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12 -Oro oWeI ieWddaMarh, 9 Kendal Column Winter certainly is still with us, alter a short warn speil that got us thinking about getting out a lighter jacket we dropped back in to the deep freeze. It is 'the strong winds that make it feel so much colder, from inside with the bright sun it looks a lot warrner, although one minute it is so clear out and the next minute you can barely see the road. Oh well only three weeks more until the calendar says spring. There was an excellent turn out at Church this Sunday and the Junior Choir is getting bigger each Sunday, and they sound wonderful and add so much to the Service. Rev. Black lit the Christ Candle, and welcomed everyone to Worship. The gathering hymns were, "To Mv Father's House, We've A Storv To Tell To The Nations, I'd Rather Have Jesus". David drew our attention to the announcenents and to the slate of nanes listed to fill the vacancies on the Board. A short Congregational meeting will be held following the Service. The opening hymn was, "Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross'. The Invitation to Worship given and the Prayer of Approach repeated. The hymn, "Praise My Soul", was sung followed by the Prayer of Self-Examination and the Words of Assurance. The choir sang the anthem, "Give Me Oil For Mv Lamp". David then called all the children to the front, he told them and the Congregations all about the changes that have been taking place in our Church, The new nursery is coming along so well, the new cupboards and counters, the kitchen should be back in working order by next weekend. Davi then went on to say that we are talking this week about Lent and what it means. Lent is 40 days, not counting Sundays. Lent is an old English word, meaning Spring. Lent is a time when we remember how muc God loves us. Spring is a time when colours start showing brightly. Isn't it wonderful God made the world in colours? He could have made it all in black and white. The first thing He did was give us night and day, darkness and brighlness. He made us, in different colours, each one is different, even identical twins are not exactly the same even though they may appear to be. The children's hymn was,"I'm Someone Special". The younger children went out to Sunday School, the older boys and girls now stay and take part in the Service. The Scripture readings were from 2nd. Timothy 4:13, Ephesians 6: 10-20. The Sermon was titled, "If Only". One of the saddest sentences of all Christian literature, "Demas fell in love with this present world, and bas deserted me and gone to Thessalonica." Who was Demas? He is only mentioned 3 times in the Bible, in the New Testament, all in the letters of Paul. Paul, refers to him as a fellow worker in* 2 letters and in the 3rd. in 2nd Timothy, Paul bemoans the fact that, "Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thess alonica:. We know that be worked with Paul, that he travelled with Paul, so we know that he was a Christian. Something happened, we know that he left the mission. We do not know why. He left and went to Thessalonica which was a seaport, a place of business, a place of sin and pleasures of the flesh. Demas rnay have left for any of these, or he rnay have left because he didh't like the changes taking place, he may have had a difference of opinion with Paul. We only know that he left. Something took him away fronm the faith, something or someone became more important to Dema than the faith be had earlier lived and proclaimed. To follow in the footsteps of Demas is to drift away from the faith. Once Demas had been part of a church, a worshipping community. There be regularly heard the good news that Jesus had died for him, that through Christian faith, new hope and new strength were available. There he was renewed and inspired by other Christians like himself, each wrestling with fears and doubts. That is what a Christian community is for, to enable people to pray, laugh, and learn together. It is a place to share fellowship and to support one another through the crisis of life. Some people want to just go away, be by themselves at times of strife, but these are the times when they should seek out the fellowship of other believers, it is when they need the reassurance that only Christian believers can give. Sometimes during stress or hardship, people will say, I can't go to Church right now, I'm too ashamed, 1 hurt too much, or I an1oo tired. This is the lime thal they most need the fellowship and teaching of the church. lere as nowhere else, they will be given the armour of God to enable them to face and overcorne the forces of evil which assail them. I don't know what happened to Demas. "He has deserted me." But I can't help but wonder what difference it might have made if only Demas had read the passage fron Paul's letter to the Ephesians before deciding to leave. Ephesians 6:10-20. The hymn "When Voices Are Confusing", was sung followed by a taped anthem "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"! The Prayer of Thankfulness was given. The closing hymn was, "Lead On, O King Eternal. Don't forget the Time and Talent Auction, Newtonville Church, Sat. Mar./16th. Help out the Clarington East Food Bank, it is in urgent need of, canned vegetables, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, Jello, plain rice, fruit juices and canned meats, coffee. Personal hygiene items and pet food are also needed. Every little bit will help out someone that is having tough times making ends meet. It is really amazing how something, perhaps said in jest, like coming to the Church for breakfast and Bible study at "6.30 am" took hold and from it bas come a renewed core of, people who are accomplishing nuch. It was only the time, 6.30 am, that I meant might have been said in jest, but 6.30 arn it is and the same group are there every Sat. and certainly seern to be enjoying it. Because of this group there is a renewed feeling in the Church, you' can feel it every Sunday as you enter. The Wed. night group of young parents is also having a good effect, it is so nice to see them in Church with their little ones. Soon the nursery will be ready and then the parents will be able to relax and enjoy the Sermon without worry for the little ones, there will be an experienced person to care for them in a clean, warm equipped nursery. Each generation has worked for their Church for Stress And Anxiety continued from page 11 these problems and are better equipped to diagnose and help. There are also a lot of different ways a person can help themselves such as relaxation techniques, diet, meditation, and quite often sharing experiences with someone who has also experienced what you have and can truly relate and empathize will help. A support group for people who have or have had anxiety/panic attacks or their own enjoyment and to leave something solid for the next generation. These young people are hopefully not going to be any different, they want a good, solid foundation for their children. Our congregation may not be large but we are growing and we are healthy and certainly are working together to make sure this Church will be here for years to come . "Successful folks don,t just entertain thoughts; they put them to work." related phobias is being started in Orono. The first meeting is March 19, 1996 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Orono United Church on the corner of Church and Park. For further information, please call Parn at 983-5438. Recycle This -Newspaper If User Fees Got Out 0f Hcnc j m BALLS RADIO & T.V. REPAIR REPAIRS TO MOST MAKES STEREOS, COLOUR AND B&W T.V.s AND V.C.R.s P.O. Box 27 EL.R. 2, Orono, Ont. (905) 983-5721