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mm mm m a a The Acton Free Press Wed Christmas religious holy day clergy Be tire conscious i during Christmas The God of miracle compassion and grace Wednesday Dec B9 by Rev Andrew McKenxIe Knox Presbyterian Christmas to me has been for a long time a very special and precious time of the year when a host of cheering and elevating thoughts flood my mind and make me grateful to my Creator for those up lifting messages about God which a humble manger cradle in Bethlehem of broadcasts to a world still desperately needing comfort care and courage A lady complained to a minister about the Christmas carols being so dreadfully theological only to hear him reply Well my dear lady Christmas was a theological event In other words Christmas tells us some glorious news about God Himself that is almost too good to believe insists In the first In ang and a stance that He is a God of Miracles Really what could the Messiah the be more miraculous than the l story we can only partially absorb at best that Love Livif Bible God became came down at Christmas Love all lovely Love divine enlightened of all Christina and that the Baby Jesus born In the Godman empowered by stable of an inn was really God breaking dramatically High to mediate salvation and personally into history n Is it any wonder the angels RSVP December 25 by Rev Brian Evangel Pentecostal Tabernacle Amid the hustle and bustle of life in a small Canadian community a young pastor leaves the very first goodbye waves of his infant daughter and the tender smile of his loving wife to trudge across a snowcovered schoolyard to the secluded basement office of his church There sits a large and un usually cluttered desk and in it a bulky file of secret assign indexed finished Among these many ominous commitments is the task of preparing a Christmas message that will inspire in Ihe hearts of its readers something that has not been initialed by the literally dozens of Christmas preceding him those who believe and to bring them into reconciliation His purposes and Inten tions for His world Christmas also em phatically affirms that God Is One who stoops to comfort and sustain us In our need Not alone by Rev Das Sydney Acton Baptist Church Finally after much waiting and procrastination pulled out of a chest of treasures a gift from by brother a creche of the Christmas scene The figures were sombre and delicate carvings from a thorn tree in Nigeria Out they tumbled from the bag There was Mary and Joseph and Ihe cradle the wise men and their gifts and a lonely shepherd boy with a crook and sheep An angel was there and also a thought ful looking caw I put them all on my stereo and behind them arranged camel carvings for some depth of field Hurriedly I placed them in order for I had yet to an Ihe phone then erect my little silver Christmas tree and write more cards Like me perhaps you have sat down and wondered Where in all this is Christ mas Is it in a creche where shepherds and wise men synchronized their watches for a simultaneous visit It is that magic moment when Santa comes down that soot filled chimney or is it in put ting up a Christmas tree and many colored lights One girl illustrated Christ mas this way She drew an airplane containing a man woman baby and a pilot When the teacher asked her about the picture she ex plained they were Mary Joseph the child Jesus and Board hires finance officer Halton Board of Education named a career woman as its new area superintendent of finance during last Thurs days meeting at Burlington Barbara Moore Water- down was selected from 25 candidates according to director of education Em Lavender Seven candidates were interviewed and Moore was the best person for the Job stated Lavender Moore is married She graduated from Burlington High School She has been deliberately following a career plan since 1970 which is designed to achieve a supervisory of fleers status by Lavender informed trustees Moores experience In eludes preparation of the annual board budget statements tlon of the boards benefits plans and other Pontius the Pilot What is the essence of Christmas A few nights ago received a phone call from Amster dam It was my brother Sam He was coming home for Christmas after a year of studies abroad You can imagine my excitement I could hardly sleep 1 was not going to be alone for Christ mas Not Alone that is the message of Christmas That is the excitement that ignited the shepherds and captivated the wise men Christmas declares that we have nol been deserted as on a lonely island Even if it seems there is an impene trate casket around the world it is not so God is there and behind that frown Ing providence 13 his smiling face We do not pray In vain Our tears have not gone un noticed Life Is more than the routine existence In fact God is so interested in the affaire of men he has sent his only Son Jesus Christ This is crowning argument to drown all others At the deepest level the essence of the Christmas message is We are not alone He seeks to be profound And this is the basis of all but what more Is there to say ministry In His name At about this festival or noil Bethlehem we find the High days He seeks some new re- and Holy One who inhabits vela ion only to be reminded eternity humbling Himself lhat the Word of God is com- lo the degradations and filth and final in its revel of this world symbolized so at on to mankind realistically by a rude He is tempted to put his pen stable in order to show lhat down yet Is captivated by the His Son born In such a place realization that so many will evermore be the source people in his enlightened of our peace and salvation In society are not aware lhat the the midst of grief and