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The Citizen, 2006-11-16, Page 17Nov. 19: Eph. 6:10I1 Sam. Purse SHOEBOX Dedication "Ambassadors of the Good News Mystery" Fri. Family Fun Night - FE Madill Gym EN angelical IN lissionur) Church Living, Water Main, TellaMip 10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill Mondays 7:30 pm - Power of a Praying Woman DVD Tuesdays 7:30 pm - Wingham Small Group Fridays 7:00 pm Youth Group Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848 getlivingwater.org HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH SING A SONVX Auburn - 519-526-1131 C94G'"Ins.-9 & PASTOR DON PLANT JR. case PASTOR DAVE WOOD Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Friday 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. - Sunday School - Morning Worship Service - Evening Worship Service - Youth Bible Study - Olympians (JK to Grade 6) - Adult Bible Study 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Drop-in Youth Centre Emmanuel Bible College presents "The Watchmen Quarter' live in concert on December 9th at 7:30 pm MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831 SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm /7 Pastor John Kuperus • Hwy. 4, Blyth BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, November 19 Ethel United Church Worship Service & Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship 6.; cotonlUnitY Church 14401 Looking for a Great Of 00 Cr Sunday School Experience? THIS IS IT! FOR ALL AGES SUNDAY - 9:45 to 10:45 am WORSHIP SERVICE AT 11:00 am Phone 519-440-8379 308 Blyth Rd. E. - Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2006. PAGE 17. From the Minister's Study Minister says, `Don't be afraid.' By Rev. Cathrine Campbell Melville, Brussels, Knox, Belgrave Presbyterian Churches Often when we hear a loud bang, our response is "What on earth was that"! When we hear predictions of disaster - fiscal, natural or personal our normal response also an adrenaline rush and then a rush to find a hiding place, hunker down and hope for the best. We don't stand in the middle of a field in a thunderstorm. But as we approach Advent, the beginning of the new year in the church calendar with predictions of more than just a thunderstorm we hear of amazing things that will happen and amazing things that we are to do. One commentator says: "By the time the author of Luke's gospel set to writing his narrative, followers of Jesus were surely beginning to wonder how the persecution which surrounded them - fit into this notion that the messiah had come, that the reign of God was at hand, and that they lived in a redeemed world. There were plenty of indications that the world had not yet entered a redeemed state indicative of the messianic age. How did all this turmoil, hardship, persecution, trial, and tribulation fit into the notion that Jesus was the messiah? Had they missed something? Or had they done . something wrong?" Today, we can ask the same question. We have plenty of indicators which would suggest that the resurrection of Jesus hasn't had much of an effect on a lot of people. Some think that maybe it was all just a vague promise of good things to come for those who believe. If we were hearing this for the first time, hearing this passage from Luke proclaimed, and waiting for the words of hope based on this passage, what might we long to hear? How is this passage good news for the world? What coming promise or advent do we await?" On the face of it there is a fair bit of bad news - which, perhaps, will happen to someone else. I always find it interesting that the predictors of a horrible end for this earth somehow seem to feel that they, personally, will not share this end but, for certain, you will. There are no shortages of doomsayers and I doubt that a decade has ever passed when people haven't looked forward with a sense of foreboding and seen dark clouds gathering. Some of us are experts at it! But I find that to go with this sense of foreboding and darkening days there has always been hope, hope expressed in many different ways, hope that one day wrongs will be righted, justice will prevail, and darkness will give way to light. Luke's Gospel gives us hope and I realize that I am not afraid. I know there is a lot of sense in being careful as to where I put my trust but also that I am to have trust not only that I.am to look beyond the first things and so to understand that this gospel has amazing good news - The Son of man IS COMING - it may be in a dazing and awesome manner but the Son of Man IS COMING. And you are not to head for your bunker. You are to "Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28) Your redemption. Not your destruction. Your redemption. That's why Christians can never base their future plans on projections based on the past. That's why Christians should never lose hope for the future. Luke states, unequivocally, that when things look very dismal, when it appears that all hope is lost, that there is no possibility of life in the future, stand up. Raise your heads. For your redemption is drawing near. This is not "what on earth is coming". This is "what in Heaven is coming" - The Kingdom of God will be that much nearer - this is not bad news. Jesus taught his followers to pray to God, "Thy Kingdom come..." as if the Kingdom is not yet here. But he also told his followers that the Kingdom was already among them. The Kingdom of God - now and not yet, already with us, but yet to be fulfilled. The Kingdom of God - taking up all of those hopeful longings expressed by the prophets and through the humble prayers of countless thousands - longings for peace, joy, love, justice, harmony... humankind at one with one another, at one with the world and at one with their creator God. You will see terrible things, says Jesus... You will• be surrounded by calamity... It will seem as though the world is being turned inside-out and upside-down. When that happens, lift up your heads, raise your eyes, look beyond the darkness and turmoil to see the signs of God's Kingdom. Luke does not deny that when we look around our world we will see pain and suffering, and we can choose to fear. Fear, not for what others are losing or have lost, but fear as to what we might lose. From our fear we can become trapped in our own perspective that material things are better and we will concentrate on the here and now. But, this world, even at its most sensual and demanding will never equal that which Christ promises and Christ brings thfough his life and his Resurrection. When we choose to reject fear and embrace the God of love, we can see at every turn that we are never alone and, like Paul, rejoice in and with our sisters and brothers, beloved of God. We recognize our oneness with God and with creation, and we find the hope, peace, joy, and love which comes from offering ourselves in service to the truth - that we come from God and we return to God, and we can pass through the darkest valley life presents if we allow the Spirit of God to guide our steps. It is not suffering or pain which brings despair. It is the illusion of powerlessness and isolation. When we stand in community, united as people of God, we see that God can heal the world, that God wills to heal the world, and that we are God's chosen instrument for healing. We know we are not alone, and we are filled with hope that the Begotten of God comes in us and through us with power and great glory. No matter whether we are simply living through another day or living out our last day, we will find that what matters most is that we know we are not alone, ever, and we know our experience has meaning and purpose. There are not to be frighteRing calls to flee but instead to go out so that we may spread the good news that God is in our land and on this earth. Never be afraid! Steamed Things were heating up for Keith and Olwen Richmond as they worked in the kitchen for the roast beef supper at Memorial Hall on Sunday night, which was sponsored by Trinity Anglican Church. (Vicky Bremner photo) Blyth United Church Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Sunday, November 19 Worship Service, Sunday School & Nursery 11:00 a.m. Minister: Rev. Robin McGauley Atet Weecane Office: 519-523-4224 (1.5. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA 7/01,cooted rya to come awe aoird# evict ud SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDlv. 519-887 -9273 This week's message will be on family devotions.