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G U I D E T O P L A C E S O F W O R S H I P I N T H E T H U N D E R B A Y A R E A

SpiritualGatherings

DECEMBER 2017

2 SPIRITUAL GATHERINGS December 2017

CHRISTMAS ANDNEW YEAR’S SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve5:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. & 10:30 pm

Carolling begins 30 minutes before Celebration

Christmas Day - 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

New Year’s Eve - 9:00 a.m., 11 a.m. & 7 p.m.

New Year’s Day - 11:00 a.m.

WEEKEND SCHEDULESaturday - 5:00 p.m.Sunday

9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

WEEKDAY SCHEDULETuesday - 7:00 p.m.Wednesday, Thursday,

Friday - 12:10 p.m.

ST. AGNES PARISH1019 Brown StreetPhone: 475-7489

REGULAR SCHEDULE

In many ways, secular celebrations garner more attention thanreligious gatherings during the holiday season. But all it takes isa little digging to find religious services to fill our calendars comethe month of December.

Midnight Mass

Many Christian churches commemorate Jesus Christ's birth witha special midnight Mass on December 24th. Some Christians waituntil the clock strikes midnight to place baby Jesus figurines intotheir Nativity scenes a t home. Midnight Mass may bring entirecommunities together to share the holiday season message of joyand peace. Midnight Mass also may feature awe-inspiring perfor-mances by church choirs or private performers who lend their tal-ents to the festivities.

Living Nativity

Area houses of worship and community centers may producetheir own Living Nativity performances. Costumed volunteersand actors present the story of Christ's birth and the good newsthat followed. This can be an especially exciting experience forchildren and may also be a creative way to reinforce religiousbeliefs, especially to children who may have difficulty otherwiserelating to written text.

Christmas pageants

In some areas, children play integral roles in recreating the storyof Christmas. Private Catholic schools may offer performances ofChristmas pageants that explain the Nativity and other eventsleading up to the birth of Christ. Parents and extended membersof the family can enjoy a religious experience while also sharingpraise for their youngest performers.

Volunteer efforts

Houses of worship may organize clothing drives, holiday meals,toy donation collections, and many other community events thistime of year. Volunteer to lend a hand at such events, which canhelp to remind you that the holiday season is one of giving.

Community candle lighting

Jewish celebrants may participate in a community-sponsoredhanukkiyah (Chanukah menorah) lighting ceremony. Althoughcandles or oil is traditionally burned for Chanukah, many publicplaces use an electric system for safety and convenience. The light-ing has a schedule based on tradition and ritual. A Chanukah can-dle lighting service can bring the religious experience alive formany involved.

Caroling

Christmas caroling, which likely evolved from the British tradi-tion of wassailing, has largely fallen out of favor. However, manyclose-knit towns and communities still include caroling amongtheir traditions. Caroling can be a great way to spread holidayshare cheer. Although carols are often a blend of religious and sec-ular tunes, many people find their faith is revitalized by joiningtheir friends and neighbors to carol during the holiday season.

Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds Celebrate with religious sights and sounds

December 2017 SPIRITUAL GATHERINGS 3

I love Christmas carols. Religious.Secular. Country. Pop. Really old, andfairly new.

I started listening to parts of my collec-tion right after Remembrance Day, on mydrive home to Duluth from Thunder Bay.

Celtic songs. Phil Cunningham’s Whenthe Snow Melts: “Thit an sneachta gotrom – The snow fell heavily.”

The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir. A15th century English carol: “The boar'shead in hand bear I, bedeck'd with baysand rosemary.”

Canadian Brass. Jingle Bells. Dance ofthe Sugar Plum Fairy. Good KingWenceslas.

The Choirs of King’s College and ClareCollege. Ding! Dong! Merrily on High, a16th century French carol with its glori-ous “Gloria in excelsis” refrain. TheHolly and the Ivy: “O the rising of the sunand the running of the deer, the playingof the merry organ, sweet singing of thechoir.”

English poet Christina Rossetti’s In theBleak Mid-winter: “In the bleak mid-win-ter, frosty wind made moan. Earth stoodhard as iron, water like a stone.”

Unitarian minister Edmund HamiltonSear’s It Came upon the Midnight Clear:“But with the woes of war and strife theworld has suffered long; beneath theangel strain have rolled two thousand

years of wrong, And we who fight thewars hear not the love song which theybring. O hush the noise of battle strife,and hear the angels sing.”

