The Citizen, 2003-02-05, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2003. PAGE 15.
From the Minister’s Study
Minister reflects on God’s expectations
by Rev. Ethel Miner Clare, Knox
United Church, Belgrave
In Micah 6:8 we read: The Lord
God has told us what is right and
what he demands: “See that justice
is done, let mercy be your first
concern, and humbly obey your
God. ”
Picture a courtroom drama: God
putting the people on trial and
expecting them to answer for their
mistakes. Time and time again
through saving acts, God has
demonstrated the depth of God’s
love. Sacrifice and ritual, no matter
how extravagant are not what God
wants in return.
God expects that God’s people will
respond with justice, kindness,
humility. Or in other words not
oppressing, showing love and do it
all out of love and gratitude towards
God.
God continually models steadfast
love and faithfulness, but the people
just don’t get it. We just don’t get it.
So God asks, “What’s the problem
here? I did everything for you.”
In turn we ask God, “What should
we do in our worship? A bigger
choir? A better preacher? Longer
prayers?
Then God hits us smack between
the eyes with those famous words:
“What do I ask of you? That you
seek justice, love kindness, and walk
humbly through life with me.”
Recently, when looking through a
collection of Knox newsletters, I
discovered in the January 1990
edition an article titled Must We Live
On Leftovers? There was nothing to
indicate who the author was;
however, it read:
“Pulling the refrigerator door open
proved quite a challenge for me the
other day. I was hungry and didn’t
want to bother with starting my meal
from scratch. Quickly I surveyed the
scene before me. I found several,
small containers, meat in one, cold
peas in another, a bit of fruit salad
behind a two-thirds empty carton of
cottage cheese, a pickle from ajar in
the door shelf. Not enough of
anything to make a full meal, but
sufficient to pull me through until
the chief cook arrived, hours later.
We don’t mind living off leftovers
once in a while, but every day, every
meal? YUK! But that is exactly
what the church must do. Much of its
financial support, not to mention
human power, comes from the
leftovers we offer. When we evaluate
what is accomplished through the
use of these leftovers, it’s
phenomenal - food, housing,
medical, and spiritual aid is provided
to the world. What could be done if
we gave off the top and not out of
leftovers? We could turn the world
upside down!”
There is then the statement that we
all give a percentage of our income
to the church but do we know what
percent we actually give? The author
suggested that we figure out what
percentage of our resources we give
the church then consider the
difference we could make if we
actually increased what we gave by
only one or two per cent.
Whoever the author, I think he/she
understood the demands that are
being made on us in the passage
from Micah. We have been created
by a generous God who has given us
much.
In turn we are express our
generous gratitude - seeking justice,
sharing love and doing so humbly.
That would mean consciously setting
aside a portion of our resources - our
dollars, our time, and our abilities
and offering them to God in grateful
thanksgiving to our Creator. In this
way, we can help bring God’s reign
of a just and loving world.
St. Michael's
Roman Catholic Church
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__ 10:30 a.m. ~ Wonkip & Sunday School §
at Blyth Public School, 8"* comer of King & Mill
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848
www.tcc.on.ca/~dowfam
February 9 - Mark 1:35IT
"FOLLOW ME pt. 2:
Listen & Love"
Fri., Feb. 7 at
Memorial Hall, 8 pm:
FAITH-IN-SONG
0 Inspiring music from area
V Christian groups!
3
3
Spring arrives
Spring was blooming at Hullett Central Public School on
Monday, Feb. 3 in conjunction with Wiarton Willie’s
prediction. Gordon Hill from Varna, representing CNIB
delivered 125 crocus bulb pots purchased by families,
neighbours and staff. The school’s parents council
organized this fundraiser. From left: Chair Jennifer Fleming,
Grade 7 students Katie McClinchey and Kendra Falconer
and parent Glenda deBoer enjoy a little hint of what’s to
COme. (Photo submitted)
254 Drummond St. E., Blyth
Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m.
Father Lance Magdziak, Pastor
519-527-0142
email: stjames@rcec.london.on.ca
foil are Welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
10:00 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
(Junior Church during service)
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday morning 10 a.m.
Wednesday evening 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 308 Blyth Rd., Blyth
y HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-1131
Friday, Feb. 7 8:00 p.m.
Sunday
Wednesday
arms
It PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941
- Faith-in-song Concert
Blyth Memorial Hall
- Family Bible Hour
- Morning Worship Service
- Evening Worship
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.- Crusaders & Youth
7:15 p.m. - Adult Bible Study
Blyth United Church
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, February 9
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
"Jesus as a healer"
“WetcoMce
Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman
Office: 523-4224
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
'Welc&tmd cfocc to come and
Sunday, February 9 w
MORNING PRAYER - 5" SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
ns—1 Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
|O»| 9:30 a.m.____________11:15a.m.
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
‘Pieaae join tea fart cwrtaAcje
Sunday, February 9
Morning Worship Service - IO a.m.
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put
their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he
reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
~ Proverbs 30:5-6
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
February 9
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Come to celebrate with us the starlight and wonder
in this Season of Epiphany
Communion - 9:45 - 10:30
Family Bible Hour and Sunday School ~ 11:00 - 12:00
Prayer & Bible Study ~ Tuesday 8 p.m.
Ladies' Time Out - The last Thursday of each month
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. - starting again February 27
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
Call Pastor Andrew Thursdays or Fridays at 887-6123
i