The Citizen, 1997-12-17, Page 15THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 17,1S87. PAGE 15.
From the Minister’s Study
Lights! Music! Action!
James H. Came, Senior Pastor
Auburn Evangelical Missionary
Church
Lights! Music! Action! Those of
us who sat in the semi-darkness of
the Bly th Theatre, waiting for the
first performance to begin of
Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames,
would know how to identify with
those shivering shepherds: one
moment the quiet conversation of a
routine evening; the next, all
heaven breaks loose in a cacophony
of sound and dazzling brilliance!
That, for them, was a night to
remember.
They were witnesses to a
wonder. Not just the phenomenon
of angelic visitors, but later, as they
peered into the manger, they beheld
God in a human form: "Emmanuel
- God with us!" What a wonder!
The shepherds seem to have
taken in better stride that wonder
than some in the Christian church
today, who would try to contend
that Jesus is not God and that Mary
was not a virgin! Humanists have
never known how to handle
miracles.
AMY "RUTH” STEWART
Mrs. Amy "Ruth" Stewart of
Blyth passed away on Dec. 7, 1997
in London. She was 71.
Bom in Elma Twp. on March 29,
1926, she was the daugther of the
late Wilfred Cockwell and Olive
Riley.
Mrs. Stewart worked for many
years as a cashier. She was a mem
ber of Blyth United Church and of
the Order of Eastern Star.
She was the dear wife of John
Stewart, who predeceased her in
1987. She will be lovingly remem
bered by her children John and
Mary Lous Stewart of Blyth, Nancy
and John Roe of Atwood, Don and
Linda Stewart of Blyth, Ann and
Joe Hulzebos of Blyth and Ken
Stewart of Blyth. She was the loved
sister of Vivian Whiteoakes of
Markdale, Ross Cockwell of Lis-
towel, Mac Dockwell of Donegal,
Murray Cockwell and Neil Cock
well, both of Atwood. She was the
loving grandmother of 10.
Mrs. Stewart was predeceased by
an infant daughter, Susan, one
brother Percy Cockwell, and a spe
cial aunt, Elsie Robinson.
Order of the Eastern Star, Clinton
Chapter #266 held a memorial ser
vice Tuesday evening.
Funeral services for Mrs. Stewart
were held on Wednesday, Dec. 10
at the Beattie-Falconer Fuenral
Home "Tasker Chapel", Blyth.
Rev. Stephen Huntley officiated.
Pallbearers were Brian Cockwell,
Bruce Cockwell, David Cockwell,
Doug Cockwell, Donald Cockwell
and Dennis Cock well.
Flowerbearers were Charlene
Hulzebos and Pauline Stewart.
Spring interment will be at Blyth
Union Cemetery.
As expressions of sympathy
donations may be made to the Wor
thy Matron Project or the Heart and
Stroke Foundation-Huron Chapter.
JOHN (JACK) MALCOLM
McDonald
John Malcolm McDonald of
Brussels passed away Friday, Dec.
12, 1997 at Braemar Retirement
Centre, Wingham. He was 75.
Mr. McDonald was the dear
father of Paul and Jane Mcdonald,
and John and Merilyn McDonald,
all of Brussels and Larke (Carson
McDonald) Schmitt of Petersburg.
He was the loving grandfather of
Natasha, Heather, Erica, Craig,
Michael and Jennifer McDonald.
He was also survived by three
great-grandchildren.
Mr. McDonald was predeceased
by his parents Duncan and Mabel
(Menzies) McDonald, his brother
Harold, his son Neil and daughter
Gail.
Bom in Provost, AB in 1922,
Jack and his family moved east and
settled in Brussels in 1928. Dune
went into a retail lumber and coal
business. In 1957, Jack bought his
dad out and formed a company
called J. M. McDonald Lumber
Ltd.
Jack married Dorothy Jardine in
1945.
Jack served his community as a
member of the Lions Club and was
interested in golf, flying, and
cottage life.
Recently Jack had been a resident
of Huronlea apartments.
He rested at the Betts Funeral
Home, Brussels from 7 p.m.
