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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1966-12-22, Page 2PAGE TWO ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1866 Cdd4I Cern me4 — Let 1111 Oaf the Christmas Dream Grow Bethlehem — a mune often 'heard .at this season — conjures up for most of us quiet beauty under a deep -star-studded sky, In reality, the ancient town is more like a fortress than the setting for an idyl. High on a plateau, windswept and austere,. stands the Church of the Nativity in whose cave -grotto, tradition says Christ was born. The church above it is very old; it dates back to Constantine in 330 A.D. The present door, starkly simple and very low, was so built in the time of the Crusades to keep rampaging horsemen from riding in to massacre the worshippers. It is a grim reminder that Saracen and Christian let blood here. Though these realities of geography and history shatter the tranquil image of the Christmas town, they have a sustaining quality in these days of violence and sub- conscious, if not overt, fear of the future. It is heartening to remember that the thrilling song, "Peace on earth to men of good -will", rang out first in an occupied country at the tension -filled time of a hated census taking. The angel strains were not heralds of Utopia; they were a thrust of light into darkness, and He whose birth we celebrate, found the road from Bethlehem to Calvary both short and bitter, Yet the voices sang truly. We are not wholly at the mercy of our circumstances. As Dwight Steven- son, a contemporary American has pointed out, "the glory of the Christian faith lies in its ability to work when forces are hostile to it". Time again, wise and privileged men, who have found in the Babe their purpose and their peace; and poor and oppressed men who have found in Him their hope, have changed history. A Woodrow Wilson and a Hammerskjold have set our feet, however falteringly, on the road to world government. The tolp.uddle martyrs (Methodist lay - preachers) who died for the right of work- ers to organize, have deft us a legacy of enlightened labor legislation. Martin Luth King and the murdered Civil Rights cham- pions are teaching us, however slowly, that black or white, we are irrevocably bound together. Arthur O'Shaughnessy reminds us: "One man with a dream, at pleasure shall go forth and conquer a crown; and three, with a new song's measure, can trample an empire down." May the Christmas song put courage in us all. —Board of Evangelism, United Church of Canada. The Truth About Christmas We, at the Citizens News, remain grate- ful for the interest and support of our readers and we are always pleased when someone takes time to send us an item for publication. This Christmas, we received an article written by David Augsburger, and sent to us by Mrs. V. Ramer, RA 3, Zurich. While space does not permit us to print the en- tire item, we would like to share with you some of the thoughts contained therein. "Help yourself to the sugar," my friend said, shoving the sugar bowl next to my coffe cup . . . but there was no spoon an the table. "Tip it over and pour a little in," he suggested, noticing my puzzled look. So I did. The first came off OK. I shook it a little more ... and splash, a sugary avalanche emptied a half cup of granules into my coffee • . . Now, my sweet tooth is almost a tusk, but that was more than I could stand. A bit of sugar takes the bitter edge off coffee, but too much makes it even more bitter. Who can stand it? Yes. a "teaspoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down," but for most of us a tablespoon of sugar is worse than taking the medicine straight. The candy -sweetness of Christmas is suspiciously like this. It seems to me that we've been over -sugaring Christmas to cover some- thing. We've poured the sugar on so heavily that the syrupy taste (with more than a hint of saccharin) is re- volting. We've candied the celebration, sung sweet songs, sent greetings with 'honeyed words—glucose greetings — until even our sleep is disturbed by visions of sugar plums. Who can stand it? But why all the sugar? What are we covering up? Is Christmas so desperately bitter ... that the only way we can take it is with "a teaspoonful of sugar"? Before you shout "no" in quick defense, think a bit more deeply. It is true, isn't it? Christmas is bitter— so unbearably bitter that no one can stand it. Christmas is the most bitter pill man has ever needed to swallow. That's why we've tried to make it a day of "sweetness and light". The bitter pill? It's true ... the coming of God into what we thought was man's world. That's Christmas! Rather than face the bitter truth about Christmas . . . we fight it with gobs of "swett-but-oh-so phony Christ- mas spirit." We can't stand God's invading our private little world. We'd rather he'd stay in His heaven. Can you stand Christmas? You can ... if you let God into your life this Christmas . . . if you will give Him complete control of your- self . . . now and forever!" A blessed Christmas 1966 to one and all. Kippen East WI Christmas Meet The Christmas meeting of Kippen East Women's' Institute was held at the home of Mrs. Ernest Whitehouse, with Mrs, Robert Bell as co -hostess, on Wednesday afternoon, Decem- ber 14. The president, Mrs. Grant MacLean, chaired the meeting, which she opened with a reading. This was followed by the Opening Ode and the Mary Stewart Collect. The roll call was answered by telling. where to keep Christ- mas cards. "Deck the hall with holly" was sung, and Mrs. James Drummond read the minutes, which were approved as read. It was decided that the eighth group would look after the des- sert euchre in January and that a euchre party would also be held February 17• Mrs. Grant MacLean reported for the his- torical research committee, and gave a reading on the "Day after Christmas". Mrs. William Gibson gave the motto: "It isn't the giver who makes Christmas, it's the spirit of others." Songs were sung by Sandra and Jeffrey McKay and Eileen Connolly. A reci- tation was given by Stephen Sararas. From My Window By Shirley