HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-12-22, Page 2-
Page 2--- Christmas Special, The Goderich Signal -Star, Sat. Dec. 22, 1973
r „
If it happened'
today
wha " ifth'e world was still waiting for
the Saviour? What if Christ was only
born into the world this Christmas - 1973
in a stable just outside Goderich? How
would you— react? How would this
newspaper report it.
• Goderich citizens were startled last
Monday evening when an unusually
bright star appeared -in the sky just north
of town. The stellar wonder was first
reported about 9 p.m. but few people
were concerned.
It wasn't until much later in the
evening when some snowmobilers out
near Feagan's Pit were confronted with
a mighty host of angels that the sup-
posed significance of the star was made
known.
Spokesman for the snowmobilers said
the group was just quietly sitting in the
crisp winter night air talking about the
strange star in the sky when a tremen-
dously bright light shone all around
them.
"Some of the guys were so afraid they
crouched down on the ground," the
spokesman remarked. "It ,was the 'weir-
dest thing I've ever seen."
"Suddenly in the light I saw what alp:
peared to" be an angel,," the man repor-
ted. "He started to speak to me and to
the others. He said not to be afraid. He
saida Saviour was born and that the star
in the.sky was only a sign to tell where
the baby was. I thought he said the baby
was in a manger." •
"And then, without anything more
being said,' there were just hundreds of
angels out there," the spokesman went
on excitedly. "And they were all singing,
the most beautiful, most heavenly music.
They. sang Glory To God in the Highest
and on Earth, Peace, Goodwill Toward
Men."
The spokesman for the snowmobilers
noted that after the angels had gone
away, he and his companions compared
notes: None of them could believe what
they ha&iseen and heard, but all of them
agreed` to follow the star for a while.
The party of astounded snowmobilers
finally found a little barn just north of
Goderich. When they went inside, they
found a newborn baby and his mother
and father. Just as the angel had said,
the baby was cradled in a manger.
"All of the guys saw the baby," said
the spokesman. "All of them talked to
the parents and all of them really
1
believed it was The Son of God, just as
the angel said."
The Signal -Star has learned, however,
that there is still much doubt in the com-
mvtpity as to -the identity of the baby.
After checking with amateur
astrologers in the area, it has been lear-
ned that while the star was unusually
bright, it may have -been only a natural
phenomenon brought on by the excep-
tional clearness of the evening.
"It was just a star," said one student of
the stars. "Nothing more."
Police have questioned the
snowmobiling party to determine their
exact position at the time of the reported
sighting. A visit to that spot this week
has revealed no clue but indications are
the group may have seen and heard a
perfectly explainable occurrence of
starlight and wind in the trees.
All of the men in the party, however,
refuse to accept this theory and ala have,
consented to undergo testing for
emotional stability at the hand of
qualified psychiatrists.
Police also report that after checking
the stable which was reported to be the
birthplace of this child, no evidence was
found to support the story.
One unconfirmed report told that the
mysterious family has fled the district in
fear for the life of the baby.
In an exclusive interview, the
spokesman for the snowmobilers said
the group is convinced the child was in-
deed the Saviour of thee, World, the long
promised Messiah.
"But no one will believe us," said the
spokesman. "They say if there was a
child, he was an imposter. They say
we're crazy to believe He was God."
* .* *
pb
This is a fictitious story, of course,
written to point up the frustration that
many Christians feel when they talk
about their belief that Christ- really was
born in Bethlehem long years ago, in a
stable, to human parents.. in a human
way.
Would it be any more believable if it
happened today? Or would there be the
same tendencies to doubt, to question.
The Christmas story is ages old. It still
has meaning for countless millions.
Have a blessed Christmas in 1973.
May the Peace of the Season be with
you always.
PA'o
Qqe �obertctj
SIGNAL—STAR
--0— The County Town Newspaper of Huron —0 --
Founded in 1848 and published every Thursday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the
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PubNshsd by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBERT G. *HRISR--president and pubN
SHIRLEY J. KELLE --editor
R.W. !SHAW ---editorial staff
EDWARD J. SYRSKI--advertising manager
DAVE R. WILLIAMS—advertising represeMativs
Ever, Fear at Christmas time
1 try to make a departure from
the regular type of column for
the issue closest to lite holiday
give the readers some insight
into nib own personal Plans for
the Yuletide. It is a column 1
love to write because getting
down` to the nitty-gritty is my
kind of thing.
As most of you already knA,
our family home is at . Dash-
wood, just about' :15 miles south
of here. "There's very little
problem getting hack and forth
at holiday time - no trains to
catch, no traffic to buck, no air-
plane tickets to buy.
And Christmas is family for
us. Like no other time in the
whole year. ('hristrmas means
getting together with all the
aunts and uncles, brothers and
sisters, cousins and friends - to
go to church together, to eat
together, to enjoy fellowship
together.
