Upcoming Events Nov. 29 Family Fun Night 5:30-7:00 pm Jan. 31 UCW Annual General Meeting Dec. 3 Advent 1 service with worship & Desserts 1:30 pm band 10:30 am - Communion & Feb. 2 Gym Night 6:30-8:00 pm White Gift Sunday Feb. 4 Installation of UCW Executive Dec. 5 Walter Auld Christmas during service 10:30 am with Luncheon 12 noon worship band Dec. 6 Women's Resources Vigil Feb. 11 Regular service 10:30 am 12:30 pm Feb. 18 Lent 1 Family Service - Dec. 10 Advent II service 10:30 am Communion 10:30 am A Christmas Festival concert Feb. 19 Family Day (office is closed) 3:00 pm Feb.21- Noon Hour Concerts Dec. 17 Advent III - Nine Lessons & Mar21 Carols Service 10:30 am Feb. 24 VOV Spaghetti Dinner Dec. 24 Advent IV Family Service Fundraiser 5:00 pm 10:30 am Living Christmas Nativity Pageant 7:00 pm Candlelight Communion Service 10:30 pm Dec. 31 Family Service 10:30 am Jan. 5 Gym Night 6:30-8:00 pm Jan. 7 Regular service with worship band 10:30 am Jan. 14 Regular service 10:30 am Jan. 17 Hosting Kawartha Highlands Presbytery meeting and dinner Jan. 19 Gym Night 6:30-8:00 pm Jan. 21 Regular service 10:30 am Jan. 23 Walter Auld Luncheon 12 noon Jan. 28 Regular service 10:30 am David Phillips, Stinson Memorial Speaker 1 Photo Gallery The Roast Beef Dinner - October 20, 2017 Photo Credit: Mert Davis 2 From the Minister Craig Donnelly How can mere scratchings on a piece of papyrus convey the majesty and glory of a holy and transcendent God? It gives me a whole new appreciation for the intelligence of the scriptures. The Gospel writers employed every literary tool available to them to convey through their writings, the essence of Jesus. And this certainly holds true for the accounts of his birth. Through the stories of angels and stars and shepherds and Magi, the Gospel writers began to weave the strands of this sacred story together - the story of a baby born in Bethlehem, who would one day, become known as the Saviour of the world. Jesus' story is already part of a larger story. A story already recorded on the pages of ancient scripture, and a story that is yet to be written. Old and new. Two parts. One story. His story. You may recall the title given to Jesus as he is born in Bethlehem, King of the Jews. That's a beautiful fulfillment of the David story, the Bethlehem shepherd, who became the greatest king the nation of Israel ever knew. It's a story that says: Jesus is a new David, bringing that peace that all people long for. And you may remember the story of the Magi, following a star from the east, and upon finding the infant Jesus, offering him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. That's a wonderful fulfillment of the Solomon story, where kings and queens came from the east to offer Solomon their gifts - and where the Queen of Sheba, according to Jewish writings, was led to him by a star. It's a story that says: Behold, a greater than Solomon is here. And it also includes the story of a king named Herod, bound and bent on the destruction of this young life. That, again, is an echo of the Moses story, when he escaped the plans of the wicked Pharoah. It's a story that says: Jesus is a new Moses, born to lead his people out of slavery. A new Moses, a new David, a new Solomon. All that was most worthwhile about their history, that's what the disciples had discovered Jesus to be, in his life, in his death, in his resurrection, and in their experience of his continued presence with them. No wonder they wrote about his birth with such enthusiasm! 3 Origins of a Beautiful Tradition Nancy Payne It is one of the most beloved aspects of Christmas Eve at Cambridge Street, and a true gift to our neighbours and our town: the glowing candles that line the streets around the church, welcoming all to our Living Christmas and candlelight communion services. Some years the flames are doused by heavy snow or even rain, but most years, they are a beautiful testimony to the words from the gospel of John, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.” But as with so many family traditions, it had to start somewhere, but where? That question leads to Yvonne Walden. She was the person who had the idea for the candles, although she acknowledges that she can’t remember whether she saw it somewhere else or read about it in a magazine. She suggested the idea to Rev. Ruggles Constant in the 1990s, who supported it enthusiastically. Planning ahead, Yvonne and Bill raided recycling bins for months to collect clear plastic pop bottles for Christmas Eve. The first