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As I sat down to write this Christmas message, one thing returned to me... what joy is there at Christmas for "'others"? By others, I remembered folks who have known tragedy in 1986: families who have lost a mother or father; cou- ple who have seen their lives ripped apart by a separation or divorce; those among us who have become unemployed and face an uncertain future. More who have suffered from gossip mongers; those who are prisoners; those experiencing severe mental or physical illness; those trapped by alcoholism or drugs; those in families split apart by the generation gap; those who are lonely, the alienated young and the forgotten elderly. Somehow our tissel and candy canes become trivial beside the pain of those 'others, who cannot anticipate a joyous Christmas. Even our carols lend a festive air which seems bizarre for those who feel anguish and sorrow. Somehow, we add to the pain of these others by expecting them to be merry and happy... when their hearts are heavy and laden with guilt. What about the others? Well, perhaps we need to re- examine what is the true joy of Christmas, beyond the carols, manger scenes, carol services, Ho-hoing Santas.... Luke 2:10-11 gives us the focus for the joy of Christmas. the angel pro- claims a joyous message: 'Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the peo- ple. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a SAVIOUR who is Christ the Lord." Behing this proclamation is a timeless statement about jooy for the others, whose Christmas bay not be as bright and fulfilling as that of their neighbors. The Babe of Bethlehem- the Eternal Word- enters our world fully as the in- carnate Chrst. His arrival is joyous because it embraces the whole of our human condition. Jesus came into a world of Darkness, shrouded in apin and sorrow. His mission was to permeate the loneliness, the sorrow, the depression, the evil of troubled hearts. He- the light of the World- came and left this Earth in a state of vulnerability. The helpless child in a manger would grow into manhood to be rejected, con- demned, abandoned and left to die on a simple cross. He lighted the way to tough gladness and resolved hope- not by sugar coated platitudes of isolated Faith, but by the betterness of knowing that humanness is often painful, sometimes bewilder- ing and always uncertain. The power of Christ is the power of transformation- making possible a change in our perspective through growth. We often cannot grow by making Christ less than He is... a kind of holy sedative swallowed at Yuletide to make us feel good inside. No, the real Jesus Christ is an ever- day companion, a person who is truly alive and present in all of our experiences. CATHY RILEY It's customers like you who have been the foundation of our success.-Many Thanks! MICHELLE MALASHEWSKI MARY KAY COSMETICS LTD. 825-9494 824-2001 Thanks, friends, for the support you've shown us in the past. It is our special wish that your Christmas be merry in every way. FROM THE RESIDENTS and STAFF OF BIRCHWOOD TERRACE Best of all, His power of transfor- mation works! In spite of His destruc- tion, despair, helplessness and loneliness on a rugged cross, He rises above the human condition of pain and trial, to give us the hope of the Empty Tomb. Christ's resurrection is ours to claim, if we can accept Him at His Word- a loving Saviour who saves us 'by His Healing Presence in our lives. The Baby Jesus of Christmas is, like ourselves, vulnerable and human... and points to Easter. Between these two events resides a life of struggle for Jesus, where He comes to embrace a holistic view of what it means to be human. Because Jesus Christ, as our Incar- nate Lord cares for each on of us. He acts and He suffers for us. He conquers with us and for us... not simply at Christmas, but on each day of the year. Our joy should be full in this festive season for all of us- regardless of what point we have achieved in our spiritual fourney. But this joy is not simply bottled up in a sentimentalized infant Jesus in a manger... this joy is pervasive in the awareness that the Star of Bethlehem points to a realistic life, which will Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, CHRISTMAS EXTRA, December, 1986, page 11 Christmas also for others bring sorrow and sadness to accom- pany the happiness, mirth and wrnth of a Christmas celebration. This year, let us show Christ's love to those others who feel alienated by our celebrations. Supporting them in seeing the toughness of joyousness, will strengthen them to seek out "The Light of the world" in their time of Darkness. May God's Blessing be upon all of us this joyous Christmas, especially those others who feel low and cut off from our parties and carol singing. Bill LeGrand. Greetings for Christmas May the Christmas gifts of joy and peace be yours always. Four Seasons Sports TOM & ARIANE FALZETTA terry Christmas LET'S SHARE IN THE BEAUTY AND JOYS OF THE SEASON TOGETHER, AS WE EXPRESS OUR VERY BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOURS FROM THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF CORPORATION FALCONBRIDGE COPPER WINSTON LAKE DIVISION |