The Citizen, 1997-12-24, Page 37Minister’s Study
‘Do I need
to wear
a dress?’
By Rev. Cathrine Campbell
Melville, Brussels,
Knox, Belgrave
Presbyterian Churches
A few years ago when I was
preparing for a Christmas Eve
Service I was asked, "Do I need to
wear a dress?" This was from a
lady whose real problem would be
what kind of dress to choose rather
than wearing her one and only
"good dress".
This was an interesting question,
for this is the time when we are
celebrating the birth of a King, the
Lord of Lords. Kings and Queens
are very grand people and we
usually drink we must come to see
them in our best attire to try and
match theirs - in fact our clothing
could be the once-designated
"Sunday Best".
The very pretentious Hyacinth
Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) in
the TV show, Keeping Up
Appearances phones the Lord
Chamberlain's office and asks them
to advise her what the Queen will
be wearing if the Buckets are
invited to a Royal Garden Party for,
as she says, "One has a duty not to
clash with Her Majesty."
We may laugh at Hyacinth but
we are not always that far from her
when appearance is seen to be
much more important than the
event.
And the reality with our King is
quite different. When we look to
Scripture we see that those who
first came to see the marvellous
baby were shepherds who had
come straight from the fields and
flocks. There is no mention of them
stopping to change their clothes.
Not only would they not have
been dressed up they probably
wore an aroma of some pungency.
They came to a stable as they were,
where there were also humblefolk,
Mary and Joseph marvelling at this
new mite of humanity in his
swaddling clothes.
This whole scene in the stable
was certainly not grand but it does
tell you how we must come to our
Lord. It matters not a bit what you
wear to worship. It matters a lot
what you bring to worship.
The shepherds came with joyful
hearts and minds. They were
rejoicing and praising God for what
had been so freely given. All
mankind has been given the
opportunity to come to that same
joyful recognition.
At Christmas, and at all times of
the year, we share that joy and awe
and we are all truly, richly, dressed
in the redeeming love of God made
manifest in Jesus Christ.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24,1997. PAGE 37.
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
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
Christmas Eve Service with Brussels United
at Melville Church at 7:30
Wheelchair accessible
Everyone Welcome * Wheelchair Accessible
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
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister
Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540
December 28, 1998
9:30 a.m. Morning Worship
Ethel
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
Brussels
Wednesday, Dec. 24 - 7:30 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service
with Melville Presbyterian
Wednesday, Dec. 24 - 7:30 p.m. - Christmas Eve Service at Ethel
CHRIST IS COME!
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Rev. Nancy Beale
you are welcome this Sunday
CHRISTMAS EVE - DECEMBER 24
St. John's, Brussels - 7:30 p.m. - Holy Eucharist
Trinity, Blyth - 10:30 p.m. - Holy Eucharist
Wheelchair accessible
<hc Good Betos of Jesus Christ
as the JBcst ITeujs in the World
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
December 24 - 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
December 28 and
January 4
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m. Christian Education
Pastor Ben Wiebe
887-6388 Everyone Welcome
Ring In The New Year With Joy
"...For, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy..."
Luke 2:10
Warm wishes for a
Please join us for worship this Christmas Season
Christmas Morning Service ~ 10 a m.
Sunday, Dec. 28
Morning Service ~ 10 a.m.
Evening Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
New Year's Eve Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
New Year’s Day Service - 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, Jan. 4
Morning Service ~ 10:00 a.m.
Evening Service ~ 7:30 p.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
A Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
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4 11.00 a.m. ~ Morning Worship
l] _ McConnell St., Blyth