HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-22, Page 40PAGE 40. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011.By Pastor Ernest Dow,
Living Water Christian
Fellowship (EMC), Blyth
Expecting a baby is an exciting
time in life for any couple. One of
my own daughters is expecting to
give birth in February; my daughter-
in-law’s ‘due date’ is in March. So,
of course, there are names to be
picked. One wants to do this
carefully, as it has a habit of sticking
with the person the rest of their life.
(Remember the ballad, “A Boy
Named Sue”?)
I am the youngest of three boys.
My oldest brother got my father’s
primary name as his middle name.
My next-oldest brother got my
father’s secondary name as his
middle name. When I was born, the
supply was exhausted – my parents
really had to start getting creative.
I’m thankful they didn’t choose too
zany a moniker for me (even though
I have had to share it with a certain
Muppet from Sesame Street).
Christmas is about the birth of a
particularly special baby – one
whose name would need to be
chosen with great care. Some seven
centuries before, Isaiah had
prophesied that a child born to a
virgin would be called “Immanuel”,
God-With-Us (Isaiah 7:14). This
most unusual child would represent
Almighty God taking on human
form – hard to imagine as that might
be. This Son would be “the radiance
of God’s glory and the exact
representation of His being...”
(Hebrews 1:3) The One through
whom all things were made would
become flesh and dwell among us,
making visible God’s glory. (John
1:14)
Isaiah went on to prophesy more
about the name of the child who
would become Israel’s ultimate
deliverer: “For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given, and the
government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful
Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Is. 9:6) Each of the terms for this
special Baby merits consideration.
“Wonderful Counsellor” – We
may be intelligent, but none of us is
infinitely wise. We appreciate
guidance from well-meaning
parents, helpful teachers, trusted
spiritual leaders, experienced
experts. What if we could tap
directly into the marvels of divine
wisdom? For that, we can come to
the manger. Dr. Ronald Sisk writes,
“Even if you and I don’t have
anybody else in our lives we can
count on, we can count on Jesus...
He knows you and me so well that
He always tells us the truth. He loves
us so well that He never stops
listening, never gives up caring and
hoping and calling you and me to a
better life. He is always
available...His name is Wonderful
Counsellor.”
“Mighty God” – The Jewish
people in the Hebrew Scriptures
regarded God as the powerful
Creator of the universe, who gave
birth to their nation through a barren
elderly couple (Abraham and Sarah)
and delivered them from slavery in
Egypt by many supernatural
miracles at the Exodus. They looked
for a Messiah who would grant
victory over oppressive enemy
dictators and establish a government
akin to David’s so that peace would
never end (Is. 9:6f). The Child born
to Mary established His credentials
through such great miracles that
people would come from far and
wide to be healed and delivered from
all sorts of physical and spiritual
ailments. And after this Son was
crucified, He “was declared with
power to be the Son of God by His
resurrection from the dead.”
(Romans 1:4)
“Everlasting Father” – while the
preceding phrase emphasizes
Christ’s divine power, these words
highlight His constant care and
oversight in the likeness of a father;
in particular, the One He called our
“Heavenly Father”. Our earthly
parents may be good or leave a lot to
be desired, but they are definitely not
perfect. Yet the Bible promises that
God through Christ can be the
superior ‘father’ we never had:
“Even if my father and mother
abandon me, the Lord will hold me
close.” (Psalm 27:10)
“Prince of Peace” – How much
our planet needs peace today!
Nations collide over treaties to prop
up the Eurozone. The ‘Arab Spring’
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
CHRISTMAS EVE ~ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24
~ Christmas Stories Series, The Grinch
CHRISTMAS DAY ~ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25
~ Christmas Stories Series, It’s A Wonderful Life
getlivingwater.orgPastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill
Saturday, December 24
Christmas Eve Celebration ~ 7:00 pm
Titus 3:1-8
From Glory to the Gutter
-- to Profit You
Participatory Children’s Pageant
Evangelical Missionary Church
No Service Sunday, December 25
Regular Worship January 1, 2012
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:00 p.m.
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services
Holy Eucharist
with Pastor Perry Chuipka
www.nabcom.ca/church
No Services on December 25 at either church
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
Church Office: 519-317-4883
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
New Year’s Day - January 1
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, December 25
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age (mornings only)
Childcare provided for infants and toddlers
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
Chris McMichael 519.482.1644
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24 ~ 7 pm Christmas Eve Service
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25 ~ 11 am Please join us at Brussels United Church
119 John’s Ave., Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor
9:25 a.m.
** Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m.
at 7:00 pm
Come enjoy
candlelight,
beautiful
music and a
wonderful
time
together!
** There will be no Sunday School
December 25th and January 1st
From the Minister’s StudyNaming a baby can make all the difference
Continued on page 44
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25
Christmas Service 10:00 am
No evening service
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31
New Year’s Eve Service 7:30 pm
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Glory To The
Newborn King
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
Saturday, December 24
Ethel United Church
Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 p.m.
No service Christmas morning.
Saturday, December 24
Brussels United Church
Christmas Eve Service at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 25
Christmas morning service at 11:00 a.m.