The Citizen, 2005-01-06, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2005.
Christmas Eve service at United
It was a busy time in the little town
of Bethlehem. Townsfolk were to and
fro-ing preparing for the arrival of
family and friends. For Caesar
Augustus had called for a census and
everyone was returning to their
birthplace to be counted. Shop
owners and innkeepers were kept
busy seeing to the needs of their
customers and travellers. The arrival
in town of yet another young couple
went unnoticed.
Little did they recognize the
significance of Joseph and Mary in
their midst. Thankfully, one kind
innkeeper found a quiet and warm
spot for the weary couple in a stable.
Amidst the noise of the town the
offering gifts in thanks. As Mary
thought on these things, how she
must have marvelled at the works of
God.
Fast forward some 2,000 years. A
similar scene to those days in
Bethlehem takes place every
December in our home towns. People
are bustling about getting ready for a
celebration that had its beginnings in
that stable with that birth. In the
excitement and hubbub of these
celebrations will that birth once again
go unnoticed?
At the Christmas Eve service at
Londesborough United Church Rev.
Pat Cook urged worshippers to stop
in the midst of the confusion and
noise to recognize that God is indeed
in our midst and has given us a most
wonderful gift. With this birth He
gave the world peace, hope, joy and
love. All these emotions were in the
hearts of Mary and Joseph that
miraculous night.
As Rev. Cook narrated the
evening’s service and familiar hymns
were sung, the young people of the
congregation acted out the events of
that night in Bethlehem. Scripture
passages that chronicle the event
were'read by Terry Radford. Tonya
Drost. Jacqui and Amanda Mitchell.
The senior choir sang It Came
Upon a Midnight Clear and Christ
the Lord is Born. John Jewitt and
Gordon Shobbrook offered the hymn
People Look East. Directed by Erica
Horbanuik. the junior choir lifted
their voices in a modern song. Baby
Jesus Is Born.
Tom and Marjorie Duizer and
granddaughter. Amanda Mitchell lit
the last candle in the Advent wreath,
the Christ candle. Cousins Amanda
and Jacquie Mitchell and Terry and
Eric Radford received the offering
which will be forwarded to the
Mission and Service fund.
Rev. Cook encouraged all to go
forth from the service as true
Christmas people making known the
good news of God’s love for
mankind.FROM LONDESBORO
birth in the stable went unnoticed.
The only witnesses to the birth that
would ultimately affect the whole
world were the stable creatures.
It was the arrival in town of a
group of shepherds looking for the
child that alerted others to the birth.
The shepherds, who marvelled at the
stars that night so long ago, were told
by the angels to seek out this young
child. What an honour for ordinary
folk like the shepherds to be the first
to hear the good news.
The wise men. who for so long had
been studying the stars for a sign,
saw a new brilliant star that night and
their faith brought them to the feet of
Baby Jesus. Joseph and Mary
Money resolutions
to start year right
Whether you’re beginning your
career, or looking ahead to
retirement, you can start the year off
right by making some financial
resolutions to help you manage your
money.
“There is no better time to begin
your planning than when you finish
your education and start your first
job.” says chartered accountant Tina
Di Vito of Toronto.
“The key to financial success is to
build an asset base when you’re
younger and use various strategies
to preserve it when you get older,”
explains chartered accountant Peter
Sevitt. also of Toronto.
“If you're 25 or 30. the greatest
way to build wealth is to pay down
debt,” Di Vito advises. Credit cards
are an easy way for young people to
get a financial standing and establish
a credit rating. But the interest rate is
incredibly high, and it can be even
higher on retail credit cards.
If you have a student loan or credit
card jammed from holiday
shopping. start paying it
off
“To save more, you either have to
earn more or spend less, so get into
a savings routine,” says Di Vito.
“The first step is to draft a budget
that focuses on where you’re
spending your money. Track your
expenses for one week - leave your
credit cards at home and use cash for
everything. Save your receipts, add
them up and you’ll have an instant
record of where your money went.
