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The Citizen, 2003-05-07, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2003. PAGE 15. From the Minister’s Study Bible shows that God gives good gifts By Brent Kipfer Brussels Mennonite Fellowship My wife, Sarah, likes to make gift­ giving easy for me. A couple of years ago, she casually mentioned that a power drill would make a nice Christmas gift. No one at the hardware store believed that I was really buying this tool for my wife. Last year she dropped the hint that a heat-resistant spatula would make a good stocking stuffer. I was happy to oblige. Mother’s Day is coming. Last Tuesday. Sarah let it slip that a lawn edger would make a great gift. Wonderful! I recruited our son, Joel, and we set off on our mission to the hardware store. We carefully examined the options. We selected the right specimen and walked to the check-out counter. As we waited, Joel happily announced, “We’re buying this lawn edger to give to my mom on Mother’s Day!” A fellow customer tried to come to our rescue, to save us from making a potentially fatal mistake. “That’s nothing to boast about!” she said. “Why don’t you try flowers?” I explained that Sarah actually wanted a lawn edger. “You've buried yourself, buddy.” The Bible introduces us to a God who knows how to give good gifts. James 1:17 summarizes one of the recurring themes in scripture: “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights...” God’s gift-giving credentials are impeccable. Our heavenly Father does not fumble around picking out mediocre gifts. Since the creation of the world, God has been at work for our ben­ efit. Mother Teresa said, “No one spoils us as much as God Himself. See the wonderful gifts He has given us freely?...You can all see - if God were to take money for your sight what would happen? Continually we are breathing and living on oxygen we did not pay for.” God is the master gift-giver. Jesus Christ is the supreme gift of all. Christians have been celebrating the good news of Easter - the resurrection of Jesus - and every good thing that has been released to us through Christ’s victory over death: the continuing presence of Jesus in our lives, the forgiveness of sin, the joy of being able to have a relationship with God, the promise of eternal life. God’s gifts are practical; they make a concrete difference in our daily lives. But they are more than that. In each one, God has a message for us. With each one, the Father of lights again whispers: “I love you; you are worth everything to me.” At best, our human gift-giving is a shadow of God’s generous love for us. Maybe I should also pick up some flowers... 254 Drummond St. E., Blyth Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m. Father Lance Magdziak, Pastor 519-527-0142 email: stjames@rcec.london.on.ca IH/S leads Melville service Mary Huether greeted congregants to Melville Presbyterian Church for the mission awareness service, Sunday. In the absence of Rev. Cathrine Campbell,* the congregation gathered to worship under the leadership of members of the Melville Women’s Missionary Society with Janna Dodds taking the chair for the service. Mary Douma was the accompanying organist. The children’s story was presented by Mrs. Huether. She said that people once believed the earth was flat until explorers sailed around it and proved it was round. This was compared to doubting Thomas having to see the wounds on Jesus before he accepted that he was indeed the resurrected Christ. The lesson from the scriptures: Psalm 133; Acts 4: 32-35; John 20: 19-31 was read by Isobel Gibson and Alice Marks. Mrs. Dodds presented a sermon, written by Rev. Linda Reed, entitled, No One Needed Anything. This was about the early Christian church as it was forming, and how members of the group sold their property and donated the funds to the whole community so everyone would have enough. Here was the concept of a community based on common belief, mission and purpose. This early generosity to those in need and a sharing with unfortunates is the inspiration for today’s WMS, which supports missionary families in Nepal, India, El Salvador, Winnipeg and the Cariboo. Collection was taken by Frank Schimanski, Doug McArter, Maurice Douma. a developing country. Pick up Sunday school food orders in the church basement on Thursday, May 14, anytime after 11 a.m. Last week, members of Melville received a questionnaire from the session. It is quite important to have it completed and sent in. If you missed getting your copy, contact Mary Douma. Congregants are invited to participate in the collecting of materials for relief kits to be sent to Iraq. The Brussels Mennonite Church is organizing an assembling of materials on May 9. Items such as bath soap, shampoo, laundry detergent and toothpaste are needed. The Sunday school Easter breakfast raised approximately $400 to go towards Geni, a foster child in lilting IVater^ Cfimtmifellmuflip 3 3 3 3 3 ___________3 £ 10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School § at Blyth Public School, . comer of King & Mill j Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848 j www.tcc.on.ca/~dowfam May 11 - Ephesians 2£ Ott? Mother's 2)ai/ SiuuicH Saturday, May 10, 9-11 am Heartland EMC. Clinton "Glue for Fractured Families” 3 3 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA cpw, to ctMte afa/t ccj Sunday, May 11 4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER Morning Prayer - Mother's Day rrn Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels IO*I 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-1131 0x3**^ PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941 - Family Bible HourSunday9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service 7:30 p.m. Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.- Youth 7: IS p.m. - Adult Bible Study - Concert by "Men of Note" 'PCeo&e fact, cm fa cwnfafr 1 "La Sunday, May 11 Morning Worship Service -10 a.m. Genesis 2 - Are you lonely I hank God 1 S Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.rti. Daniel 2 ~ The Kingdom Dream fmomS BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible Pastor John Kuperus May 11 Ethel United Church 9:30 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Brussels United Church 11:00 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School 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 Blyth United Church Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, May 11 Worship Service & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Mother's Day Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman Office: 523-4224 Easter is not over! Celebrate with us at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service Coffee Break Sunday School 9:30 am 10:45 am 11:00 am Pastor Brent Kipfer 887-6388 Jesus says, 'I am the Good Shepherd." John 10:11 ChurC]j "The Church is not a Building, It is People Touching People" Sunday - 10:00 a.m. - Sunday School for all ages 11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship 7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. - Bible Studies Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. Pastor Les Cook 523-4590 Cornerstone Bible Ethel Communion - 9:45 - 10:30 Family Bible Hour and Sunday School ~ 1100 - 12:00 Prayer & Bible Study ~ Tuesday 8 p.m. Ladies' Time Out - The last Thursday of each month 7:30 - 9:00 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 Call Pastor Andrew Thursdays or Fridays at 887-6123