Opinion

 

The Ongoing Gift

The Christmas gifts have been unwrapped. We have eaten the turkey, potatoes, dressing and pie. We have watched as a child in our church placed baby Jesus in the manager. We have decorated our homes with strings of lights, proclaiming that Jesus, the light of the world, has come, that darkness can never again be as black.

In a few days, Christmas 2012, will be behind us. Eventually, all the leftover food will be gone. We will now sing Epiphany hymns. 

We will take down the Christmas tree and put away the beautiful ornaments.

When we put away the snowmen, angels, bells and nativity sets, let us not put away the hope, peace, joy and love that comes down at Christmas.

May we put Christ at the centre of our days–may we remember that God’s ongoing gift to humankind is life.

God’s greatest gift to us was a child, a child who assures us of eternal life in His arms.

Jesus opened the eyes and minds of men and women to the great possibilities which lie within the realm of personhood.

Jesus loves us and asks us to walk in His paths of mercy, justice, caring and concern.

We are called to minister to others in a spirit of compassion and kindness–we’re to be Christ’s faithful and devoted disciples.

May the magic of the holiday season touch you, and may the New Year bring you peace.

Always remember that Jesus taught the value of life,the wonder and beauty of life, the joy of caring for each other.

This is the true gift of Christmas, and has nothing to do with purchases or wrapping.

It belongs to all of us. Amen.

Rev. Janet Evans, Iroquois United Church

[…]

Merry Christmas Seaway! Can you say HOLY SNOW? Just kidding, there was a dust over the green grass. It’s December and there is absolutely no snow. WHY! This is simply outrageous!  Whether you love it or hate it, snow just completes December. We can only hope for a bright white Christmas! 

Monday was our first snow day of the year! (If you even want to call it that. It was more of an ice day!) Hopefully there is more snow/ice days throughout the year as it was a nice break for both students and staff!

Seaway had a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside of the cafeteria for the annual Christmas concert! The audition times were on December 13 and 14 during MSIP.  Meet or Beat the Challenge started on December 3rd and ends on December 17th. Meet or Beat the Challenge is when each MSIP class brings in certain items such as, shampoo, deodorant, canned food items, etc. and the food/toiletries are donated to the South Dundas Food Bank.  Whichever MSIP class brings in the most things, wins a movie and a pizza party! There seems to be a tight race between Mme. Martin’s class and Mrs. Gilmour’s class. Good Luck to all!

To liven up the last week of school until Christmas Break, Student Council has made up a spirit week! Monday was Red & Green Day, when students wore green and red to get in the spirit! Tuesday was Christmas Character Day and, as I write this, I wonder if anyone will be coming as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus! Maybe Rudolph will appear too.  Wednesday, today, is Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Did your grandma ever give you one for Christmas? If not run over to her house and take one! Thursday will be (W)Rapper Day, I might dress as a Christmas present… hm…! Friday will be PJ day! Get those nice and toasty warm footy pyjamas! If only I had some… Friday we will also be having a Christmas Concert! I am totally looking forward to that! Actually… come to think of it… I’m not, because my gym class has to perform a dance, great!  It should be a great concert! Good luck to all performing!

Need Christmas ideas for your teenage kids? Here are some popular ideas; Ipod/Iphone, Movies, Laptops, Clothes, books, Blackberry (Torch, Bold, Curve), Shoes, Games (Xbox, Playstation), Xbox, Playstation 3.

Seaway Spartans wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hope everyone gets what they want and give more than they should! Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  Here are some words to live by:

“To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge.

[…]

A doggone thank you from the dogs and the South Dundas Animal Shelter

Dear Editor,

On behalf of a whole bunch of homeless dogs who now have found homes, I would like to thank everyone who is contributing in some way to the South Dundas Animal Shelter.

I would especially like to thank Bonnie McNairn and the Morrisburg Leader who give these dogs exposure every week in the paper. Without their help, none of this would be possible.

Thanks to all of the people who have donated food, treats, blankets and towels, money and cheques and a big thank you to Carol Armstrong and Myrna Whelan for all of the work they are doing behind the scenes.

