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"A Family Tradition for 131 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 30, 1997 - 23 Rt PORT PERR >» PORT PERRY STAR < >» PORT PERRY STAR < URAL RoorTs Congratulations to the Christmas Draw winners Blackstock Congratulations to the fol- lowing winners from the Christmas Draw at the Country Convenience Store: M&M Plush Toy - Eddie Treen; M&M Watch and Pen - Ellen Martyn; M&M T-Shirt - Vicki Kemp; Pooh Bear - Brian Chartrand; Racing Sled (compliments of Humpty Dumpty Foods) - Teddy Watts. Bill and Sheila Shortridge, Stephanie and Casie, May Shortridge spent Christmas Day with Sheila's mother, Mrs. Erskinne and family at Holland Landing. A capacity congregation wor- shipped on Christmas Eve at the beautifully decorated United Church in a joint service with the Nestleton United. Both church choirs presented beauti- ful anthems. A fine message was delivered by Rev. David Shearman. Holiday visitors of George and Brenda Bryant and Chris were Dwayne and Carol Bryant and Rebecca of Mitchell, Julie Bryant and her friend Deidre of Ottawa. On Christmas morning Nancy and Bob Bryans of Cadmus were breakfast hosts of their family - Gord and Deb, Leanne, Christina of Egypt, Patti Alpe, Nathan and Emma, of Blackstock along with Steve and Lorinda and Mark of Omemee. Later in the day Gord and Deb Bryans and girls were hosts to the Black family Christmas. Bev and Shirley and families all of Blackstock, John of Uxbridge and Paul and Margaret and girls of Guelph. Best wishes from the com- munity go with Jill Van Camp as she leaves Blackstock this week to go to Bermuda where she begins a new position in early January. Jill's fiancee Mike Davidson and his family live in Bermuda. This is where she and Mike will be making their home following their July wedding. Best wishes Jill. Boxing Day saw a 35 year tra- dition of the Brown family of Courtice (Babe and Wilf now of McLaughlin Square, Oshawa), Nancy Bryans' Mom and Dad including all of their five daugh- ters, their families and now 11 great-grandchildren. Now out- grown living rooms, the gather- ing was held at Bowmanville Memorial Clubhouse with about 40 attending from surrounding areas with the Pipers, Faireys, Hanes, Killens, Stinson and the Bryans from here. A very long tradition has been broken this year when there will not be a New Year's Eve dance at the Blackstock Rec. Centre. One year it was hosted by the Blackstock Agricultural Society - for all the past over 40 years it was hosted by the ONO. The reason for the cancellation was the lack of sale of tickets. Joan and Harvey Graham hosted the Hoskin family gath- ering on Christmas Day with with the rest of the siblings. Day. Attending were Sharon and Brian, David and Ingrid Black of Oshawa attended along Ralph and Peggy Larmer hosted their family on Boxing Joan's Mom Muriel Hoskin, sis- ter Pat Fletcher both of Port Perry and her brother Ron and Sandra Hoskin of Blackstock and their families all attending. There were 11 tables at the Tuesday evening card party with the following winners: Norman Rohrer, Myrtle Gimblett, Doreen McLean, Jean Van Camp, Grant Bright, Ed Millson, Pat McFarland. Lucky draws were won by John Archer, Merrill Van Camp, Norman Rohrer, Teresa Berker, Pat McFarland and Don Geer. There will be a euchre on Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. sharp. Murray and Aileen Byers 'drove to London where they spent Christmas with their daughter Jan and Les Bushfield and family. Eileen McLaughlin hosted her family on the Sunday before Christmas as a joint Christmas gathering and birthday party for daughter Linda Bradburn. Her three daughters Linda and Roy Bradburn, Janis and Bill St. John and Kelly and Terry Gatchell and their families were there. Gerald and Joyce Kelly host- ed a Graham family Christmas on Sunday. Harvey and Joan Graham and their family along with the Kelly clan were gath- ered together. Elaine Kelly of Kitchener and Esther and Fred Peeters of Fesserton had spent some time with their parents during the holidays. St. John's Anglican By Colin Beal Father Hugh and Peggy led about 25 parishioners of St. John's, mostly children and young people and their parents on a pilgrimage to Uxbridge on the evening of Friday, Dec. 19. Uxbridge might seem an unlike- ly destination for a pilgrimage but in the week before Christmas, Uxbridge has become renowned in recent years for an open air "Living Nativity." This portrayal of "what Christmas is all about" was well worth the journey. The members of the very large cast were well costumed and well rehearsed; they performed in a representation of a street in Bethlehem as it might have looked at the time of the birth of Jesus. There were Jews, Arabs, Roman Soldiers - some on horses, and Shepherds accompanied by sheep. And, of course, there were angels, and Joseph arrived leading Mary seated on a donkey, the innkeep- er could only offer accommoda- tion in the stable and it was from there that the voice of a crying baby was heard. Soon a procession of grandly dressed persons, The Three Kings, came to present their gifts. They were walking - perhaps their camels weren't up to a December evening in Uxbridge. It was really impressive and a similar