The parodies – Cartoonist Walt Kelly’s“Deck Us All with Boston Charlie, Wallawalla Wash., an’ Kalamazoo. Nora’sfreezin’ on the trolley. Swaller dollar cau-liflour, alla-garoo!”*

As a child I learned my ethnic Polishcarols phonetically, so I sing the coupletunes I remember: “Dzisiaj w Betlejem,Dzisiaj w Betlejem, Wesoła nowina. ŻePanna czysta, ze Panna czysta porodziłaSyna – Today in Bethlehem (there is)merry news; that the pure Maiden hasborne a son.”

These songs highlight, in their manydifferent ways, the complexity of thisworld.

A world of cold and dark. Biting wind.Blowing snow. Hard-hearted people. Noroom at the inn. Sharp and bitter. Hardand bleak.

But also a world of warmth and of love.The blazing yule before us. Glory shiningin the sky. Families gathered around theglow of a fire. A helping hand given to astranger, a newcomer. Each night a childis born is a holy night.

Whether Christian or Muslim or Jew.Whether Trinitarian or Unitarian.Whether theist or non-theist. Whether

we celebrate holidays or holy days. Thisend of the calendar year calls all of us,especially those of us in the Northland, toa time of contemplation. To spend timein a warm place, to read and to think, tovisit with loved ones. To spend time inthe frosty, frozen air – to walk or ski, huntor fish or shovel, try to stay upright in anicy world.

With the 3000-year-old sacred Hindutext, the Atharva Veda, we whisper: “Letthere be peace in the sky and in theatmosphere, peace in the plant world andin the forests; let the cosmic powers bepeaceful… Let there be undiluted and ful-filling peace everywhere.”

Wishing you peace, joy, light, love inthis blessed season.

Rev. Suzanne Wasilczuk, Consulting Minister

Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship

*https://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/-deck-us-all-with-boston-charlie-walla-walla-wash-and-kalamazoo-; accessed 18 November 2017

“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”The Folks in the Christmas Story

LAKEHEAD UNITARIANFELLOWSHIP

“We are a Liberal Religious Presence”129 S. Algoma Street • 344-5980

w w w . l u f . c a

Sunday, December 17th at 10:30 am

Years ago, 7UP© used to promote itself asthe “Un-cola.” It was different – it looked dif-ferent, it tasted different, it was unlike othersoft drinks on the market. I’d like to suggestthat if we peel back all the stuff that masks thereal meaning Christmas, what we’re really cel-ebrating is the unreligion.

Let me be quick to admit that the idea isn’toriginal to me. Dane Ortland in his book,Defiant Grace, says, “Christianity is the unre-ligion. It turns all our religious instincts ontheir heads… The ancient Greeks told us to bemoderate by knowing our inclinations. TheRomans told us to be strong by ordering ourlives. Buddhism tells us to be disillusioned byannihilating our consciousness. Hinduismtells us to be absorbed by merging our souls.Islam tells us to be submissive by subjectingour wills. Agnosticism tells us to be at peace byignoring our doubts. Moralism tells us to be

good by discharging our obligations. Only thegospel tells us to be free by acknowledging ourfailure. Christianity is the unreligion becauseit is the one faith whose founder tells us tobring not our doing, but our need.” (DaneOrtlund, Defiant Grace, EP Books, 2011, p. 38).

I would also add that Christian religiosity isjust as flawed. What I mean is that if we viewChristian baptism, communion, church atten-dance, “saying our prayers”, helping the needyand serving our community as ways of earn-ing God’s favour and acceptance, then we havecompletely missed the point of John 3:16,which says, “For God so loved the world, thatHe gave His only begotten Son, that whoeverbelieves in Him shall not perish, but have eter-nal life.”

This is the good news of Christmas - that onthe landscape of all the approaches there areto “connect with the divine” there is only onethat is able to address the Biblically-stated factthat all our human efforts are unable to atonefor our sins against a Holy God. We need tohave the debt of our sins paid for and the Biblesays that it can only be done by God’s gracethrough faith in Jesus who came to serve us bydoing that on our behalf. Then, on the basis ofbelieving in Him, we serve God with our lives,worshipping him from our hearts, caring forothers in our communities, helping the needy,partaking in communion, and communicatingwith him in prayer.