Monday. The funeral service was
2 p.m. Tuesday.
Pallbearers were Michael and
Craig McDonald, Mark Farrow,
David and Rick Hodgins and
Murray Pipe.
Flower bearers were Heather,
Natasha, Erica and Jennifer
McDonald.
Rev. Chris Johnson officiated at
the service. Interment was at
Brussels Cemetery.
Donations to the Alzheimer's
Society would be appreciated as
expressions of sympathy.
They were looking not only at
God's Son, however, but at God's
salvation, also: "You shall call His
name Jesus, for He will save His
people from their sins."
A Sunday school class depicted
this aspect of Christ's life when, in
a recent drama, they had the magi
. unwrapping their gifts to discover
that, instead of gold, there was a
hammer, and, instead of
frankincense, a flask of vinegar
and, in the place of myrrh, a spear.
The shepherds were viewing not
only a Son, but a sacrifice. What a
wonder that one might be saved
from both the penalty and the
power of sin!
In addition to being witnesses to
a wonder they were participants in
a privilege. Have you any doubt
that they were among the first
believers? They might have the
distinction of becoming the first
"Christians". Their faith is
discovered in their eager seeking to
prove the truth of the angel's
message and their glad sounding
out of that which they found.
Anyone for whom "heaven comes
down and glory fills his soul," is a
willing witness to that fact.
So, they become partners in the
proclamation. It seems that the
angel and the accompanying choir
that appeared to them were the only
proclaimers of this magnificent
event, so the shepherds assisted
them: "They spread the word
concerning what had been told
them about this child, and all who
heard it were amazed at what the
shepherds said to them."
Some people seem think that
one's religious experience is a
personal and private affair. The
shepherds seem to assert the
opposite. There is something
inherently happy about discovering
God that makes it impossible to
keep it a secret.
I know a truck driver who finds it
difficult to carry on a conversation
because of his shyness. The story
has come to me in recent days that
Bob popped into his player a
religious tape that someone had
Continued on page 18
you are. ‘Welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Special Services for the Christmas Season
Sunday, December 21 - 7:30 p.m.
Community Christmas Service at Memorial Hall -
Wednesday, December 24 - 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
Regular Church Services & Sunday School
every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
/
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
you are welcome this Sunday
DECEMBER 21 - ADVENT 4
Blyth - Holy Eucharist
Brussels - Decorating and Pot Luck Lunch
Rev. Nancy Beale
Trinity, Blyth St. John’s,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
ASSOCIATE PASTOR - YOUTH - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788
Sunday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
8:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
10:00 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
8 p.m. - Evening Service
7:30 p.m. - New Hope Support Group
7:30 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study
7:30 p.m. - Youth
Jesus 3s The 'Reason j'or The Reason
You are welcome
at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Sunday, December 21
Fourth Sunday of Advent
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m. Christian Education
Pastor Ben Wiebe
887-6388 December 24 - 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister
Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540
December 21,1997
Fourth Sunday in Advent - Love
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Morning Worship
Ethel
Morning Worship
Brussels
Sunday, Dec. 21 - 2:00 p.m. - Huronlea Service
Monday, Dec. 22 - 7:30 p.m. - Community Carol Sing-a-long
Wednesday, Dec. 24 - 7:30 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service at
Melville Presbyterian
COME SHARE IN THE JOY OF THE SEASON!
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
7:30 p.m. - Tuesday evening Bible Study
2:00 p.m. - Wednesday afternoon Bible Study
Wheelchair accessible
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
ST. AMBROSE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Christmas Eve Vigil Mass
December 24 ~ 9 p.m.
Carol Singing ~ 8:30 - 9:00 p.m.
New Year's Day
January 1 ~ 9:15 a.m.
Pastor ~ Fr. Ron Paquette
Please join us for worship
this Sunday
Sunday Morning Service * 10 a.m.
"Angels of Christmas" Service
• 7:30 p.m.
at Blyth Memorial Hall
Suddenly a great company of
heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and
saying "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom Jhs favour
rests.
fuhe 2:13 $ 14
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Everyone Welcome * Wheelchair Accessible
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Whaolchair accasalbla