HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-12-06, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2012. PAGE 23. By Pastor Perry Chuipka
St. John’s and Trinity Anglican
Churches
A friend of mine told me what he
does to help his kids prepare for
Christmas. Every Christmas
morning, when my kids were little, I
read them the nativity story out of
the big family Bible. When my son
was old enough to talk, he asked me
what a stable was. I thought for a
moment how to explain it to him in
terms he could understand, then told
him, “It’s something like your
sister’s room, but without a stereo.”
It’s hard to imagine that Christmas
is only a few weeks away. In Advent,
we prepare for Christmas in many
ways. We decorate our houses, put
up Christmas tree lights, get the tree
out of the box or buy a new live one
and decorate it and the list goes on.
All these ways of preparing help us
to get ready in very practical ways.
And yet, it makes me wonder how I
can prepare my mind for this
meaningful time of the year.
So often, at this time, from the
media and from people we meet, we
hear the same old cliches about
Christ’s birth. It’s almost as if these
old sayings lull our minds into a
trance so that we cruise control our
way through these holidays without
taking much in. Maybe we need to
see and /or hear something different
this year to get us in the Christmas
Spirit.
My wife and I have been singing
in the “Singer Christmas Tree
Choir” for the last five years. We
began practising all this Christmas
music in the first week of
September. As you may imagine, it
is difficult to get in the Christmas
spirit in September. However, there
is one song, entitled, “Where’s the
line to see Jesus” that made me think
a little differently about this season
that we are entering.
As the story goes in the song.
Christmas is approaching, there is
snow falling on the ground. People
are flooding the shopping malls to
buy their presents. There is also the
long Santa line filled with children
laughing and talking about what
they will ask for Christmas when
they talk to the man in the red suit.
Then a small boy who sees the long
line to see Santa Claus, tugs at a
woman’s sweater asking, “Where is
the line to see Jesus?’ The boy
continues to ask, “ Is he here at the
mall? If Christmas time is his
birthday...why don’t we see him
more?” Then he adds, “He was born
for me. I know that Santa Claus
brings me presents but Christ gave
his life for me.” The young woman
looks down to thank the boy for
reminding her of the real meaning of
Christmas, she says, “as I stood in
amazement at his profound message,
I looked down to thank him he was
nowhere to be found. It is as if he
had wings”, comparing the boy to an
angel. Then she remembers his song,
“Where is the line to see Jesus? Is
He here at the store? If Christmas
time is His birthday, Why don’t we
see Him more?
That song has a wonderful
message telling us that the boy saw
the importance of his relationship to
the baby Jesus. He helped me to see
Christmas in a different way.
Maybe the focus of Christmas is
about relationships. Our relationship
with other people, with the planet
Earth, with God. That baby in the
manger needed relationships in
order to live and breath. I wonder if
I see my relationships in that way.
Am I aware of how I need my
relationships because they refresh
me and give me a new perspective
on life? People help me to see that
even though I have changed, gotten a
little older, I need them and they
love me no matter what I have said
or done. Even if I don’t say it out
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.
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 9TH ~ Gift Return For Exchange Only
DECEMBER 16TH ~ Sunday School Christmas Play
& Blue Christmas Service at 7:00 pm
Community Christmas
Choral Concert
involving churches in the Brussels area
Sunday, December 9
at Brussels United Church
at 7:30 pm
Free-will offering will help support the
Ministerial Emergency Fund
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, December 9
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
Huron Chapel
Always A Place For You
Every Sunday@ 10:30am - www.huronchapel.org
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service - Blyth Community
Christmas Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
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
December 9 ~ White Gift Service
December 9 ~ Community Christmas
Choral Concert at 7:30 p.m.
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
Evangelical Missionary Church
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Wingham Bible Study - Tuesdays 7:30 pm
Youth Group - Tuesdays 7:30 pm (at CRC)
Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Dec. 9: Mal. 3:1ff; Php. 1:3ff
“Purity,
Perception, and
Partnership in
the Good News”
7:30 pm
Community Christmas Service
at Blyth CRC
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
From the Minister’s StudyChuipka prepares for Christmas rush
Continued on page 31