HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-12-18, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2008.Rev. Perry ChuipkaTrinity, Blyth; St. John’s,Brussels Anglican ChurchesAs I look out my window I see a
huge amount of snow. This may
depress some of us but it does
makes everything bright and clean.
It is hard to believe that the
Christmas season is upon us again.
As we approach this beautiful time
of the year I hear some say, “ each
Christmas we see more and more
elements of commercialism and less
and less of the true meaning of
Christmas.”
Now that may be true, but I think
the true meaning of anything always
needs a deeper look to see beyond
the superficial image. Take for
instance, Santa Claus. At this time of
year, he is often seen everywhere as
the man in red with a sack of goods
over his back sometimes with a
bottle of coke in his hand.
But is this the real Santa Claus?
Although his roots reach back into
antiquity, the man we think of
Christmas has been refined and
popularized largely through the
media of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Even though his most memorable
features are relatively recent, our
Santa Claus evolved from many
sources over many years; most
notably from the life and deeds
ascribed to St. Nicholas, an early
Christian Bishop in the land of AsiaMinor, now western Turkey.The records of Nicholas’s lifecertainly appear to be, at best, a
mixture of fact and myth, but there
is no denying the impact this revered
figure had on the development of the
Santa Claus tradition. He remains
quite popular in Europe, where there
are more churches named for him
than for any apostle.
Looking at the facts, St Nicholas
was a young man when he became
Bishop of Myra while still in his
teens, earning him the nickname of
Boy Bishop. Through his courage
and generosity, this bishop,
Nicholas, is said to have touched the
lives of many people, saving any
number from famine and despair. He
founded an orphanage and was
known for his love and wonderful
relationship with children.
Nicholas also spent some time in
captivity, imprisoned by the Roman
Empire during a time of religious
persecution. He and others were
finally reprieved by the emperor
Constantine, whose attitude towardsChristianity was softening. Nicholasdied on Dec. 6 in approximatelyA.D. 343; the day is celebrated as St.
Nicholas Day in many European
countries.
St. Nicholas was quite the saint.
No wonder he is still thought of
today.
I still remember the first Christmas
season after my wife and I were
married. On the morning of Dec. 6, I
got out of bed looking to step into
my soft bed slippers. As I put my
first foot into the slipper, I felt some
hard things in it which felt like
rocks.
Boy, was I pleasantly surprised to
find several chocolates which my
wife later told me were put their by
St. Nicholas. Lore had grown up
with this custom of finding treats in
her bed slippers every Dec 6 .
Growing up in North America I
had never heard of this tradition but
as you can well imagine, I learned to
love it. It wasn’t till much later when
From the Minister’s StudyLook beyond superficial
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, December 21
4th Sunday in Advent
Ethel United Church
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Family Services, no Sunday School
Brussels United Church
Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.
Family Services, no Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Monday, December 22
Community Carols at Brussels United ~ Everyone Welcome
Wednesday, December 24
Christmas Eve in the Barn “Bob Alexander’s in Ethel”
(dress accordingly) 5:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service at Brussels United Church 7:00 p.m.
308 Blyth Rd. E.
Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n i ty ChurchofGod
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
I
N
D
I
A
N
A
“The Church
is not a
building,
it is people
touching people
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
- Christian Education
for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Mid-week Bible Studies
See you
Sunday!
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill
Merry Christmas from your Friends at LWCF!
1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm - Women at the Well
Fridays 7:30 pm - Youth Group (at the school)
“The King’s
Startling Arrival”
Matthew
1:18ff, 2:1ff
“From Fear
to Favour:
An Astounding
Announcement”
Luke 1:26ff
W e d n e s d ay,December 24
Christmas Eve Worship
7:00 pm
Worship Service & Sunday School, 10:30 am
S u n d a y,December 21
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
Parish of New Beginnings
Morning Prayer - December 21
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
MELVILLEPRESBYTERIAN CHURCHBRUSSELSSUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Celebrate Jesus,
the Light of the World
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
welcomes you
Sunday, December 21
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m. Coffee Break
11:00 a.m. Children’s Christmas Pageant
“The Heaven’s Declare”
Pastor Brent Kipfer ~ 519-887-6388
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments to follow service
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, December 21
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
2 to 11 years of age
Childcare provided for infants and toddlers
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact:
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
December 21
Worship Service and
Sunday School ~ 11:00 a.m.
Christmas Eve
Candlelight
Service
Wednesday,
December 24th
7:30 pm
Huron Chapel E.M.C.
119 John’s Ave.,
Auburn
You and your family
are warmly welcomed
to join in this
very special
Christmas Eve service.
PASTOR DAVID WOOD
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School & Small Groups
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
Christmas Fellowship Luncheon
No Evening Service
Upcoming Events...
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
7:30 p.m.
Everyone is warmly welcomed!
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