The Citizen, 2005-10-20, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005.
From the Minister’s Study
Changing time in the face of calamity
By Pastor Ernest Dow
Living Water Christian
Fellowship (EMC), Blyth
"Only two days left to live?!!”
Recently I participated with a
group of young people in an exercise
designed to help us examine our
priorities in view of life’s brevity.
Envelopes were passed around the
room which contained a green slip
on which was written the (supposed)
time we had left to live.
Gasps were heard as each
individual opened their envelope
and discovered they had only hours,
days, months, or years left to remain
alive.
Also in the envelope was a slip of
paper on which we were to list what
we’d plan to do before our time was
up'. Some mentioned they’d like to
spend some of their final hours
horseback riding, or playing soccer.
A number included prayer as a
priority. One wished to spend most
of his remaining 10 days on the
island of Fiji; I couldn’t help but
wonder whether, if that were me. I’d
begrudge even the hours required to
fly there!
The reality is. although we don’t
Psalm 95
opens
UCW
readings
The Brussels Evening Unit of the
UCW met at the home of Rene
Richmond Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Nelva Scott opened with the UCW
Purpose and read the call to worship,
followed by prayer. Psalm 95: 1-7
was read by Sarah Stephenson and
Luke 17: 12-19 was read by Audrey
Cardiff.
The meditation given by Mrs.
Scott. entitled Thanksgiving/
Thanksliving, spoke about an urban
society trying to find a meaningful
thanksgiving. Instead of buying
pumpkins and gourds to decorate
their church, they decided to bring to
the church symbols of members’
work; i.e., a wrench, a stethoscope, a
broom and dustpan. They felt that
Thanksgiving stayed with those who
made a contribution a long time.
The meditation went on to say
Thanksgiving needs to be carried
into our lives. We need to look
around and see those who seem to
have little for which to be thankful
and ask “Why?” Thanksgiving is
more than giving thanks, it is living
thanks in a variety of ways in our
home, office, factory and school.
Prayer closed the devotions.
Mrs. Scott presided for the
business. Minutes of the September
meeting were read and approved.
Isabelle Wheeler gave the treasurer’s
report. She read a thank you from
George and Shirley Wheeler.
The members await word from the
Red Hat Society regarding a
luncheon and a list from the Lions
legarding a luncheon and a list from
the Lions regarding suppers from the
coming term.
A report from Kids’ Corner was
circulated.
A discussion continued regarding
the Christmas shut-in boxes.
fhe November meeting will be
held at Nora Stephenson’s with Joan
Bernard in charge.
like to think about it and it’s not
recorded on a slip of paper, there A a
fixed amount of time we have left in
this life. The mortality rate for
humans is still running at 100 per
cent. Recent catastrophes remind us
how our optimistic expectations can
come crashing down due to
circumstances beyond our control:
around 50,000 casualties in the
Pakistan earthquake; entire villages
in Guatemala wiped out due to
mudslides spawned by a hurricane;
the World Health Organization
stating a flu pandemic is
imminent.
Then there are the various people
we hear of locally who suffer from
accidents, or have received
unwelc ime news of being diagnosed
with terminal disease. When the
ground is suddenly swept out from
under us, is there any alternative to
just throwing up our hands and
declaring life meaningless?
The Bible teaches us to
acknowledge our life’s fragility and
that God is the One who ultimately
endures; His purposes, not ours,
endure. James (4:13ff) cautions,
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or
tomorrow we will go to this or that
city, spend a year there, carry on
business and make money.’ Why,
you do not even know what will
happen tomorrow. What is your life?
You are a mist that appears for a
little while and then vanishes.
Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the
Lord’s will, we will live and do this
or that.’”
Knowing life’s shortness and
fragility, we need to plan reverently
not boastfully.
Regarding a calamity in which a
tower fell and killed 18 people (Luke
13:41’), Jesus insisted the victims
were not more guilty than others, or
‘deserved’ their fate; then added,
“Unless you repent, you too will all
perish.”
Disaster ought to prompt us to re
evaluate our own standing before
our Maker. Jesus Himself underwent
unthinkable suffering so the rest of
us could have our sins forgiven, find
peace with God and enter life in
eternity, regardless how many or few
our years be in this earthly
realm.
Psalm 90 is an ancient prayer in
the Old Testament, attributed to
Moses, which reflects on this life’s
transience. Seventy years or 80
“quickly pass, and we fly away”. In
view of our frailty, fear, awe, and
reverence are due God. “Teach us to
number our days aright, that we may
gain a heart of wisdom...Satisfy us in
the morning with your unfailing
love, that we may sing for joy and be
glad all our days.”
Numbering our days needn’t
involve a slip of paper, just making
room for God in our consciousness.
Start each day by thanking Him for it
as a gift; be satisfied by His
unfailing love rather than anticipated
business transactions. That way each
What's a
Spiritual
Gift For?
day will reveal its own joy and
gladness.
When I went to a time
management course, an important
lesson involved dividing our
responsibilities into a grid of four
squares according to whether they
were important / not important, and
urgent I not urgent. Much of our time
is swallowed up by the ‘tyranny of
the urgent’ - tasks that are not really
important. Catastrophes remind us to
allocate more of our brief remaining
time to what is really important,
whether or not it’s urgent. Keep
awareness and awe of God in the
“important” category; don’t let it be
crowded out. Then life will be more
satisfying, no matter how long or
short it is.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
"WeCctMted cfM, to cmw
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23
ryn Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels
I CH 9:30 a.m.11:15a.m.
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
Pfea&e foot cto fat
Sunday, October 23
Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m.
«•
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Men's Life
The first meeting will
be held on October 24
at 8 p.m. at the home of
Murray & Doreen Siertsema.
We will study "Walking
Together in Faith". These
meetings will be held every
second and fourth Monday
of the month and are for men
of all ages. Phone 523-9248
for more information.
N
10:30 a.m. - Blyth Public School
SATURDAY, OCT. 22,9:30 am
VIDEO SERIES for PARENTS
"Essentials of Discipline"
Focus on the Family - CALL FOR INFO
Mon. 6:45 pm Junior Girls Gr. 4-6
Fri. 7 pm Youth Group Gr. 6+
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 523-4848
http://getlivingwater.org
f Donation-based
PASTORAL COUNSELLING
• Marriage
• Family
\ • Budgeting
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
SINGASONK^OF Auburn - 526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
Sunday 9:30 a.m.Family Bible Hour
Tuesday
^^Wednesday
10:30 a.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Morning Worship Service
Evening Worship Service
Jr. & Sr. Youth Bible Study
Olympians
Adult Bible Study
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Sunday., Clcto-Aei 23
11 :OO am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 887.-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, October 23
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Blyth United Church
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, October 23
Worship Service, Sunday School & Nursery
11:00 a.m.
Minister: Rev. Robin McGauley
Office: 523-4224
Blyth United Church is a welcoming community of faith.
We celebrate God's presence through worship and study, and through
responding to the needs and gifts of each other.
Sunday 9:45
Sanctuary
ChurC£
"The Church is not a
Building,
It is People Touching
People"
- Power Hour Circus
(Ring of Relationships)
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Mid-week Bible Studies
a.m.
Phone: 440-8379 ~ 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 523-4590