Te Church Speaks fwmp Sponsored by the WHITBY MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION By THE REV. STANLEY ISHERWOOD Rector St. John's Anglican Church In the days before there was any "church" to speak there were stili God's chosen people, the Hebrews, who were cailed upon to proclaim the "word of the Lord". At one point in their history they were in captivity in Babylon, Jerusalem, their holy city, was in ruins, but stiil the command came to them, "Speak" 1 In complete frustration the people answered, "What shail we say? " 'At the very best, they feit, they were being punished by their God, and at the worst He had deserted them. What message did they have? What word dld they have to share? The answer came back loud, clear and simple, "This 15 the message - 'Behold your Godi ' This, ini tt simplest formi is the message which the Church still has. It is our message when we are in periods of disarray and retreat; it is our message Speaking to You By SCOTT FENNELL, MP f Mu> IaJ(PC Ontario) O)Ver the past few weeks, I have had the oppor- tunity to attend many functions throughout the riding. I have had a very enjoyable time seeing many new faces and making new friends, and I hope to make many more over the summer months. This past weekerld, I participated in the 5th wed- ding anmiversary celebrations of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Post, the parents of Gerry Emm, Whitby Town Councillor. Family and friends were ail in- vited to share i thie most happy occasion. Earier that saine day, I attended the opening ceremomies for the celebration of Canada Day and Ontario's Bi-Centenmial in Pickering. A short time later I had a marvelous time in Uxbridge where I joied i the celebrations for Spring Water Days. Later that evening, Cecil and I topped the day off by attendig the Bi-Centennial Bail in Uxbridge. It cer- tainly was a pleasant way to end a very busy day. The previous week I was invited by Bfi and Moily Newman, te, a pork barbeque at Mount Sinai Church i Balsam. Naturaily the food was delileous, and the company most enjoyable. Withln the past two weeks, I also attended the graduation ceremonies at Denis O'Connor High School and Harwood Secondary School. While at the ceremonles for the students of Denis O'Connor High School, I had the pleasure of the company of Marcel Bruneile, Whtby Town Counclllor. The folowig week at the graduation ceremomies at Harwood Secondary School, I had the chance te meet the new principal, Ray Newton, who wiil be replacig Frank' Finley. Filey told me that he would be the new principal of O'Neil Collegiate and Vocational Institute i Oshawa. I am sure that, Newton and Flnley are looking forward te, their new positions, and I would like to take this opportunity to offer my congratulations te them both.' I certainly was most impressed with the quality of students who graduated this year, and without a doubt, their parents must be very proud of them. I was struck with the reailty that we must- do ail that in times of prosperlty and advance. At this very time there are In Wltby churches which are suf- ferig the embarrassment of decline as there are those, 1 suppose, sufferlng an embarrassment of riches. The message from each must be the same, "Behold your Godi" 1 T7his ie the reason why Christians from a variety of denomiations should be able, and often are able, to work together. If we are saying the same thing we should be able to say it in unison!1 This je the reason why the clergy in Whitby meeting in consultation with representatives of the Dr. Joseph O. Ruddy Hospital are agreed on the need for a chaplain at the hospital to speak for us ail. Our message ie the same, 1 Behold your Godi1" This is the reason why Christian lay people from different denominations are able to gather together to study God's word. (I know of a number of such groups - if you would like to join one or can teil me about one please phone WB8- 182.) Christians are rarely cailed to sing the praises of individual congregations, denomiations or, for that matter, the Church universal. We are called to introduce people to our Lord Jesus Christ, to en- courage them to be Hie disciples, and to work together for the furtherance of Hic kingdom here on earth. What goes for congregations je equaily applicable to individuals. It may weil be when God seeme to be farthest from you that you can speak most clearly to others about Him, or that they can hear most clearly what you have to say. In any case, the message je the came; never, "See what a wonderful person I am", but alwaye, "Behold your God"!1 WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY il, 1984, PAGE 27 SINCE 1917 HOW TO BREAK UP A HAPPY MARRIAGE IN ONE EASY LESSON You just stop buying your fine clothlng and furnishings at MURRAY JOHNSTON'S (OSHAWA) and you wili be in deep trouble. But you can always make the littie lady happy by stocking up at MURRAY JOHNSTON'S 1½ YEARLY SALE of menps wear. Sale starts Mid July at M.J.'s - 8 North Simcoe Street. Murray John ston (OSHAWA) Limited 8SIMCOE ST. N. 725-4511 Downtowfl Osh%ýaw --77- - '7ý