The Citizen, 1992-12-16, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16,1992.
From the Minister's Study:
Christmas is a birthday celebration of Jesus
By Don Vair, Belgrave
What a wonderful time of year it
is. The excitement and anticipation
of Christmas is in the air.
It is a lime of Christmas concerts
and banquets, a time of laughter
and Season's Greetings. The
landscape is white and glistening
and our towns and villages are
aglow with lights and decorations
to fit the season.
I was bom and raised in the large
city of Hamilton, but I can honestly
say there is something different and
special about being in a small
community at Christmas, where
everyone knows each other, and the
pace of life is gentler.
After all is said and done, it is
important to get to the essence of
the heart of Christmas. What does
Christmas mean to you?
To many people Christmas is
Santa Claus, roast turkey, gifts and
going home to family and friends.
Sunday Schoolers give
concert of traditions
Some even say Christmas is for
children. All these things however
are much like the bows, wrap and
tissue that surround the gift. The
gift in the centre of the box is the
most important, most meaningful
part of all!! How pointless the gift,
if all one did was admire the
wrapping.
It is sad but true that many never
do get down to what Christmas is
all about, because all they see are
the lights and tinsel which
surrounds the main event.
I attended a public school concert
one Christmas and the children
who filled the stage stated in three
or four words what Christmas
Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.”
The Christ of Christmas came to
be your Saviour from sin. Receive
Him into your heart as your
Saviour and Lord right now, and
make this the most blessed
Christmas you will ever know.
you are. ‘Welcome at
the
BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11 -12:15 - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth
Greeters at Blyth United Church
on Sunday, Dec. 13 were Lloyd and
Mary Walden. The ushers were
Bruce and Candice Howson, Stacey
Elliott and Dean Lawrie. Cheryl
Cronin led a sing-song of
Christmas Carols accompanied by
John Ramirez, before the special
service.
Rev. Ramirez greeted everyone.
He lit the first two advent candles
before turning the service over to
Melanie Bearss, the Sunday School
Verburgs
greet at CRC
Greeters at Blyth Christian
Reformed Church on Sunday, Dec.
13 were Tony and Roely Verburg.
Ushers were Tony Vander lei and
Wayne Bos.
Elder Bert Sjaarda led the service
with the call to worship taken from
Psalm 95. The opening hymn was
O Come All Ye Faithful. Words of
welcome were extended to all
members and guests.
After the prayer of confession
and words of forgiveness, taken
from Micah, the congregation
responded with thankfulness by
singing Father I Adore You.
In prayer we remember the needs
of our congregation, the
community, our country and our
world.
Hinke Bakelaar and Glenna
Buffinga played an organ and piano
duet, Angels we have Heard on
High during the offering. The
scripture lesson was taken from
Matthew 10: 24-42, especially
focusing on verses 24 and 25.
The sermon was entitled, “A
disciple is not above his teacher.”
Jesus said, “It is enough for a
disciple to be like his teacher.” As
Christians, we must cling to the
principles of God and be imitators
of Christ. When we fall into a
difficult situation we should ask
ourselves, what would Jesus do?
We acknowledge Christ in our
everyday living by being like him.
The service ended with the
singing of Joy to the World.
Mennonite church
enjoys potluck meal
Superintendent. She introduced the
Christmas concert. The Sunday
School presented a concert of
Christmas traditions.
A French skit was performed by
grade four, five and six girls. The
boys' class sang Oh! Petite Ville De
Bethleem (O Little Town of
Bethlehem) lead by Lance Bearss.
The nursery class delighted
everyone with the singing of Away
In A Manger, led by Gayle Poore.
A German skit was performed by
the kindergarten and grade one
children. With the singing of O
Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) in
German. During this time the third
Advent candle was lit. A
congregational hymn Good
Christian Me Rejoice was sung.
The grade two and three
performed a Philippine skit with
the Sunday School singing Nah
Tah Now Na (Silent Night),
followed by a congregation hymn,
Joy to the World.
Melanie then read the scripture
from Luke 1: 46-50. All the skits
were narrated by the senior class.