Just so everyone knows, the Township pays me for four days food and shelter for the canines I am called to rescue. After that, I rely on your support so that I can help them get to the point where they can be adopted–sometimes this can take months.

Without your support, some of these adoptable dogs would have to be euthanized.

Dogs are just like our children–they need us to take care of them and keep them safe.

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2013. Please continue to support the South Dundas Animal Shelter.

Kevin Casselman. 

Editor’s Note: Those of us involved here at The Leader add our thanks to everyone for their support and especially those people who have come forward and adopted the dogs. Since we first ran the story with Kevin and the plight of the dogs, we have featured 13 dogs in the paper. Twelve of the dogs have been adopted and another handful or more have been adopted before their pics even made it to the paper. Having made more people aware of the shelter and the dogs there has helped to make the shelter a first stop on many people’s “best friend” shopping list.

At the time of this letter, we still have one young fellow, looking for a loving, forever home…here’s hoping we can make him lucky 13, and get this very loving and very obedient mixed breed (yup the hound mix) a home. Please call Kevin at 613-543-2980. 

[…]

Giving Birth at Our Age

Friends, first of all, may celebration of the birth of Christ child bring new life to you wherever you are.  The witness of scripture in the gospels tell the reader that this child would even the rough spots, raise the lowly, ignite the Christ-light in each human and affirm God’s presence in creation from before to beyond. 

This time of year belongs to faith communities to tell the story filled with wonder and joy, to sing joyfully, to share abundantly in response to God’s gift of revelation in Jesus the Christ. 

However you do this be assured that however it happens God will work wonders through your efforts.  

Whatever age you are, know that God does birth new life through you.  Blessings and peace for Christmas 2012, Rev. Arlyce

A Prayer for Christmas and New Year

by Nellis L. McClung

Lord, let me live while I can see the beauty of the 

blossoming tree,

The message in the wayside flower, and love it for its one short hour;

While morning song of lark and jay, can scatter all my doubts away,

And lift my poor heart from the sod, and tell them 

I am born of God;

While I can feel I’m linked with all the burdened ones who halt and fall,

While I can feel my share of blame in every cheek that’s dyed with shame,

While I can feel life’s burdens sweep across my heart and drive out sleep;

While I can suffer, hunger, strive, Lord, let me live

—for I’m alive.

But if the time should come when I forget to lift my eyes on high, forget to

Seek for love divine, or seek it but for me and mine; 

when my dim eyes

Shall fail to trace Thy image in each human face, when lulled by comfort,

Ease and pride, I find my soul is satisfied to build its house of wood and hay, 

Letting the old world go its way; content to preen before a glass where wounded

Ones barefooted pass, easing my conscience if I must by throwing hungry dogs

A crust, then, Lord, they crowning mercy shed and let me die

—for I am dead.

Written by Nellie L. McClung 

Copyright, Canada, 1915, Wm. E. Coutts

The Rev. Arlyce Schiebout

Lakeshore United Church

Morrisburg

[…]

 

Preparing for Joy

This afternoon I received a long distance call from Alberta from a long time  friend of mine that I haven’t seen for a few years. It was so good to hear her voice again!

It wasn’t long before we were on to familiar topics of discussion and updates on our families. That conversation was a time of joy in the course of daily work, and personal preparations for Christmas. 

The season of joy and light is not necessarily that for all people.  Even in the midst of Advent and Christmas preparations, our real life stories enter in and attempt to draw us into the dark places of our lives.

Parents become ill. Younger couples are  having rough times in their marriages. Some one is laid off work. A little child ends up in the hospital. The great unknowns in our lives can present us with doubts and darkness.

That is why I feel that it is important to take time to remember that God is our joy and our light. 

The Christmas lights we see in our neighbors’ houses can cheer us momentarily. The Advent candles we light in church remind us that God’s light changes the darkness in our personal worlds and transforms that darkness by grace into a path where fear is no longer necessary.

Remember the story of the shepherds who were overwhelmed with fear. 

Luke 2: verse 10  and the angel said to them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people. That means for you and for me. Let God handle the darkness, and prepare your heart for little joys this Christmas season.