So celebrate this Christmas by bringingyour need. Stop trying to deal with the prob-lem of your sin by your own efforts and putyour trust in the finished work of God’s onlybegotten Son, given in God’s great love “thatwhoever believes in Him shall not perish buthave eternal life.”

Merry Christmas fromAllan Piper

and the congregation ofWestfort Baptist Church

4 SPIRITUAL GATHERINGS December 2017

Children's Christmas Music

Sunday, December 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Sunday

10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship

6:30 p.m. - Candlelight CelebrationWe are located at:

1219 Ford St. (near Francis) 623-0021www.westfortbaptist.orgNow handicap accessible.

You would be welcome to celebrate the joy of Christmas with us.

WestfortBaptist Church

NORTH WARDLakeview Presbyterian Church

278 Camelot Street 345-8823 - Minister: Rev. Harold HuntSunday December 3First Sunday of Advent10:00 A.M. Advent Communion Service

Sunday December 10Second Sunday of Advent10:00 A.M. Worship Service

Sunday December 11Third Sunday of Advent10:00 A.M. Worship Service

Wednesday December 137:00 P.M. Blue Christmas ServiceSunday December 17Third Sunday of Advent10:00 A.M. Worship Service

Sunday December 24Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve Services10:00 A.M. Worship Service7:00 P.M. Christmas Eve Family Service11:00 P.M. Christmas Eve Communion Service

Calvin Presbyterian Church350 Surrey Street (Current River)

683-8111 - Lay Minister: Ken Haggerty

Sunday December 3First Sunday of Advent10:00 a.m. Worship Service

Sunday December 10Second Sunday of Advent10:00 a.m. Worship Service

Sunday December 17Third Sunday of Advent10:00 a.m. Holy Communion

Sunday December 18Fourth Sunday of Advent10:00 A.M. Holy Communion Service

Sunday December 24Fourth Sunday of Advent &Christmas Eve Candlelight Service7:00 p.m. service only.

SOUTH WARDFirst Presbyterian Church

639 Grey Street (Corner of Walsh & Grey Streets)

623-0717 - Minister: Rev. Susan Mattinson

Sunday December 3First Sunday of Advent 11:00 A.M. Worship with Communion

Sunday December 10 Second Sunday of Advent11:00 A.M.

Sunday December 17 Third Sunday of Advent 11:00 A.M. Worship Service

Saturday December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent 7:00 P.M. Family Christmas Eve Service11:00 A.M. Christmas Eve Communion Service

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church207 South Brodie Street (Across from City Hall)622-4273 - Minister: Rev. Joyce Yanishewskihttp://standrewspres-tbay.ca

Sunday, December 3 Advent I11:00 A.M.—Advent Communion Service4:00 P.M.—Advent Journey Concert

Thunder Bay Community Choir

Sunday, December 10 Advent II11:00 A.M. Worship Service

Sunday December 17 Advent III11:00 A.M.—Youth & Family Service

White Gift Sunday

Sunday December 24 Advent IV11:00 A.M—Worship Service

Sunday December 24 – Christmas Eve7:00 P.M.—Candlelight Service10:00 P.M.—Candlelight with Communion

Sunday December 25 – Christmas Day11:00 A.M. Worship Service

Sunday, December 3111:00 A.M—Wassail Service

Christmas Worship & Celebration Services

The Presbyterian Church in Canada

We invite you to celebrate the

Christmas season with us.

Christmas – Celebratethe Unreligion

December 2017 SPIRITUAL GATHERINGS 5

I met with a friend at a local coffee shop theother day. We had a long conversation aboutthe traumatizing time he was going through,the kind that can shake you at your core andleave you feeling angry, scared and fragile.

When I walked back to my car I realizedhow many people that I deeply care about arehanging on by just a thread right now, physi-cally, emotionally, and spiritually. They aregoing through losses and taking beatings thatI cannot even begin to imagine. The loss ofhealth, physical or mental; the loss of a lovedone; the loss of a job; the loss of pride and self-esteem; the loss of dreams and hopes becauseof what life throws you.

And then December comes around with thisshiny Advent train in tow, noisily announcingthe most wonderful time of the year wheneveryone should be jolly, cheerful and thank-ful, hollering “Ho-ho-ho!” and singing “Joy tothe World”. Some people love it, some peoplehate it. The folks who say they love it are clear-ly calling the shots, crooning at you from yourradio and in shopping malls, smiling at youfrom TV specials, Christmas parades and slickcommercials, beaming at you from billboardsand glossy flyers.

