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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-12-23, Page 220 Page 6A/Lucknow Sentinel/Wed., December 23 19$7 When all is said and done, it's customers like you who make us proud to be of service. We hope you have the best holiday ever! �.i From all of us a very Merry Christmas Murray's Auto Body "Your Headquarter's For Expert Collision Repairs LUCKNOW General Maintenance, Tires 528-3503 ehristmas... symbol of joy and hope Ifyou notice today, folk go to great expense in wrapping their Christ- mas presents. One said to me, in fact, that he put from five to ten per- cent of his Christmas money on wrappings and boxes. That is quite ex- pensive when it comes to just wrapping presents or putting them in boxes. Then when you get the present, the price of the present does not seem to correspond with the price of the wrapping. When God gave His only Begotten Son to this world, He took common wrappings — swaddling clothes — a manger. According to the prophet Isaiah, He was not the most handsome Man in appearance that ever walk- ed on this earth, for Isaiah said there was no beauty in Him that we should desire Him. It is true, the wrappings were not attractive — just common swaddling clothes — just a manger — just a common house or tabernacle: but no one has ever looked upon and received this Gift in common wrapp- ings but has rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory. In wrapp- ings that seemed to be so common, Goad gave us a Present second to none. He gave HIS BEST, His Only Begotten Son. What a wonderful Christmas Present! Not a Present for a few, but a Present for all -- all can receive and enjoy this marvelous Gift. So wonderful is this Gift that in Him we have all we need. Outside of this Gift there is nothing but disappointment, desolation and death. God wrapped up His heart in common wrappings -- here alone is man's hope of salvation — in Him is all that man can desire or hope to have. This Gift goes far beyond man's expectations, for in Hint is "exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think." — Meredith G. Standley Lucknow Elmer and John Umbach Pharmacy 528-3004 A Christmas message "Thank youNso much for coming with me this evening," Father Mohr told the village lad. "I want to make sure all is ready for the Christmas Eve services tomorrow night. We will try the organ." The boy went to the side of the organ where he pumped the bellows while the organist would play the keys. No sound came from the organ. It had given up. "Christmas Eve tomorrow night. What shall we do?" "I have a guitar," said the lad. "I could play it." "A very good idea," remarked the Reverend. Later that evening he sat in his study thinking. The stars were bright in the sky. They filled him with a sense of peace. It made him think of another night when a babe was born in a manger. He reached for pen and paper and put down words that told how he felt. It was a simple poem that he had mitten, but it expressed his feelings. "I shall go to Arnsdorf," he thought. "There Franz Gruber may help me." He started at once from Oberndorf where his little church was, Arnsdorf two miles away. When he arrived, Franz Gruber ask- ed "What brings you here?" " "You may find it interesting, Franz, that I have writ- ten a new poem and I would like you to hear it." When he had read the poem, he said "Franz, I wonder if you could set this poem to music." "I certainly can try," was the answer. He was moved by the words, the beautiful thoughts in the poem. They seemed to hold, the beauty of the love which the Christ Child had brought to earth. "I'm sure. it will make a good song. Any poem like this derserves the best, and I hope I can do it justice." When the priest had left, to make his way back to Oberndorf, Franz pondered the words. He looked at the shining snow and the brightness of the stars. He read the poem over slowly, and then began to hum - a melody that just seemed to fit the words and the mood of the evening. He sat down and noted the music of the melody : then he wrote in the words of the song. There would be a new carol for the Christmas Eve service at the little church in Oberndorf. And when the time for the service to begin was at hand, all the people were waiting to hear the organ. Instead they heard a guitar and a single voice, that of Franz, surprise them with a song they had never heard before. All the people felt the warmth and love expressed by this simple yet beautiful carol, in their hearts and they said thanks to God who had given such a lofty inspiration to man. It has been sung and played many millions of times since then and still is the. most treasured of carols. Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright. May this Christmas be for all a time of calm, a time of brightness of spirit. This is my prayer for all as I wish everyone a Christmas full of the inner joy -and .peace that only Jesus our Saviour can give. Rev. E.J. Dentinger Pastor Kingsbridge. Lucknow, St. Augustine Joe and Dean Agnew of Agnew Jewellery, Gift & Children's Wear extend their wishes for a /4v4 (�1444012 awe a ?kw eeAvi ent. 1,,,,rir PSS It?""w17.«71': o iM appy alido • Moy you find renewed peace and contentment during this blessed occasion. Thanks, all. stv .. :{ I_'.._'• MacNay's General Store Ltd. AND STAFF AMBERLEY, ONTARIO 395-5305