Keller I suppose the theme of this column should have something to do with Christmas but for the life of me, I can't get ex- cited about the festival of fes- tivals. Usually, my shopping, card addressing and baking wait until then, making the two or three days prior to Christ- mas a happy, hectic time. I always feel a little sorry for people who are so well or- ganized that they have their gifts purchased and wrapped in the summer; their cakes and cookies baked and stored in. November; their cards and other mail addressed and out on the appointed date; the house cleaned and decorated well in advance of the Christ- mas season. It must take some of the excitement out of Christ- mas. Around our house there is so much to be done at the very last moment that every mem- ber of the household is commis- sioned to help. All in the same day, if not the same hour, i father is putiing up the Christ- mas tree and stringing the lights; the kids are decorating the house, wrapping some gifts and sampling and snitching on their way through the kitchen where I am trying to bake, pop corn for stringing, find string for the baubles, address cards, answer the telephone and this year (heaven help me) keep our nine month old out of the garbage. But it's fun and we would'nt have it any other way. There are a few things that irk me at this time of year, though. One of them is the growing usage of "Xmas" for "Christmas". As far as I'm concerned, taking "Christ out of Christmas and replacing it with the symbol for an un- known quantity is like taking the turkey but of Christmas dinner or the presents off the tree. There isn't anything left of Christmas if you remove the best part!" And I can't figure out why people don't demand more Christmas music be played by radio stations during Decem- ber. Used to be that a few carols and "White Christmas" was the only seasonal music available ... but today's Christ- mas is filled with all kinds of lovely musicwhieh we hear only once a year. Whether the Chipmunks sing "Santa's Super- sonic Space Suit" or a choir renders a traditional carol from another country, Christmas music gives me a lift and I'd like to hear more of it. I'd like to see a few less cards sent to friends and neigh- bors we see every day and a few more donations made to organizations offering help to the needy. I wish there could be some way to save the food and goodies of Christmas which will be wasted in Canada this year for people in countries less for- tunate. Oh yes, and I long for the glorious day when toy compan- ies will stop dreaming up new, expensive automatic toys and concentrate on producing sim- ple, .inexpensive ones which will require the child to use his imagination once more. p4a*e174. 8 PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH HERB TURKHEIMv Publisher J E. HUNT, Plant Superintendent Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa and for payment of postage in cash. Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Member: Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Member: Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Subscription Rates: $3.00 aper yearn adsvance, Copies 7` cda'ts 00 in United States and • It II Mrs. Pipe, Londesboro, gave a demonstration on Christmas deeoraations and corsages. Mrs. Edna Caldwell demonstrated the making of variety cookies. She also showed the ladies her candy •and cookie hoose which was illustrated in Week -end magazine. Mrs. M. Connolly read the Christmas story. Santa arrived to distribute gifts and . he was assisted by Mrs. Cecil Pullman. Wedding DEWYS--FABER Amidst a setting of miniature Christmas trees reflecting their blue lights an baskets of white and blue tinted Mums, Shirley Dianne Faber and Peter Francis DeWys exchanged rings and vows in Parkview United Church, Stratford, Saturday, De- cember 12, at 2:30 p.m., with Rev. Howard K. Plant officiat- ing. The bride's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Faber, of Kip - pen. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs, George DeWys, of Stratford. basic sheath style featured em- pire waist accented with braid and rosettes of powder blue and puff sleeves. To add a final touch to their 'ensembles they wore matching petal ros- ette headpieces of chiffon vel- vet edged with seed pearls ac• tented by tiered silk illusion shoulder -length veils and they carried cascade bouquets •of white carnations and tinted mums to match their dresses. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a floor - length gown of white peau de faille, fashioned with lily -point sleeves and portrait neckline accented with alencon lace. The gently controlled skirt ended in a double train, The main cen- tre of attention was focused on the detachable cathedral train cascading from a tailored bow at the back -empire and also accented with the same alencon lace appliques. To complete her bridal outfit, the bride wore a tiered silk illusion fingertip veil held in place by a petal rosette of peau de faille edged with tiny seed pearls. She car- ried a shower bouquet of red roses and trailing white ribbon dotted with white baby mums. Miss Sandra Bolton was maid of honor; senior bridesmaid, Mrs. Carol Penhale, sister of the bride; bridesmaids, Miss Eleanor Wright and Miss Emma Oesch, and junior bridesmaid, Miss Patricia Anne Faber. The bridal attendants pro- vided a colorful background in their floor -length gowns of chif- fon velvet, the maid of honor in American beauty and the bridesmaids in royal blue. The „r w t• i t vy i v« ) xr i x•-• i v« i, m ...1 ., ....�, .. .. .. ri i iU E 4P 84 .. �ItIt aft°'',; Ha/r?� $ 4 BLUE WATER REST HOME EP .May the happiness of the holidays be with you always, THE SUPERINTENDENT, RESIDENTS, STAFF, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT ZURICH Flower girl, Wendy Penhale, niece of the bride, wore a short, white chiffon velvet dress with full skirt and cumberbund of American beauty velvet. Her headpiece was similar to that of the other attendants in American beauty and carried a nosegay of roses and white streamers. 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