The Citizen, 2003-06-25, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2003. PAGE 15.
From the Minister’s Study
A minister’s thoughts on
By Rev. Ethel Miner Clare, Knox
United Church, Belgrave
Why Pray?
“Lord, Teach us to pray ...”
[Luke 11:1]
The rain has stopped; the sun is
shining; birds are singing. A gentle
breeze stirs the afternoon air. Finally
all the crops are in the ground. It is
good to be alive!
I wonder if it was a day like this
when one of Jesus’s disciples asked
Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus
himself had just finished praying.
The disciples certainly would have
known how to pray. They would
have learned to pray at home with
their family and in the synagogue
with the worshipping community.
But the request made of Jesus that
day was quite specific - the disciple
was asking Jesus to teach all of them
how to pray as John the baptizer had
taught his disciples to pray. John’s
preaching “repent, for the kingdom
of God is at hand” was dynamic and
charismatic. His praying must also
have been powerful.
The prayer Jesus gave his disciples
was different. Our English
translation reads, “When you pray
say,...” Remember, these words are
a translation of Greek. The Greek
can be also translated as “When you
are praying, you are saying ...”
That gives us something to think
about. Jesus was reminding his
listeners that they already knew how
to pray, they had been doing that all
their lives. He was making them
conscious again of the outline or
form of a prayer that perhaps had
become too familiar;
Father, help us to honour your
name.
Come and set up your kingdom.
Give us each day the food we
need.
Forgive our sins, as we forgive
everyone who had done wrong to
us.
And keep us from being tempted.
Prayer is not like putting coins into
a vending machine. We don’t put a
prayer in the right slot, push the
correct button, and wait for the
vending machine god to spit out
exactly what we want. God is not a
vending machine.
Prayer is relationship. God invites
us into a loving, caring, parent/child
relationship. When C. S. Lewis’ wife
joy was dying, a friend spoke about
God answering prayer. To this
Lewis responded, “That is not why I
pray. I pray because I am helpless. I
pray because the need flows out of
me all the time, waking or sleeping.
Prayer doesn’t change God; it
changes me.”'
1 wonder, do we pray with the
expectation that God will change us?
Multiple sclerosis never hits
just one person.
It affects the entire family.
prayer
r There's a better way to
k move that old furniture... y
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523-4792 or 887-9114
9:30 to
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Far more information call 887-6665
887-8621 or 887-6123
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June 29 - 1 Sant. 16:1-3
"Evangelical Missionary Church"
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10:30 a.m.-Contemporary Wonhip6 at Blyth Public School,
comer of King & Mill
Pastor: Ernes! Dow - 523-4848 8
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St. Augustine
Roman Catholic
Church
invites you to attend a
celebration of the
100th Anniversary
of the construction of
the present stone church
Sunday, July 6
Mass at 10:30 am
Followed by prayers
at the cemetery
Lunch will be served
at 12:30 pm
$8 for adults and
$4 for children
(free for those under 5)
Visiting and entertainment
to follow
If planning on attending the lunch
please call asap 524-4795 or
357-4171 or 529-7870
254 Drummond St. E., Blyth
Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m.
Father Lance Magdziak, Pastor
519-527-0142
email: stjames@rcec.london.on.ca
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Servie
Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.- Youth
7:15 p.m. - Adult Bible Study /f
MELVILLE
9 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service at Jim and Leona Armstrong's.
Pot Luck lunch to follow. Everyone welcome.
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
June 29
Ethel United Church
Worship & Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Worship Service
Come to worship and celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism
Blyth United Church
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, June 29
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Honouring our college students and graduates
'WelcoMcc
Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman
Office: 523-4224
Lidude Qo-d in y&at
jurnmei ptan&!
You are invited to Worship
at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Summer Worship Time 10:00 am
Fellowship Time 11:15 am
Pastor Brent Kipfer 887-6388
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THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
"WetotMted tfdct to ctMtc and cwiddip cuitd ad
Sunday, June 29
FEAST OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL, APOSTLES
HOLY EUCHARIST
Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
'Ptesme facet cm fan. cw^mdfat
Sunday, June 29
Morning Worship Service -10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
A
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
"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
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.
Vacation Bible School ~ July 7-11 ~ 9:30-11:30 am
Ages 4-12 welcome (see ad)
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