The Citizen, 2000-03-01, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1,2000.
From the Minister’s Study
Retirement a modern invention, says minister
By Pastor Ernest Dow, Blyth
United Church
Perusing some RRSP information
lately, I came across the statistic
from an American study that, in the
case of a healthy non-smoking cou
ple retiring at the age of 62. at least
one of them can expect to live to the
age of 92.
That’s 30 whole years, nearly a
third of that person’s life! It would
be a shame to think of these years as
being “put on the shelf”.
Also, baby boomers today keep
hearing warnings that we may not be
able to count on the Canada Pension
Plan being there to help us out in
later years. We are seeing the “squar
ing of the pyramid” population-wise,
as people live longer, and families
have fewer children.
At first it may not seem a pleasant
thought that we might HAVE to con
tinue working to supplement our
income in our later years. But it is
becoming more apparent that the
elderly are constituting a larger por
tion of society these days; they rep
resent a valuable resource, and if
they were deprived of meaningful
input or gainful employment alto
gether, we risk converting them into
a considerable drain on the younger
generation’s resources.
“Retirement” is a fairly modem
invention. In pre-industrial days, the
elderly could keep on with basic
daily chores and handiwork as they
were able. “Retirement” can be
detrimental to one’s health: I have
seen too many men in particular die
within a couple of years of retire
ment unless they find some other
meaningful hobbies or pastimes.
“Retirement” is not a Biblical con
cept. Abraham and Sarah , were
involved directly in their family past
the age of 100! Moses was 120 when
he died, “Yet his eyes were not weak
nor his strength gone.”He was the
fledgling nation of Israel’s leader up
to the very end. Ruth’s mother-in-
law Naomi was an elderly widow,
yet provided valuable counsel to her
family, and helped raise the grand
children.
Throughout the Old Testament, the
most important local court could be
found at the city gate; and who
should we find constituting it? ‘The
elders of the land.”
In his book for men called The
Mature Man, David DeWitt states,
“A man is an increasingly hard thing
to find. We live in a society of boys...
Many guys today seem to have the
goal of maintaining a junior-high
mentality all the way through life.
The ultimate in life seems to be to
retire, still a boy.”
Instead of retiring to play endless
ly at the shuffleboard court, DeWitt
promotes the concept of “patriarchy”
(there must be something analogous
for women along the lines of “matri
archy”!). His definition: “A patriarch
is not a retired grandfather who is set
in his ways and basically out of it,
following the lead of his grandchil
dren. A patriarch is a man who is
working at something vital, plugged
into his culture, leading his grand
children, keenly aware of life’s
changes, inventive, alert, and chal
lenging the socks off his wife, chil
dren, grandchildren, and the extend
ed family around him as he grows in
the wisdom and knowledge of the
Lord... A patriarch is a man
who has taken on the responsibility
for establishing maturity for himself
and applying it to his extended fami
ly”
- The Biblical perspective is that
“grey hair is a crown of splendour”,
yet today we do everything we can to
avoid graying, and tend to dismiss
those who are obviously older. A
patriarch (or matriarch) as described
above could be an exciting person to
be around. Yet to remain worthy of
respect by one’s juniors requires a
willingness to keep approaching life
as an adventure, to make the effort to
remain relevant to a changing socie
ty. It’s not good enough to avoid
innovations by saying, “We never
did it that way before.”
My own father is in his 80th year,
yet still actively farming, albeit on a
reduced scale. I’ve been impressed
by his attempts to keep current. A
few years ago he enrolled in a night
school course to learn math at the
secondary level, having left school
as a youth after Grade 8. Recently,
he and my mother have started learn
ing the computer and e-mail in order
to keep in touch with their family,
spread across the continent.
God had more lessons for the
patriarch Job to learn when he prob
ably thought he had finished raising
his family. Job did not rust out in
retirement, but kept actively praying
for his family, aware of their lives,
setting a godly example.
Becoming a patriarch or matriarch
offers each of us the opportunity to
continue to grow mentally and spiri
tually, not giving up the daily disci
plines of studying Scripture and
prayer. Our Heavenly Father, the
“Ancient of Days”, is still very
actively involved with His children,
and calls us when we are older to
keep influencing our world, accord
ing to our ability — loving, praying,
growing — as many days as He
grants us.