Pastor Norine +

Rev. Norine Gullons  

South Dundas Evangelical

Lutheran Parish

Morrisburg/Williamsburg

[…]

 

Around the Corner

by Stormy Howard

Is it really December already? Less than 15 days until Christmas!! It’s crazy, and school seems to be going pretty fast with sports and tests.

Monday, December 3, we received news about how Bill 115 was going to affect our everyday activities. 

Essentially our daily academic life will remain the same (lessons, projects, activities and tests), but unfortunately the extra-curricular side of school is going to change (sports and clubs are put on hold as of Monday, December 10th).  A lot of people (students and staff) are upset about this, and want to change it. 

Bill 115 is a piece of legislation passed in the fall and it imposes a two-year contract on educators that allows the government to take away the teachers bargaining rights. This is unfair to the senior students because it’s their last year, and they will not get to do any sports or clubs. There are some students here at Seaway who are planning to walk out to demonstrate in a positive way their anger over this change to the school day. They have met with our principal, Mr. Gardiner and had a teleconference call with the Director Mr. David Thomas.  I hope we can come to an agreement on Bill 115 so we can all get back to doing the things we love.

Tuesday, December 4th,  the boys basketball team consisting of: Clay Dumoulin, Evan Mullin, Cameron Chayer, Andrew Jarvis, Mustafa Hamadi, Brandon Vandodewaard and Dillon Sullivan, had a tournament at Char-Lan.  They won 40-30. Great work!

On Tuesday December 4th, the Seaway juniors played volleyball at CCVS (they split will all the teams they played, and improved greatly throughout the day according to Coach Waddell). Meanwhile the seniors played across town at La Citadelle.  The Seniors beat Tagwi, Glengarry, and split with La Citadelle and Char-Lan. On Friday, December 7th the Seaway girls played volleyball in Rockland, and both teams did really well, with the seniors bringing home the tournament title!  We were all impressed! Way to be ladies!

On Thursday Seaway had a ‘Tight-n-Bright’ dance for grades 9-12. Tickets were $10 in advance or $12 at the door. You could even sign in friends from other schools. This was an awesome event that was extremely well attended. There was a laser light show that was presented by PINX Productions from Toronto  and  students dressed in neon and other clothing that would glow in the dark with the black lights. It made a really cool effect in the gym . Also for 50 cents you could buy a pot of glow in the dark paint to decorate yourself and your friends. It really was a blast!!!!

[…]

 

 

Peace, Is It Possible?

I’ve been thinking about peace a lot lately. I’m not sure why. It may be because several of my family have been experiencing some serious health problems. I expect that happens as a family ages. It may be because my wife and I are going through a significant transition in our lives. Whatever it is, I pray for peace for all involved.

I was reading my Bible, as I do every day, and a verse from the letter Paul writes to the Colossians seemed to grab my attention. It is found in chapter three verse 15. It says, “Let the peace of God rule in your heart.” I began to meditate on that, and I would like to share today what came to my mind.

In my dictionary the word ‘rule’ has the following meaning: to exercise authority or dominion. These are words that really got me thinking.

We all face crisis in our lives, we go through tough times, a doctor breaks bad news to us, or we lose a spouse to death, or we get a notice that we no longer have a job. Can we, when we go through theses times, have peace?

I was reminded of the words of Jesus found in John’s gospel chapter 14, verse 27. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus spoke these words to His followers. They were experiencing turmoil in their lives. Jesus had told them that He was going away and they were distraught. Did they experience the peace He gave them? 

As we follow their lives through the Book of Acts, we find that indeed they did. Even though they were threatened, beaten, imprisoned and even put to death, we see peace reigning in their lives.

In the verse I mentioned in the beginning, what it really means for the one whose hope and trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ is, whatever we may experience in life, peace will override the fear, anxiety, doubt or uncertainty that may threaten us, because for the child of God, our peace is Christ who lives and reigns in us.

Is it realistic in our day? Yes, I believe it is.

Back in the 1800’s, a man by the name of Horatio Spafford, a business man in the United States, lost everything he had. So he put his wife and children on a steamship to send them home to England while he cared for the remaining details. 