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONSBut if you happen to be one of the people

who struggle with this time of year: sorry,Santa’s sleigh may be on our radar, but you aredefinitively not. Could you please be bluesomewhere else? And if you are noticed afterall, you’re quickly labelled as a Grinch, aScrooge, a sour puss or a party pooper.“Lighten up, it’s Christmastime!”. Yeah, right.

It’s a weird time of year; it works as somekind of big amplifier for everyone. It amplifieshow we feel, but in different ways. For some, itamplifies the good, the happy, the joy, andthat’s great. For others, it can amplify thehard, the pain, the darkness. Christmastimecan be stressful at the best of times, and forsome of us this is not the best of times.

That relentless bombardment of cheer andjoy only brings to light the hard reality of loss-

es, financial pressures, not fitting in, brokenrelationships, shame, fear of the future,depression, and dreams that keep on not com-ing true.

You’d be surprised at the number of peoplewho are going through the motions, maybelooking okay on the outside when insidethey’re barely keeping it together, hiding theshame of feeling blue when they should feelhappy, maybe eating and drinking too much toblot out the emptiness inside. Yet somehowthey muddle through and are relieved whenit’s over again – until next year…

SOUL MAINTENANCEOthers are visibly struggling, and the peo-

ple around them feel bad for them – or theyfeel bad for feeling good. They want to jar theirfretting friends out of their pain to help themsee the beauty of this special season. Thing is,those well-meant efforts only have the oppo-site effect when you’re feeling blue, makingyou feel even more of a miserable misfit.

What you really need is knowing that you’renot alone in this. What you really need issomeone who’s been there, too. Someone who

can stand alongside with you and offer a sim-ple, accepting presence, warm hugs, and a gen-uine assurance of “I’m with you”, instead oftrite responses.

More and more people now realize the need

for gathering places that offer sanctuary fromthe onslaught of Christmas cheer. I think itonly makes sense that most of these places areoffered by churches. After all, this is not aboutfixing your car or unplugging your sink, thisis about soul maintenance. And most church-es have a long and pretty good track record inthat field. So look for churches that offer a“Blue Christmas service”, or a “Longest Nightservice”.

But won’t it be, well, depressing…? Thosewho have attended these gatherings will tellyou that they’re full of light and comfort andhope, helping you take a load off and breatheagain. The idea is that you will leave with asense of being held in community and in hopeby the One who loves unconditionally, no mat-ter whether you haven’t attended church for awhile – or ever, for that matter. PinegroveUnited Church offers a Blue Christmas ser-vice on the evening of December 14, but checkthis issue for other dates and places near you.

STIFF DRINKNow please don’t think that people of faith

are all that put-together and have it all figuredout, living blissfully ever after. Speaking formyself I can tell you that if anything, it’s theopposite. I’m just as much in need of graceand a warm hug as the next person. I don’t feelparticularly cheerful after a heart-wrenchingconversation like the one I had with my friendat the coffee shop. Frankly, there are momentsthat I’m thinking of chucking it all and havinga stiff drink or two.

Maybe the difference is that as a person offaith, I try to own up to it and know we are notalone in all this. When we gather for “BlueChristmas” this month we acknowledge ourlimitations, our fears and our pain, and wehand them over to the One who cares uncon-ditionally; think of it as a spiritual boost. Andthen on Christmas Day we are reminded ofthe light at the end of this dark tunnel, andthat ultimately love and life will have the lastword in this world. And that is the Good News;very good indeed.

May joy come to the world, we pray, and maywe grasp some of that. Not the kind of joy thatis short-term and doesn’t last, but the kindthat runs deep and carries us even inmoments of despair. We seek this joy in a sea-son that can be less than joyful. Dear God,hear our prayer.

Pastor Hubert Den DraakPinegrove United Church,

Hwy 130, Rosslyn (next to the TbayTel tower)www.PinegroveUC.org

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6 SPIRITUAL GATHERINGS December 2017

Christmas andNew Technologies

Each year, when the Christmas seasoncomes round, I usually take an evening towatch a movie that I find particularlyhelpful to get me into the mood of theseason. It is a movie that was producedsome years ago called “The NativityStory”. In our modern world, we usemovies, videos, sound bites and You Tubeclips to help us in many ways, from get-ting the local news, to sharing ideas withothers. This film has always helped me tomake sure I focus my attention on thetrue meaning of the Christmas season.