pain Babe in the Manger is now and the heartbreak of broken that living Christ whom Ihe hopes and that His Divine Apostle John describes as Word will be heard in the knocking at the door of our accents of His human voice hearts iRev Here is the utmost assurance If Jesus came lo your house that the God of endless lime To spend a day or two and of which we If He came at Christmas simply cannot comprehend I wonder wed do is touched and affected by the My apologies to the original trials and sufferings which author for a few nil era Ions His children from time lo but his is my Christmas time undergo sage simple as It may seem Above all Christmas as If Jesus were to visit your described first in Scripture home his Christmas just and emphasized anew each how would He be received year in the lives of reflective Perhaps His unexpected Christians proclaims a God arrival would be an mean- of amazing grace A beautiful in your busy and meaningful name given schedule II may be that you would not even care to have Him show up However for some today a visit from the Savior of the world would be the only ray of hope in a life of total darkness and despair Is there something missing in your Christmas this year Do the people the parties and the presents fail to wipe away the pain in your life It may be financial struggles death family or marital pro blems or any number of human difficulties But regardless a visit from Christ this Christmas can bring joy lo your home meaning lo your celebration and to you Ihe ability to herald that song of old Glory to God in the highest and on earth Peace Goodwill toward men This message is yours This Christ can be yours R V TODAY to the Babe of Bethlehem was Emmanuel which means God is with us It soys that God loves you and me so greatly lhat He wants to share our human lot and that He will do so unless we refuse and reject His pre sence It Is what we hope for or imply whenever we say Good Bye which Is a simple contraction of the wish wilhyou No matter how desperate or dreary our circumstances are we must endeavor to believe that we arc not alone and that if God is on our side who can be against us Romans 11 And it is All Ihe clergy in Acton were Invited to submit a Christmas message far this issue of the Acton Free Press The preceding are from those who responded heat sources such as fire places TV seta or radiators Do not allow it to block access to doors or windows in the event of fire Switch off tree lights at bedtime or when leaving the house Have a fire safe Christmas EYE SERVICES In Lesotho Southern Africa the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada St Albans winners Winners at St A C W Christmas Euchre were ladies first Mrs Jean His infinite grace we must second Mrs Mac constantly remind ourselves Fountain Men first Cam lhat God accepts us not on Sinclair second Brit the basis of moral goodness ton or rightness that we may sup- Special Christmas door pose we have amassed but on prize was won by Mrs basis of His own perfect Christina Bailey of Milton goodness which He ex changes for our unright of which each of us has far too much and which in our most honest moments we will surely admit So Christopher Fry poet and was ex pressing something very true when he wrote of the God of Christmas whom we claim is a God of Miracle Compassion and Grace and in we can rejoice and give thanks that we do have More light that we can learn More wealth that we can treasure More love than we can earn More peace than we can measure Because one Child Is born A happy Christmas can insulation broken plugs or change in a few moments into loose bulb sockets Only CSA a family tragedy warns Fire approved lighting sets and Prevention Officer Larry only non flammable decora Brassard in homes where turns should be used Declare fire safety precautions are the tree a nosmoking area neglected Such precautions and keep matches out of the should head the list of every hands of children sensible familys prepare- Do not allow discarded gift lions for Christmas he says wrappings to accumulate supplying equipment for an Mr Brassard urges the under Ihe tree Dispose of Israeli doctor to extend eye public to exercise special them as soon as the gifts are services to children in in the setting up and opened Even a green tree 8 villages where eye care Is decorations of Christmas will burn if ignited by burning unavailable USC trees and draws attention lo paper around the base headquarters is located at the following important Set up the Irce away from Sparks Street Ottawa points If plans call for a natural tree it should be bought fresh and green and kept outdoors or in an unhealed garage before being brought into the home for decorating Then one or two inches should be cut diagonally from the butt and the tree should be set up with the butt in water which should be maintained above the level or the cut Check strings of electric lights carefully for worn At this blessed Yuletide season we rejoice and give thanks as we welcome the Heavenly King In celebration of His Birth we extend heartfelt wishes to all Wilson manager family staff Beckers Acton Pest wishes for old fashioned Christmas and thsnk you for privilege of serving you our valued friends MANAGEMENT AND STAFF Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce a note of cheer at Christmas to you and Chose yon love HALTON HILLS ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Pruater 8532572 globing moment of Ijolibay be all things anb beautiful bauli6 to From Everyone At Jlctcn Delicatessen Pantry Boutique 8531350 DRY SALE Tuesday Dec 26 am EVERYTHING Drive a little save a lot at the CHRISTMAS FACTORY LOVELLBROS Meat Market MILL STREET EAST ACTON GLEN MILL MAIN ST GLEN WILLIAMS