The Citizen, 2004-12-16, Page 191Vater
arithan Telltasfiip
10:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship
& Sunday School
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848
www.getlivingwater.org
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Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
December 19
11:00 a.m. - Special Music by the
Junior & Senior Choirs
9:30 a.m. - Sunday Belgrave Service
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
December 24 - 7:30 pm
150th Anniversary
Christmas Eve Service •
Come celebrate
the advent of Jesus Christ
with Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
41i:1250 Princess Street, Brussels
Sunday, December 19
Worship 9:30 a.m.
Coffee Break 10:45 a.m.
11 a.m. Children's Christmas Program
Presenting: What can a Baby do?
Pastor Brent Kipfer 887-6388
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH -OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
Sunday, December 19
Ethel United Church
9:30 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Brussels United Church
11:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Sunday School
Advent Waiting in Hope, Peace and Joy
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, December 19
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Sunday School
Christmas Concert
Weectuae
Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman
Office: 523-4224
Blyth United Church is a welcoming community of faith.
We celebrate God's presence through worship and study, and through
responding to the needs and gifts of each other
loitecorilinlinity Church
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Building,
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Sunday 9:15 a.m. - Prayer Meeting
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. — Pastor Les Cook 523-4590
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Sunday, December 19
Morning Worship Service - 10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-1131
— Pc;.,„96t/Se PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941
SING A SONc OF
9:30 a.m. Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. Evening Worship Service
6:30 p.m. Crusaders for grades JK-6
7:15 - 8:30 p.m. Youth
7:15 p.m. Adult Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
8:00 p.m. New Year's Celebration
Come out and have fun
For all ages
Sunday
Wednesday
December 24
December 31
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2004. PAGE 19.
From the Minister's Study
Christmas time of year for stories of journeys
By Rev. Cathrine Campbell
Melville Presbyterian Church
Brussels
This is the time of year when the
Christian Bible is full of stories of
journeys. A young woman travels to
see her cousin with wondrous news,
a man and his wife travel to their
town of origin, shepherds travel in
from their fields to Bethlehem, a
man and his wife and new baby
travel to Egypt, three wise men
travel from the Orient (East) to see a
special baby.
Yes there is much movement,
much purpose, and we, today, are
the grateful recipients of those
journeys.
And I think we should be more
than grateful, we should be thank-ful
The Brussels United Church
Women and guests met in the church
basement for a potluck supper on
Wednesday, Dec. 1. The room was
bright with Christmas decorations
and the tables in red and white cloths
had poinsettias as centrepieces.
Nelva Scott welcomed everyone
and thanked them for their gifts
towards the Food Bank. She then led
in grace.
Following the meal, Betty
Campbell led in the singing of
Christmas carols.
The entertainment was highland
dancing by Christine Bone and
Kasey King. The girls explained a
bit about the three dances. The Fling,
Seann Truibhas and the Lute. As
well they gave some personal
information.
The year 2005 marks the mid-
point of the World Council of
Churches' Decade to Overcome
Violence.
Following the prayers and
readings, candles of the four
directions of the earth were lighted
reminding of the pain of all who
suffer violence and the hope of the
light of peace for the world.
A Mayan prayer from Guatemala
was shared — it resembles the Celtic
style of prayer in which the elements
of air, fire, water, sky and earth are
acknowledged as being from the
Heart of God.
Joan Golden has recently returned
from an 11-day trip to Guatemala.
She spoke about some of her
encounters. In Guatemala, the
sewing machine she was
transporting to a women's group in
Kaqchikel Presbytery was
designated as suspicious and did not
arrive with her other piece of
luggage. It arrived the next day at the
airport. She was motioned to follow
two guards to the warehouse it was
locked in. Although the cover had
been damaged, the machine still
worked and Nancy Corrigann from
for all that those journeys meant and
what they brought.
To go on any journey is a
challenge, no matter how wonderful
the purpose or the destination, there
is still a lot to do before one sets out.
As many of you know I like to
travel but even a simple visit is
complicated by the fact you have to:
• set a mutually convenient time to
come to visit or find when the
special event is on
• get the dog organized (either
friend or kennel)
• get a cat feeder
• find the suitcase(s)
• stop the paper
• look for the map
• get the vehicle serviced,
• find the map
Bluevale, who is also a student at the
Centre for Christian Studies showed
two of the women who give pastoral
care to the women how it worked.
Mrs. Golden told of how guards
with large guns were very visible
especially in Guatemala City. She
showed on a map where she had
• pack
• check that the iron and the coffee
maker are off and then, and only
then, off you go.
By this point you are just glad to
get going and the destination is not
the chief aim: heading in the right
direction is.
However, you do arrive and you
do have a good time and you do look
forward to the return journey home
for "be it ever so humble" there truly
is no place like home.
When you look at the journeys I
mentioned in the beginning
paragraph there may have not been
so much preparation but there was a
parting from the known and familiar
home and the journeys did not
promise a safe return. Perhaps the
travelled and explained that there
were many different languages of the
native people. She also showed
many different weavings she had
brought back. With each piece she
had a warm and interesting story.
Mrs. Golden explained that
Continued on page 24
Magi did do more preparation in
selecting their gifts and getting their
retinue of servants and camels in
order but they would have been the
exception.
Joseph and Mary would leave with
very little, food for the journey, a
donkey for Mary to ride upon and
tunics for colder weather. There
would be no suitcase with a
complete change of clothing for each
day and occasion, and no certainty
of a warm hotel or home at the
end.
And yet, they all went on their
journeys to places and destinies
unknown. They went in faith and
hope for they were directed by God
to go where there was to be the start
of the greatest journey of all, the
birth, the life and death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
All the journeys had a purpose and
that purpose was to give a gift to us.
The young mother gave birth to our
Saviour in a lowly stable, the young
father nurtured the special son and
provided the safety of Egypt and
then home in Nazareth. He gave the
care that allowed the young child to
learn a trade and be able to speak
with confidence in the synagogue.
The shepherds were .the first
evangelists for they shared the Good
News far and wide and the three
wise men saw that the Saviour of all
humanity was not a fable but a real
gift of God which would bring the
joy of salvation to all.
This Christmas many of us will go
on journeys and, often, they will be
journeys to gather to celebrate those
first journeys. As we gather with
family and friends in this Blessed
Christmastide let us all give thanks
for that Gift that is without measure
and was given to us by the Grace of
our God.
With the congregations of Knox,
Belgrave and Melville, Brussels my
wish is for you all to have a Blessed
and Merry Christmas.
• • UCW, guests enjoy potluck