St. Andrews hosts WMS
St. Andrews Church, Stratford was
host to the Huron Perth Presbyterial
Annual meeting with the theme
being ‘Mission Not Impossible.’
President Pat White opened the
morning session. All present repeat
ed the Women’s Missionary Society
Purpose.
Devotions were led by Cranbrook
members with Yvonne Knight read
ing verses from Luke 16. These
reminded members of missions that
men were sent on in Bible times and
compared their travels to modem
day. A poem was read outlining what
followed “when you sent money
across the sea”.
The minutes of the 1999 annual
meeting were read by Recording
Secretary Eunice Bissett.
Corresponding Secretary Lois Kipfer
outlined correspondence including
an appreciation letter from Evangel
Hall The treasurer’s report was
given by Margaret Peebles. The
year’s objective of $58,000 has been
achieved and a similar objective was
accepted for the year 2000.
Five Life Memberships were pre
sented during the year to Nancy
Schneider Florence Broughton,
Helen Sampson, Pauline Simmons
and Lillias McLellan.
A workshop was conducted by
Enn Crisfield, area education con
sultant. Topics for group discussion
were effective WMS groups, head
ings for study included promotion,
education, finance.
Helen Dunseith read the nominat
ing committee report and Ms
Crisfield installed the officers for
2000. The literature secretary Bev
Nichol gave a summary of the book
sales for the year of $930.66. She
also outlined several new books and
supplies available at the book table.
The afternoon session opened with
a sing-song of new hymn book
pieces led by Shirley Aitcheson with
Eunice Bissett accompanying.
An In Memoriam service was con
ducted by Lillian Sparling and Alice
Gardiner of Cromarty WMS.
Scripture verses were read from
Timothy and Hebrews and a
Christian
Ruth Hart and Jean Fryfogle pre
sented afternoon devotions follow
ing the theme, The way to begin.
Any beginning can be good if God is
there.
Jean Edmunds introduced the
guest speaker, Elenore Ward who
spent two weeks in Cuba a year ago.
She described the island of Cuba in
size, harbours, population and cli
mate.
The mission study this year is on
partnerships with the Presbyterian
Churches in Canada and Cuba so this
description of country and people
was very informative, appreciated
and enjoyed.
The roll call was answered with a
comment on a dismal situation that
turned to victory in the Bible or real
life.
During the business, ladies camp
dates June 9-10-11 were announced
and members were encouraged to
attend.
The synodical dates are April 25
and April 26 in Chatham.
Names were given for all groups
receiving a presbyterial visitor in the
next year.
Mary Scott of Knox WMS gave
the courtesy, remarks.
Blyth United Church
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays - 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow
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
l/ou aw ufdcome tftiy Sunday
MARCH 5 - EPIPHANY 9
HOLY EUCHARIST
Trinity, Blyth St. John's,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
join u,& fo* uitMi&fiip tliio Sunday,
Morning Worship Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
“For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this not
of yourselves, it is a gift of God. ”
Ephesians 2:8
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
- Morning Worship Service
- Family Bible Hour
- Morning Worship Service
- Evening Service
- Family Night (Kids' Club)
- Youth
Sunday 8:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
11 a.m.
Wednesday
8 p.m.
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday 7:30 p.m.
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
World Day of Prayer
Friday, March 3, 2000
Talitha Cum! ...V
Young Woman, Stand Up!
written by church women
of Indonesia
World Day of Prayer offers a moment to
reflect upon and affirm our faith in Jesus
Christ, to share in the community of
Christians around the world, and to
commit to working for social justice.
We will join our neighbours in celebrating World
Day of Prayer at:
Blyth Christian Reformed Church
Friday, March 3 ~ 7:30 p.m.
Speaker: Rev. Nancy Beale
Please join us!
Blyth area churches
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
■ Rev. Adrian A. Van GeestA Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
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
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Supply Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
March 5, 2000
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
February 29th at 7:00 p.m. - “Praying in the Midst of Life”
discussion group. All are welcome - Please come and
join our learning journey.
March 2, 2000 Leap Year Luncheon 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
This will be a hot luncheon for $6.00. Please plan to join us!
March 8th at 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service