The Citizen, 2018-03-22, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018.
From the Minister's Study
The Good News will not change: Ireland
By Charmila Ireland
Melville Presbyterian Church,
Brussels
It only takes us seven seconds to
judge someone. Or so says Linda
Blair, a clinical psychologist and
author of Straight Talking. She
claims, "It's not a conscious process,
so we don't even realize we're doing
it - but it goes back to our primitive
roots when we couldn't afford to
make wrong decisions:'
We make snap judgments based on
a person's outfit, hairstyle, skin
colour, smile, height, handshake and
more. Whether you're interviewing
someone for a job or meeting for a
first date, I'm sure you'll agree that a
good first impression matters. It
always has and it likely always will.
This coming Sunday is Palm
Sunday. Churches around the globe
will be waving palm branches and
celebrating the moment recounted in
all four Gospels when Jesus rode
into Jerusalem on a colt. This was
his big entrance - his time to make
an impression on many of the people
who were in Jerusalem. The city was
teeming with people, all come to
celebrate Passover. There were
thousands of pilgrims, filling the city
to overflowing.
We read of those large crowds
lining the streets. The people placed
their cloaks on the colt for Jesus to
sit on, and then on the road for him
to ride over. They cut branches from
the trees and spread them on the road
as well. They followed him,
shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of
David!" "Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna
in the highest!"
What glorious cries! Imagine
being there, swept up in the
excitement. Cheering for Jesus.
Proclaiming to all who ask, and
likely many who don't, "This is
Jesus, the prophet, from Nazareth in
Galilee."
There is energy in crowds.
Excitement. You want to move,
shout, cheer and clap. Jesus' first
impression on the people of
Jerusalem was certainly spectacular.
And yet, it was not spectacular
because of anything in particular
Jesus was doing. The Bible only says
that he was riding in to town. It
doesn't talk about him trying to hype
up the crowd. He wasn't raising his
arms to accept their accolades. It
doesn't mention Jesus waving, like
the Queen does. He merely enters
the city.
For this large crowd, that was
enough. It wasn't about what Jesus
was doing in that moment, but about
who he was. He was riding into
Jerusalem on a colt, as predicted in
Zechariah 9:9. It was an affirmation
of his kingship and Messianic
royalty. Riding in on a colt
connected the words of the Jewish
prophets with the present reality. His
grand entrance said, without saying
a word at all, that the Messiah had
come.
I doubt that alone would have been
enough to get the people so excited
though. I imagine that at least a few
people each day rode into Jerusalem
on a colt. Surely not everyone got
BRUSSELS
United Church
Ce(e6tcate Pain S'\
Sunday, March 25, 2018 at 11:00
the same treatment.
No, surely not. There is another
dimension - the word of mouth that
preceded Jesus. The people had
heard so much about the miracles he
had performed that they cheered.
They knew about Lazarus, being
brought back to life. They heard of
the blind having their sight restored
and the lame walking again. They
knew that Jesus had fed 5,000 people
with only a few loaves and fish. To
them, I imagine that Jesus
represented health, abundance, and
hope, much as he does for us today.
And so they cheered him.
Between riding in on a colt and the
Join us throughout the week for Holy Week Service
Good Friday Service is 9:30 am
Hillary MacDonald (905) 246-7386
Macdonald.hillary@gmail.com
Everyone welcome
'You're _31m iteoi 7o loin IIs 311 Worship
SUNDAY, MARCH 25 - PALM SUND
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Palm Sunday Walk
7:00 pm Palm Sunday - Blyth United
7:30 pm Last Supper / Footwashing - Trinity AnglicC
8:00 pm Garden / Arrest - Blyth CRC 1\.
8:30 pm Trial / Crucifixion - Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
4, • Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
O Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
You're'nvited
10, to come worsht p
with us ;004
Sunday, March 25
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School)
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers
during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Winaham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph's
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
stories of his many miracles, it is no
wonder the people cried out in
celebration of the one who comes in
the name of the Lord.
But how fickle we are?
Remember, it only takes us seven
seconds to judge someone. And it
only took a week for the people to
turn on Jesus.
Palm Sunday is the week before
Easter. The beginning of Holy Week.
We should never forget that these
shouts of praise mark the beginning
of Jesus' journey to the cross. The
joyous cries of "Hosanna" had
scarcely finished ringing in the
streets of Jerusalem when the angry
shouts of "Crucify him!" take their
place. There is energy in crowds.
Anger. You want to defeat, destroy
and tear down.
Let this be a lesson to us about the
fickleness of our own nature. How
Continued on page 19
The Regional Ministry of Hope
Everyone Welcome!
Trinity Anglican Church St. John's Anglican Church
BLYTH BRUSSELS
c. 9:15 am 11:15am
MINISTRY OFFICE
519-357-4883
Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector
® email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca
The Regional Ministry of Hope
COME WORSHIP WITH USI
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, MARCH 25
We invite you to join our church fami,y in:
Worship & Sunday School - 11 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
Come out and meet our new minister, Rev. Charmila Ireland
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Nursery care available
519-887-6687
Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
Sunday, March 25
9:30 a.m.
P*LLM-101_,\DA•
Palm Sunday
We celebrate Jesus' entry
into Jerusalem and
enter our way
into Holy Week
Hillary MacDonald
OFFICE: 519-523-4224
EASTER WEEK
MARCH 25 MARCH 30 APRIL 1
PALMGOOD AEASTER
SUNDAY'FRIDAY %� SUNDAY
HURO..H PE
* Free Good Friday Breakfast from 8 -10am at the Blyth Memorial Hall
* Good Friday Service @ 11am
* Palm Sunday Service 9am & 11am featuring the Tyndale University College
Worship Team
huronchapel.com