Most people are surprised to see
how much that lunch lime cup of
coffee or sandwich cost over one
week. Then multiply this by 52 for
the yearly amount, and you'll begin
to see where you can cut
back
"Another strategy is to arrange a
consolidation loan with your
financial institution. Use it to pay off
your existing debt and make one
monthly payment to the bank - al a
much lower interest rale," adds Di
Vito.
PEOPLE AROUND
LONDESBORO
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
A conflict in scheduling makes it
necessary for the Happy Gang
Seniors to cancel their January card
party at the Londesborough
Community Hall.
The group regrets any
“Even though retirement seems a
long way off. start an RRSP.” she
suggests. “The growth accumulates
tax-free, and you also get an annual
income tax deduction.”
“if you’re 50 or 55 and planning
for retirement, an RRSP is still the
best financial tool to help you
achieve your goals,” advises Sevitt.
“so keep topping it up.”
You can contribute 18 per cent of
your earned income from the
previous year, up to a maximum of
$15,500 for 2004 and $16,500 for
2005. And you can continue
contributing until you're 69, when it
must be rolled into a RRIF - a
Registered Retirement Income
Fund.
Resolve to pay down or pay off
your mortgage if you can. Your
home is usually your biggest asset
and, if it’s your principal residence,
it’s tax-free.
“Prepare a net worth statement to
get a clear picture of your retirement
income. Add up your assets and
subtract your liabilities to develop
the springboard for your financial
planning,” suggests Sevitt.
One rule of thumb is that you need
70 per cent of your pre-retirement
income to retire, Sevitt says. “But it
really depends on you and your
lifestyle. In determining your
sources of income, don’t rely too
heavily on government plans such as
the Canada Pension Plan or Old Age
Security.”
You may also want to consult a
financial planner or investment
counsellor.
"Remember that you can afford to
take more investment risks at 25
than you can at 55, so consider
different investment strategies. Most
importantly, make sure that you
have life insurance and an up-to-
date will, to protect what, you've
earned for the benefit of your family
and others who arc important to
you.” concludes Sevitt.
- Brought Jo you by the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of Ontario.
inconvenience this cancellation may
cause but there will be no card party
on Jan. 14. They hope to see you in
February, the second Friday
evening.
Villagers might remember to keep
the Lesters in their thoughts and
prayers in upcoming weeks. Arthur
is undergoing radiation treatments
and Barbara is awaiting knee
surgery. They are currently in
Hamilton where their doctors are
and staying with their daughters.
On Dec. 27 the village welcomed
B.J. and Angela (Hunking) Cullen.
The young couple purchased their
new home from Russ Berry early in
the fall and have spent many hours
readying it for themselves.
The Citizen
The Citizen's New 2005
Telephone Directory Will Be
Available Soon!
It will have the newest listings in a convenient large type format. In one book
you have the listings that you would need three Bell Canada books to find.
Here is your chance to advertise in a product that stays around 365 days.
Reserve your space today call Heather or Cappy at 523-4792
or fax us at 523-9140. Deadline: January 14, 2005
If you have a new phone number, or if you have just moved into this area,
and your phone number is not included in the new Bell phone book,
please call 523-4792 or 887-9114 and we'll be sure to include your listing.
Approximately 40 years ago
another young couple who are still
in the community began their
married life in that house. We hope
B.J. and Angela will also find living
in Londesborough to their liking.
Welcome.
The Cullens have been residing in
the farmhouse belonging to Richard
Snell on Hwy. 8 just a mile and a
quarter south of the village since
their marriage. Russ and Marj Berry
have moved to the Clinton area and
we wish them well for their chosen
futures.
The vagaries of the weather in our
part of Ontario are a constant soured'
of conversation and often of
irritation as plans have to be
adjusted, but considering the
situation in Southeast Asian, all of
us should offer up prayers of thanks.
The official board of
Londesborough United Church is
called to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 11,
beginning at 7:30 with meetings for
the session and board of stewards.
Members are reminded to pick up
copies of the last meeting from the
table in the narthex of the
church.
The 2005 greeters and ushers’ list
is also on the table in the narthex.
Please pick up your copy.
Reports for the annual report of
Londesborough United should be
submitted to the church office by
Jan. 16.
2005
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