With everyone connected to some hightech device today from iphones, ipads,tablets and computers, we use thesemulti media sources in our everydaylives. It is no wonder that the Christmasstory is found also in these sources, andsince we live in a visual world, the film orvideo can be a helpful tool especially for

children. We are aware however, thatmany media sources can also distract usfrom the true meaning of this holy time,through slogans and ads, and throughthe commercialism of our day.

No matter what we use or what sourcewe obtain for the story of Christmas, andno matter what we see or are subjected toin the media, let us remember that themeaning of this season is one of love andgoodness. The child born in Bethlehemcame into our world to show us love, andto help us to better understand how wecan share this love with one another in agenerous way.

In particular the season of Christmas isa season of giving and sharing. We notonly express our love and concern forfamily and friends with gifts and cardsexpressing this love, but also we look toshare with those who are struggling in

our world, those who are seeking eventhe bare essentials for living. I know thatthis season prompts me to be more gen-erous to the charities that I already sup-port, and to give a little extra to those inneed. Loving means sharing and caring,and we do so following the example of theLord Jesus, who demonstrated greatcompassion, love and concern for others,especially those who felt they were alone,neglected or abandoned.

May this special season of joy and giv-ing, prompt us to reexamine again thetrue meaning of Christmas, and let thisseason direct our hearts and hands toreach out to others in the many ways wecan to show concern and compassion inour world. So as we examine the movies,videos, and You Tube clips in our dailyroutines, and as we see those sourcesconnected to the Christmas season,remember to seek the messages thatshow us the call to be compassionate andkind, generous and loving, since this isthe true meaning of the Christmas sea-son.

We live in a world of technology whichis rapidly changing and challenging us,sometimes too quickly for our benefit.The meaning of Christmas might help usto focus on a very longstanding teaching,that of showing love and concern for oneanother, not just for those in our families,but even for those whom we do not know,especially those seeking peace in theircountries and a home for their families,the refugee, the elderly, and those whofeel alone.

We pray for peace in our world, peace inour families, and reconciliation andkindness to all. May the Christmas sea-son be a truly blessed time for you andyour families, and many the movies andvideos inspire us to seek this great gift ofpeace in our hearts. A Merry and HolyChristmas to all!

Bishop Fred J. Colli Bishop of Thunder Bay

Christmas/New Year’s Masses forCatholic Churches in Thunder BaySt. Agnes, 1019 Brown St., Dec 24, 5 p.m., 8p.m.& 10:30 p.m.; Dec 25, 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.; Dec 31, 9a.m., 11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; Jan 01,11 a.m..

St. Andrew, 292 Red River Rd., Dec 24, 10 a.m. 8p.m. & 11 p.m.; Dec 25, 10 a.m., Dec 31, 5 p.m.,Jan 01, 10 a.m.,

St. Anne, 128 Mission Rd., Dec 24, 7 p.m. &Midnight; Dec 25, 10:30 a.m.; Dec 31, 11 p.m.; Jan01, 10:30 a.m.

St. Anthony, 123 Hilldale Rd., Dec 24, 5 p.m.; 8p.m. & 11 p.m.; Dec 25, 9 a.m. (Italian & English),11 a.m.; Dec 31, 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Jan 01, 9 a.m.(Italian& English) & 11 a.m.

Assumption of B.V.M., 279 Oliver Rd., Dec 24, 9a.m. & 11 a.m. Midnight; Dec 25, 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.;(Croatian & English) ; Dec 31, 9a.m. & 11 a.m. Jan01, 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (English & Croatian)

St. Augustine, Townline Rd., Baird, Dec 24,

10 p.m., Dec 31, 5 p.m.

Corpus Christi, 664 Red River Rd., Dec 24, 9 a.m.;5 p.m., 8 p.m. & 11 p.m.; Dec 25, 10 a.m. Dec 31,9 a.m., 11 a.m. & 5 p.m.; Jan 01, 10 a.m.

St. Dominic, 130 Redwood Ave., Dec 24, 7 p.m., 11p.m.; Dec 25, 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. (Italian), 11:30a.m.; Dec 31, 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.; Jan01, 10 a.m. (Italian), 11:30 a.m.

