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The Citizen, 2016-11-24, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016. PAGE 17. From the Minister's Study The Christmas season, Advent, is here By Rev. Gary Clark Blyth and Brussels United Churches No matter what the advertising has said, `this' week is the beginning of the Christmas Season. In the Christian calendar this Sunday is New Year's Day and is the first day of the season of Advent. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. It is hard to believe that we can have all the excitement and anticipation around Christmas without fully accepting, believing and celebrating the birth of Jesus as the Christ. The Christ or Messiah in Hebrew is the messenger of God and deliverer of Israel or those who believe in God. Yet in many Thompson to host roundtable MPP for Huron -Bruce Lisa Thompson will be hosting two small business roundtable discussions in the riding on Nov. 28 to hear from the community about what challenges and issues local businesses and industry are facing. The first meeting will take place at the Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron (REACH) in Clinton from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with the second held at The Plex in Port Elgin from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Joining Thompson in Clinton and Port Elgin will be special guest Vic Fedeli (MPP for Nipissing). "Our small businesses are vital to the prosperity and growth of our communities, especially in rural Ontario," said Thompson. "We want to ensure that the concerns of the community with respect to local industry are heard so that we can help to create a landscape where entrepreneurship, innovation and prosperity can flourish." Anyone interested in participating in the discussion is encouraged to RSVP by e -mailing lisa.thompson@pc.ola.org or by calling 416-325-3467 no later than Friday, Nov. 25. "Conversations such as these are invaluable when it comes to finding new ideas and approaches to tackling restrictive regulations, red tape and the duplication of efforts, and I'm looking forward to sharing our findings back at Queen's Park," said Thompson. t t t t t t t t t t t t t t 1Vr Cfirifstian, TellaMip "Wisdom to Rise Above the Flood" Evangelical Missionary Church Small Group • Tuesdays 7:30 pm at G&M Lisle's, Wingham Women's Ministry • 1st Wed. each month, 7:00 pm Youth Group •Wed. 6:30.8:30 pm at Huron Chapel EMC, Auburn COFFEE BREAK (women's Bible study) • Wed. 10 am at Blyth CRC IF:HURON (for women) • Dec. 5, 7:45 pm at Blyth Creek Maple Farm 10:30 a.m. — Worship & Sunday School at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God) Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848, households, schools and even more in our stores there is no sign of Jesus. Santa? You bet. But Jesus, please step to the back of the bus. We blame political correctness and maybe that can take some of the hit, but let's be honest if the majority really said that Jesus as a child and man were of central importance in their lives then we would feel insulted and betrayed by our own civil society. We would demand that it is our religious right to display the Nativity scene and sing carols in the schools our children attend, and see those scenes in the stores in which we shop and in our public building. That doesn't mean that other faiths couldn't also have their place on their Holy days in our stores and public buildings, after all that's just good business, but we should be allowed ours. So I am left to assume that for the majority of Canadians the religious history and reason for Christmas just doesn't matter that much. Christmas has become a secular time that is about giving gifts, having time off and that's all. With that reality in mind comes the truth that Christians are now one of the religious minorities in Canada. We Christians can complain about this or simply get on with the business of being faithful even when we don't have the power and privilege that we once enjoyed. Actually it might be good for the Christian faith to be in this powerless place. After all Jesus was born into this world to a powerless couple, of a powerless nation, in the backwaters of the then civilized world. These are our roots and much of what Jesus had to say was directed to those who felt powerless in the world. Jesus reminded the powerless that they were beloved by the maker of the universe and have an internal and eternal strength of soul that can never be taken from you. Strangely enough Christian or not, BRUSSELS United Church 1st Sunday of Advent Worship Service & Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. Children's Guest Mary Ross — think P.J.'s Everyone welcome Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div. - 226-963-1175 You're Invited a join 'Us c9n Wors4ip SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Morning Service 10:00 am Community Advent Service 7:30 pm at Huron Chapel in Auburn BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH M Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27 We invite you to join our church family in: Worship & Sunday School - 11 am Coffee & Snacks following the service Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Nursery care available 519-887-6687 ko Blyth United Church Est. 1875 Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, November 27 ADVENT 1 "The Best Gift Is You" White Gift Sunday We welcome by baptism: Ainsley Marie Elliott 7 p.m. - Join us at the Community Christmas Service at Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church, Auburn MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224 most people feel powerless. The forces that control their living, their work, the climate and things like interest rates their savings earn are beyond their control. That lack of control/power is felt so keenly in our world today. So this Jesus who is ignored is exactly the one who might speak a word of truth and hope to the very world that rejects him. As I write that I sadly wonder if maybe the majority have not rejected Jesus as much as they have rejected the church and how we have communicated the hope filled words of Jesus. Either way Advent and Christmas offer believers a new chance this year to communicate just what we believe this season is all about. If we don't, that's on us and Christmas becomes simply a door crasher sale on aisle three. If you put yourself into the believer camp than it's on you as it is on me to communicate the hope, promise and the power for all in this season. Peace, Gary. ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS 13 LYT H Trinity (_,s„. 9:15 am Church Office 519-357-4883 BRUSSELS St. John's 11:15 am Church Office 519-887-6862 Everyone Welcome! COME WORSHIP WITH US! efteedeeed elmffiZatv Vae eitafree You're '1nv1.teG1 to come worsht p with us Sunday, November 27 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 With Us At Huron Chapel "Always A Place For You" Every Sunday @ 10:30am in Auburn - huronchapel.com THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph's Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N.