The Lucknow Sentinel, 1990-12-19, Page 31Where Christmas begins
elnistinno, a mrd that being so many images es to mind. It up a hundred
different meznorxes,
What is Christmas? It's a stable and a child, alta a message ofjoynand hope that
has Ting out for neatly two thousand years. It eso be no less yet It can also be
tenon.
It's family, fry. gifts and greetings. It's paw andwaging *d Lots of
wonderful food„ We can't ignore the fed that much of .our Christmas tradition has
its roots in festivals for pgds and goddesses. Yetinuchof this has come today
to centre on the Christian Prince of Pence. The wreath oln'the door, the tree m the
window even the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. Minimax is a song, it's love.
it's laughter, all that is good in life itself. Where eon such a gory really begin?
Surely it must begin with the birth of a child iaBeni St. Lu% • tells us that
angels sang their praises to God, thatshepherds went back home singing Palmas 10
God for all they had heard and seenseem to have been sl good deal of
singing and rejoicing surrounding the birth of that child in Bethlehem.
In our homes and in our churches, we'll gather to hear the story,once again and.
to sing the old and familiar Christmas' carols. As we sing we add our own voices
til the angels and the shepherds and countless people who've reesponded through
song to this incredible stogy of God's love.
one_ For. me, o„ of the most important • features of .t Mistress is the singing, the
wonderful .Chrittinas music. I especially look forward to the fust week of the
Advent season. On the ilk, Sundayin Advent, I take out and listen to my .old and
, me, For me, this is my own special. signal
that my recordingpofoe : season can now begin. The words, molly
froin Scnpwte the music haven way of filling mc,with the focus of Christmas,
I. hear both the angels and the shepherds praises, to God. It's music. like Hazel's
Messiah that sets the focus andthe tone of the. Grist nas season for me
What isit for you?
What is it that brings you bs., to storytheof the • born in Bethlehem? What
�y
is it that sparks new hope and expectation for you? Of.course you'll have to answer
thatfor yourselves. •
Each of us. has our own special memories and. feelings about Christmas. It's a
very emotional season all, kinds of feelings surround Christmas good feelings as
well as bad. feelings. Happy feelings andsad ones are there too. We tend to think
only of the happy feelings, but the Christmas season can also cause feelings of
despair, depression, loneliness and pain.
Especially for those who may have lost a loved one since last Christmas. Or
perhaps the e will be separation of family members thisear, or Christmas will be
spent in hospital.. As we go about our preparations for Christmas,: we really can'tassume thateveryone is filled with joy and singing happily. we need to remember
that the realities of life go on. Just because December 25th is coming close, doesn't
mean an end to the daily struggles.
There's a message in this ftkc us all, to remember our friends and family members
and our neighbours too who are struggling even now, As we reflect. on God's gift
giving, let's see the opportunities for our•,own self -giving.
St. Luke tells us that the an$els came to the shepherds while they were caring for
their sheep. An ordinary day was interrupted with newsabout a birth in a place
called Bethlehem. Perhaps they took their flocks with them as they set out to see
for themselves what they had heard from the angels. It was in the midst of the
everyday livesthe shepherds heard the news and they responded with songs of
praise. Even in their daily struggles, they could hear the angels singing and they
°"lizitild sing praise themselves. The angel singing broke into. their ordinary lives, lives
that contained all the same emotions that we experience. all the same struggles that
we experience.
No ear may hear His coming but in this world of sin where meek souls will
receive Him still, the dears Christ enters in.
Surely this is where Christmas begins.
May God bless you this Christmas with hope awakened and a new awareness of
God's unfailing love.
Peggy Kinsman
Minister of the Lucknow and
South Kinloss Presbyterian Churches �.
Nine Word
Candlelight
Holly
Reindeer
Icing
Santa
Tree
Maple Syrup
Apple
Stocking
Carols
Holly
Reindeer
Ice
Stocking
Trees
Mistletoe
Angel
Santa
by Jonathon Drennan,
Grade 3 Brookside,
Christmas Christmas
Christmas is a time of year when we
celebrate Jesus' birth. When Jesus was
bom, a star caught the sight of three
wisemen. The three wisemen followed the
star to Bethlehem. There they found the
baby Jesus.
snow
a e r i
n
t a t
a m e
e r
n
t
Whiter
by Matthew Martin,
Brookside•Grade 3
by Jackie Hackett,
Grade 3 Brookside,
lisckeow Sestleid, WoMeeday, December lit pose +7A.
Samuel Stam
Lucknow Christian School
Grade 3
Christmas Diagnosis
The best diagnosis of Christmas was given by a doctor over 1900 years ago. The doctor is Luke. And
his diignosis is found in the second chapter of his inspired record, known to us as the Gospel according
to Luke. In the 11th verse we have the message: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour which is Christ the Lord." Note how clear is the doctor's diagnosis:
"Unto you" - that •is Personal
"This day" - that is Present
'A Saviour" -'that is Precious
We must remember there is all the difference in the world between Christmas and Christ. Millions
make a holiday over Christmas and often only a mockery over Christ. Too often, Christ is cruelly crowded
out of the special day which is intended as a day to remember Him. Holiness is hidden underneath a
pile of holly. The wreath is hung higher than the Cross, and worst of all, the Precious Saviour all too
often is supplanted by Santa Claus.
But without Christ, there can be no true Christmas. Without Him there is nothing about which to sing
or anything over which to rejoice. Outward merriment, too, often becomes inward mockery to the starv-
ed soul. It is time for all to tum back to the old prescription of Doctor Luke. Let us meditate upon his words:
"Unto you" ... this is a personal message, and there should be no evasion or denial. What have you
done with the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you received Him?
"This day" ... yes, this very moment, God is offering you the greatest Christmas Gift of all, His dear
Son! "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift!" (II Corinthians 9:15)
"A Saviour" ... this is Christ, the Precious One Who went to the cruel cross for all of us. Because
of His grace, and His atoning death on the cross, all who receive Him become "new creatures in Christ
Jesus." (11 Corinthians 5:17)
Source Unknown
Elmer and John
LUCICNOW Urbach Pharmacy 528-3004