The Goderich Signal-Star, 1974-12-24, Page 7-Lucknow 5297524'
D
FROM THE MIN1STER'S
-The story of the birth of
Jesus is a very beautiful story.
We picture in our minds Mary
and Joseph, and the babe lying
in a manger. We picture the
three wise men travelling from
afar, and bringing to the •baby
Jesus gifts of gold, and frankin-
cense, and myrrh. We picture
humble shepherds listening to
an Angel choir and then hastily
making their way to
Bethlehem. •
All these beautiful scenes
pass through our minds as we
think of that first Christmas
Day. Yet if that is all that
Christr>s means to us it will
remain merely a beautiful story
from the remote past having no
significance for today; a story
soon forgotten in the busy ac-
tivities of the New Year.
Because we see only that
which is attractive and
beautiful in the Christmas
story we miss the real message
of Christmas. To realise what
the heart of the Christmas
message'is-we must see also the
dark, ugly, brutal aspects of the
story; then we will• appreciate
---why.- the, -shepherds_ returned,
glorifying and praising God for
all the things that they had
heard and seen, and why they
made known abroad"the saying
ti,
which' was told them concer-
ning this child.What were they
told? What did they make
known abroad? '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'. That was the good news:
'A Saviour is 'born'.
We can only appreciate their
joy at the birth of a Saviour if
we look at the other events.
which are equally part of. the
Christmas story, but which are
so often overlooked. Events
which, show the world's need of
a Saviour.
We !bust see the callousness;
the selfishness th,e
thoughtlessness of the people
who crowded Mary and Joseph
out of the Inn s� that Jesus was
born in a stable! A mother and
" her child, and no one cared..
They were, too busily occupied,
with their own affairs. There
we are confronted with the ut-
ter selfishness of people. A
world .like that needs a
Saviy h1.
We must see too the power of
Imperiej Rome that held
.
nations in a grip of iron with
mighty legions of.. soldiers;
people -forced to submit to the
decree's of Caesar Augustus.
"-And it carpe to pass in those
days that there went .out a
decree from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be
taxed". There we are confron-
ted with • the tyranny of dic-
tatorship; the slavery of op-
pressed peoples. A world like
that needs ' a Saviour!
We must see too the fear on
the faces of the shepherds as in
the darkness of the night ,they
felt themselves to be in the
presence of the Divine. "And
they were sore afraid". There
we are confronted with man's
ignorance and fear or the
unknown. A world like that
needs a Saviour!
We -must see also the
hypocricy and cunning of
Herod as he said to •the wise
men, "When ye have : found
him, bring me word again that
.I may come and worship him
also". He had no intention of
worshipping Jesus!
The intention of Herod was
to put Jesus to death. The men
from the East were • wise
enough to see through, his
deception. "When Herod the
king heard these things he was
troubled and all Jerusalem
with him...When : Herod 'saw
that he had been fooled by the
wise men, he was furiously
angry. He issued orders and
killed all the male children of
two years and under in
Bethlehem and the surroun-
ding district".
That is alfio part of the
Christmas story, Yet you will
never see the 'Slaughter of the
Innocents' portrayed on Chrif.-
mag cards! We must see the
heartbreak of the mothers; and
hear the cries of the'children as
they were brutally put to death.
There was .'Lamentations and
weeping and great mourning,
mothers weeping for their
children who could not be com-
forted, because they are not".
0
STUDY- .
STBY . ANDREWREV'S UJAMES NREIrTED DDOCH CMUR'C�i
There we are confronted with
the heartless cruelty of man in
his lust for power. A world like
that needs a Saviour!
We will never realise the
need of a Saviour until we see
the story of the birth of Jesus
set in the context of man's
selfishness,, man's tyranny,
man's vicious brutality, man's
poverty, and ignorance and
fear. ;
This is the message of Christ-
mas. `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". ,The coming of one who
could save man from the evil of
his ways; and who would
reveal to man the true way to
live. , A Saviour who would
overcorhe evil with good. A
Saviour' who would make war
against poverty; ignorance;
BAYFiELD -
fear; selfishness; tyranny;
brutality; and all of 'Tin's
inhumanity to man'
The situation Is still the
same today, That is why the
message of -Christmas is
relevant in this 2Qth Century.
