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The Citizen, 1993-12-22, Page 33MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Carolyn McAvoy 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service We welcome you to come and worship with us. HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 December 24 — Candlelight Service - 7:30 p.m. December 26 — Family Bible Hour - 10 a.m. Morning Service -11 a.m. No Evening Service Wednesday - 8 p.m. — Prayer & Bible Study Friday - 7:30 p.m. — Youth - Pastor Bob Lewis, 526-7441 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH--523-9233 Christmas Day 10 a.m. Guest Speaker Robert Datema Special Music Everyone Welcome Sunday - Guest Ministers 10 a.m. - Rev. Vandermeer 2:30 p.m. - Rev. Dirk Miedema The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20" Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday Faith 20 5:30 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V. AY Visitors Welcome Meeldiair accessible BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Join together in the celebration of Christ's birth. Christmas Eve & Communion Service 7:30 p.m. Rev. Jock Tolmay Phone 523-4224 Merry Christmas God Bless You in 1994 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA St. John's Anglican Church - Brussels Trinity Church - Blyth Dec. 24 H.E.Christmas Eve Service 8:00 p.m. St. John's - Brussels 11:00 p.m. - Trinity - Blyth Dec. 25 Christmas Day H.E. B.C.P. 11:15 a.m. St. John's Dec. 26 Christmas 1 M.P. Blyth - 9:30 a.m. Brussels - 11:15 a.m. Jan. 2, 1994 Holy Baptism H.E. Rector, The Rev. E. Paul Acton, 887-9273 III ,1 • BRUSSELS MENNONITE Pastor Tom Warner 887-6388 FELLOWSHIP Elder John Baan Welcomes You! 887-6967 Friday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Service - 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26: WORSHIP SERVICE - 9:25 a.m. Sunday School For All Ages - 10: 30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31: New Year's Eve Skating at Arena from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Everyone Welcome! Sunday, Jan. 2: WORSHIP SERVICE - 9:25 a.m. Sunday School For All Ages - 10:30 a.m. It IR BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313 Christmas Eve Family Service 7:30 p.m. - Friday, December 24 Family Worship Services 11:00 a.m. - Sunday, December 26 11:00 a.m. - Sunday, January 2 Ethel United Church Christmas Eve Family Service 7:30 p.m. Brussels United Church Family Worship Services 9:30 a.m. - Sunday, December 26 9:30 a.m. - Sunday, January 2 Nowell, Nowell, bor n is the King of Israel THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1993. PAGE 33. From the Minister's Study Peace on earth, goodwill to men takes work By Rev. Cameron McMillan Brussels and Ethel United Churches "Peace on earth, goodwill to men" is the message that the angels brought to the shepherds on the night that Jesus was born. Peace and good will have been constant themes of the Christmas season since that first Christmas day. Our welcome mats are out as we receive many visitors in our homes. We make every effort to be hospitable, to show them every courtesy, to make them happy and give them a good time. Smiles are on everyone's faces as we exchange greetings over this holiday season. We wish that the good, happy Greeters on Dec. 19 at Blyth Christian Reformed Church were Bert and Brendan Sjaarda. Ushers were Rob Wilts and Kendra Shortreed. The fourth Advent candle was lit by Ed and Connie DeJong and family. The theme was "The Sign" with scripture from Isaiah 7: 10-16 and Matthew 1: 18-25. The hymn was "0 Come Immanuel." Mr. Rob Datema led the morning worship service with the sermon "The Peril of Shutting Jesus Out". The scripture reading came from John 1: 1-18 while the text was from John 1: 11-12 and Luke 2: 7. These passages deal with Mary and Joseph being turned away from Choir sings The morning service at Auburn Missionary Church was augmented by the choir which sang a very appropriate selection for the season. Their song "Once in Royal David's City" was enjoyed by all. Pastor Came's message was "The Confirmation of Christmas" with scripture from Matthew 1: 18-25. Some try to take Christ from Christmas but it will never happen as Christ has been the focus for nearly 2,000 years, he said. Christmas confirms Christ. In the celebration of what the Bible says it is very disturbing to the agnostic. Christmas confirms prophecy. Isaiah wrote this prophecy 800 years before it was fulfilled and he prophesies about Bethlehem although Bethlehem was a very insignificant village but here the Saviour was born. Christmas confirms preaching. The Bible says, "Unto you is born this day a Saviour". Those who want to put aside