HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1967-12-25, Page 4ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS — CHRISTMAS EDITION
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Christmas Couldn't Be -- But It Was
If the little town ofBethlehem had
had a newspaper 1967 years ago, the
news story of the birth of Christ
might have read like this:
"Bethlehem was besieged last
night with hundreds of out-of-
town persons who had arrived
here to pay their taxes as or-
dered by Caesar Augustus.
"All available accommodation
was filled to capacity and some
visitors were sleeping in the
streets.
"It is reported that a baby boy
was born in the stable behind the
Inn. The mother is believed to
be the woman Mary who is ru-
mored to have been rejected in
her home town because she
claimed to be a virgin even
though she was evidently expect-
ing a child.
"The husband, Joseph, is said
to have had special instructions
from an angel prior to his mar-
riage. He maintains that he was
informed that Mary was with
child of the Holy Ghost and that
the baby is to be the Saviour of
the world.
"Officials deny that the baby
born last night to Mary and
Joseph is the promised Messiah.
They say it is highly improbable
that God would select such ob-
viously crude means to introduce
His Son to the world. It is even
more unlikely that He would en-
trust the Promised One to par-
ents of such menial state and
such questionable character."
The skeptics of old are still
among us. But no baby before or
since the birth of Christ has caused
such a stir for so great a time. No
one man has influenced so many
people as Christ the man. No one
book has remained so popular or is
quoted so frequently as the Bible in
which the wonderful Christmas story
is recorded,
Faith is a miraculous thing. It is
said that faith alone can move moun-
tains and any other obstacle in the
path of life.
It was faith that made the early
Christians willing to die rather than
risk the loss of their firm belief.
It is faith that keeps Christmas
now and forevermore. " And it will
be faith that will bring millions of
people to their knees to adore the
Baby Jesus in the crude little manger
in that Bethlehem stable again this
Christmas.
May the joy and peace of Christ-
mas grow to faith in our hearts in
the New Year and forevermore.
Summons At Christmas!
This is Christmas Eve. Christmas
bells throughout all Christendom are
ringing out the most joyous procla-
mation of the gospel message.
"Fear not; for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall
be to all people. For unto you is
born this clay, in the city of David,
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
(St. Luke 2:10-11).
Yes, 1967 years ago, the angels
sang, "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward
men," and those that followed the
star in the east found the Saviour,
Christ the Lord, lying in a manger,
in the city of David.
But the first Christmas was a try-
ing and painful one, despite all the
manifestation of glory. Was not Jo-
seph summoned from sleep to take
unto himself Mary, who gave virgin
birth to Christ Jesus? And were not
Mary and Joseph summonded by de-
cree from Caesar Augustus to go
from Galilee to Bethlehem to be
taxed? And were not all men of
good will summonded by the angels
to go to the manger in Bethlehem
to find their King?
Mary and Joseph lived under a
dictatorship in which Life was cheap.
Their income was more than likely
in the lower third of the nation.
When it carne time for the Baby,
ucrilgh
they were summoned to make a trip
to meet the demands of the govern-
ment. Whether the Baby lived or
died was of no concern to the society
in which they existed. As far as
their own people were concerned,
Mary and Joseph could make out for
themselves.
But because God reigned, they
were not alone. The Wise Men
brought gifts of great treasure.
There was great rejoicing.
And so tonight there is rejoicing
and there are visible tokens of
Christmas. Most business sections
have been bright with Christmas
decorations for days past. Holly
wreaths are found in many home
windows, bells on doors and gaily lit
Christmas trees, if not on the front
lawn, visible in the living room, from
the street. Stores, in most centres,
will have closed for a two-day holi-
day. Everywhere about us there
seems to be a new spirit, a new life,
a new hope, a new joy. Tonight chil-
dren will go to bed assured that
Santa Claus is on his way and will
come down the chimney, in our re-
spective home, to deliver a portion
of his heavy load. Most of us will
banish all thoughts of external trou-
bles and for the next few days con-
centrate on internal joys.
It is, indeed, a time of Merry
Christmas.
PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH
HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher J E. HUNT, Plant Superintendent
Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa
and for payment of postage in cash.
Member:
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Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association
Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives
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and Foreign; single copies 7 cents.
WHEN FRIENDS CALL
When friends call during the
holiday season, be as kind to
the dieters as to the folks who
can eat everything,
.As well as a plate of Christ-
mas cookies and cake full of
calories and sweet, sticky good-
ies, put out a ,bowl of •assorted
fruits—tangy apples, juicy
tangerines, crisp grapes, chilled
oranges. Watch your guests
enjoy the treat of their choice
—and your thoughtful hospi-
tality.
HENSALL
Seasonal Decorations
Thanks are extended to the
ladies of unit two who are re-
sponsible for the Christmas
motif with which the sanctuary
and other parts of the church
have been decorated. Members
are grateful once again to the
Guides and Brownies for the
poinsettia.
•
Zurich Community Centre
DAY, DECEMBE • , 31
SU
1 NITE
DANC
Music
Ken Mittelholtz and
HATS, H
A
y
"The Twylites"
ORNS, NOVELTIES
MISSION: $1.50 PER PERSON
Sponsored by Zurich Lions Club
FREE
SKATING
in the
"Babe" Siebert Memorial Arena
ZURICH
Every Saturday
Alternoon
Alt Winter Long
Courtesy of
Zurich and District Chamber of Commerce