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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-12-02, Page 21HURTING Your support of The Salvation Army will help us to provide support and companionship for those in need in your community. Y R A"' We believe... in healing the hurt PLEASE GIVE 1 888 321 3433 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School 9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Bible Study 2 p.m. Wednesday - Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Thursday - Optimum Wellness Programme We welcome you to come and worship with us. Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Auburn - 526-7555 ASSOCIATE PASTOR - YOUTH - JEREMY SHUART 523-9788 Sunday 8:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11 a.m. 8 p.m. Wednesday 7:30 p.m. Friday 7:30 p.m. - Morning Worship Service - Family Bible Hour - Morning Worship Service - Evening Service - Prayer & Bible Study - Youth --Y-Brussels Mennonite Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Christian Education Pastor Ben Wiebe 887 -6388 Everyone Welcome • BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Come Worship The Lord With Us Sundays - 11:00 a.m. Worship Service & Sunday School Bring your "Mitten Tree gifts to the White Gift Service on December 6 Minister - Rev. Cecil Wittich -21, 4 . ALL ARE WELCOME /' "1".is *G. 523-4224 Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Ethel Communion - 9:45 - 10:30 Family Bible Hour and Sunday School 11:00 - 12:00 Prayer & Bible Study Tuesday 8 p.m. John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no one comes to the Father, but through Me." Everyone Welcome For more information call 887-6665 Level gaze Marina Glanville was at the perfect level to check out the tempting baking offered at the St. Ambrose Catholic Women's League bazaar on Saturday afternoon. (Ashley Gropp photo) 2leadfre iota ao, (o metakip thio, Sunday Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m. Evening Worship Service -. 7:30 p.m. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, His Kingdom will never end. Luke 1:29-33 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest ZAA Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1998. PAGE 21. From the Minister's Study Put Christ back in Christmas By Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest Blyth Christian Reformed Church Once more we have come to the last month of the year. The Grey Cup game is over. Santa Claus parades are mostly done with. Christmas is rapidly approaching. That means a big month for many retailers. And some people may even get a year-end bonus. And, oh yes, we have a birthday celebration coming up. You'd almost forget that in the hubbub of the season. That birthday is supposed to be "the reason for the season." But Santa Claus usually upstages him in most places. You might say that Santa Claus has stolen all the public attention of the One whose birthday we're supposed to celebrate. Oh, we still hear traditional Christmas carols, but for many who sing them, they serve more as folksongs than as songs of adoration. They don't really "adore him, Christ the Lord." Sacred hymns and seasonal songs are often mixed without any realization that they have a very different purpose. Jesus, whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas day, is sometimes no more than "the excuse for the season," for all the special events organized around that time. He's more symbol than reality for many people. He belongs more to pop culture than to religious experience. And he can therefore easily be relegated into the background after some superficial references to him. Christmas has become a party, joined by many people who have little clue in whose honour the party is being held. And if they have a clue, they spend little time honouring him who should be at the centre of the celebration. Yet, he so richly deserves to be on centre stage in the celebration. Not just because it happens to be his birthday, but because he means so much for the world into which he was born. There isn't anyone whose birth comes even close to meaning so much as Jesus' birth did. He was born to save the world! And he did! The significance of his birth lies in what he did with his life. Jesus literally offered himself up to save the world. He preached the good news of the kingdom of God. And he opened that kingdom up for us by making himself the atoning sacrifice for our sins. By that fact, he removed the barrier to entrance into that kingdom for all who embrace him as the Saviour and Lord. Jesus gave himself for us. That's why charitable giving is so appropriate during this season. It honours him more than most other things we may do around this time. It imitates his love. If ever a birthday was worth celebrating, it is the birthday of Jesus. Let's be done with Santa Claus before that day arrives. Let's not get sidetracked from the real meaning of that day. Let's have a real celebration, but keep the One who gave us the reason for it on centre stage. Let's put Christ back into Christmas. 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 THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday DECEMBER 6 - ADVENT 2 MORNING PRAYER Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels Pot Luck & Decorating Decorating Service Service - 5:30 p.m. & Pot Luck - 11:15 a.m. Wheelchair accessible Rev. Nancy Beale 887-9273 BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Rev. Christine Johnson - Minister Church Office 887-6259 Home 887-6540 Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 1998 11:00 a.m. - White Gift Service, Ethel United Church. Potluck Lunch to follow 11:00 a.m. - White Gift Service, Brussels United Church. Potluck Lunch to follow Both congregations: Our white gifts this year go to support the Huron County Christmas Bureau. Ideas for gifts include non- perishable food, new underwear in all sizes, socks, pajamas, sweatshirts and pants (sizes 8-14), blue jeans, toys and money. Please wrap gifts in white paper. Wednesday, Dec. 2 - 6:30 p.m. - UCW Evening Unit - Christmas Potluck. Thursday, Dec. 3 - 7 p.m. - Stewards Saturday. Dec. 5 - 3:30 p.m. - Brussels Untied Church float in Santa Claus Parade Sunday, Dec. 6 - 7:15 p.m. - Youth Group meeting at church COME AND SUPPORT THE CHILDREN OF OUR CHURCH!