This year's Christmas has
been a little more hectic than
usual at my job. Instead of the
normal 52 issues in 197:3, we're
putting out 5:3 issues this year
.... and three of the 5:1 will go to
press this week. That means a
'heavy schedule for me land
everyone else at the Signal) - so
much so that there's no Christ-
mas baking or cooking done at'
the Keller household to date.
Not even all .the shopping is
done. In fact, that streak you
will .see tearing around the
Square at the last moment on
Monday will he me trying fran-
tically to get everything done in
time.
'Fortunately for mr;• Christ-
mas shopping isn't the hassle it
is for Many folks because gift -
buying at our 'house is severely
limited. 'There are gifts for the
kids of course. "There's
something for the god -children
and something for grandma.
There's something for one or
two special friends. But that's
it and that's not too bad at all.
In fact, I really enjoy buying
those t)r»CPnts once I .cet a
chance to get out to look for
them
But busy or not, everything
must he completed by early
Christnras,Eve ... for that's the
beginning of family traditions
which means so much to us all.
Christmas Eve ' we .go to
Dashwood to the century -old
Zion Lutheran Church when,
we knows almost everyone by
their first names. •'I'hat's the
congregation where I was con-
fir'nned, where my husband was
confirmed, where our two
oldest children were confirmed.
And that's' where we spend
Christtmas Eve for that's when
the children in the church have
their Christmas program.
There's something about'
Christmas programs' which
makes them extra special. I
don't know whether it is the air
of expectancy which surrounds
us. Perhaps it is the decorations
and the lights. Maybe it is the
excitement .Christmas, just
naturally generates. Or it could
be the thrill of being home with
all .those you love and know
hest.
Whatever it is, I always cry a
little as the children troop
down that familiar aisle. They
all' look so happy in their new
Christmas clothes, their Christ-
mas hair -dos, their scrubbed
and shining faces. And they are
all on their very hest behaviour
for this is serious business.
Actually, the Christmas
programs don't vary all that
:much from year t -o year ..... and
that's the way I like it best. It
is- the same old story. Christ
Our Saviour and..King is Born
in Bethlehem! Come worship. .
Come sing.
But on that' night with the
altar candles flickering and the
Christmas tree hung with those
white and gold symbols of our
faith and the great organ pum-
ping out - those marvellous
Christmas carols . . . . .
well, On that Holy Night with
the whole family sitting side by
By Shirley 1. Keller
side, all of one mind and one bring their friends home for
heart, it is simply tremendous. some good old-fashioned
I wouldn't want to miss it. Christmas goodies.
* * * But , whatever happens,
After, the service, we start,oyr Christmas. Eve is a joyous time
happy `round of visits. Gran- and the hour always, always
dma's house isn't far from the gets late - so late - for young
church and that's where we, and old alike.
head straight away. Just before retiring, we
" Grandma isn't getting any usually get out the Bible to
younger but she still expects read just once more that truly
her family after church on . ageless story about the birth or
Christmas Eve and I doubt Christ. Maybe we share our,
if she'll, be disappointed this thoughts with each other.
year again. Maybe we count our blessings.
Christmas Eve is the one Maybe we just sit around and
night in the year when Gran- look at the Christmas tree and
dma gets to be the hostess for give thanks for the happiness
as many of her brood (eight we have together.
sohs and -three daughters and " - But on Christmas Eve more
their spomses and families) as than any other time of the year,
can possibly attend. It is the we go to bed contented and at
night when she sets the pace peace. What a feeling! What a
and she takes full advantage of good feeling!
the opportunity, let me tell you. * * *
Grandma's house isn't big.
In fact, it is rather small.
Everybody is sitting on top of
evervbody else.- If the kids get
into` a scrap you just have to -let
them fight. It is a major under-
taking to get to them to break it
up -
There's. chatter galore.
There's laughter. There's carol
singing. There's recitations
being repeated again and
again. There's gifts being ex-
changed. There's •food eaten.
There's -happiness all round. It
is just great!
Even when we depart from
Grandma's house and get into
the car, the happy mood con-
tinues. On the ride home to
Goderich there may be some
more singing, some more
laughter, some more good con-
versation.
Once home again (and it may
be late) the older children go
their way. I notice most of the
young people go over to St.
Peter's Church for midnight
Mass ... and sometimes our
children join them. Maybe they
make the rounds to say "Merry
Christmas" to their friends and -
their families. Or maybe they
Our Christmas Day isn't
much different than anyone
else's. The highlight of the day
is opening the gifts.
And there's none of this
haphazard present opening.
Not on your life! One gift at a
time is opened so that
everybody gets to share in every
gift in a very special way.
And Christmas dinner?
That's my department and
that's the one day of the year I
don't begrudge the time in the
kitchen.
This year I'm serving 'a
goose. It is the first time,in my
life I will have cooked a goose
and I hope it isn't a disaster.
I've gotten plenty of advice
from some of the older women I
trust so I'm hoping all will go
well.
