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The Brussels Post, 1976-12-22, Page 2WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1976 Serving Brussels and the surrounding community. Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario by McLean Bros. Publishers, Limited. Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Dave Robb - Advertising Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $6.00 a year. Others $8.00 a year, Single Copies 15 cents each. BRUSSELS ORTAPII0 *CNA MITA* ISMER 1117Z Brussels Post And it came to pass Amen by Karl Schuessler Not ready? So you say you're not ready for ChristmaS? There, there. None of that. You've had 364 days to get ready, haven't you? Just what have you been doing all year long? I know. Your excuses sound pretty good, don't they? But no matter. Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat. And please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you think you -have trouble, then pity the poor clergyman this year. The calendar's stacked against him. It's bad enough having those Christmas Eve services -- one at least. Maybe two. What with .those late midnight masses and candle light services.. Then up the next morning for Christmas Day for one of the toughest sermons of the year. Because really, how do you tell the old, old story:in a spanking and sparkling way? The morning after - without too many hours sleep -- and possibly-- without too much preparation. One man thought he'd keep it simple one year. In place of sermon, he stood up and wished his flock the simple, greeting "'Merry Christmas and a Happy* New Year". The congregation didn't appreciate that Message at all. Hymns, prayers, responses and OfferingS may be alright. But weary though they Were, they felt they didn't get their Money's Werth.They *anted far more for all their trouble of getting up and trotting off to church that: frosty Christmas Morning., But"this year N ,Christinas is even worse for the paiSon. Res in tot three services in 'a row thanks to a Sunday following the Saturday ChriStinaS bay. And if the minister's gOt trouble, pity the organist: He's had to work something like a magazine publisher months in' advanee. He's been pumping and practicing Christin4S carols for ,over month now: Working Up something special not only with himself, but also with the choirs: Everyone expects something special at Christmas. But then, everyone expects the same at Christmas too, Everyone expects the top four, on the Christmas hit parade: "0, Come All Ye Faithful", "The First Noel", "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". At least that's what one Anglican organist figured the pop Christmas carols were. He may well be bored with them all -- if not to begin with, then at least by Christmas. But he plays them anyway, because he figures he has to keep the bread on his table. And even when 4ie does play the top four, he knows he's still miss someone's favorite. Someone will come up to him after the service 'and vvonder why he kept their favorite carol buried. I hereby declare "Be Kind To Clery and Organist Week". And while I'm at it ) I declare "Be Kind To Week". This is a rough week - built on high expectations, strong feeliings and raised hope. I'm used to seeing more tears at Christmas time than any other time of the year: Sure, it's a season of excitement -- the highs as well as the lows, It's an emotional time. It can be the best of times -- the worst of times. And ready or not, the time conies. The tithe is ripe. The time is full. And God does send forth His Son born of a woman, born utider the law, to redeem those who were under the laW, so that we might receive adoption as sons. The days are atootriplithedi Mary doeS bring forth her first-born son and lays hint in a manger. Whether We're ready or not; God conies to US once again at this Christmas tithe. Arid to all faithful and not so faithful, I share with you this holy light in the darkened Manager stall. .Happy thristihas to everyone of you! Luke 2: 1-10 And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up froM Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be :taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she could be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for behold I bring you good , tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto yoU is born this day in the .city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a \ manger." And a suddenly there was with the angel multitude of the heavenly host 'praising God and saying' "Glory to God in the highest "and on earth peace, good will toward men." Clip his wings Otto Lang needs his wings clipped. Mr. Lang is the cabinet minister who,has been in trouble with the opposition in the House of Commons recently following revelations that his use of government planes to fly between Ottawa and hi6 riding in Saskatchewan has cost the taxpayer about three quarters of a million dollars over the last three years. Mr. Lang was in trouble again last week when it surfaced that he planned to have his childrens' nanny fly home to Scotland for free on a Department of National Defense flight. A replacement nanny was reported to be coming from Britain to Canada, also on a D.N.D. flight, at the taxpayers' expense. Mr. Lang has changed his plans as far as nannies- are concerned and both his retiring nanny and her replacement will be flying on regularity scheduled flights, presumably at Mr. Lang's expense. 8tit the transport minister refuses to acknowledge that he made errors in judgment by spending the three quarters of a million on specially scheduled flights for himself. His time is valuable, he says, and he actually saves the taxpayers money by being ,able to fly exactly when he wants to fly, on planea ordered for his convenience. That's doubtful and it's another example of the arrogance of people in high places jociking for ways to justify What is really a squandering Of the public purse. Mr. Lang seems to have learned something from the nanny episOde. He backed down there, WhaVs needed now it an edict from his bosSi the Prime Minister, telling Mr. Lang to stop his personal high flying ways too.