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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-12-22, Page 33THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016. PAGE 33. White Christmas an upside of recent wild weather PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 Are you tired of winter yet? I know, I know. It was a nasty week. But we knew it was coming and we have weathered these winters before. And you have to admit the evergreen trees are beautiful with their snowy frosting. Also it will be a white Christmas which is what everyone likes. The weather had an effect on mail delivery as well. Thursday's mail arrived on Friday but I'm not sure the driver did the rural route that day. And Friday's mail came with Monday's mail making it a very busy day. Mondays in the month of December are always busy. There will be no mail delivery on Dec. 26 - 27 or Jan. 2 and Radford's will be on even shorter staff and hours the last week of the year. You might want to pick up your mail in the morning just to be sure. All of us are familiar with the fun song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", in which the 12 days of Choir sings Christmas anthems For a Christmas Sunday the congregation at Londesborough United Church on Dec. 18 was small, most likely because of the blustery weather. However, the senior choir warmed every heart with their Christmas anthems, "This Is Christmas Grace" and "Ring the Christmas Bells". Rev. Fletcher lit the candle of love in the Advent wreath. In his conversation with the children at the front of the sanctuary, Rev. Fletcher revealed that as a small child he had a collection of toy soldiers with which he spent many hours of play. He expressed a desire to have a fort to use with the toys. One Christmas season his parents collected some small wooden boxes from the grocer and used them to make him a fort. They painted it appropriately and he treasured that gift because he knew it had been given with love. Likewise, Terry reminded the children that in this season of Advent, we are all waiting to receive God's gift of love, the Christ Child. Rev. Fletcher had included in the morning's order of service this quote by Kahlil Gibran. "You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give". The message to the adults was titled "The Gift of Love". Supporting scripture passages were the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 and the visit of the shepherds to the Baby as found in Luke 2:5-18.The responsive psalm was verses from Psalm 89. Rev. Fletcher spoke of how people spend a great deal of time each year searching for the perfect gifts to give. Perfect according to the ads that abound. However, we all recognize that many times these gifts are not as well received as we might hope. For all these gifts could Continued on page 34 Christmas end with Epiphany on Jan. 6, the date celebrated as the time when the wise men visited the Christ Child. Some religious persuasions wait until Epiphany to exchange gifts. John Henry Hopkins Jr., an American author and composer, was born to an Episcopalian family in 1820 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A bachelor in 1857 he enjoyed spending the holidays with his nieces and nephews. That year as they waited for their Jan. 6 gift exchange, the story in Matthew of the visit of the Magi, inspired him to write a new hymn for the children, "We Three Kings of Orient Are". His words recount the story of the three Kings and their journey to pay homage to the Christ Child. The next time you sing this hymn, think about how Hopkins fit his words to a tune that mimics the rhythmic gait of a camel caravan. The author tells of the three special gifts the wise men presented the baby. Gold is a gift fit for a descendant of King David. Frankincense is a symbol of prayer and Christ as the Son of God. Christ's sacrifice on the cross for all of mankind is symbolized by the gift of myrrh. John Hopkins gave a gift to all Christians when he gifted his family. I found a neat little prayer, obviously written by a child, I'd like Have a merry and safe holiday season from Barney (Don) & Linda Stewart & family Queen Street, Blyth 519-523-4840 FROM LONDESBORO to share with you: "Thank you, God for sending Jesus down to earth so he could tell us all about You and show us how to live. He was the very best Christmas present we ever got." I wish all readers of this weekly space a great holiday season with family and friends and leave this year with this thought: "Your Merry Christmas may depend on what others do for you but your Happy New Year depends on what you do for others." White Christmas (concert) Huron Christian School's Christmas concert was pushed back due to the weather, however dress rehearsals continued. Shown practicing are, standing, from left: Abby Wynja, Anneliese Nyman, Allyson Den Hollander, Abigail Boersma and Ashley Goudy. Kneeling are Maddie Veenstra and Kyla Vandendool. (Photo submitted) 'Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and the very hest for the coming year. 42309 Morris Road, Brussels, ON NOG 1H0 519-887-8253 Office brettandlaura@plantpioneer.com In The Holiday MOOD In the town, or on the farm, we hope the holiday really mooves you! With our thanks and to one and all. Merry Christmas! Don Sholdice LIVESTOCK Order buyer of fat cattle, stockers and feeders Box 389, Brussels Cell 519-357-5135 • Fax 519-887-6836 Merry Christmas from all of us Wishing you peace and joy both now and in the coming year Residential & Commercial Dumpster Rental & Service R.R. #1 41403 Londesboro Road • Londesboro, ON NOM 2H0 Jim Anderson 519-523-4894 Cell 519-440-6007 Jason Fleet: CeII 519-525-9473