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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2005-12-22, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2005. PAGE 19. From the Minister’s Study ‘Feliz Navidad? Translation please’ By Pastor Ernest Dow Living Water Christian Fellowship (EMC), Blyth “Feliz Navidad!” “Say, what?!” For someone who doesn’t understand Spanish, the traditional Christmas greeting in that language makes no sense. Likewise, in 21st-Century Canadian culture, the Biblical message about Jesus’ origin is becoming increasingly foreign and needs extra care in translation if it is to be understood. Symptoms of our increasing secularism can be seen in various areas. Municipal officials in some localities have renamed Christmas trees “Holiday Trees”. The politically-correct, non-offensive greeting now is “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”. Christmas concerts at schools now go by other titles. For many Canadians, the excitement and zeal around Dec. 25 now involves spending $900 per person on shopping beforehand, then unwrapping the gifts in a frenzy on the day itself (returning them in long lineups on Boxing Day if we don’t like them); the highlight is no longer a memorable religious service at the local church. The triumph of secularism shows through when a political candidate is lambasted by leaders of other parties for daring to propose a free vote on the same-sex marriage issue. According to the critics, such a move is unthinkable because it is a “Charter issue”. Excuse me, did I miss something? Since when did the Charter of Rights and Freedoms become our source book for moral values? This is an affront not just to Christians (who still constitute a considerable majority of the population, at least in name) but to those of other religions — Jews, Muslims — whose religious codes also understand marriage to be heterosexual in nature. When it comes to religiously- based moral values, it would appear “There is no room at the [political] inn.”_ What meaning can Christmas have in such a secular culture? How do we interpret the significance of the Christ-event in 2005 A.D.? It’s not a new task, but one Christians have consistently attempted through the centuries, using a variety of stories and symbols. Jesus is the original interpreter; “God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known” (literally, ‘exegeted’ or interpreted the Father; John 1:18). Matthew, aiming at an audience with background in the Jewish scriptures and interest in Davidic royal lineage, incorporates Magi calling on Herod, and plenty of Old Testament references. “Out of you [Bethlehem] will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.” (Mt 2:6) Luke, writing for a more Gentile audience, makes the editorial decision to use an account involving shepherds, to which the average Joe/Jane might relate. By the time John writes, near the end of the first century, Rome’s penchant for glory and power and Gnostic hunger for esoteric mystery are prominent cultural forces. So Jesus enters the world as the Word which “was with God in the beginning”; “the true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” John testifies that he and others “have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:2,9,14) Quite a switch in terminology from Magi and shepherds! The storytelling goes on, each adapting terms meaningful to the audience. To those enslaved by religious legalism and human tradition, Paul expresses Christmas this way: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, bom under law, to Continued on page 22 'Pteooe join nd j^on (vondAi/L Sunday, December 25 Morning Worship Service -10 a.m. Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m. BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH A Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233 Wheelchair accessible Christmas Eve Service 7:30 pm A Safe & Blessed New Year from LWCF “The Half- Unwrapped Gift” Titus 2:11-14 Christmas Choir - Multimedia E\ANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Blyth Public School No Service December 25 Pastor: Ernest Dow - 523-4848 http://getlMngwater.orgJ) Service + Ethel United Church December 24 7:30 p.m. Teatuuny the fflucMely X Ethel United Chtuieh Choiu Everyone welcome BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Christmas Eve Service at Melville Presbyterian 7:30 p.m. Ethel United Church Christmas Eve Service at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Sunday - December 25 Brussels - Ethel Service at Brussels United at 11 a.m. Please note: There will be no services in Brussels or Ethel January 1, 2006 Regular services January 8 at both churches. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH SINGASObKjOFj'Sgs' Sat.. Dec. 24 Sun.. Dec. 25 Tuesday Wednesday Auburn - 526-1131 PASTOR DAVE WOOD 7:30 p.m. MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS lQiGQfcmi 7:15 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service Christmas Day Service (No Sunday School & no evening service) Jr. 8t Sr. Youth Bible Study Olympians Adult Bible Study THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA TVelcowcd you to come Oetd (OOnc/tcfl Cid SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24 IS Trinity, Blyth Children’s Service - 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service - 9:30 p.m. Guest musician - Capucine Onn St. John’s, Brussels Christmas Eve Service - 7:00 p.m. (There will be no services on December 25th) The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273 Blyth United Church Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Cele/katiap the Seaoon of (ZhiiAtmaA Christmas Eve - 9:00 pm Communion & Candlelight Service Christmas Day - 11:00 am Lessons & Carols January 1 Church will be closed for Sabbath rest Minister: Reb. Robin McGauley Office: 523-4224 7 Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols at 7:30 December 24th We welcome our friends and neighbours from Brussels United Church Christmas Day Services - 9:30 a.m. at Belgrave - 11:00 a.m. at Brussels Wheelchair accessible Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831 Community Church "The Church is not a Building, It is People Touching People" Sunday 9:45 a.m. - Power Hour Circus (Ring of Relationships) 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Mid-week Bible Studies Phone: 440-8379 ~ 308 Blyth Rd. E. - Pastor Les Cook 523-4590 God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. John 3:16 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Refreshments to follow Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Pastor Brent Kipfer 887-6388 No Sunday morning service at church Family Worship in homes