HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-12-15, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2016. PAGE 17.
From the Minister's Study
Jesus is our light for the Christmas season
By Pastor Andrew Versteeg
Brussels Community Bible
Chapel
One of the blessings that we enjoy
as a family is to be able to live close
to our church meeting place. We can
walk to church and these days it is
especially nice to walk through the
streets of our neighbourhood in the
evening to see the Christmas lights.
Sometimes we go around the block
the long way to see how others have
decorated their houses for the
season.
In the northern hemisphere,
Christmas and short days go
together, so the lights of Christmas
help to lift us up a bit during this
time of longer darkness.
In the scriptures, the theme of light
is interwoven through the Christmas
narrative. Immediately, we think
about the shepherds in the field
watching over their flocks during the
night. The sudden appearance of an
angel announcing the birth of Jesus
and the glory of the Lord that
radiated from that angel gave them
quite a fright. What a glorious sight
it must have been to see the choir of
angels in the night sky, praising God
and singing, "glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace among
men with whom He is pleased"
(Luke 2:14).
We think also of the wise men
from the east following a bright star
to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem
leading them to the baby Jesus.
A few days ago the boys and I
were outside doing a few things and
before we came inside we plugged in
the lights, but we could barely tell
they were on because it was still
light. When the darkness came the
lights stood out wonderfully in all
their colour.
When Jesus came into the world
He came as a light into the darkness.
His light is His glory, His purity, His
holiness and His coming into the
world is described as a bright light
C'firl�ti IrleIrelltwfiip
Dec. 18 - Ps.80; Rom. 1
4'h Sunday of Advent - "Love"
"Obstacles,
Obligation,
& Obedience"
Dec. 24, 7:00 pm - CHRISTMAS
EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Evangelical Missionary Church
Small Group • Tuesdays 7:30 pm at G&M Lisle's, Wingham
Women's Ministry • 1st Wed, each month, 7:00 pm
Youth Group • Wed. 6:30.8:30 pm at Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn
10:30 a.m. — Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
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entering the darkness. John 1:5 says,
"The Light shines in the darkness
and the darkness could not put it
out"
Approximately 700 years before
the birth of Jesus, Isaiah the prophet,
led by the Lord, prophesied about
the coming of Jesus into the world
and this is what he said: "The people
who walk in darkness will see a
great light; those who live in a dark
land, the Light will shine on them."
Now who are those who walk in
darkness? And what is darkness in
these passages?
Those who walk in darkness are
all of us. Darkness is a reference to
sin and spiritual blindness, and the
Scriptures teach us that this is the
state that we all find ourselves in.
Jesus is the Light because He is pure
and without sin and He has come to
shine that light upon us in order to
rescue us from our darkness.
Jesus' coming into the world is
described like a sunrise that dispels
the dark of night and ushers in a new
day. This light is for any who will
welcome it. When the angel
appeared to the shepherds he came
to them with this good news: "I
bring you good news of great joy
which will be for all the people; for
today in the city of David there
has been born for you a Saviour,
who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10 -
1 1).
How can we appreciate the Light
of Jesus this Christmas? It begins by
comprehending our darkness. We
can never see the glory of His light
unless we see it from the perspective
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BLYTH
Trinity
6. 9:15 am
Church Office
519-357-4883
BRUSSELS
St. John's
11:15 am
Church Office
519-887-6862
Everyone Welcome!
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
BRUSSELS
Via: United Church
Sunday, December 18 - Advent IV
All Ages Christmas Pageant,
Communion, Guitar Group at 10:00 a.m.
Congregational Meeting after worship followed by refreshments
December 17 - Bake Sale 10 a.m. - noon, refreshments available
December 22 -- Community Carol Sing at 7 p.m.
6
Everyone welcome
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. - 226-963-1175
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
We invite you to join our church family in:
Worship & Sunday School - 11 am
Coffee & Snacks following the service
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:00 p.m.
Christmas play, music and carols
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
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, December 18th
ADVENT 4
Christmas Pageant &
Guitar Choir
Jamilv-pciendi
ePvciatlnaa Experience
with Ca'tda, eart•dee&s and ec aPtiek
Saturday, December 24
Family Fun Event with cookie decorating and hot chocolate at 7:15 p.m.
Join us for a candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 8:00 p.m
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MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224
of our darkness. Our darkness is our
sin that separates us from God, but
Jesus came to dispel that darkness
and give us His light. His purpose
for coming was dying on a cross to
take our judgment and provide for us
forgiveness of sin.
Jesus came as a gift to be received,
and of those who received Him the
Bible says: "He rescued us from the
domain of darkness, and transferred
us to the kingdom of His beloved
Son, in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins."
gat...
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519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service Christmas Program
at 7:30 pm
r i
BLYTH CHRISTIAN .�
REFORMED CHURCH °l
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
66,
Vueddeed egmffattatv edee eitaftee
You're Invited
to come worsh p
with us
Sunday, December 18
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
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
U
WRAP
CHR,IST%IAS
at
HURON CHAPEL
this season
Every Sunday in Auburn
@ 10:30am
huronchapel.com
finding the true meaning of christmas together
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
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph's
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.