HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-12-23, Page 19The
Brenda Radford
Let's finish off the last third
of the Christmas Alphabet,
which, of course, has the hard-
est letters.
R] relatives, remembering
the Christmas story, reflec-
tions, reindeer.
S] Saviour, shepherds,
sleighs, songs, stockings.
T] glad tidings, trees with
tinsel, treats.
U] us, the whole family
together, universal goodwill.
V] the Virgin Mary, visitors.
W] welcome to visitors and
the new year, Christmas
wishes.
X] for kisses under the
mistletoe.
Y] yule logs whose purpose
was to provide bright fire over
the Yuletide.
Z] zest that comes from
within for a season of giving.
John and I extend Christ-
mas wishes to all of you. May it
truly be a merry and bright
season for you and yours.
Although this warm
weather, not typical of a Cana-
dian Christmas, is making
travel for Christmas easy, I, for
one, will be glad if more sea-
sonal weather comes and gets
rid of all the bugs - cold, flu
and ladybugs.
Villagers were saddened to
learn early last week of the
passing of Marie Glousher.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 • News Record 19
ews from Londesborough
Marie had been a cheery part
of village life during the years
she and Wilmer lived in the
village until their move to
Blyth to smaller accommoda-
tions. Marie had been in hos-
pital just a short time before
her passing. Keep her family in
your thoughts and prayers.
Londesborough United Church
At Londesborough United
Church on Sunday, December
20, the fourth Sunday of
Advent, Rev. Fletcher lit the
candle of love.
A different kind of expres-
sion of love was the beauti-
ful poinsettia on the Com-
munion table that morning
placed in memory of Tom
Duizer by his family.
In honour of the fact that it
was Christmas Sunday, the
senior choir sang two joyous
anthems, "Go Tell It on the
Mountain" and "The Bells of
Christmas':
During their time at the
front of the sanctuary, Rev.
Fletcher asked if the children
had hung their Christmas
stocking yet. At his home, the
family always hangs one extra
stocking and the children
guessed correctly that it would
be for Jesus. A discussion fol-
lowed about what Jesus might
like in His stocking. Love
was suggested by Emma
Baxter.
Terry told them that during
the year, his family thinks
about what sort of things Jesus
might like and writes it on a
piece of paper that they put in
the stocking on Christmas Eve.
These are like promises - to
give love to others, to help oth-
ers more, to be the best person
they can, etc. Then through
the year they try to keep those
promises to Jesus. As Ebenezer
Scrooge said in the Christmas
Carol: "I will honour Christ-
mas in my heart and try to
keep it all the year:'
During their time in Sunday
School, the children looked at
candy canes and learned of
their significance to the Christ-
mas story. At the end of the
morning service the children
gave congregants a candy
cane with that story attached.
In his message to the adults,
Rev. Fletcher continued his
Advent study, following the
journey, with "Loose Ends':
For more than 200 years the
Christmas journey has capti-
vated the world. That faith has
formed the foundation for the
Christian religion.
An account of the Christ-
mas story is found in each of
the four Gospels and each of
those writers recounted what
was important to them or
what they themselves
Through the Stained Glass Window
Rev. Randy Covey
Clinton United Church
There was once a family that
celebrated Christmas every
year with a birthday party for
Jesus. An extra chair of honour
at the table became the family's
reminder of Jesus' presence. A
cake with candles, along with
the singing of"Happy Birthday"
completed the family's joy in
the celebration.
One Christmas afternoon, a
visitor asked five-year-old Ruth,
"Did you get everything you
wanted for Christmas?"
"No'; she said looking some-
what dejected. Then smiling,
she quickly added, "But then,
it's not "my" birthday:'
Isn't that neat? I like the way
the little girl was able to think
through not getting all the Bar-
bie dolls or whatever else she
had wanted. "But then, it's not
"my" birthday"- and maybe a
gentle reminder to us too, I
think, as we strive to keep our-
selves focused on just whose
birthday we are celebrating.
And, besides, this is a great time
of the year -a time of not only
waiting for the big day, but also
a time when as a church and as
individual Christians we begin
to take a hard look around to
see who is and who is not able
to celebrate.
Along with the specialmem-
ories that come back to us
about past celebrations, we find
ourselves more open to sharing
with others. Food Banks, White
Gift Christmas programs, the
Salvation Army kettles, and
other special appeals for out-
side missions: all these things
and more become part of our
Advent thinking. And all this is
good too because each thing
done in love not only celebrates
"whose birthday" it is, but also
honours the very "way" of the
kingdom that Jesus so often
talked about. It is a great time
indeed.
And folks all along the way
of this Christmas season have
been able to enjoy the special-
ness inherent in it. Sunday
Schools have presented
Christmas Pageants - in my
church, Clinton United, that
day was coupled with White
Gift Sunday, that unique
opportunity to share Christ-
mas gifts with others in the
community. Then everyone,
young and old, gathered for
the Christmas Parade in down-
town Clinton on December 4 -
a great festivity with I believe
over 50 entries. So now we
come to the evening itself. A
good opportunity to invite you,
fair reader, to attend one of the
many Christmas Eve services
in the churches of Clinton.
Again, in my church, Clinton
United, December 24 is a quiet
family service of Carols and
Readings and Communion to
cap off our wait for Christmas
Day.
So, enjoy the day- itis meant
for enjoyment - laugh and
smile with the kids as they open
their presents; share the turkey
and celebrate - after all, we do
know whose birthday it is.
Blessings and Merry Christmas
to all.
experienced. Then the Old
Testaments offer prophesies.
To truly understand the com-
plete story one must put
together all these 'loose ends'.
Once the family had been
counted they may have been
anxious to return to Nazareth.
However affairs of the world
and religion intervened. The
Jewish religion stated that
each boy child must be cir-
cumcised on his eighth day.
And the 'redemption of the
first bom' had to be purchased
after 31 days of the child's life.
This 'purchase' of the child
back from God required the
payment of 5 shekels. That
would have been three weeks
of carpentry work for Joseph.
Moreover Mary was declared
'unclean' for 40 days following
Christ's birth and had to pre-
sent sacrifices at the temple to
be declared 'clean' again. Ergo
the journey home would not
happen for at least 40 days.
These events serve to dem-
onstrate to the world that Jesus
was part of a family that knew
difficulties and insecurities
and was very ordinary. These
experiences were important to
Christ's ministry later. And in
those weeks following the
birth the Magi realized they
needed to see these things for
themselves.
The community is invited to
join in the Christmas Eve Ser-
vice at 7 p.m. on December 24.
If you would like to help
organize/house clean storage
areas in the church, meet at the
church on January 11 at 9 a.m.
The Official Board of
Londesborough United will
meet on Januaryl2 beginning
at 7:30 p.m.
Happy New Year!
FROM DOROTHY, MAUREEN, AMY & JOANNE
THANK
Wishing
Everyone
CHRISTMAS
and:: Good Health
Happiness
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