year, candles were placed around the block in which the church is located, but the tradition soon grew. Neighbours started to put their own candles out, extending the display of glowing lights even farther. If you’ve never seen the candleholders up close, have a look this year—they’re pretty ingenious. A clear two-litre pop bottle with the bottom cut off is turned upside down and the lid screwed into a small square of wood. The neck of the bottle holds the candle, and is surrounded by sand to weight the whole thing down. Over the last several years, youth group members have spent part of their Christmas gathering, cleaning out the old candleholders, discarding melted containers and burned-out candles, and refilling the containers. By the afternoon of Dec. 24, volunteers have set the candles out along Cambridge, Bond, Francis, Victoria and Wellington streets, and on Christmas Eve, more volunteers light the candles one by one. Many families and individuals have kept the light alive in the ensuing decades, but we should note the role of Mert Davis and Dave Auger, who for many years were involved in organizing the considerable job of setting out, lighting and collecting the candles. There’s no doubt lots more to this story, and lots more people who have helped out. We extend sincere apologies if we’ve left anyone out—please send us the details so we can fill out the picture of this Cambridge Street tradition! Bill Walden lights the candles on And if you have a few hours to help continue this glowing Christmas Eve 1995. tradition in the season of hope, love, joy and peace, please speak to John Harris or to Pam Burtt in the office. 4 5 Walt’s World Walt Radda Thank You I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many contributors, photographers, and reviewers who have made this issue of the Chronicle possible. Dennis Eaton 6 Reflections from a Past Minister John Gertridge While conducting a wedding at my last congregation in Scarborough, a wedding guest cornered me and said, “John Gertridge? We knew a John Gertridge in Lindsay.” “I am he”, I said. She exclaimed ”We thought you were dead!” After 51 years, I am prepared to be forgotten, but be assured that I have never forgotten you. Jeannie and I were newlyweds in 1966. We moved into the manse two doors up, loaded with wedding gifts (place mats mostly) and our wedding gift to one another — an upright vacuum — and began adjustment to married life. Jeannie baked her very first pie…rhubarb… but forgot to add sugar. We buried it under the tree at the back door. (If you are an archeologist, I wager it is still there in its solid state.) Jeannie, a legal secretary, had to adjust to her role as minister’s wife. At a meeting of the Overseas Women’s Group, she was asked to say grace. She came home and commanded, “Write me a grace!” For emergencies, she kept that scrap of paper in her purse for 50 years. Our first daughter, Allison, was born at Ross Memorial, and the congregation welcomed her with joy and kindness. How good to have doctors Bill Service and Bill Arnup in the congregation to calm our new-parent fears. Our time in Lindsay took place in turbulent years. The Vietnam War dragged on, and emotions spilled over the border. Canada celebrated its 100th birthday. We were swept up in the first Trudeaumania (Bill, our organist, and I produced radio ads for Dave Logan, the Liberal candidate. The station manager at CKLY, a Conservative, played our ads at inaudible volume). I believe Dave Logan became mayor of Lindsay and a Supreme Court judge — happily without our assistance. The United Church had just published the New Curriculum. I read my way through the mountain of student books and lesson plans, and held training events for Presbytery Sunday School teachers. Expo 67 in Montreal inspired me to attempt multi-media worship, used when we hosted the Bay of Quinte Youth Conference at Cambridge Street. Our Couples’ Club brought forth dramatic and musical evenings; the Walter Auld Seniors and the Young People’s Group flourished. I was honoured to work with Hugh Pritchard. He and Margaret were kind next door neighbours. Hugh, so dignified, tolerated my liturgical experiments. During my time, Hugh received a Doctorate for helping establish study leave for ministers. Thank you for your inspiration. To paraphrase St. Paul: to all the saints at Cambridge Street — grace to you and peace! 7 Notes on Music Erwin Stroobach With the sudden drop in temperature, they started making snow at the local ski hill this past Saturday (Nov.