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the HERALD Tuesday December Religion Christmas unenjoyablefor some By JIM RYAN Herald Special Christmas Eve Luke 114 Feast of the Holy Family Luke Christmas Reality and Christmas Fantasy If you were to ask adolescents what they thought about Christmas youd get a yes and no kind of answer Yes because Its a season full of light mystery and light arid theyre still captivated by the Christmas Story No because for many of them Christmas isnt a happy time for family life Is there a problem here You bet Unfortunately the reality level around Christmas time takes a nosedive into the nearest snow bank It remains there In suspended animation until The Brick begins demanding pay with interest Actually thats hyperbole Reality levels return much more quickly than that You choose Reality levels return 1 Before Christmas morning coffee is cold and you take the coffee grounds out to your snow covered compost heap 2 Before the second garbage bag is filled with torn wrapping paper 3 Before the turkey is earned to the table Before your relatives and guests have gone out to warm up the car for the drive home What is so unreal about the way we celebrate Christmas Religion and Reality by Jim Ryan It has something to do with unreal expectations It has something to do with wanting to be raptured to a magical realm where families dont fight where parents children extended ly and friends can spend time together without drinking too much and insulting each other and acting very like Jennifer said it like this When you normally spend very little time togethr with your fami and thn you get hours or more of uninterrupted model Christmas familttime its too much We get on each others nerves Trying too hard to be happy Lets look again at the Christmas Story for clues on approach the Christmas celebration Check out the reality levels of the characters 1 The Shepherds They were poor of Palestine A folk saying has it that they were so poor that they were always on the point of stealing According to Luke the poor are the first to hear the good news of Christmas Mary and Joseph Mary is pregnant but she has no OHIP no midwife no rooming in for Joseph not even a room at the inn They have no family to take them in no American Express Card When you read it again the Christmas story isnt a reality that many of us would welcome IS THERE ROOM IN THE CHRISTMAS INN FOR YOU Here are some suggestions to help your Christmas reality come true to the grocery store with your children Buy worth of groceries Then take the groceries to your local food bank or helping agency Talk to your children about what they see The Stores in Acton and Georgetown are low on toys this year Why not encourage your child to buy a toy with their own money and donate this toy to the Salvation Army Organize carol singing on your street Visit the nursing home in your town Make sure you bnng your children with you CHRISTMAS REALITY NOTE Food hampers are being delivered on Saturday in Georgetown by the Good Neighbours and on Monday Ac ton by the Salvation Army If you havent called yet its not too late Theyll deliver up to Christmas Eve Call 8531140 in Acton or 8733321 in Georgetown Captain says food and clothing dontaions are strong this year in spite of the recession Food and toy drive a success By KEN BAKER Hills British Canadian Club Christmas a joyous time for most but for many this year a time of additional stress caused by the struggling Canadian and local economy A time when the main concern is often not what giis Santa will leave but whether or not they will be able to provide the basics of life that so many of us take for granted a nutritious hot meal warm clothing to ward off the biting chill of our Canadian winter and adequate shelter for their loved ones This is a grow ing concern for many Canadians and yes a concern for a growing number of families in our own community The Halton Hills British Cana dian Club in an attempt to assist with the needs of the local com mumty once again this year ran their Toy Food drive in conjunc tlon with the Georgetown Santa Claus Parade At a time when it seems that everyone has their hand out look ing for a contribution of one sort r another the final outcome of this years drive was very encourag As well as donations collected on the day of the parade a large Clothing Mens Ladies Childrens ALTERATIONS REPAIRS 8771598 number of toys and perishable food items were col lected at several dropoff loca which were established this year Special thanks is extended to the management and staff of Municipal trust Main St Millers Scottish Bakery Guelph St and the propneters of the Terra Cotta General Store for their assistance and of course to all the in dividuals who took time to drop off a donation whether to our program or to any of the addi tional local drives This year the British Canadian Club chose to support the Acton Social Services and Information Centre a multiservice organization providing a wide variety of programs and services designed to meet the needs of seniors young families and the general public including support of the Acton Parent Child Resource Centre at 85 Wallace St in Acton At the time of the clubs con was providing ongoing support for families which included children This is over and above individuals re quiring assistance on a dropin basis On behalf of Acton Social Services Lin Sallay Community support worker accepts a portion of the donations collected by the Hills BritishCanadian Club their recent foodtoy drive Making the presentation on behalf of the club was Dave Rutherford president St Georgetown 8779896 REVERSE MORTGAGES Available At MONEY si CONCEPTS I MM PHOTO SPECIAL I WT MOT In 3 Mill I PIP a ELECTRONIC SERVICE 90 DAY ESTIMATES ALL SERVICE PERFORMED OH PREMISES BY OH ALIHED TECHNICIANS FOR Of SI GEORGETOWN CUSTOM CAR SOUND ervlci toll our ANGLICAN SI Anglican SI Albans Drive Acton Sunday Services am Sunday School 10 SI Church Main SI Glen Williams Service Times Sundays a a in SI Church St Georgetown ServiceTimes Sunday8 9 30am 11 Thursday a Sunday School 9 a BAPTIST E Acton 853069 Worship 11 a Christian Education a Maple Baptist Church 177MapleAve Georgetown 9211 Worship Family Bible Hour 9 30a Coffee Fellowship 10 30a EveningPraise6 Baptist Church 1 S Georgetown Children s Program Location of LOVE IN CHRIST Open Wed mornings CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ALLIANCE Georgetown Church Main St S Georgetown 873 Sen ice Times SundavllOOam Sunda School 9 a LUTHERAN Georgetown 877 1171 Worship 11 Sundav School PRESBYTERIAN Church Church St Main Sts Georgetown Worship 11 Sunda School m UNITED St I hurch 89Mountainn Georgetow n 448 Worship 9 45 SI Johns Iniled Church 11 Guelph St Georgetown 2531 Worship 00a School Si John Church Mam St 877 Worship St Alban The Martyr Anglican Church Main St Glen Williams DATES TO REMEMBER December 29th 00 a hi Holy Communion BCP 10 30am Holy Eucharist BCP NEW YEARS BENE OF BAPTISMAL VOWS St Johns United Church Guelph St Georgetown DECEMBER 24th SERVICES fm lt00 IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday School 9 a m Worship Service 1 00 a m Rev Fritz Schmitt pastor 8730264 NEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH WHERE LIVING APOSTLES ARE ACTIVE TODAY Sunday School 900am SERVICES 10 30 am bOOpm Wednesdays HALTON HILLS CONGREGATION Main St South Acton A To AT NONDENOMINATIONAL PENTECOSTAL ALL PEOPLES CHURCH DELIVERANCE CENTRE Blvd Corner Flnchgate Hwy Bible Study Worship Deliverance Sunday 1030 a 700 m Wednesday 800 m We Provide Children Church Nursery Service English toItalian Translation Pastor George A Holy cross CATHOLIC COMMUNITY MspJt Avenue Halton Georgetown 416873 1887 SACRAMENT OF PENANCE 1200 30PM 198 PH 1000 AM 130PM Miafclr DKZ3- CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Tm4ir0K14B00PM IB M- MM h Mm la wining on Chrrtlmia Day NEW YEAH S SCHEDULE Dec 31 Vriimitf Jin M ID AM DO Noon ZLu