HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-12-06, Page 24By Rev. Sandra YuleDuff’s Walton, Bluevale UnitedChurchesAdvent is from the Latin word
advenio, meaning “to come” and it is
the holy season of the Christian
church, the period of expectant
waiting and preparation for the
celebration of the Nativity of Christ.
It is also in a sense the Christian
New Year or in more theological
terms the beginning of the Western
Christian liturgical year. We have
come full circle over the past 365
days and are starting another cycle
of promise and fulfillment.
The first Sunday of Advent (last
Sunday) marked the beginning ofour hopes and expectations withregard to the coming of Christ. So just what exactly do we hope
for and expect at this time of year?
Well I can truly only speak for
myself at this time of year. First and
foremost I hope that I keep my focus
on the nativity story. That I walk
with Mary and Joseph in their fear
and uncertainty because if I can
relate more fully to their preparation
then I am able to relate the birth of
Jesus more fully to the needs and
fears of others not just my own.
Second if I prepare my soul and
mind for the coming of Jesus then I
can experience the Holy in a varietyof ordinary and extra-ordinary ways. Third I hope that this is the Adventwhere things are once again made
right and God’s rule is everywhere.
Sometimes we hope for things in
our lives to change and we forget
that we have to take some of the
steps as well. We want God to fix all
of our problems (personal and
worldly) but we forget that we have
to continue to be faithful and to
search for what God wants us to do
as well!
At Advent time we remember
God’s promise of a Saviour but we
also have to remember that we are
called to help this promise come truehere and now by being giving,generous and loving people. Theworld will not change without our
help. All the prayers for peace and
songs of hope in celestial beings
won’t change the world without
commitment to follow through on
our good intentions at this time of
year.
At the beginning of Advent we are
brought face to face with therealization that the world is far lessthan God wishes it to be. Yet at thesame time we are able to rejoice
because we are given opportunity
once again to make things right.
So let us not just proclaim the
good news of God’s love for the
world at this time of year but let
us live the good news now and
forever.
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2007.
Dec. 6 marks the 18th anniversary
of the Montreal Massacre and the
community is invited to the annual
vigil honouring the 14 women who
were slain at Ecole Polytechnique in
Montreal.
On Dec. 6, 1989, Marc Lepine
entered the University of Montreal
engineering school where he carried
out a shooting rampage directed at
women. He separated the men from
the women and, declaring his hatred
for feminists, killed Geneviève
Bergeron, 21; Hélène Colgan, 23;
Nathalie Croteau, 23; Barbara
Daigneault, 22; Anne-Marie
Edward, 21; Maud Haviernick, 29;
Barbara Maria Klucznik, 31; Maryse
Laganière, 25; Maryse Leclair, 23;
Anne-Marie Lemay, 27; Sonia
Pelletier, 23; Michèle Richard, 21;
Annie St-Arneault, 23 and Annie
Turcotte, 21.
As an annual commemoration, the
public is invited to gather at
Courthouse Park in Goderich, Dec. 6
at 7 p.m. for a short vigil. At that
time, a man will tie a white ribbon
around a tree as a symbolic gesture
of the stance many men have taken
against violence against women. The
names of the 14 women will also be
read aloud. Refreshments will be
served at Women Today of Huron,
45 West St., following the vigil.
Dec. 6 also marks the National
Day of Remembrance and Action on
Violence Against Women in Canada.
Established in 1991 by the
Parliament of Canada, this day
marks the anniversary of the
murders of these young women in
Montreal.
As well as commemorating the 14
young women whose lives ended in
an act of gender-based violence that
shocked the nation, Dec. 6
represents an opportunity for
Canadians to reflect on the
phenomenon of violence against
women in our society. It is also an
opportunity to consider the women
and girls for whom violence is a
daily reality, and to remember those
who have died as a result of gender-
based violence.
And finally, it is a day on which
communities can consider concrete
actions to eliminate all forms of
violence against women and
girls.
On this day we mourn and commit
ourselves to working for change.
For further information, call
Women Today of Huron at 519-524-
6767 or 1-888-547-3478.
Goderich vigil honours
Montreal Massacre victims
From the Minister’s Study‘Let us live the good news now and forever’
at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Sunday, December 9
Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388
God loves you! Your proof is in the manger.
Come celebrate the
Advent of Jesus Christ
9:30 am Worship Service
(includes communion)
10:45 am Coffee Break
11:00 am Sunday School
Noon Fellowship Potluck Meal
7:30 pm Brussels Community
Christmas Chorale
Concert at Duff’s United
Church, Walton
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, December 9
White Gift Sunday
Ethel United Church
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n i ty Church of God
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
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,
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N
D
I
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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!
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Sunday School
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - Olympians (JK to Grade 6)
7:00 p.m. - Youth and Adult Bible Study
HURON CHAPEL
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 519-526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, December 9
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Worship Service and Sunday School - 11 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Sandy Morris
Sunday, December 9
All Welcome
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
1st & 3rd Mondays - Women at the Well
Tuesdays - Wingham Small Group
Youth: Mondays - Senior
- Fridays - Junior
“Fruit or Fire?”
John the Baptist
Roasts the
Complacent?
Dec. 9: Mt. 3:1-12
Friday - FREE SKATE at Arena 3-4 pm
Evangelical Missionary Church