There will be the usual trim-
mings .... and a bottle of wine
in which everybody will share.
After dinner, everybody goes
his or her own way .... but never
too far away from each other.
For Christmas is for families
and on Christmas we're more
of a family than ever.
In
the—evening, it -.ism open
house at the Keller's. Friends
JOSEPH..
Separated from his parents by war, Joseph was one of 10,000
Nigerian children reunited with their parents with the
assistance of The Canadian Save the Children Fund.
Joseph's father was traced and found to be an aged man,
responsible for three wives and twelve children. In addition,
he was (bund to be caring for his two aging sisters and their
three children. Occupying a three room mud house, the en-
tire income came from the tireless efforts of the father
working on his farm. Due to the father's age and position as
sole provider, the Nigerian government in conjunction with
the International Union for Child Welfare and its Canadian
Timber, CANSAVE, estabNshed the younger of his wlvis M
petty trading to supplement the family meanie. The family
now seems happy, well cared for and confident in the
knowledge that they have something to fall back on in the
event of sickness of the fatter, CANSAVE's Annual Appeal 10
now underway. Please • send your dollars to CANSAVE
CHILDREN, 70 Hayter Street, Toronto, Ontario, MSG l.WC.
•
La%116\
Ifff,o‘v /IR
�r•
drop in .... our friends, the kids`
friends, friends of the friendi.
It is a happy night and usually
gives way to some fun -filled
hijinks very much like a party.:.
By bedtime, we're exhausted
and everyone sleeps well.
* * *
BoxingDay Y is a busy one for
us, too, for that's the day We go
to Dashwood for the Keller
family Christmas. We rent the
Dashwood Community Centre
every year. It has a basement
for the men to play cards in
peace; a large kitchen where a
dpzen women can work in corn -
fort; a huge auditorium for the
children to whoop it up; plenty
of tables and dishes to makg,tt
possible for "everyone about 50
to sit down at one time; lots of
chairs so no one has to squat; a
piano for the sing -song; a stage
for the program; and lots of
washroom space so nobody ever
has to "wale:.
This year "the Goderich
gang" is convening the dinner.
Since there's only one Keller
family -in Goderich and since
,the women usually do the plan-
ning, the job falls to me this
year. I'm cooking a turkey so
you can bet I'll be up early on
Boxing Day.
We have dinner and supper*
at the hall in Dashwood.
Everybody comes. It is a real
insult to the family to stay
away .... ‘o nobody does. And
one of the true joys of the
season is to meet all the
boyfriends and the girlfriends
that th4 young people always
bring to the Keller Christmas.
It isn't early when we get
home on Boxing Day .... but_as
soon as we do get home, we go
to bed for it is off to work the
next morning most of the time.
* * *
Maybe I -should tell you now
that we're starting out the New
Year with a bang this year. On
New Year's Day, we're leaving
on a family holiday in Florida.
Yep, we're planning to drive,
gas shortage and all. We'll be
away for two weeks or so ....
and we're really looking for-
ward to it with gusto.
That will mean I won't be
—visiting again with you,
_reade, about the me
otsJanuary or so.
So please rsuntil accept from meiddlmy
very best wishes for a Holy and
Blessed Christmas and a
Happy, Healthy and
Prosperous New Year.
Thanks for the support
you've given me throughout
1973 and I look forward to
being with you again irr.1974,
II( -res what
you d 11(1 re
to gine up
As we approach the Christ-
mas holiday, The Canadian
Save the Children Fund is
asking Canadians to 'Imagine
Yourself Poor'. Quoting from
Robert Heilbroner's "The
Great Ascent", CANSAVE lists
the following steps which
would have to be taken to
reduce the relatively affluent
Canadian standard of living to
that endured by millions of
people living in under-
developed countries:
1. Give away all your fur-
niture except .a table, a chair,
and a few old blankets.
2. Take away all except the
oldest suit .of clothes for each
person. The head of the family
keeps the only shoes.
3. Move into a tool shed in a
shanty town having no public
services. and
4. Empty pantry
refrigerator of all food except a
little flour, salt, and sugar, a
few mouldy potatoes, some
onions and dried beans.
5. Remove all electric wiring
and plumbing. Carry your
water from a village shed.
6. Give up all appliances,
tools, and pets as we know
them.
7. Cancel all subscriptions;
the family is illiterate.
8. Listen to the bone radio the inn
town, and probably
station. nearest
9.. •Find that the nwet
medicine iso ten miles
with, a midwife in charge af the
clinic.
10. Dispose of all insuraancd
pensions, bank accjyn a' cash
savings, leaving
hoard of $5 fo00 to family.
11. Of the $l fioi>~ your
income scratched one
three terjant acres,. give and one
third. to the landlordende
tenth. to the •money will be
12. Plan that your life lira
shortened by 25 to 30 Ye
H
T
that
Ear
shoi
and
shot
brut
shot,
rued
wort
God
If sti