pilgrimage will almost certainly be in St. John's calendar next year. St. John's Christmas Eucharist, on Christmas Eve, drew a large congregation of parishioners and their families and friends. There was a full house at the pre-service "Social Time," in the parish hall, where Father Hugh and Linda McLaughhn led some enthusi- astic carol singing. During the service, the well loved, tradi- tional Christmas hymns and carols wére sung. On Sunday, Dec. 28 the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the annu- al Service of Carols and Lessons wa's held and, again, there was a good turnout. This beautiful service, which features readings from the Old Testament Prophets and the Gospels inter- spersed with appropriate carols and hymns, tells the story of the Nativity. The service ended with the distribution of Holy Communion. And then everyone went into the parish hall for coffee, cookies, Christmas cake, conversation and companion- ship. On Dec. 30 the mid-week Eucharist will include the Litany of Healing, this will be the last service of 1997 at St. John's. Then on Jan. 1 of 1998, at 10 a.m. Father Hugh will cel- ebrate the first Eucharist of the New Year at 10 a.m. The Feast of the Epiphany, the traditional commemoration of the arrival of the Magi (three Kings, three Wisemen) will be celebrated at St. John's on Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998 with Choral Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. Father Hugh and everyone at St. John's wish all our readers a Happy, Holy and Peaceful Christmas and we pray that the Twelve Days of this Christmas Season will be filled with Joy and Blessings. We pray also that you will enjoy Happiness, Good Health and Peace. Nice wintry days for post-Christmas Nestleton United Church On a wintry morning the First Sunday after Christmas the greeters were Art and Barb Weir. Art was also the scripture reader. Kate Mairs was the organist for the service. The choir of Bernice Mairs, Reginia Walker, Shirley Jackson and Kate Mairs sang "Peace, Peace" with Carol Mairs accompanying on the piano. Rev. Shearman's sermon was titled "Jesus Goes to School." There was no Sunday School, as most Sunday School teachers are tak- ing a couple of weeks off. A Memorial Service for Rev. Jack Hill will be held at Columbus United Church on Jan. 11, 1998 at 2 p.m. On Sunday, Jan. 4 the Manse Committee meeting will be held at the Manse at Blackstock at 2 p.m. The annual meeting for the Nestleton United Church will be held orr Sunday, Feb. 1 following church. Nestleton Presbyterian Church Candlelight Service Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve - a large number of friends, mem- bers and visitors met for an impressive Candlelight Service. Dorothy Lee lit the Christ Candle of the Advent Wreath. Rev. Wm. Fairley traced the Nativity from the Old Testament to the night of Jesus' birth - the Promise, Prophecy, and Fulfillment inter- spersed with the singing of car- ols. Danielle McLarnon favored with a solo - "O Holy Night." Everyone lit their candle from the Advent Wreath with Dorothy Lee and Graham Ham assisting. The service closed with lights extinguished singing "Silent Night." Light refreshments were served after and a time of fel- lowship was enjoyed. Nestleton area News by [EW Yq oto {I= I -- Nestleton Presbyterian Church On a beautiful wintry Sunday, the regular service was held at 11 a.m. in the Nestleton Presbyterian Church with Rev. Wm. Fairley in the pulpit. Ushers were Graham Ham and Harvey Mills and Joyce Taylor was the organist. Shirley Mills taught the Sunday School. The Biblical name for the Sunday School talk was "Esther" - a small book in the Old Testament. Responsive Psalm was #45, and scripture readings were from Isaiah 40: 1-11, and I John 7:1-18. A duet "In the Garden" was sung by Harvey Mills and Danielle McLarnon with guitar accompaniment. In the sermon, Rev. Fairley spoke on reflections of the past year 1997 - happenings which have brought us to the present - for "The Word of the Lord Endureth." Lunch and a social time was enjoyed after the service in the Sunday School Room. Warm appreciation of Ballyduff congregation, and oth- ers who attended the impressive Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve was received. There will be regular church service at 11 a.m. on Jan. 4. Family News We would like to wish all read- ers and the staff of The Port Perry Star a healthy and pros- perous 1998. services Most of the college and uni- versity students are home for the holidays with their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with Maurice Nesbitt who is a patient in Oshawa General Hospital. Maurice had surgery' last Friday and is now recuper- ating. Rob and Carol Mairs and Kate enjoyed Christmas at Werry's at Blackstock on Christmas Day at noon and then enjoyed dinner at Dianne Slute's place in Prince Albert with the Mairs family. Allan Mairs of Newmarket was also a guest for dinner. Linda Arbuckle and daugh- ters enjoyed Christmas Day Dinner with John and Bev Goslin and family at Blackstock. The family all enjoyed a sleigh ride in the evening. Boxing Day guests at the Arbuckles were Jennifer Arbuckle and fiancee Phil McLeod of Little Britain. Happy New Year from The Port Perry Star