The Citizen, 2006-07-06, Page 10"Water
Christian Pilaw& p
July 9 - Hosea 7
"The
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Contempt"
Christ-centred, ing,
Fellow ship-friendly, (; row I h-sea red
10:30 a.m. - Joint Worship
at Church of God for July & August
308 Blyth Rd., E.
Wheelchair Accessible
Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Small Group
Wednesdays 7:30 pm Discussing the Da Vinci Code
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
getlivingwater.org
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The mournful sound of bagpipes played by Jim Craig filled
the air during the 80th annual Ball's Cemetery Decoration
Day service held on Sunday, July 2. Next year will be the
150th anniversary of the first burial in Ball's Cemetery which
took place on Sept. 18, 1856.
Summer Worship
10:30 am - Sunday Service
Shared with Living Water Christian Fellowship
Phone 519-440-8379 308 Blyth Rd. E. - Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
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MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
We are worshiping with our friends at
Brussels United Church for the month of July.
Services at Melville resume on August 6th.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
2Ueicome4 ret to come
cutd agnato cad ea
SUNDAY, JULY 9
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 519-887-9273
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
SING A SON Of Auburn - 519-526-1131
07 yraise PASTOR DAVE WOOD
G"") & PASTOR DON PLANT JR.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
"Bethlehem Village"
from July 10 to 14, 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon
For more information call 526-1131
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
- UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, July 9
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Peeade 7:oia ea Or cooldeft
Sunday, July 9
Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
it\ Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Sunday
Wednesday
10:30 a.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Morning Worship Service
- Evening Worship Service
- Adult Bible Study
There will be no Sunday School for July and August
tp
PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2006.
From the Minister's Study
Character makes the difference in life
By Pastor Brent Kipfer
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
In January, I found out how
quickly the Brussels fire department
moves.
After dialing 911, I barely put
down the phone before trucks were
parked in front of our house arid
firefighters were posted on the
ground, in the house, and on the
roof, keeping an eye on our roaring
chimney fire. It was obvious
that they knew what they were
doing.
By the end of the evening, the fire
was out, the smoldering creosote
was cleared from the pipes and our
children were sleeping soundly in
their own beds. There .was no
damage to the house.
We are exceedingly grateful.
In a crisis, we make split-second
decisions that set a direction for the
future. I am fascinated by stories
from disaster sites. Some are
inspiring: ordinary people heroically
putting their life on the line for
others. Some are disturbing:
vulnerable neighbourhoods getting
looted by those eager to profit from
others' misery.
What makes the difference? What
causes one person to risk their own
safety for the benefit of others while
another only thinks of self? The
decision is really made long before
the crisis hits.
It is a matter of character -
character that forms over a lifetime
of decision-making.
A traditional proverb says:
Sow a thought, reap an act
Sow an act, reap a habit
Sow a habit, reap a character
Sow a character, reap a destiny
What will our community look
like in 20 years?
That will depend on the small
decisions that each of us make every
day - the type of character that we
choose to build in ourselves and in
our children.
The Avon Maitland District
School Board has decided to put
priority on character education
because our future hinges on it. They
have identified 10 character traits
which are highly valued in our
community: fairness,
honesty, respect, integrity,
courage, optimism, compassion,
perseverance, responsibility,
empathy.
How can we encourage these traits
in our children? Summer holidays
have begun - but character formation
never stops. How can parents,
teachers, business leaders, soccer
coaches, churches, swimming
instructors and children themselves
work together to foster courage and
compassion in our playgrounds?
How can we ensure honesty and
courage on the baseball diamond?
Optimism and fairness in our
homes?
Here are a few thoughts:
1. Modelling is essential. What
values do children see in their
parents or teachers? Those are the
ones they will pick up.
Does Mom laugh at jokes about
other races? Children will learn that
it's okay to make exceptions when
giving out respect.
Does Dad walk back into the store
to return extra change that was given
by mistake? Children learn that
honesty is worth more than personal
gain.
2. Offer generous praise for good
choices: "Thanks for your
perseverance. I could tell you were
tired and didn't feel like doing it, but -
you kept at the cleaning until the
room looked, spotless. Great
job!"
Affirmation strengthens the good
character formation that has already
been happening.
3. Storytelling gives flesh and
bones to the character traits we want
to encourage. Tell a story about
someone who shows integrity: "Did
you know that your uncle Bob once
quit a job because his boss insisted
that he fudge the books? He was out
of work for a couple of months but
he never regretted his decision.
That's integrity."
Story helps moves character into
everyday life.
4. Give loving, specific correction
when needed. If your son is jumping
and shouting with pleasure near a
friend who is lying on the ground,
crying and clutching her knee, talk
to him about empathy and
compassion. Let him know why
these traits are important for good
relationships.
5. Ask God to form the character
of Jesus Christ in you and seek the
same gift for others. In Galatians
4:19, Paul says that he is "in the pain
of childbirth until Christ is formed in
you."
Childbirth is a great metaphor as
we wait for Jesus-like character to be
formed in us and in others. It takes
patience. It takes labour - even some
pain.
But the result is well worth it. This
is a process that continues over a
lifetime - complete only on that final
day when we take the hand of Jesus
and follow him into kingdom of
God.
Firefighters spend a great deal of
time and energy training themselves
,to protect life and property. They
want to be ready when their beeper
goes off. They not only learn skills;
they train themselves to be the type
of people who can be counted on in
an emergency.
What about character training?
There are plenty of inspiring
examples of character in our
neighbourhoods.
Are we ready to strengthen the
foundation and train ourselves
further as a community of charac-
ter?
Blyth United Church
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, July 9
Worship Service, Sunday School & Nursery
11:00 a.m.
Minister: Rev. Robin McGauley
fill Wiekoote
Office: 519-523-4224
Sanctuary