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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1998-12-23, Page 6Exeter Times -Advocate m i;, Editorial&Opinion Wednesday, December 23, 1998 TI\11.ti-:\1)\ OC:\F1: Pti L K ATlt)Ns MAIL REGLSTRAT1ON NUMBER 07511 Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Don Smith General Manager Production Manager Deb Lord Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited 424 Main Street South. P.U. Box 850 Exeter. Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL A Christmas message by Elly Van Bergen, MINISTER. ‘'ARBA GOSHEN l "`:(TED CNURCH The Nativity scene is one of the most familiar images of Christmas. As far back as I can remember our Nativity set was the first, and early years, the only Christmas decoration put .up in our home. As a child. I loved those fragile pieces that were packed away so carefully all year, to be brought • out at Christmas. I remember the first year that 1 was allowed to set up the Nativity scene, I spent hours constructing a stable out of a cardboard box, careful- ly fashioning the roof peak .to hang the angel who holds the banner: 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo.'• At one time some aspect of the Nativity scene was themost common thing to find on a C`tristmas card. Every school play, or Sunday school concert, had its moment when shepherds dressed in bath robes, .wisemen with foil crowns, a chorus of tiny angels with tinsel halos and wings that wouldn't stay in ' , e, would gather around a young Mary and Joseph and at a little bundle laying in a straw filled miniature iiger. i here is a feeling of warmth and peace to that scene. - a scene that to many people summarizes the essence•of Christmas. • In the birth of Christ - so publicly portrayed by the Nativity scene, we see poor shepherds, who must be separated from their families by the demands of their ill paid work, being specially invited by angels to see the new-born Messiah, We see them in the warmth o1' the candle lit stable to be the first to discover God's gift of a child of great promise. We see too, wise men from far away, men who in their wealth and wisdom realize that there is something more, something greater. We see them find the king that they seek, and kneel in awe before him - though he is but a baby. We see Joseph, a village carpenter, a man who works hard for a living, a man of integrity, who struggles to do what is right by the girl he loves. And we see Mary herself, a simple girl, radiant in her moth- erhood,- and like all mothers she will tuck into her heart all the things that are said to her about her child. Who cannot be moved? Who cannot see themselves there in that scene - and wonder'! 1 • There. is tremendous power in the nativity scene, a power that cannot be overcome by the sounds of war, fear, hatred or • greed. A power that cannot be quenched by a million adver- tisements, by icicle lights, by wrap and glitter, nor by those desperately seeking happiness in more wealth and luxury. It is the power of the ordinary, of the, humble. - • Christmas bears W us the gifts of God in ordinary, humble,' simple ways. May the peace. and .the hope and the wonder of the Nativity be yours at this time and always, Merry Christmas. I' I About,theTimes-Advocate Address & Office Hours ' Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday tti Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Contact Us 'By Phone or Fax' Classified ad & subscription sales (519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant ...... (519) 235-1336 -Fax nwnber for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $35+GST Two year rate for addresses in. Canada: $63+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: ... $102 Call (519) 2'35-1331 to order a subscription. M • t was the week before Christmas and all through the town. People were busy shopping around. They were pushing and shoving not giv- ing a care: The true meaning of Christmas was no longer there. - No one remembered the babe in the sta- ble. All they were thinking about were their - shows on cable. No one cared about the shepherd or wise rnen who followed the star. Their minds were on the presents they had bought so far. So stop for a moment and Think tidally Ilar& - Is there soniething more Important than presents or money in a card. ' - '1'he true meaning of Christmas Is stilt here somewhere. Is it under the tree 'or is it hidden • over there. No it's not under a tree or. in shopping Carts. The true meaning of Christmas is right here in our hearts.. WIur1'I N BY 13REI ANY JANKIi ANI) MUM `;ti,; Zurich Public School •�..�''� Marcia Melick Classified Rates erd alis: $9.00 for 20 words, 154 for each additional rd+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, truing events, memoriatns, cards of thanks): $11.00 + GST7-for up to 30 words, 15¢ for each additional word. All ads must he pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 5 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 [;leave message) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Friday 4 p.m. E-mail Us TA e-mail addresses consist (tithe person's first initial and last name followed by @ta:eedy.com. Foc example, Jim Bec:kett's e-mail address is <)becketttta.eedy.com> Our general e-mail address is ed,tor4SouthUuron.com. Zurich Public School Rachel Steele The Times -Adv Publisher & Editor General Manager Production Manager Advertising Reporters , Customer Service Production Stall Accounting Staff ocate Team . Jim Beckett ext. 109 Don Smith ext. 112 Deb lard , ext. 114 Barb Consitt ext. 110' Craig Bradford ' ext. 11:3 Kate Monk 1 ext.' 107 Scott Nixon ext. 105 Sue Hollings , ext. 101 Carol Windsor ext. 104 Alma Ballantyne, Brenda Bern. 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