St. Elizabeth, 766 Sprague St., Dec 24, 4:30 p.m.(English), 6:30 p.m. (French) & 8 p.m. (English); Dec25, 10:30 a.m. (Bilingual); Dec 31, 5 p.m.; Jan 01,11 a.m. (Bilingual)

Kitchitwa Kateri Church, 451 Syndicate Ave. N.,Dec 24, 9 p.m.; Dec 25, 12:30 p.m., Jan 01,

12:30 p.m.

St. Margaret, 88 Clayte St., Dec 24, 5 p.m. &

7 p.m.; Dec 25, 10 a.m.; Dec 31, 5 p.m.; Jan 01,

10 a.m.

St. Mark’s Chapel, RR #13, Terry Fox Hwy.,

Dec 24, 8 p.m.; Jan 01, 12 p.m. (Noon)

Our Lady of Loretto, 290 Grenville Ave., Dec 24,

10 a.m. & 5 p.m. p.m.; Dec 25, 10 a.m.; Dec 31, 10a.m. & 5 p.m. Jan 01, 10 a.m.

St. Joseph’s Chapel (St. Joseph’s Hospital), Dec25, 1 p.m.; Jan 01, 1 p.m.

St. Patrick Cathedral, 211 S. Archibald St., Dec 24,8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 5 p.m., 8p.m. & 11 p.m.; Dec25, 10:30 a.m.; Dec 31, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 5p.m.; Jan 01, 8:30 a.m. & 10: 30 a.m.

St. Peter, 615 Connolly St.., Dec 24, 5 p.m. & 9p.m.; Dec 25, 10 a.m.; Dec 31, 10 a.m.; Jan 01, 10a.m.

St. Theresa, 10 Porter St., Kakabeka Falls,

Dec 24, 8 p.m.; Dec 25, 11 a.m., Jan 01, 11 a.m.

Bishop Fred J. Colli

December 2017 SPIRITUAL GATHERINGS 7

“Good news to Nicodemus”Now, John 3:16 is not a Scripture pas-

sage we associate with Christmas but itdoes reflect the heart of the Christmasmessage: God’s Son coming into theworld to save sinners! That was angelicmessage that met the shepherds so manycenturies ago on the plains of Bethlehem(Luke 2:11)! The 1st time I saw “JOHN3:16” was while watching a football gameon TV & seeing it on a sign near the endzone. Of course, at the time I was a mereboy & didn’t know anything about theBible. To be sure, my grandmother was aChristian woman & was faithful in goingto church & reading her Bible. But I knewnothing about Christ & what He did forme as a sinner.

Nicodemus was in many ways in thesame boat: he had heard of Jesus’ author-ity & power, & probably even heard of Hismiracles, but didn’t really know WHO Hewas? Was He a charlatan & a fake like somany others? Or was He a genuineRabbi, or a prophet, or maybe even theChrist of God, the One sent from God todeliver the Jews from their enemies?Nicodemus didn’t know, but he wanted tofind out! And so if you have a Bible Iencourage you to read John 3:1-21 & readof this encounter. For here was a manwho thought he knew so much & yetknew very little. People today can be thatway too. They think they know who Godis, or they think they know who Jesus is.For we all know the story of the manger,& we might’ve heard of the cross & theresurrection, but do we really knowJesus? Do we really understand who Heis, & what He came to do?

For Nicodemus, he thought this wasjust an intellectual matter, a quest forknowledge, but Jesus knew his heart. Heknew his deepest need: namely, to be“born again”! That’s what Jesus says invv.3&5! That if you want to enter the“kingdom of God”, that is, to know God’sloving rule over your life & experienceHis salvation, you must be “born again”!This was a stunning comment by Jesus,& Nicodemus didn’t know what Hemeant. For how can someone be bornagain? That’s impossible. But Jesus was-n’t speaking of a physical act, but a spir-itual one! That process where God worksin our hearts by the Holy Spirit & thegospel to give us new, spiritual life! Thatway we can love God & serve God, as Hecommands us to. This is what Nicodemus

was missing in his life. For he thoughtthat his good works & obeying God’s lawwere enough; that all you have to do islive a good, moral life & you can be sureof your standing with God! But that’s notthe case! No one is saved by their ownworks! For the only one who can save isthe One sent from God to bring eternallife to sinners, namely, Jesus Christ! Andthat’s what Jesus shows Nicodemus!

