On April 23, Canadians
can give something different to
loved ones - books.
On Canada Book Day - April 23
- people are encouraged to buy
books as presents and take part in
an abundance of local, national,
international and online events.
Coinciding with World Book Day,
first proclaimed by UNESCO in
1995, it is the largest single-day
celebration of reading and book
buying in Canada.
It is also a day to honour
Canadian authors.
Canada Book Day events, taking
place in just about every
community, will include readings,
author signings, award
announcements or presentations,
contests, book giveaways and
media challenges. In many
municipalities, April 23 has already
been proclaimed Canada Book
Day.
Even the virtual community will
share in the Canada Book Day
celebration with the return of two
successful internet events: The
Writers In Electronic Residence
contest and the creation of a real
time, online short story by writers
across Canada in both official
languages. The internet stories will
be written one hour at a time by
pre-selected authors in each
province. Canadians can watch
them develop on the Web site
(www.canadabookday.com) in
French on April 22 and in English
(featuring children's writers) on
April 23.
In 2 Print magazine's poster
design contest is among the
confirmed national events. The
contest is open to students under
the age of 21 and winners will be
announced in the fall 1999 issue of
the magazine.
Canada Book Day is organized
by The Writers' Trust of Canada, a
charitable organization that
supports and promotes Canadian
writers and literature. The Writers'
Trust of Canada acknowledges the
financial support of the
Government of Canada through the
Book Publishing Industry
Development Program for this
project. It also acknowledges the
support of the Canada Council for
the Arts.
Canada Book Day sponsors
include: The Association of
Canadian Publishers; Canadian
Booksellers Association; Canadian
Children's Book Centre; Canadian
Library Association; Canadian
Publishers' Council; Chapters;
Doubleday Canada Ltd.; Harper
Collins Publishers Ltd.; Key Porter
Books Ltd.; League of Canadian
Poets; McClelland & Stewart;
McGraw-Hill Ryerson; Penguin
Books Canada Ltd.; Playwrights
Union of Canada; Random House
of Canada; Routledge; Scholastic
Canada Ltd.; Troll Book Clubs and
the Writers' Union of Canada.
Information on Canada Book
Day can be found online at
www.canadabookday.com
Blyth United Church
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Minister ~ Rev. Cecil Wittich
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
you are. ‘Welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister
Church Office 887-6259 me 887-6540
April 18, 1999
You are welcome this Sunday
APRIL 18-EASTER 3
HOLY EUCHARIST - BLYTH
MORNING PRAYER - BRUSSELS
9:30 a.m. - Ethel Worship
11:00 a.m. - Brussels Worship
Sun., April 18 - 9:30 a.m. - Ethel - Beth Earl leads service
11:00 a.m. - Brussels - Vai Watson leads service
6:45 p.m. - Youth Group in Brussels
Trinity, Blyth St. John's,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
Give Someone
a Second Chance.
Please give generously.
The Kidney Foundation
of Canada
7^,
Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m. Christian Education
Everyone Welcome
Pastor Ben Wiebe 887-6388
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
ASSOCIATE PASTOR - YOUTH - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788
Sunday 8:45 a.m.- Morning Worship Service
10:00 a.m.- Family Bible Hour
11 a.m.- Morning Worship Service
8 p.m.- Evening Service
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.- Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m.- Youth
Cornerstone
Bible
Fellowship
Ethel
Communion - 9:45 - 10:30
Family Bible Hour and Sunday School
11:00 - 12:00
Prayer & Bible Study
Tuesday 8 p.m.
John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no
one comes to the Father, but through Me."
Everyone Welcome
For more information call 887-6665
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
7:30 p.m. - Tuesday - Bible Study - Faith and Life of Jesus
2:00 p.m. - Wednesday - Bible Study - Old Testament
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
fMea&e join u& fox uoi&kip Sunday,
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive
power and wealth, wisdom and strength, and honour
and glory and praise."
Revelations 5:12B
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible