HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-12-06, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2000.
From the Minister’s Study
Remember what Christmas is really about
By Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Blyth Christian Reformed Church
“Christmas is for children,” I heard
on a radio broadcast the other day.
The implication was that it is geared
primarily to children, that its aim is
to make it a real fun time for them. It
implied that you have to be a child to
really enjoy Christmas.
That set me to thinking. Is that
what our Christmas celebration has
come down to: A fun time for chil
dren? Is it just the greatest social
event of the year for little ones? Is it
mostly about Santa Claus, decorated
floats, light displays, and receiving
gifts? Is that the primary focus now
of the Christmas season?
That fun-time focus, of course,
Blyth United
marks Advent
It was the First Sunday of Advent,
Hope at Blyth United Church on
Dec. 3. Greeters were Harvey and
Deanna Snell. Ushers were Ruth Uyl
and Avon and Dane Corneil. Lynda
Lentz was the organist. Cathy
Badley looked after nursery.
Rick, Anne, Heather and Jeff
Elliott lit the Advent candle. Deb
Hakkers read the gospel lesson:
Luke 21: 25-36.
The sermon was entitled Hope for
the Desolate, Strength to Stand. Rev.
Ernest Dow talked about how hope
is precious, that without it, it is hard
to go on. He spoke of how people in
towns and institutions sometimes
feel there is little hope. The same
was true when Jerusalem was under
siege during Jeremiah’s time.
Rev. Dow talked of how Advent
means “coming”. He told the congre
gation that at this time “not only do
we look back to Jesus’ first coming
as a baby in weakness and humility
at Bethlehem, we also look ahead to
his second coming in power and
glory to save those who are eagerly
waiting for him.” Rev. Dow talked
about what the response for hope
will be; to know the promise, to find
your boast in God, rather than
changeables, to watch and pray, or
wean oneself away from this world’s
weights
Brenda Brooks read the Minute
For Missions. Harvey Snell, John
Uyl, Avon and Dane Corneil collect
ed the offering.
Next Sunday is White Gift Sunday
and the Sunday School concert.
UCW looks at
in an aging stress
The Blyth UCW held its meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. with
20 present for potluck.
Candace Howson and Dianne
Ferguson, co-presidents opened the
meeting with a skit about potluck
and using the gifts God has given.
Bonnie Shannon and Susan
Howson were in charge of worship.
Several Christmas hymns were
sung, accompanied by Mrs. Howson
and her harpsichord. Nancy Lusk
has offered to help Lois vanVIiet
with flowers in the church.
Emily Phillips gave a message on
stress management. Stress comes
from pressure or tension. Inevitable
signs are disrupted sleep patterns,
trembling hands and eating disor
ders. People should decide on their
own priorities and say no to every
thing else, she said. “Yesterday is
gone, let it go. Tomorrow is yet to
come. Live one day at a time. Look
after your own emotional, spiritual
and physical well being.”
Emily was thanked for a thought
provoking and timely presentation.
serves commercial interests quite
well. It means good business for
them. People invest a lot of money in
this celebration. Many of them are
willing to go into debt for it, just so
they can please, their children with
expensive gifts. Their children must
have some new toys to show to their
friends.
And for families who can’t afford
it, we have all kinds of campaigns to
gather gifts so that their children too
may have “a good Christmas.” After
all, “Christmas is for children.”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not
against children having a lot of fun at
Christmas time. I’m not against chil
dren receiving gifts either. Christmas
is a wonderful time for children.
But Christmas isn’t just for chil
dren. And its primary focus should
never be just having a fun time.
I can’t forget what the angel said to
the shepherds the night Jesus was
bom: “I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for all the peo
ple.”
Christmas is still the feast that cel
ebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. And
that should always remain the pri
mary focus, not just theoretically but
also practically. Christians should
not let the secular world highjack the
feast of Christ’s birth and reduce it to
merely a fun time. The birth of Jesus
is “the reason for the season.” And
we should never let the world forget
that this spells good news for all peo
ple.
That’s why those who celebrate
Christmas best may be the people
who spend their Christmas Day
reaching out to people in need with
some material gifts and with a clear
message about God’s great gift to a
spiritually needy world. Christmas,
after all, is about God’s love for peo
ple in need. It celebrates God’s gift
of salvation.
It’s up to Christians to make sure
that the world can never forget what
Christmas is really ail about, that
Christmas is not just for children. It
celebrates good news for all who
believe in Jesus as the one who was
bom to save the world.
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-7555
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-9017
you are. Welcome at the
BLYTH COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School - for ages 3 to adult
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday morning 10 a.m.
Wednesday evening 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 308 Blyth Rd., Blyth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
cue uielcame, this Sunday
DECEMBER 10- ADVENT 2
MORNING PRAYER
Trinity, Blyth St. John's,
9:30 a.m. Brussels
Wheelchair accessible 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Nancy Beale - Rector - 887-9273
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
9:30 a.m.
- Sunday School
- Belgrave Service
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
You are welcome at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m.Christian Education
ddaent Scheme:
Sly (Ln&tfivt, ffi&ad
Elder: Don Procter 357-3557
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___________
Join us at Cornerstone Bible Fellowship - Ethel for an evening of car
oling and special music on Sunday, December 10th at 7:30 p.m.
Special guests ~ New Dawn Trio and Bob Heywood
Sunday 9:30 a.m.- Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m.■ Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m.• Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.• Family Night
Friday 7:30 p.m.• Youth
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
December 10
Ethel United Church
9:30 am
Worship Service and Sunday School
Brussels United Church
11:00 am
Worship Service and Sunday School
All are welcome to come and. worship with us
Blyth United Church
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Come Worship The Lord With Us
Sundays -11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Dec. 10 White Gift Service;
Sunday School Christmas Concert
Minister ~ Rev. Ernest Dow
ALL ARE WELCOME
523-4224
uiM&hip Sunday
...to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:17b
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
6
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
fBiuMeU Community
.6
(sponsored by the Brussels Ministerial)
Sunday, December 10
j rxjl 7:30 p,m-
Brussels United Church
Come and enjoy our church choirs
Everyone Welcome!
A/7
M E R R Y CH R