For in vv.14&15 Jesus says, “Just asMoses lifted up the snake in the desert, sothe Son of Man must be lifted up, thateveryone who believes in Him may haveeternal life.” Now if you know the storyabout Israel in the wilderness you’llknow how God sent poisonous snakesagainst His wicked people. The snake’sbites were deadly & many died or weremade deathly ill. And yet, God in Hisgrace made a way of escape. Moses wasto but a bronze snake on a pole & every-one who looked upon the snake &believed God’s promise would be healed.And that’s exactly what happened. Thus,Jesus was revealing to Nicodemus thatthis act of mercy pointed to His sacrifi-cial work for sinners. That He too wouldbe “lifted up” so that all who believed onHim, as the dying Savior, would be savedfrom their sins & made right with God!

Can you imagine the thoughts racingthrough Nicodemus’ mind? “How couldthis be? How could this Deliverer be “lift-ed up” for our life?” Well, as Jesus notesin v.16 it was the immense love of Godthat was the cause! “For God so loved theworld…” That refers to the world of fall-en mankind. It refers to all kinds of peo-ple, it doesn’t matter what your national-ity is, your skin color, how you speak, orhow rich or poor you are, that doesn’tmatter to God! He doesn’t look at man aswe often look at each other through theeyes of prejudice, envy, or hate. No! Hesent His Son for all kinds of sinners,“that whoever believes in Him shall notperish but have eternal life”! Isn’t thatthe most glorious gift? Isn’t that the mostwonderful thing you can think of ? God,apart from our deserving, has sent HisSon to pay the penalty for our sin, so thatall we need to do is “believe” on Him &thus be granted “eternal life”!

Now, you might have doubtsabout that. “Does God really work in ourhearts that way? Did Jesus really die onthe cross for me?” It seems hard to

believe! And Nicodemus felt that way too- for a while! But if we continue to read inthe Gospel of John we read ofNicodemus again in John 7:45-52 wherehe comes to Jesus’ defense against his fel-low Jewish leaders. A very brave act! Andthen in John 19:38-42 we see him &Joseph of Arimathea, another leader ofthe Jews, giving Jesus a proper burialafter His death. Yes, the man who came atnight out of fear became a man of faith!A man who identified as a follower ofJesus, openly & publicly, & for all to see!Yes, Jesus radically changed this man’slife! For the Spirit worked in his heart sothat he could be “born again” & embraceJesus as his Lord & Savior! And this goodnews of Jesus & His saving work is thefruit of His birth into our world! For thebirth of Jesus that we celebrate this sea-son of the year is the means by which sal-vation comes to sinners, & by which

believers are strengthened in their faithfor their service to God!

May the good news of Jesus be a bless-ing to you! And may this be especially soif you’re not a believer in Jesus as yourSavior. For if the Lord has touched yourheart by this short message, pray to Him& ask for this new birth by the Spirit!Ask the Lord to grant you faith to believethe good news of His salvation so thatyou too may enjoy everyday the comfortof life only He can give. God bless you!

Rev. Ancel MerwinUntied Reformed Church of

Thunder Bay

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

United Reformed Church of Thunder Bay

Holding forth the Word of life...Phil.2:16

Join us for worshipthis Advent season!

Please join us ifyou are able!

“UNTO US AS CHILD IS BORN, UNTOUS A SON IS GIVEN” (ISA.9:6)

THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE SEASON!

Please join us at the

United Reformed Church forOur Christmas Day service!

We will be meeting at10:00 am on Monday, Dec.25!Our location is on HWY 130 south, just off

the Corner of Arthur St & HWY 130www.thunderbayurc.com

8 SPIRITUAL GATHERINGS December 2015

Christmas Worship and Celebration ServicesTHE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA

NorthwardCurrent River United Church

333 Morse Street, off Hodder, in Current RiverEmail: currentriverunitedchurch@gmail.comWhat’s Happening This Season of Advent and Christmas 2017:

December 3 First Sunday of Advent - Partners in Worship with Trinity, 10:30 amDecember 10 Second Sunday of Advent - Partners in Worship with Trinity, 10:30 am

ALSO Community Carol Concert at the Current River Recreation Centre at 7 p.m.December 17 Third Sunday of Advent - Shared Worship with Knox at Current River, 10:30 amDecember 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent - Shared MORNING Worship with Knox at Knox, 10:30 amDecember 24 Christmas Eve candle-lighting service at Current River at 7 pmDecember 24 Casual New Year’s Day ServiceDecember 31 Casual Worship: Carols and Stories at Current River, 10:30 am

Blessings of the Season to One and All!

