HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-01-07, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016.
Church outreach committee to host movie on Jan. 9
It was a full house at
Londesborough United Church on
Dec. 24 for their annual Christmas
Eve festival of scriptures, prayers
and carols. As the service unfolded
that evening the story of the first
Christmas was told, a story a
Christian never tires of hearing. The
last candle in the advent wreath was
lit at the beginning of the service, the
Christ candle.
Rev. Fletcher read the scriptures
from Micah and Isaiah of the Old
Testament that foretold the coming
of the Christ child and the events
surrounding the birth from The
Gospels of the New Testament.
Carols were sung by the
congregation that told the story in
song.
Mark and Laurel Mitchell sang a
beautiful duet that combined two
familiar seasonal tunes, "Little
Drummer Boy" and "Peace on
Earth". The senior choir offered
"That Holy Night" and "A Child of
Hope".
It's certain everyone went out into
the night warm with the love that
came to earth that holy night.
On Sunday, Dec. 27 Rev. Fletcher
continued his story of Joseph and
Mary, following the journey, with
"Settling In". In contrast with the
Christmases we experience, that first
Christmas was quiet and reverent. As
we recover from the noise and chaos
however, one feeling from the two is
A big win
The Blyth Brussels Crusaders Bantam B Girls posted a 3-
1 win over the Wilmot Wolverines in Blyth on Sunday. (Vicky
Bremner photo)
Seasonal events
mark holiday for
Christian school
Principal Nick Geleynse
We're deep into the school year,
and things are hopping at Huron
Christian School.
Obviously, preparing for and
presenting our Christmas program
took up a lot of our time leading up
to the Christmas break. "Mayhem in
Bethlehem" was a re -telling of the
first century Christmas story, but this
time through the eyes and lenses of a
21st -century television newsteam,
such as those at CNN, Fox News or
CBC.
What resulted was a hilarious
adventure as the Nosy News
Network (NNN) looked into the
major events surrounding Christ's
birth. Our matinee and evening
presentations were both well
attended, as the whole student body
participated either as actors or choir
members.
Our last day before the holidays is
always a highlight as students gather
in the gym in a cozy setting of
candle and Christmas lights, for a
retelling of the Christmas story
interspersed by some of their
favourite carols. After that they go
into the community in smaller
groups, to local seniors' homes and
businesses in town, sharing the joy
of Christmas through caroling.
The resulting smiles on people's
faces showed that the students made
a connection through their singing.
Hot chocolate and a pizza lunch at
school were followed by an hour of
family skating at the arena. What a
perfect way to start the Christmas
celebrations!
the same, that warm glow of family
and love.
Forty days after the birth Christ's
parents settled in to life as a family
and visited the temple in Jerusalem
for Jesus' presentation to the priest.
This visit also proclaimed Mary's
cleanliness following the birth. In
the court of the women, the family
was greeted by a joyful Simeon who
had been promised by God that he
would see the promised Saviour
before he died. Also there they met
Anna, the prophetess, who
proclaimed to all she met that Jesus
was the long awaited Messiah.
The young family was
overwhelmed by the visit to the
temple and ready to begin a new life
away from the limelight. Luke 2: 22-
40 is the record of this part of the
Christmas story.
The senior choir sang "The Virgin
Mary Had a Baby Boy" and
"Redeeming Love".
During the children's time Rev.
Fletcher explained the origins of
Boxing Day. In the days when the
privileged class had large estates and
plenty of servants, their help was
expected to wait on them on
Christmas Day. The next day the
servants were given the day off to
spend with their own families and
took a large box along with them full
of food, candy and gifts from their
employers.
As Terry explained to the children
whenever you celebrate Christmas
being with family is the important
thing.
The outreach committee of
Londesborough United invited the
community to a movie night on Jan.
9. A light meal will be served at
6:30 p.m. followed by the movie,
The Fourth Wiseman starring Martin
Sheen.
The official board of
Londesborough United will meet on
FROM LONDESBORO
Resolve to help others be better
Each year as we take down the old
calendar and put up a new one
thoughts go to the making of
resolutions. These resolutions seem
to centre on how to make our own
lives better. I read an editorial
recently that suggested a better
resolution would be to improve the
lives of others; sort of the same
philosophy as 'the magic penny'
which comes back to you. So I offer
these thoughts:
"The more you give, the more you
get. The more you laugh, the less
you fret;
The more you do unselfishly, the
more you live abundantly.
The more of everything you share,
the more you'll always have to
spare.
The more you love, the more
you'll find that life is good and
friends are kind.
For only what we give away
enriches us from day to day"
Sadly after more than a year of
ill health, Martien Wilts passed
away on Dec. 23. He will be
missed by all who knew him. In
that time Martin's great faith had
sustained him through each new
struggle. In this fight as in the rest
of his life his children and
grandchildren remember him as an
incredible role model.
Martien came to Canada from
Holland as a 15 -year-old boy
in 1955 when his parents emigrated
here. Janie Verburg caught his
eye and they married in 1964 and
eventually settled on a farm on
the 13th of Hullett. Martien always
enjoyed meeting and talking
to people and was a faithful member
of the Blyth Christian Reformed
Church.
His family was most important to
Martien and his grandchildren will
miss his sense of humour and his
good natured teasing. Martien was
pleased to be well enough to take
part in the wedding of his first
grandchild, Vanessa, this past
summer. Clinton Public Hospital
graciously accommodated Martien's
family for their final Christmas
together on Dec. 13.
Both Martien and Janie enjoyed
being a part of village life since
their move here nearly 10 years ago.
He was a regular at Wednesday
morning's coffee and conversation at
Londesborough United, sometimes
arriving on his scooter. And
picking up the mail meant time for
chatting.
Please keep Janie and their
children in your prayers as they
grieve their loss.
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 31st
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the
community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot
and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win,
please feel free to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
Blyth Brussels
& area & area
I feel she/he deserves this award because
Nomination Deadline July 31, 2016.
Name and phone number of nominator