HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-01-11, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2007.By Rev. Ethel Miner ClareKnox United Church, BelgraveThe telephone rang. “Well, Christmas is finally overfor another year! It has been a week
since we celebrated New Year’s and
our Eastern Orthodox friends had
their Christmas last Sunday. The
lights are down, decorations stored,
and all that Christmas stuff is gone
from the mall. What’s new in your
world?”
It was the voice of a friend who
lives in another province. She had
called to chat.
Long after I hung up the phone her
words “Christmas is over” echoed in
my thinking. ‘NO CHRISTMAS IS
NOT OVER’ I wanted to shout
across the miles.
Well, maybe all the partying is
over. Certainly carols aren’t being
played on radio stations any longer.
And all those timers that turned onlights when dusk arrived have beendisconnected. But no, Christmas is not over. Thethings of Christmas that really
matter are still here.
What about the hope that came
into the world in the tiny baby that
first Christmas long ago. Emmanuel,
God-with-us, the one who came to
show us how we should live and
love, continues to be with us if we
open our eyes and look around.
Think about the husband who
cooks and cares for his invalid wife,
and the love that shows in his eyes
when he talks to her. What about the
young teen who has been given a
life-changing diagnosis, but is
determined to live each day to the
fullest and who still dares to dream a
future. What about the couple, who
dearly want children, but because of
a genetic problem are making plansto welcome an adopted child. Internationally we see hope aswell. There is great hope in theannouncement from the Night of A
Thousand Dinners people who tell
us land mines will be cleared sooner
than anticipated. Hope is found in
the hands of young people who are
able to go to school because people
care and donated money to make this
possible. We can see hope in the eyes
of hungry people whenever a
Canadian Foodgrains bag of grain is
opened across the oceans.
You know, you and I can bring that
hope to people right here in our area.
We can offer a word of
encouragement to one who is
struggling; a shoulder to cry on to
another who is grieving; time to a
harried parent. Someone who is
lonely might appreciate a dinner
invitation. An aged relative mightlike a phone call or note keepinghim/her up to date with family news. I believe whenever we give hope,that Christmas is not over.
The words of Jim Strathdee’s
modern carol come to mind:
When the song of the angels isstilled,when the star in the sky is gone,when the kings and the shepherdshave found their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun.
May God’s people be blessed as
they bring hope to others in 2007.
From the Minister’s StudyWhat matters about Christmas still here
Belated sympathies go out to
Betty Anne Chisholm and Alex of
Auburn on the passing of her father
earlier in December. Oscar Schefter
passed away on Dec. 12 in his 86th
year. He was residing in Lucknow at
the time of his death. Along with
other family, Mr. Schefter leaves two
brothers and one sister in the Gorrie,
Wingham area.
The Auburn community also
extends sympathy to the family of
Dorothy Grange. Children are,
Elizabeth (Roderick Singh),
London, Marg (Thomas Morris),
Goderich, Jennifer (Timothy Avery),
Toronto and Shelley (Robert
Worsell) of Auburn. Visitation was
held at McCallum and Palla Funeral
Home and a memorial service was
held at Knox Church, Auburn a
week ago, Friday.
Daughter Jennifer and grandson
Graham provided lovely eulogies
about their mother and grandmother.
On Dec. 18 approximately 30
members of Friends of Ball’s Bridge
met at the home of John and Helen
Moore for a potluck dinner. Great
food and company was enjoyed by
all.
Earlier in the day, a steering
committee including Rebecca
Garrett, Daryl Ball, Warden
Shewfelt and Reeves Bert Dykstra
and Ben VanDiepenbeek met and the
two municipalities declared a
willingness to take over the bridge.
Over 20 of the members met at the
County meeting and were pleased to
see 14 council members vote in
favour of saving the bridge while
five voted against it. There is still a
lot of work to do and the Friends of
Ball’s Bridge are in need of the
continued support from the
community.
The Friends of Ball’s Bridge, have
had visitors from all over Canada,
the U.S. as well as England and
Germany sign the petition for the
bridge. To date there are close to
1,000 signatures on line, as well as
many signatures that have been
collected at the bridge and other
locations.
For more information on the
bridge, you can visit
www.friendsofballsbridge.com
The committee expressed a
particular gratitude toward Judy
David for doing such a wonderful
job on the website as well as to
Rebecca Garrett and Daryl Ball for
all their hard work. They were not
alone and all those on the committee
who have worked so hard to save
Ball’s Bridge are to be commended.
Great work everyone.
I am sorry to report that later that
same day, committee member Bill
Seers had an unfortunate accident
and fractured his ankle. Here’s to a
quick mend.
Wayne and I along with son
Jeffrey and daughter Leah, attended
Myrah Bauer’s fourth birthday in
Clinton on Sunday. Other guests
included Auntie Donna from
London, Emily and Debra Drennan
of Goderich.
Myrah’s mom and dad, (Monica
and Steven Bauer) made sure
everyone was well fed. What little
room we had left, was filled with the
traditional cake and ice cream.
I wouldn’t have thought the stores
had any toys left – but here we were
again. Great fun!
Early evening had Leah and
Jeffrey headed back to their
respective corners of the world and
Pa and I are already finding it pretty
quiet around the ‘ol ponderosa.
FOR ALL AGES
SUNDAY ~ 9:45 to 10:45 am
WORSHIP SERVICE AT 11:00 am
Phone 519-440-8379 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
BB ll yy tt hh CC oo mm mm uu nn ii ttyy CChhuurrcchh ooff GGooddLooking for a Great
Sunday School Experience?
THIS IS IT!
P U P P E T S
S T O R IE S
DRAMAMUSIC
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Sunday, January 14
Ethel United Church
Worship Service & Sunday School
9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 519-887-9273
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Worship Service, Sunday School & Nursery
11:00 a.m.
Sunday, January 14
All Welcome
Guest speaker: Barbara Hicks
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
This week’s message: Peacekeepinggetlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
January 14: 1 Cor. 12:12-30
Evangelical Missionary Church
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Mondays 7:30 pm -Power of a Praying Woman DVD
Fridays 7:30 pm -Youth Group
“The Spirit’s Gifting
-- a Complete
Workout”
Jan. 21: Potluck,
Annual Meeting
The Jan. 8 meeting of the
Walkerburn Club has been
cancelled. The next one will beheld
at Ila Cunningham’s on Feb. 12.
Betty Archambault will be on lunch
and Dorothy Schneider will have the
program.
St. Patrick’s Day favours will be
made for the trays at Clinton
hospital.
On Jan. 15, the Club members
will be meeting at Ball’s Cemetery
at 1:40 p.m. to travel to Restview
Retirement Home to sing old-time
songs. Members are to bring a few
cookies.
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Sunday School
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
Tuesday 7:30 p.m. - Youth Bible Study
Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - Olympians (JK to Grade 6)
7:00 p.m. - Adult Bible Study
Friday 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.- Drop-in Youth Centre
HURON CHAPEL
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 519-526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
& PASTOR DON PLANT JR.
Next Club
meeting
Feb. 12
NEWS
FROM AUBURN
By Debbie
Bauer
Call
529-7820
PEOPLE AROUND
AUBURN