St. Paul’s United Church349 Waverley Street, Thunder Bay, 345-5864 email: office@stpaulstbay.net www.stpaulstbay.netMinister: Rev. Rob Smith Music Director: Diana Hannaford-Wilcox

December 3 10:30 am Advent 1December 10 10:30 am Advent 2December 17 10:30 am Advent 3 – A Gathered Pageant “Count on It”

7:00 pm Rotary Carol SingDecember 20 7:00 pm Longest Night ServiceDecember 24 10:30 am Advent 4

7:00 pm Family Candlelight Service 11:00 pm Candlelight Communion Service

December 25 10:30 am Christmas Morning Worship Service December 31 10:30 am Worship Around the Breakfast Table in Lunan Hall Whatever your age or your faith you are welcome at any or all of these services.

Trinity United Church30 Algoma Street S., Thunder Bay, 345-5621, trinityu@tbaytel.net www.trinityunited.churchMinister: Rev. Dr. Randy Boyd; Minister of Music: Marcella Smithers

December 3 10:30 am Advent 1 - Partners in Worship - Sacrament of Holy CommunionDecember 10 10:30 am Advent 2 - White Gift Sunday and Sacrament of BaptismDecember 17 10:30 am Advent 3 December 20 No morning serviceDecember 24 4:30 pm Birthday Party for Jesus - a Christmas service for children and familiesDecember 24 9:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 31 10:30 am Join us online for any of these services at www.trinityunited.church

Westminster United Church650 River Street, P7A 3S6, Telephone 767-2781 FAX 768-7459E-Mail: wsmesg@tbaytel.net

Minister of Word, Sacrament & Pastoral Care: REV. SUSAN IVANYMinister of Music: Kim Pineau

ADVENT SERVICES - SUNDAY at 10:30

December 3 Advent II, Men’s Choir, Communion, and BaptismDecember 10 Advent III, Gift bags, Cards StationsDecember 17 Advent IV, Choir CantataDecember 24 Christmas Eve, Carols and ReadingsDecember 24 Family Communion, Candlelight service 7:00 pmDecember 31 New Year, Wassail Service

EVERYONE IS INVITED AND WELCOME

SouthwardBroadway United Church

1303 Broadmore Ave., Thunder Bay, 577-8633, broadwayunited@tbaytel.net

December 10 10:30 am White Gift SundayDecember 24 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service December 31 10:30 pm Wassailing ServiceJanuary 7 10:30 am Epiphany Service worship at First Wesley (No service at Broadway on this date)

Pinegrove United Church100 Highway 130 (between Arthur St & Rosslyn Rd), Rosslyn, ON 939-1364E-mail: pinegrove@tbaytel.net Web site: www.PinegroveUC.orgMinister: Pastor Hubert DenDraak

December 10 10:30 am White Gift Sunday and Children’s Play.December 14 8:00 am lue Christmas serviceDecember 17 10:30 a.m.: Advent IIIDecember 24 4:00 p.m.: “Birthday party for Jesus” (for details, please check Facebook or call first)

10:00 p.m.: Candle light Christmas Eve service with Holy CommunionDecember 31 10:30 a.m.: Wassailing sing-along service. Bring your Christmas leftovers

for a pot luck brunch!

First - Wesley United Church130 Brodie Street N., Thunder Bay, 623-7001, firstwesleyuc@tbaytel.netMinister: Rev. Dexter van DykeMusic Directors: Evelyn Kushnier, Jacqui Soulias

December 3 10:30 a.m. Worship Service and Communion at First-Wesley, Advent I.December 10 10:30 a.m. Worship Service at First-Wesley, Advent II – White Gift Sunday.December 17 10:30 a.m. Worship Service at First-Wesley, Advent III –

Choir Cantata “Joy – a Gospel Celebration”. December 24 10:30 a.m. Worship Service at First-Wesley, Advent IV.

7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service and Communion at First-Wesley.

December 31 10:30 a.m. Worship Service at First-Wesley – Lessons and Carols.January 7 10:30 a.m. Worship Service at First-Wesley – Joint South-side Epiphany Service

All are Welcome!