Page 24 Advertisements Column 3

Press, 24 December 1982, Page 24

The message of love still works

(By MAURICE GOODALL, a light to humankind, “Here is a man who parliaments that ever Dean of Christchurch which feels lost, lonely and was born of Jewish par- sat, and all the kings Cathedral). hopeless in a world grow- ents in an obscure vil- that ever reigned, put The little boy looked up ing colder and more fear- lage, the child of a together, have not afat the Christmas tree. His ful? peasant woman. He fected the life of man searching gaze took in the “Does it work”? It works grew up in another ob- upon the earth as powerstar at the top, and col- to show me a new pattern - scare village. He worked fully as has that solitary oured lights the shining of life. It works to show in a carpenter’s shop life.” paper and the gifts in their me a new beginning if we until he was 30, and God’s message came in gav wrappings lying below are prepared to listen and then, for three years, he a person - a person who, the tree share some of the wonder was an itinerant humanly speaking, carried “Does it work? " he and worship experienced preacher. none of the powers that as k ec i by those men and women “He never wrote a seem to affect our world. And maybe as we come and children of long ago. book, he never held an Indeed we could picture this Christmas season to For this story of the office, he never owned a this Jesus who came as the hear again the old old child challenges all our home. He never had a very antithesis of power as storv of Jesus, the babe of accepted, patterns of sue- family. He never went to known by us. Bethlehem we have to cess - the success in our college. He never put his As with any babe, He pause and ask the question, eyes has been the man foot inside a big city. He was desperately vulnerable “Does it work?” with money and power and never travelled 200 miles yet we know Him to be Does this message of influence — but here we from the place where he attractively open and wonlove work in our confusing have a new pattern. was born. He never did derfully self-giving, world with its mixture of A helpless babe soon to one of these things that Morris west has recently love and hurt, of laughter be a refugee from a king usually accompany followed other writers in and tears and pain and who reminds us of some of greatness. He had no likening Him to a clown joy’ Does this story of a our modern dictators in his credentials but himself.” because of this very vulbabv born in a cave at the willingness to destroy inno- The writer tells of the nerability. back of a village pub say cent people to hold on to trial and crucifixion; In his novel The Clowns much in a time of unem- his power. strangely, he omits the of God, West gives these ployment and division and This child, born in such Resurrection but con- words to his hero (and exviolence and bitterness? dismal circumstances eludes: P°pe)a s he writes to God: Do the stories of wise (more common with third "Nineteen wide cen- When a man becomes men visiting with their world children today than turies have come and a clown, he makes a free gifts and shepherds coming, with us in comfortable gone, and today he is the gift of himself to the in wonder to worship mean New Zealand), grew up centre-piece of the audience. To endow much when nations mount and, by his very being, human race, and the them with the saving massive stockpiles of challenged the values, of leader of the column of grace of laughter, he nuclear weapons and evil our world. progress. I am far submits to be mocked, forces plan hideous atroci- All this is summed up in within the mark when I drenched, clouted, ti es ? the description of Christ’s day that all the.armies crossed m love. Y.our Does a star in the dark life by an unknown author that ever marched, and Son made the same subskies over Bethlehem under the title, “One soli- all the navies that were mission when He was nearly 2000 years ago give tary Life”: ever built, and all the crowned as a mock king,

ANGLICAN ST AUGUSTINE’S CASHMERE DECEMBER 24 11.00 p.m. Community Carols. 11.30 p.m.: Holy Communion. CHRISTMAS DAY 8.00 a.m.: Holy Communion. 10.00 a.m.: Family Communion. Holiday Services at usual times. 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 7 p.m. each Sunday JOHN GREENSLADE, • Vicar.

ANGLICAN ST PAUL’S CHURCH 1 Harewood Rd., Papanui CHRISTMAS EVE 11.30' p.m.: Christmas Communion with Hymns and Carols. CHRISTMAS DAY: 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.: Christmas Communion with carols. "Sing for joy to the Lord, all the earth rejoice: praise Him with songs and shouts of joy. For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.” REV. D. G. BOYD, Vicar. AS we celebrate the arrival of Christ we wish you a very Joyful and Surprising Christmas. CHRISTMAS EVE 7.00 p.m.: St Aldan’s Hel Hei. 11.30 p.m.: CANDELIGHT Communion at St Columba’s Hornby. CHRISTMAS DAY 7.00 a.m.: Communion at St Saviour's Templeton. 8.00 a.m.: Communion at St .Paul’s West Melton. 9.15 a.m.: Family Communion and blessing of Children’s Christmas presents at St Columba’s Hornby. ’MARTIN WARREN, Vicar. ST MARTIN’S CHURCH LINCOLN ROAD CHRISTMAS EVE: 11.45 p.m.: Midnight Communion and Carols. CHRISTMAS DAY: 8.00 a.m.: Holy Communion. 10.30 a.m.: Family Communion. REV. PETER AXCELL. Vicar. . HALSWELL'PREBBLETON CHRISTMAS EVE 11.30 p.m.: Midnight Eucharist, All Saints, Prebbleton. CHRISTMAS DAY 8.00 a.m.: Holy Communion (1662 Service), St Mary’s, ’ Halswell. 9.15 a.m.: Family Communion, All Saints. Prebbleton. 10.30 a.m.: Family Communion, St Mary’s, Halswell. • GEOF PATERSON, . , . Vicar

ANGLICAN SUMNER REDCLIFFS PARISH ' CHRISTMAS EVE SUMNER 11.30 p.m.: Holy Communion. CHRISTMAS DAY SUMNER 8.00 a.m.: Holy Communion. 9.15 a.m.: Family Communion. REDCLIFFS 10.30 a.m.: Family Communion. CANON RON TAYLOR, Vicar, 48 Wakefield Ave. SUMNER. Phone 6251.

ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH 244 AVONHEAD ROAD CHRISTMAS EVE 11.30 p.m.: Christmas Carols. 11.45 p.m.: Midnight Communion. CHRISTMAS DAY: 8.00 a.m.: Holy Communion. 9.00 a.m.: Family Communion. 10.00 a.m.: Family Communion. REV. RICHARD ROBERTON, Vicar.

ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH ' SHIRLEY CORNER SHIRLEY ROAD AND EMMETT STREET CHRISTMAS EVE: 11.45 p.m.: Carols and Holy Communion. CHRISTMAS DAY: 8.00 a.m.: Holy Communion. 10.00 a.m.: Holy Communion. . ST STEPHEN'S DAY: 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion. ROSS ALLEN, Vicar.

CHURCH OF THE GOOD - SHEPHERD MAORI MISSION PHILLIPSTOWN CHRISTMAS EVE 11.45 p.m. Holy Communion CHRISTMAS DAY 8.00 a.m.: Holy Communion W. B. TUREL, Vicar.

ST MARY’S CHURCH SQUARE, ADDINGTON Christmas Eve Midnight Eucharist at 11.45 p.m. . Christmas Day Holy Communion at 8 a.m and 9.30 a.in. • P. 0. WILLIAMS. Vicar.