The Citizen, 2010-12-23, Page 40PAGE 40. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010.
By Rev. Gary Clark
Blyth United Church
It’s almost Christmas and you
have probably been asked about 100
times, “Are you ready yet?”
This question forces me to go
through a mental check list: gifts –
check; Christmas cards bought –
check; cards actually sent – check;
confirmed who we are going to visit
and when – check; and confirmed
who will be visiting us – check.
I’m on a roll until I get closer to
the bottom of the to-do list where I
find the things that actually have to
do with that first Christmas. Things
like worship the child – check (if
Christmas Eve service counts);
peace on earth – well, no (but it’s not
really my responsibility); goodwill
towards all – no (but come on –
some people are so hard to deal
with) and I think you get the picture.
No wonder we stick with gift giving
and visiting. They may have almost
nothing to do with a Biblical
Christmas but they are actually goals
that I can finish up before the 25th of
December. The other things are just
hard work without a lot of pay-off to
show for it.
Yet those things like peace on
earth, good toward all are what we
say Christmas is about and the
achieveable things can really be a
distraction.
So how do we remember to do
what Christmas Day calls us to do?
In a recent sermon, I said that the
story itself is the key. Just think
about it. The story is about the Holy
family being forced to go to
Bethlehem but when they get there
they discover that every room in
town is booked. There is no room in
town for them and the child that is
on the way. We have no difficulty in
seeing how wrong, how misguided,
and even foolish the townsfolk were
in not leaving room. Yet that would
also apply to us.
I am guessing that Jesus, Mary and
Joseph get very little air time on
Christmas day. The Christmas tree
and not the nativity scene is placed
at the centre of our celebrations.
Diversion triumphs over the hard
work of peace on earth and good
will. We offer very little room for the
humble three who are the reason for
the season.
Secondly, at different times in the
story, angels tell Mary then Joseph
and then the shepherds, “Be not
afraid.” It seems to me that
Christmas brings on frantic
behaviour that is based on fear.
There is the fear of not giving the
right gift or fear of not putting on the
perfect meal or creating the perfect
Christmas event. Or there is the fear
of hurting someone if you don’t visit
them on that day. We allow ourselves
to be ruled by fear and not
generosity, love, or the desire to
spend time with another. If only we
could remember the advice of angels
and not be afraid, we would have the
time and the emotional well-being to
actually live in peace and thus have
some of it to share.
Which leads to the last lesson of
the Christmas story. The shepherds
in the story come and adore the
Christ child. They bring no presents
and no carols. The truth is they
probably wouldn’t have had the
money for presents even if they
thought to bring some. What they
did was to simply and humbly adore
the child.
It troubles me that as a culture we
seem to have lost the ability to show
deep emotions without some
material intermediary.
“Show her how you feel with a
diamond.” “Give your child a car for
graduation.” We can come up with
some pretty awesome gifts but I
believe they pale in comparison to
honest emotion. None of them hold a
candle to the words, “I love you” or
“I’m proud of you.” The story
reminds us to openly and honestly
adore each other.
Imagine a Christmas without the
fear and one where you felt loved,
appreciated and adored. When we
feel loved and at peace with
ourselves, we have something to
share with the world. Instead of
seeking peace and goodwill in the
world, we become fountains of it.
The pay-off isn’t in some distant
time, it has begun within us this very
Come celebrate the
birth of Jesus Christ
at
Brussels Mennonite Fellowship
Friday, December 24
7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service
Refreshments to follow
Pastor Brent Kipfer 519-887-6388
God loves people ~ He sent His Son to be one!
Saturday, December 25
12:00 noon Christmas Day Dinner
For anyone who is free to come
Sunday, December 26
9:30 a.m. Worship; Christmas Celebration
getlivingwater.orgPastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School, corner of King & Mill
Evangelical Missionary Church
Sunday,
December 26:
Worship & Sunday School
10:30 am
Friday, December 24:
Christmas Eve
Worship Celebration
7:00 pm
Special music,
atmosphere
O Come, let us
adore Him --
Christ the Lord!
“Hello — God
Speaking...”
Hebrews
1:1ff, 2:1ff
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, December 26
Brussels Public School
at 10:30 a.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age (mornings only)
Childcare provided for infants and toddlers
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact:
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Chris McMichael 519.482.1644
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
7:00 p.m.
Church Office: 519-317-4883
St. John's, Brussels
9:00 p.m.
519-887-6862
December 24
Christmas Eve Eucharist Celebration
with Rev. Perry Chuipka
www.nabcom.ca/church
No Services on December 26
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
December 24th - Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
- 7 pm at Blyth United
December 26th - Jesus Is Born! Now What?
119 John’s Ave., Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
Guest Speaker:
Rev. Gerry Wilson
7:00 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to
attend this
traditional evening
of special music by
candlelight.
Please join us for worship
SERVICES
Christmas Day Service 10:00 am
Sunday, December 26 10:00 am
Sunday, January 2
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth
519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.caPastor Gary Klumpenhower 519-523-9233
Join us for our New Year’s Eve Service at 7:30 pm
YOU ARE WELCOME
9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship
Mid-week Bible Study
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
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N
D
I
A
N
A
Timeless Truths
For Today
308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth
Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590
Blyth Community Church of God
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
Sunday, December 26
Ethel United Church
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Boxing Day Service - Worshipping at
Melville Presbyterian Church at 10:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
From the Minister’s StudyLoved ones make Christmas, not gifts
Continued on page 45