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18 The Claringion Independent, Bowmanville, Saturday, December 24,1994 Christmas Means a Variety of Things Christmas is a time of year- the end of one long year and the breaking point of another. It is the cold of the north and the warmth of the south. It is the rising of the morning sun on the horizon and a gentle snow that dances in the wind. Christmas is the smell of pine and spruce, the ribbons on balsam fir and the colour of lights shiny bulbs and popcorn strung in a row. It is the taste of eggnog, and nutmeg nutmeg and the floating aroma of cookies cookies and bread in the kitchen. It is the warmth of a crackling fire and the music of bells as we sit curled up with a friend. Christmas is the comfort of family and friends as we laugh and giggle in our reminisces of the years passed. It is the remembering of the joy that we felt as children or the excitement excitement that we had as we exuberantly tore open our gifts. It is the smile on our faces as we embraced that special toy from Santa Claus. Christmas is bulky snowsuits that crackled as we walked in the cold and wool hats, furry muffs and snow covered mittens. It is the catching of snowflakes on our tongues as angels danced in the freshly fallen snow. It is the cold of rubber boots and wet stockings as we towed our sleds up the hill for "just one more slide." Christmas is the gathering of family family around the table bursting with turkey turkey and ham and all the trimmings. It is the eating of candy and cake until our stomachs ached. It is the tasting of Christmas puddings puddings with sauces so sweet that they would last us a year. Christmas is the thought of the teenage love, the gift of a locket and a single kiss under the mistletoe. It is the tickling of a giggly child as she is chased around the glowing tree. It is the calmness of the night as we sit around the living room listening listening to stories of the war and our grandmother's childhood. Christmas is concern for the children children of the world who are without food and the families in our town who are not able to explore the excitement excitement and sounds of the occasion. Use of Christmas Trees Dates Back 400 Years Where does the tradition of evergreens evergreens at Christmas originate? Use of evergreens as a Christmas symbol started some 400 years ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Europe. First recorded use of an evergreen at Christmas in Canada Canada was at Sorel, Quebec in 1781. The Christmas tree came to Toronto area in the 1790's. Am I harming the forest by choosing a real tree? Christmas trees do not come from the forest! Almost Almost everywhere in North America and for sure in Ontario, Christmas trees are grown as a crop on tree farms. For every tree harvested, there are are ten more coming along, otherwise otherwise the farmer could not harvest each year. Do Christmas tree farmers use a lot of chemicals? Crop protection chemicals are used by Christmas tree farmers in two ways: 1) to reduce competition from weed growth, only below young trees; 2) to treat a tree, only when it becomes infested with insects or disease. The farmer can use only crop protection materials as licenced licenced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. He has also taken and passed a course on safe use of these materials. Crop protection protection chemicals are expensive and used only when there is no cheaper alternative. It is possible, for instance, instance, to control weeds by regular close mowing around each young, tree, but this is expensive and not feasible feasible on a larger scale. It is the tear that is shed for the loved ones who are no longer with us. It is the cuddling of an infant as he lays soundly asleep in his mother's arms. Christmas is rushing and scurrying scurrying through the malls in search of that perfect gift. It is the smile on the store clerk's face as we impatiently wait in line to pay our dues. It is the sound of bumper to bumper bumper traffic and slush splashed up from some idiot going too fast. Christmas is disappointment when we hear "Its really not the right colour colour for me". It is the frustration of late night shopping on limited budgets. It is the happiness of receiving a gift yearned for the whole year. Christmas is anger of nations fighting, maiming and killing each other over issues of land and sovereignty. sovereignty. It is the abandonment of a child found in a dumpster - frozen to death out of somebody's carelessness. It is the coldness of despair as the hungry huddle over a steam spewing grate on a downtown sidewalk. Christmas is the holding of hands and the singing of carols at our neighbour's neighbour's house. It is the forgetting of the worlds ills and sickness. It is the death of sins that we performed performed one against the other in days gone by. Christmas is the yearning for togetherness togetherness in a world full of discord and separation. It is the passion of secret affairs and the guilt of rash decisions. It is the forgiveness of wrong doing doing and miscalculation. And yet, Christmas is about a love so strong that it overcomes all other emotions. It is the sacred trust in God as He gave us a gift of life when we had none. It is the joy of oneness across the distance and the spirit of everlasting life. Christmas is about the forgiveness that we set forth against the wrongs that have been made against us. It is about the child who grew to be a leader of men and died at the hands of those who feared him. It is about love in spite of all adversity. adversity. . So this Christmas let it be known to my family, my friends, my co- workers and acquaintances that this Christmas there is only one gift that can be given that can have sufficient meaning. This gift is to let you know that I love you all very much and I wish you the happiest Christmas that your heart can hold. Gregg Powless 1994 Come and Worship with us SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25TH, 1994 at 11:00 a.m. Christmas Day Service Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24th at 7:00 p.m. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 623-3432 Temperance and Church St., Bowmanville Rev. Ted O'Neill Interim Moderator (Q CELEBRATE CHRIST'S COMING with us Christmas Eve Carol Service Saturday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m. Christmas Morning Celebration Sunday, December 25 at 10:00 a.m. Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church 130 Scugog Street Bowmanville, ON 623-5032 LIBERTY PENTECOSTAL CHURCH Corner of Martin Road and Highway #2, Bowmanville Rev. Richard T. Hilsden, Senior Pastor Saturday, December 24 7:00 -8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service A delightful one hour presentation of carol singing and special music on Christmas Eve for the entire family. Sunday, December 25 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. (one service only today) Family Christmas Service Saturday, December 31 8:00 -10:00 p.m. Sectional New Year's Eve Service at King Pentecostal Church - Oshawa Sunday, January 1 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (one service only today) New Year's Day Service featuring special music with Willa Dorsey èv FOR MORE INFORMATION ( ALL 623-5100 © MAY YOU FIND YOUR CHRISTMAS BRIGHT mu We wish our customers and friends health, happiness and peace for the coming year. George Moore, Kay Moore Leonard White, Gary Popadyn, Matthew Coyle, Kris Moore. MOORE ELECTRIC 9 Church St. 623-5901 /. / . A Bowmanville \ - \ v h ©