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Back to HomeChristmas Edition - December 22, 2011Christmas 2011

Art Contest

A Memorable Walk to the First Christmas

Balthazar's Brainstormby Antonia Chatson

Christmas Messages for the Clergy

Christmas Poems & Stories

Reveillon Christmas

Early Literacy:Are You Ready for Christmas

Editorial:The Good Life

Recipes Christmas Messages from the Clergy

A  Christmas Message by Rev. Jean Brown

An angel of the Lord by Rev. Mark Hudson

Christmas Trees By Pastor Ken Walton

The Season of Advent by Rev. Nancy MacLeod

A Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

In the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations let us all pause, and remember the true religious significance of this spiritual event - the birth of Jesus Christ. We spend so much time preparing, buying, baking, planning, when in fact at the original event, planning did not play a big role. Mary was astonished at her circumstances, however she per-severed and responded to God, as did Joseph. They didn't have any plans at all, however willingly responded to God's plans for them and the baby Jesus was born in a barn - quite a palace for the royal King.

As a child I recall preparing for Christmas by anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Eaton's catalogue. When it came we would begin to make out lists of the items we wanted. I'm embarrassed to say we would even write down the page number and the item number and long for that gift. My mom would get so annoyed with us and remind us of the best Christmas gift - the birth of Christ. Thankfully she persevered and we finally caught on. Somehow we have blown it all out of proportion by continuing to disregard the true religious meaning of the event; the two frightened ill-prepared young folks responding to God and taking on a huge assignment. Somehow we have concentrated on the gifts of the wise men and in giving gifts rather than responding to the willingness of the wise men to follow a star and to set out on an unexpected journey into the unknown, not al-ways knowing where they were headed, but knowing that God would guide them onward. Somehow we have forgotten that the Holy Child was born in a simple manger: no deco-rations, lights, tinsel or comforts, and instead we have filled our empty spaces with excess rather than with our God.

Currently serving at the two United Churches of Ompah and Plevna as they ponder their future, I'm amazed at the willingness to step out in faith and to try new ventures and new ways of being the church. Just as the shepherds responded to the angel and headed out across the fields in search of the Christ Child, so too have our churches been ex-ploring and seeking new ways of representing the Christ Child and in being the church. They have been meeting faithfully, and have tentatively decided to continue in a modified form - going back to the old lay-led house church meetings of long ago, and then in the spring resuming worship in the churches with a part-time minister.

Certainly there are many needs and if you can help with any of these, please let the co-chairs Betty Hunter or Helen Forsey know. The needs: praying, accounting and keeping records, checking on the manse until it is sold in the spring, cleaning, grass-cutting, ground maintenance at the manse until it is sold, offering suggestions and practical help, and most importantly, up-holding all churches in your prayers. This plea goes out to all attenders and non-attenders - we need help!

In closing, sincere thanks to all and may the peace and inspiration of the Christ child infuse us with optimism, hope, and new life.

An Angel of the Lord by Rev. Mark Hudson

(Luke 2: 8-14) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

As I reflect upon our Christmas tree, the ornament placed at the top of the tree is an

angel; and you might ask why? The angel of the Lord played a major role, proclaiming "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord" It is this Good News that is for all people. The angel is commissioned by God to deliver the message to the shepherds. The angel is a reminder of the message we carry to our fellow man especially at Christmas.

The Hebrew meaning for angel is one who "carries a message", "fulfills a special, specific commission" and "represents the one sending him." As we look into scripture, these supernatural beings called angels are also referred to by other names. They are called "sons of God" Job 1:6; "mighty ones" Psalm 29:1; "heavenly beings" Psalm 89:6; "holy ones" Daniel 4:13, 17.

It's important for us to acknowledge where these angels come from. They were heaven sent and the presence of the Lord was around them. They were sent by God the Father to deliver a message that was for all mankind.

Secondly, the angel brings assurance to these trembling shepherds, "Do not be afraid." They were in the fields protecting their sheep, keeping watch for wild animals but to their surprise, heavenly beings they were not ready for appeared to them. They had little thought or expectation of such things. The presence of the Lord shone around; these men were in the presence of God who is able to sweep away, remove their fear. Unless fear is removed, these shepherds would not be able to hear, let alone complete the mission they were to undertake.

Once the angel delivered the message of great joy that was for all people, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared before them praising, worshipping God "Glory to God in the highest." The angel's primary focus is worship; it is God-centered.

Thirdly, it announces peace on earth to men on whom his favor rests.

The birth of the Savior Jesus Christ is a great time of celebration, fulfilling the prophecy made in Isaiah 7:14 - 500 years earlier. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Meaning God with us).

Today, we worship the Savior, Jesus Christ. He did not remain a baby but He grew up to be a man, who became the ultimate sacrifice, bearing all our sins though he was without sin. He died on the cross; three days later he rose from the dead and sits at his Father's right side and will soon return for his bride, the church! Jesus came that we might experience the fullness of life found solely in him and offering those who believe in him eternal life!