On the voyage home, the ship hit an iceberg and went down. Only his wife from his family survived. His children drowned in the cold Atlantic waters. Upon passing the place of the disaster, Horatio was made aware that this was the place where his children had perished. We are told he went back to his cabin and penned the words of the well-known hymn.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

What could have caused bitterness, rather resulted in the composition of one of the greatest hymns ever sung. How could that be, you may ask? His heart was ruled by the peace of God. And that, my friends, is God’s will for every one of us. Why not ask Him to come in today and give you that peace.

Rev. Duncan Perry,

Morrisburg

Pentecostal Tabernacle

[…]

 

Dear Editor,

When did the municipal government’s role change to become a bank for private business? I ask this question in opposition to Township Council voting to grant the Morrisburg BIA a loan “up to $12,000” towards an electronic sign.

From my understanding, the Morrisburg BIA represents the businesses in Morrisburg who are only physically located in the village plaza, and is funded through a fee on their annual property taxes. 

That fee pays for marketing, upkeep, improvements, and such for the plaza. This BIA only represents businesses who are physically located in the plaza and does not allow non-plaza businesses located in Morrisburg or South Dundas to join.

If the Morrisburg plaza BIA wants to put up an electronic sign that costs $21,000, and they need a loan for "up to $12,000" to help pay for it, why does the BIA not go to its members? The BIA’s website claims there are 48 businesses in the plaza, which would amount to a contribution of $250 per business towards this sign. The sign would be paid for in full and South Dundas taxpayers would not be loaning the money to private business.

A loan for $12,000 may not seem like a big amount of money, however the township directly loaning money from the taxpayers for a business improvement project benefiting private business is a bad precedent to set.

Now that they have done it once, what is stopping every other business group in the township from holding their hand out to municipal council when they need to borrow?

Council should rethink granting this loan and encourage the BIA to go to its members. If the members are not willing to pay more towards the sign, then maybe the BIA doesn’t really need the electronic sign.

Or the BIA could just do what the rest of us do when we want to spruce up our humble abodes, borrow from a bank or save up your money.

Phillip Blancher

[…]

Your New Life!

It is my sincere hope that you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and the Lord of your life. The Bible teaches us in Romans chapter 10, verse 9, that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (esv)

Your continuing belief that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead as the Bible teaches, and your continuing confession that Jesus is the Lord of your life, gives evidence of your salvation. It’s not the only evidence but it is a first evidence.

According to the bible we are responsible to be sure of our salvation. 2 Peter 1:10a says, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election … (esv).”

Election simply means being chosen by God. Everyone that is saved has been chosen by God. But this text makes each Christian responsible to use all diligence to further confirm that he/she is actually chosen by God.

According to verses 5 thru 7, here in 2 Peter 1, we may confirm that we are chosen by God, by adding certain qualities to our initial faith. But it is not just the adding that is in view, but rather that which these additions enable the Christian to do, namely “never fall.”

Peter goes on to say in verse 10, “for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” So it is the adding of the listed qualities that secures the believer against falling from his/her initial belief and confession of faith as stated in Romans 10:9.

Consider the eighth verse, part a, of 2 Peter 1, “if these qualities are yours and are increasing …” This phrase brings into view the idea of ownership; these are no longer just qualities listed in your bible, but they are to be your qualities; qualities possessed by you within your personal character and value system. You are to willfully add them to your character in Christian obedience to the scriptures.

Furthermore these qualities are possessions that are subject to increase while in your possession; and indeed the expectation of the text is that they are both possessed and increasing. 

Without this increasing possession the believer will not be effective and fruitful as a Christian, because it is the qualities themselves, possessed and increasing, that “keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

The phrase “keep you from” in this quote, indicates a disabling of the “ineffective or unfruitful” feature, that is sometimes found in the Christians life.

There is so much more that might be said concerning this passage, however I must commend you to a scripture meditation on 2 Peter 1:2-13.

I share in the admonition of Peter, intending “always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.” (2 Peter 1:12)

 

Rev. George T. Frey, 

Faith Christian Center, 

Morrisburg, 514-767-7720, www.faithchristiancenter.ca www.faithlifebookstore.com 

[…]