Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-12-05, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013. By Pastor Perry Chuipka St. John’s and Trinity Anglican Churches On Christmas Eve, a husband thought it would be nice to buy his wife a little gift for the next day. Always short of money, he thought long and hard about what the present might be. He remembered that said she was expecting something from the new cosmetic shop in town. So the husband went to the new cosmetic store. When he saw one of the girl clerks, he asked the girl, “How about some perfume?” She showed him a bottle costing $150. “Too expensive,” muttered Nathan. The young lady returned with a smaller bottle for $75. “Oh dear,” he groused, “still far too much.” Growing rather annoyed at the man, the salesgirl brought out a tiny $25 bottle and offered it to him. The man became really agitated, “What I mean,” he whined, “is I’d like to see something really cheap.” So the sales girl reached for something from underneath the counter and then handed him a mirror. The man’s wife expected something for Christmas from the cosmetic shop. What do you expect this Christmas? Is it a special gift, is it a special relative come to visit or is it something else? During the Advent season which began Sunday, Dec. 1, we in the church start preparing for Christmas by being open to unexpected gifts from God. A man named Paul received a new car from this brother as a pre- Christmas present. On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked. Paul nodded, “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy looked astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you anything? Gosh I wish …” He hesitated, and Paul knew what he was going to wish. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels. “I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.” Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively added, “Would you like a ride in my new car?” “Oh, yes, I’d love that!” After a short ride the urchin turned, and with his eyes aglow said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?” Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop right where those steps are?” the boys asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little polio-crippled brother. He sat down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up right against him and pointed to the car. “There she is Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent and someday I’m gonna give you one just like it; then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.” Paul got out and lifted the little lad into the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. Sometimes, when we least expect it grace comes to us, calling out to us to embrace it because it will change us and others around us. Now, I would call it God’s grace but you might call it something else. Whatever you call it, it doesn’t come from you or me. As I think of Mary and Joseph on that very first Christmas Eve. I think of all those things they didn’t expect to happen to them. A longer journey to Bethlehem than they expected, through rough and desolate terrain. The birth of their child in an unexpected place and the list of unexpected things that goes on for them after the birth. And yet, it was through many of those unexpected things that they came to the conclusion that it all happened by the grace of God. How can we be part of that unexpected grace this Christmas. Well it is not something we can make, buy or wrap up with a nice bow this Christmas. Instead it is something that we need to keep our eyes and ears open to discover in our daily lives. Think for a moment in your own life. For some of us, this has not been a good year, some may have had health issues, unemployment or layoffs, the death of a loved one. And there are many other issues that people deal with on a daily basis. Grace may lead you to seeing someone in need, calling out to you to reach out to them. Grace could also be asking you to receive help from someone else. As I think of this Advent season of preparation for Christmas, I am reminded that what I call. God’s Grace is constantly around us asking us to simply embrace it, participate in it, not for our own sake, but for something that is much bigger than you and me. Let me return to the husband who was trying to find the gift for his wife who expected something from the cosmetic shop. Expectations are sometimes difficult to fulfill. Sometimes the best gifts can be unexpected ones. The unexpected gifts that come by grace are genuine, filled with love and often changes our lives and the life of others forever. But it requires some preparation. Some sacrifice. Some risk. Some attentiveness to the environment around us in our daily lives. Look around you and really see and hear what is going on. You will find the Grace that is there. Hope this Advent season prepares you for Christmas with some unexpected surprises of Grace and that you take the time to be open to them, participate in them and let them transform you and others around you. You will help change the world for someone else and in the process transform yourself. Happy Advent season. 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 Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 Nursery care available 519-887-9017 Worship & Sunday School - 10 am Coffee & Snacks - 11 am We invite you to join our church family in: 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. BRUSSELS Sandra Cable, Pastor Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am Sunday School Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship United Church Dec. 8 ~ Advent II - White Gift Sunday. Please bring gifts for the Christmas Bureau Dec. 15 ~ Advent III - Communion Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 December 8 ~ Second Sunday in Advent Welcome back Rev. Gary Clark “Christmas Scrooged my Holidays” and Communion Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m. PASTOR Sandra Cable, DLM MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, December 8 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 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 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Special CHRISTMAS BLEND! HOPE PEACE FAITH 2X FRIENDSHIP at Huron Chapel 10:30 am Sundays huronchapel.com getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School Tuesday - Wingham Bible Study 7:30 pm Thursday - Youth Group at CRC 7:30 pm Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Dec. 8: Isaiah 11:1-10 Evangelical Missionary Church “A Model for Mr. Mayor” Dec. 15, 7:30 pm at Blyth CRC: Community Christmas Service! From the Minister’s StudyBe open to unexpected gifts this Advent