Melanie thanked John Ramirez and
Gayle Poore for the leadership of
the songs. Then on behalf of the
Sunday School thanks was
expressed to Rev. Ramirez and
John for teaching them the
Philippine song and about
Christmas in the Philippines.
meant to them. It was the exception
to hear anything that came even
close to what Christmas is all
about.
Christmas is really a birthday
celebration of the Saviour, who is
Christ the Lord. Think of it, eight
hundred years before Christ, the
prophet Isaiah, by the Holy Spirit
wrote (Isa: 7:14) “Therefore the
Lord Himself shall give you a sign;
behold, the virgin shall conceive,
and bear a Son and shall call His
name Immanuel.” Immanuel
literally means “God with us”.
The prophet Micah also 800
years B.C. states ... “whose goings
forth have been from old, from
everlasting.”
The Saviour was bom fulfulling
in meticulous detail, prophesies of
old. The most important thing to
understand about the birth of the
Christ child is that He was bom to
die, and He did exactly that, when
He was nailed to the cross of
Calvary and His blood was shed for
your sin and mine.
God offers you the greatest gift
of all, the gift of eternal life. As
with any gift, it is only of value to
you if you accept it. If you don't, it
will be to you as though a Saviour
was never bom at all. John 3:16,
says, “For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
Join together in the celebration
of Christ's birth.
Christmas Family Sunday
December 20-11 a.m.
Christmas Eve & Communion Service
7:30 p.m.
Rev. Lorenzo Ramirez Jr.
Phone 523-4224
Christmas Sunday
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
10:50 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
- Music - Intermediate Choir
- Family Worship Service
"The Real Meaning of Christmas"
9:30 a.m.- Ethel Christmas Communion Service
- Church School
7:30 p.m.- Community Carol Sing
Tuesday, December 22nd ********
"’Twas in the moon of winter time"
i BLYTH CHRISTIAN -A REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
GUEST MINISTER:
Pastor Tom Warner preached
from Luke 2: 8-20, the Christmas
story. We need to be reminded
regularly of the Christmas Story.
Being a Christian or not being a
Christian is a decision people must
constantly make, every day of their
lives, he said.
Lucy Hesse and Kathy Procter
were in charge of the congrega
tional singing. The Christian
Education Hour (Sunday School)
was spent with a continuation ol
the inter-generational groups
touring various centres to learn
about various stages in Jesus' life.
The monthly pot luck meal and
fellowship followed the services.
The Warners opened their home tc
the congregation and friends in he
afternoon, for a Christmas open
house.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are welcome this Sunday
December 20 - Advent IV
Holy Eucharist - BAS
Trinity, Blyth St.John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
The Rev'd E. Paul Acton, 887-9273
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
Sunday -10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Morning Service
8 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday - 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday - 7:30 p.m. - Youth
Treat Yourself to the Warmth,
Beauty and Peace
• Christmas Eve Mass •
at St. Augustine
'The Little Church with the Big Smile"
Candlelight Carols.......................8:30pm
Midnight Mass...........9:00 pm
Christmas Morning Mass ..10:00 am
For Directions calL..
Father Joe............. 529-7387
or Mary Boyle................529-7589
iaiv
REV. John Verhoog
Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Special Sunday School Program - 2:30 p.m.
The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20"
Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday
Faith 20 5:00 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V.
All Visitors ‘Welcome ‘Wheelchair accessible
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
We welcome you to come
and worship with us.
Come and Celebrate Christmas at Melville Presbyterian
December 20th 11 a.m. Jr. Choir "Wise Guys & Starry Skies"
Youth Dramatic Presentation
7:30 p.ti. Cantata "Gloria”
December 24th 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship with candles
BRUSSELS
MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIR
9:25 a.m. Worship Service
10:15 a.m. Intergenerational Sunday School
Theme: Journeys with Jesus
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments to follow
Pastor: Tom Warner Elder: Sharon Freeman
887-6388 887-6564
Each and Everyone Truly Welcome