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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-12-24, Page 33Holiday Hours: Closed Tuesday, Dec. 24 noon Closed Wednesday, Dec. 25 Closed Thursday, Dec. 26 Closed Tuesday, Dec. 31 noon Closed Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003 Regular Winter Hours Jan 2 - Mar. 31 — 8 am - 5 pm Saturday 8 - 12 noon LARGE SELECTION OF NEW TOYS IN STOCK. OLD STOCK TOYS 25% OFF (Limited Quantity) McGavin FARM EQUIPMENT & FARM SUPPLY LTD. Walton, Ont. (519) 887-6365 Fax (519) 887-6381 mcgavins@wightman.ca To All Our Valued Customers: Thank you for your Business! All of us at, McGavin's would like to thank our customers for your patronage and in making our 66th year a success. We look forward to serving you in the new year and wish you and your families all the best this holiday season. Merry Christmas, Taking the test Blyth power skaters were put through their paces Dec. 12 as they were tested for the end of the first 10-week session. (Photo submitted) Blyth Dan & Donna Taylor, Lorna & Deb 523-4210 The family & staff of McDonald's Home Hardware Brussels 887-6277 HAPPY HOLIDAYS i. 7— • 1.1 sag ' r•to, two _ 1-1Pc'dr,_71[1[A1 1 3E] •191••r ••••• Aas 41. Mitt IlilittlIM111100111101111011 I FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS „won O. • 0101 aro •011Whialril. In the spirit of the season, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy holiday filled with lots of good food, good friends and good news. We feel fortunate to have such good friends like you. THE CITIZEN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2002. PAGE 33 Minister gives his response to arguments Continued from page 32 commercial than religious purposes. And we- are still living with the consequences. What is my own personal response to these arguments against Christmas? I, too, am burdened by the commercialism and consumerism of Christmas. Two months of advertising jingles, two months of watching hundreds of Santas parade in shopping malls, two months of guilt because I don't want to spend any more money. Two months of resistance to commercialism takes its toll on enthusiasm, and leads to apathy and indifference. It also leads to isolationism, and seeking a holiday away from the stress and strain of capitalistic America. However, I would not want our culture to abandon Christmas. Not to have any Christmas festivities is to lose the rich tapestry of human experience. From earliest times of human existence, people around the world have worked on solving all sorts of problems, how to make a living, how to find meaning in existence, how to improve human relationships. The Christmas story, with its focus on the family, and the spirit of sharing and goodwill, often comes as an antidote to the roughness of daily living. The spirit of the holidays, now central to millions worldwide, are a blend of beliefs and tales rooted far back in the dawn of human society. In countries where winter is always a drab experience, anything that heightens the dullness of sky and snow, is a welcome event. Some believe Dec. 25 was chosen because of its proximity to the winter solstice, and the lengthening of the daylight. The ancients were closer to the natural rhythms of the natural world and the position of Christmas in December still reflects Did You Know ? -Merry Christmas" 6s just the beginning. Take a look at how people around the world express the joyous sentiments of the season: Spanish — Feliz Navidad Italian — Buone Feste Natilizie German Froehliche Weihnachten Portuguese — Boas Festas Greek — Kala Christouyenna Indonesian — Selamat Hari Natal To all our friends both far and near, 4.: "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year' May Santa deliver all you've hoped for, k 4 Like good friends, good health, And good times galore! Thank you for your patronage • this past year HOLLY'S Hair and Tanning Sa(on r4 • total family haircare ..0** er. • gift certificates available 887-8989 Holly Dauphin 480 Turnberry St., Brussels e earlier hopes for warmth and light. We cannot argue against the great human value of having any reason to celebrate at the beginning of winter. Further, not to have Christmas is to lose the artistic contribution of some of the finest Christian talents. There would be no great Renaissance paintings of the Holy Family, no Hallelujah Handel, no carols, no Christmas pageants, no Christmas drama and literature. In spite of the commzrcialism of the season, there is a tremendous amount of energy released at Christmas devoted to the elevation of Christian culture to its highest levels. Especially music. 116f 14 114 11 Sacred music is one of the great beneficiaries of the Christmas season. Finally, I think we can find a quiet centre in December in which we can honour the Babe of Bethlehem in our own, private way. Perhaps it can happen during a worship service. Perhaps it can happen in your private space. Perhaps it will happen as you listen to a carol. This year, let me suggest you focus on the word, Emmanuel, God with us. It is in that single word you should find the true meaning of Christmas. We are not alone. We live in God's World. Emmanuel — God with us. We wish you all a most wonderful holiday and a very happy new year ITICKERY Family Restaurant & Truck Stop Auburn 526-7759 JUST WHAT THE To all our dear customers go our wishes for DOCTOR ORDERED'1, `,ry healthy, happy si'aso ,I. ,9„ AllOT•HEEARY I