There is still but a few who
worship Him; and who offer
the Saviour their loyalty and
devotion. He is still crowded
• out of the b"usy activities of
men. The world still needs a
Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord! To know the Salvation is
possible is surely good tidings
of great joy to all people.
The wisest of men:
diplomats; statesmen (eittler
from the East or the West)
seeking a solution ., to the
world's problems; will find that
their search ends when they
acknowledge .Jesus to be the
Saviour of the world, and like
the wise men of odd, 'Fall down
and worship Him'. •
THE BAH 'FAITH TEACHES
9,,A4vAt Meedigaili
GOD BLESS THY YEAR
The Bible tells us the
heavenly host brought to the
shepherds 'tidings of great"
joy...peace and goodwill toward
men'.
How, we may ask, can we
find Peace in a world that is
torn by conflicts in nations,
cotnrriunit.ies and often in our
own hearts? Where is the
promised peace ' in' a society
that seems to have gone mad?
It is surely not befitting to use
Christmas as a sort of sanc-
tuary Where peace reigns for
but a day, and then throw our
lives -back into turmoil and
.discord as soon as it is over.
Glen H. Asquitli saws in an
article he has come to think of
PEACE --E N EARTWOOODW4L1. ----
more insistent call from God. It Firs been given to the world In
successive stages by 'His Manifistations some of whom are
Krishna, Moses, Buddha, ,Jesus, Muhammed and in, this day
Baha'u'llah. Let us work together, now, to make it a Reality.
Goderich P.O. Box 212 Clinton P.O. Box 334
Goderich, Colborne Twsp, and Clinton Baha'i Communities join
to extend to everyone sincere wishes for an enjoyable holiday
and fulfillment in the New Veer.
'9.
Wrap up the season
with- our good wishes
for love, peace and
joy. To one and all!
PROTECTION
Goderich Auto -Truck
R ustproof i n g
BAYFIELD RD.
GODERICH
524-2524
the ileace of this season as an
innoculation from disease. He
'If I come to Christmas
and am immunized against
hate and violence, the peace ,of
Christmas becomes portable
and I c' n watk through my
World witliout the fear that I
shall he infected by the mad-
ness around me. Each Christ-
mas, then, I would 'come hack
for a 'Booster shot' of peace:'
Good will and love was
another part of the heavenly
message. At Christmas time we
experience an- outpouring of
goodwill for one another: We
are often filled with love which
overflows to distant friends,
loved ones, those less fortunate
in hospitals and prisons, and
the hungry and• needy. But af-
- ter celebrating Jestis' birthday
we all too often return to our
old ways and think onlVsof our
own needs once more.
.,,Agart7;"were +d""ii -rfl "'•CHii:sr 7
mas :story that after 'the
w.isemen worshipped Jesus and
resen _heir g.ift.s, c.. wi re..
MERRY
Ckt�
Santa Claus is here to
say we wish you
well in every way!
And. we appreciate
being able to serve
you .' .. Thanks! -
ED'S
SHELL
Service Centre
137 Victoria N.
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, TUESDAY DECEMBER 24, 1074-PAO 7
Arm ones.
And thanks
for your
continued
good will
and
confidence.
•
SUNOCO
Grant and Wilma, 8111 and Ben, and Eldon Austin
CHISHOLM FUELS
for Free Burner Service
or Famous Sunoco Custom Blended Fuels
Godertalt-524=768t -- r ._...
e
warned in a dream they should
not return to the evil King
Herod'. So they returned
c•Inothyr way.
The. world would he a better
place. if we learned, after
Christmas, to return to our
daily journey another way..the
way of unselfishness, and , of
practicing goodwill in the
loving Christmas spirit
throughout the year.
Then our earth would know
the joy the angels sang
about...for when we have peace
and love we cannot help but
have joy. Anda world of joyful
peopler.1 what Christ's coming
was all about.
To -JHESE rAREIE1L
amem'amumi'm
HENRY WILLIAM KEMP,
Henry Wiliiam,Kemp, a one-
time Goderich resident, • died
recently in Detroit, Michigan.
Ido was 86.
He was horn December 31 ,
1888 in England to Henry
Samuel and Charlotte
(Crocker) Kemp. He came to
Canada as an 'infant .and lived.. -
at Bayfield and Clinton for a •
short time before moving to .
Goderich. t•
He was a tailor by trade and
worked in Detroit from 1912
until his retirement, 12 years
ago. He served with the United
•States Army in World War 1.
He was a member of the
Episcopalian ,Church.
He is survived by one 'sister,
Maude Kemp of Goderich, and
two • brothers Victor G. of
Toronto and Cecil of Goderich.
He was never married.,
Funeral service and inter-
ment took place in Detroit.
jr_wf,"40-N.,
gianit you
%OM°
IA
for coming to t e Huron Men's
Chapel in Auk) rri in 1974
OUR LAST GREAT SERVICE IN 1974
Sunday, December 29
REV. SHILTINGTON
Canadian secretary of -the Andes.,tivangeltcal Mission held speaking
engagements in South America during July and August 1974. Presently head of
Christian Missions Education Services and a lecturer in Missions at Emmanuel
Bible College. Now Rev. Shillington is minister of Kitchenir M.B. Church where
Dr. Frank Peters was minister.
THE McMILI:LiN FAMILY
All Welcome
EVIL PREVAILS WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING •
SUNpAY LUTHERAN CHURCH
SERVICES
The family that orays together...Stays together
loyfarliepTnadtosroaononsdr,
here's hear6
wishes for
, the best
Christmas
Thanks.
Let-Chrlitmas fill
your heart with
Peace and joy.
Meeting at Robertson Memorial School
(B lake and Eldon Streets, GoderiCh)
DECEMBER 24 - 7:30 p.m.
CHFIISTmas Eve Worship
DECEMBER 25 10:00 'a.m.
CHRISTmas Day Worship
DECEMBER 29 9:30 a.m. Sunday School
Marvin L. Barz, Rastor 524-2235
"Being justified 'ey faith, we have peace with God through our°
'MO ..-ilIGJIIG'-ajk4IMIlatlfitC>kg
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Bayfield Road.at Blake Street
May all the title joys of Christmas be yours.
18 WATERLOO ST S
THE SALVATiON ARMY.9341
S.LINDAY SCHOOL 9:45 A.M.
FAMILY WORSHIP — 11:00 A.M.
EVANGELISTIC SERVICE — 7 p.m,
WEEKDAY
Home League (ladies) Wed., 8:00 p.m.
Prayer & Bible Studies Thurs. 7:30 p.m.
OFFICERS - CAPTAIN G. kERBER CAPTAIN M. MacKENZIE
"All Are Cordially invited to Attend"
Knok Presbyterian Church
Bob McCALLUM
Repreeentativii
11 Cambria Rd., GiOderich
524-1345
THE REV G. LOCKHART ROYAL, B.A. Ministat ;
WILLIAM 1147 -CAMERON, Director of Praise
TUESDAY, DECEMBER' 24, 1974
11:30 OA. Annual Christnias Eve Service
SUNDAy,, DECEMBER 29, 1974
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Divine* Worship
SERMON: "GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU"
(Nursery anti Junior ednaregation)
Enter to Worship MERRY CHRISTMAS Depart to Serve
ST. GEQRGE'S CHURCH
CHRISTMAS EVE
Holy Communion at 11:30 p.m.
• CHRISTMAS DAY
Holy Communion at 9:304.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1074
Holy Communion at 8:30 a.m.
MOrning Prayer at 11:00 a.M.
Children's Programme at 10 and 11 a.m.
ChOirMaster-Organist: Joseph 8. Herdman