May each of you discover afresh the Joy of the Lord. As you seek the Savior, remember Jesus came and died for you.

Have a blessed Christmas and a safe and happy New Year! To your families from our family at Sharbot Lake Pentecostal Church.

Christmas Trees

By Pastor Ken Walton, Parham Free Methodist Church

The familiar Christmas story in Luke 2 has the angel addressing the shepherds and saying: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Many of us are old enough to remember the days before political correctness came along and turned Christmas into the Holidays and Christmas concerts into Seasonal Activities. And many of us remember taking part in nativity plays in schools.

Dad’s bathrobe and a staff turned boys into shepherds. Dad’s bathrobe and a crown made you a wise man. If you didn’t have a staff or a crown you were probably Joseph and you had to stand over near the girl who was Mary holding the baby Jesus doll. Of course if you were a girl and didn’t get chosen as Mary you ended up in the angel chorus.

There was always a large Christmas tree and every child got a gift, if only an apple and some candy. The trouble was there was no attempt to connect the Nativity scene to the Christmas tree, lights, decorations and gifts. Few people today see any connection between the biblical story and the Christmas tree.

Christians saw the evergreen tree as a symbol of joy, of hope, of an ever green tomorrow, a symbol of eternity. It seemed a fitting symbol for Christ’s day. Especially when you decorate it with stars to remind people of the star that led the wise men to the child; with angels to remind us of the messengers that came to Joseph and Mary and the shepherds; with lights to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world and without him we walk in darkness.

Gift giving seemed appropriate on the occasion when Christians celebrated the greatest gift of all. God did not just send gifts to man ... He became the gift! That gift didn’t remain in the manger but ended up hanging on another tree ... the cross of Calvary. There that gift died to pay for our sin. That gift rose from the dead to give us eternal life. That gift will, if we accept Him, give us a relationship with Himself.

The Christmas trees, lights, decorations, gifts, all these were meant to point us towards God, towards Jesus Christ, to help us understand what God has done for us. Don’t let these images, these pointers, now hide what they were supposed to reveal.

Christmas, and Christmas Trees, are about joy and hope, peace and love, all wrapped up in this gift that is Jesus. Christmas is the celebration of the coming of Christ, the babe in the manger, the man on the cross, God the Son, our Lord and Saviour! Merry Christmas!

The Season of Advent by Rev. Nancy MacLeod

The Anglican tradition, like a number of other Christian denominations, begins the season called Advent on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The beginning of Advent is actually the start of our new church year! While some Christians keep Advent as very penitential, for us Advent is primarily a time of preparation, hope and expectation. We not only prepare to celebrate God coming to us as a human being in the historic event of the birth of our Lord, Jesus, we also focus on preparing our lives for all the ways in which God comes to us regularly in our daily routine, and in joyful anticipation of the promised second coming of Christ to bring to fulfilment His Kingdom.

Symbols are an important part of our worship. In Advent, a wreath with candles is placed in the worship space as a symbol of our Advent journey of preparation. Many folks also have one at home as a focus for personal or family devotions. The circular wreath symbolizes eternity, everlasting covenant and God’s encircling love, and is usually decorated with evergreens, symbolizing renewal, but the candles themselves are the focus, reminding us that in this dark season we proclaim the birth of The Light of the World, and seek to let His light shine through us for the world.

The Advent candle custom probably began quite simply in Germany or Scandinavia, with an extra candle being lit each week as the world outside grows darker towards the shortest day of the year. Over time, however, a number of traditions have been added. Symbols have many layers of meaning!

There are five candles on the wreath. Nowadays, usually four are blue - which can represent the coming King, the night sky, the waters of creation, or the Blessed Virgin Mary, but in some more traditional settings, three are violet and the one lit on the third Sunday is rose-coloured, echoing the colours of penitential Lent. The four outer candles may represent the four centuries of waiting from the prophet Malachi until the birth of Jesus. The central, white candle is referred to as the Christ candle.

On the first Sunday (and sometimes weekdays after it), the first candle, commonly called the candle of Hope, is lit. On the second Sunday and thereafter, another candle is also lit, sometimes called the candle of Peace. Similarly on the third and fourth Sundays those referred to as the candles of Joy and Love are lit, increasing the light.

Often a ceremony of word and song accompanies the lighting. Other themes, such as the Prophets, John the Baptist, The Virgin Mary and the Magi may be added to the meaning of the week, to help us prepare to celebrate the mystery of God made human.

Finally, on Christmas Eve or Day, the Christ candle is lit - the Light of the World has come in Jesus the Christ! Its central position reminds us that Incarnation (Jesus) is the heart of the season. We keep this light burning until Epiphany, the end of Christmas season, January 6.

There are many resources available for people who might like to try this wonderful way of preparing for Christmas. If you haven’t already experienced it, why not try next year?

May God bless you in these Holy Seasons and always.