WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECFMBER 16, 1981, PAGE 5 The Church Speaks The meaning of Christmas By THE REV. KEITH A. ELFORD Pastor Whitby Free Methodist Church When you read the Christmas Story this year, where will you turn in your Bible? Most people read the portion on the angel's announcement to Mary in the opening chapter of St. Matthew and then turn to the second chapter of St. Luke for ,the Bethlehem setting with the full inn, the crude stable, and the angelic visitation that prompted the rugged sheep herders to come to the manger side to worship. There's another place where you can find records of the Christmas story. St. Paul tells it in two verses in the second chapter of Philippians. The account is rather naked, but perhaps stripped of the Bethle- hem background which naturally arouses a familiar nostalgic sentimentality one can actually catch the real wonder of what happened at Christmas. St. Paul writes, "Your attitude should be the kind that was shown to us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and ling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory taking the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man. And humbled himself even far- ther, going. so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross." Philippians 2:6-8. This is the Christmas story. Theologians call the event the incarnation. That word probably dopsn't do a lot for most, but think for a moment on the event that it describes - Almighty God choosing to whittle himself down to human limitations. I began to appreciate the wonder of this mar- vellous choice after-I saw a movie entitled "The Ant Keeper". In brief, the gardener and his son had cultivated a beautiful garden in which all sorts of fauna and flora flourished. But there was civil strife among the ants that was actually destroying them. In due course, the son volunteered to go down to the ant world. So rolling and tumbling, faster and faster until all was a white blur, he came down the mountain side. When the blur cleared - there was a tiny white cocoon. The son had become an ant lar- va. He had become one of them. Would you volunteer, if it were possible, for a mission of peace among the ants in your garden? That's a smaller leap than from the glories of heaven to Bethlehem's manger. United Way reache Walt Lastewka, cam- paign chairman of the Oshawa - Whitby - New- castle United Way reported last week that they had exceeded their target of $1.3 million. Lastewka said that the United Way had raised $1,300,032 and is expecting approxi- mately $20,000 more to be pledged. The goal for the Town of Whitby was $95,300 of which $91,140 was raised. Whitby's industrial employees realized 104 per cent of their goal raising $31,391 while Whitby corporate raised s goal $46,800 just short of its $50,000 goal. Whitby personal gifts amounted to $7,575 while the local commer- cial sector raised $2,952. The Brooklin commer- cial sector raised $785. Gifts from Whitby's residents were $2,647 which is 105 per cent of the $2,500 goal. Lastewka praised the fund raising efforts to date saying, "Our three communities have once again demonstrated what they can do to en- rich the lives of our people, making the pro- mise of the United Way possible." Have Itold you abc used furniture war Some real bargain, had. What do youi Emm says the town must defend decision Whitby Town Council should vigorously defend its Canadian Tire decision, Regional Councillor Gerry Emm says. Emm was referring to a decision by Jovial In- EMM vestments Limited to appeal council's decision to deny the re- zoning application that would have allowed them to develop the property immediately east of Bowman Ave. on the north side of Dundas Street. Jovial has requested permission to build a 21,000 square-foot Canadian Tire store on the north half on the property. However, area resi- dents opposed the plan on traffic and planning grounds and were suc- cessful in having it blocked. The developer is appealing couincil's decision to the Ontario Municipal Board. According to Emm, the area in question is a "special study area" in Durham Region's of- ficial plan. He said that the study has not been completed. Emm. said that during public meeting held five years ago, as part of the study process, the resi- dents were told there would be no commercial development. "The residents were assured that commer- cial development would not infringe on their properties," he said. Emm, who was chair- man of council's ad- ministrative committee when the matter came up earlier this year, said that council has accep- ted the residents' posi- tion and that it should be defended. "Council, by resolu- tion, has supported the administrative commit- tee report that suppor- ted the residents' posi- tion that commercial could front onto Dundas Street with a reasonable barrier and no access out our ehouse? s to be need? from the rear." The councillor also said that he introduced Canadian Tire's repre- sentative to other developers who offered them similar pieces of land in the same vicinity. According to informa- tion received, Canadian Tire has, at least tempo- rarily, rejected these other sites. Emm said that because the company has been shown other available properties the matter should not be going to the Ontario Municipal Board. "After meeting with the representative of Canadian Tire and suggesting several other sites to him in the immediate area, I fail to see why this matter is going to the board," he said. DON BOWER 68'- m1968 FLORIDA VACATION Club International will guarantee you and your family, every year for the rest of your life, fun in the sun at a beautiful resort hotel with a fully equipped kitchen in each suite. AIl fora ONE TIME ONLY COST OF $1,2501 Bank financing available. Cail collect 416.482-6447 Club International 10a.m. - 9 p.m. daily w ea