Christmas get disturbed when it is 'unto you' because Christ is the answer. Christmas confirms the promise of His coming. Some are mocking about His coming again but don't be surprised when time is no more. It has come to pass once and it will come again. The fourth Advent candle was lit by Harold Peper with Wally Peper reading a selection. Scotts greet Greeters at Blyth United Church on Dec. 19 were Dorothy and Laurie Scott. Ushers were Anthony deBoer, Ross Clark, Jason Stryker, and Nathan Shannon. Laura Meier and Rachel deBoer lit the candles. Cheryl Cronin led in carol sing- song before the service with Phyllis Boak at the piano. Rev. Tolmay opened the service with Call to Worship. "Hail to the Lord's Anointed" was sung followed by Invocation and Continued on page 3 7 feelings that Christmas brings could last longer, that peace and goodwill could continue throughout the new year. Yet we know that there is a tremendous amount of violence going on in our world and a lot of criticism and ill will is expressed by many people. We know that it will not be long before some of this meanness and bad temperedness starts spreading over into our lives. It takes work, hard effort, to bring peace and goodwill to the world. It does not come easily or automatically. We must believe that people are basically good and honest, that they deserve to have gifts and goodwill shown to them. We must be willing to forgive the inn because there was no room for them. Some people talk critically of the innkeeper for turning them away, Mr. Datema said while others feel sympathy for the innkeeper for being deprived of giving the Saviour a place of comfort for His birth. Mr. Datema asked the congregation if we have ever felt guilty of shutting God out of our hearts? There are many circumstances in which we become involved when we don't feel God beside us as we should. There are times when we are guilty of looking forward more to the fellowship we experience with our friends after the church service than the actual joy of worshipping God. There are also times during worship service when minds wander. Jesus waits patiently for us to let him into our hearts, Mr. Datema said, but we also have to let him into our lives, we can't just hide him away in a room in our heart and let him out when we need him. Mr. Datema said instead of letting Jesus have one room in your heart, let him have the deed to our life. The second service was the candlelight community service. Greeters were Mery and Gay Datema. mistakes, to overlook discourtesies. It is a good thing that Christmas comes along once a year and makes us adopt an attitude of peace and goodwill. It makes for a kinder, gentler world for all to live in. If it happens often enough, perhaps we will change ourselves and become a more peaceful people showing goodwill to everyone. One Christmas Eve, during World War I, the firing of guns in the trenches stopped. The soldiers decided to spend some time celebrating Christmas. They sang carols to one another. They tossed out presents into the shell craters of "no man's land" that separated the two sides. Finally, they climbed out of the trenches to pick the presents This worship service was a joint effort of the Auburn Missionary Church, Blyth Church of God, Blyth Christian Reformed Church, Blyth Trinity Anglican Church, St. Michael's Catholic Church and the United Churches of Auburn, Blyth and Londesboro. The service began with Rev. Kaine leading the singing of "0 Come All Ye Faithful" and "Angels from the Realms of Glory". Rev. Paul Ross read the Christmas Story from Luke 2: 1-20. The community choir sang a number of beautiful Christmas songs. Rev. Jock Tolmay gave the sermon "Declare these things". The scriptures were from Isaiah 9: 2, 6, 7 and Titus 2: 1-14. In Titus 2, verse 11-12 it says the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches to say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions. After the service the congrega- tion enjoyed refreshments and good fellowship. On Christmas Day they look forward to Mr. Rob Datema leading the worship service at 10 a.m. Then on Sunday the morning service will be lead by Rev. VanderMeer of Exeter and the afternoon service by Rev. Miedma of Clinton. up. Cautiously, they moved over towards the enemy, shook hands, exchanged Christmas greetings, photos, stories of home and families. For a brief moment there was peace on earth and goodwill to men in the midst of the chaos of war. Peace and goodwill can come. It takes risk and effort to achieve it. Sjaardas greet at Blyth CRC You are Wetcome at the BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults 11 - 12:15 - Morning Worship Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth