Photo: Jeanne Jenner, Sue Clinton and Sandy Singers in Sharbot Lake.

The Lanark Frontenac Lennox and Addington NDP Riding Association held a timely forum on food banks in Sharbot Lake on December 5. Participants from Perth and Kingston were in attendance, as were Sue Clinton from the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Committee and Brenda Piat from the North Frontenac Food Bank.

The divergent experiences of the operators brought a lot of different issues into play

Sandy Singers from the Partners in Mission food Bank in Kingston brought a more urban perspective since his agency is a full-time operation that distributes almost $1 million each year in food donations. The Partners in Mission also deal with unique issues, such as the impact on the food bank of family members of people incarcerated in Kingston's numerous prisons.

Jeanne Jenner is currently affiliated with the Salvation Army in Perth, which provides hot meal and Chrismas hamper programs, and was formerly with the Perth and District Food Bank. “We often face the opinion, when it comes to poverty and homelessness issues in Perth, that the solution is to ‘buy them a bus ticket’ to Ottawa. This kind of denial of the problems that the working poor face in our own community extends to Perth City Council, I’m afraid,” she said.

Sydenham-based Sue Clinton from the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Committee, which prepares Christmas hampers for about 60 families and provides emergency food to 37 families throughout the year, talked about some of the issues that plague impoverished people in rural areas. A nutritionist herself, Clinton also talked about the need to teach people how to prepare and eat healthy meals. “Food has everything to do with health. If you teach people how to eat healthier you empower them. We see children of food bank recipients becoming recipients themselves, and we need to work to end this cycle. One thing we are doing is putting recipes in the food box, and encouraging people to use the Good Food Box as well as our services. Jamie Oliver, the famous chef, won an award for trying to help the Americans improve their health. Every child before they leave school should be able prepare 10 meals to save their life. Those are the kinds of solutions we need to foster,” Clinton said.

Brenda Piat, who introduced the panel on behalf of the North Frontenac Food Bank, which handles about 275 food requests annually, said that a major portion of the clientele who are served by the food bank are recipients of disability pensions, but she has been unable to convince the workers who administer the disability payments to refer their clients to the food bank. “To me those workers are in the social services and they should concern themselves with the food and other needs of their clients,” she said.

“In Kingston the Ontario Works and Disability supports program workers just send their clients over to us, which is another kind of problem. We are a charitable organisation, and receive no government funding, but the government is effectively asking us to subsidise their support programs,” said Sandy Singers of Partners in Mission.

All of the panellists confirmed that the Christmas season is their best time of year for fundraising. In some ways the smaller rural services expressed the most optimism about their ability to raise funds. “Over the years people have become more and more aware of our need,” said Brenda Piat. “Most community events accept food donations for admission; people ask for donations to the food bank when their loved ones pass away, and we have even received bequests.”

“We send a letter to our donors in the fall, and that is one of our best ways to raise cash, along with the food boxes in the local food stores, and fundraising events like Vision Soup and others” said Sue Clinton.

“We are dependent on the kindness of strangers” said Sandy Singers “and our budget is definitely made in November and December. But our donors don’t want to be overburdened by us. What I find is that people don’t want us to badger them.”

All of the participants realise that what they offer is a limited solution, at best. “All of the good work done by hot meal programs, soup kitchen and food banks is just a band aid, not the answer and certainly not even a solution at all,” said Sandy Singers. He also said that food banks and food programs are not really in a position to get overly political because of the rules for charitable organizations and the fact that they receive donations from people of all political stripes, but collecting information and providing statistics is something they can do.

“The Ontario Association of Food Banks calculated the cost of poverty in Ontario at billions of dollars a year,” Singers said.

From inter-generational poverty, lack of budgeting skills, social and employment problems, mental health issues and drug problems, the reasons that food banks remain busy are diverse and complicated. The panel members agreed that it would take political action to transform community concerns about food and poverty into a policy priority. Until then they all said they will muddle through as best they can.

The North Frontenac Food Bank can be reached through Northern Frontenac Community Services at 613-279-3151 and the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Committee can be reached through voicemail at 613-572-6004.

Come with me by Jean Lewis

Parham/Tichborne Santa Claus Parade By Colleen Steele

The Christmas Stranger By Alanna Runnings

The Light of the world by Hope Attaway

What is a school bus driver? by Steve Dunham

Come with me by Jean Lewis

Come with me to another yearWhen we were free of cares.The only things that filled our headsWere toys and teddy bears.

We wrote our lists for Santa ClausIn hopes that he might findThat we’d been good through all the yearSo sweet and nice and kind.

We’d sit and dream beside the treeWith branches lush and green.The lights would glow and sparkle brightIt made a festive scene.

So come with me down memory laneLet’s throw the years aside.Let sugar plums and toys galoreWithin our hearts abide.

Parham/Tichborne Santa Claus ParadeBy Colleen Steele

Away down in Tichborne our parade starts to formWe bundled in layers to keep ourselves warm

The Spirit of the Season sure can be foundYou can see it on the faces when you look around

Norm starts driving Bill Lee's WagonWith Friends in the back and no fee we are dragging

All the fire trucks looked so shiny and newThe parameds were on hand ready to help you

With floats from the Grove and from Sharbot LakeOh what a joyous sight they did make

Kingston's Oddfellows and Rebekahs joined in the funWith Pat's "Rad" towing and their motto "to help everyone"

The Lions Club are truly another great bandThey're always ready and willing to lend you a hand

The "Strokes for Hope" is soon coming to an endWe thank you Edward and Andrew your friend

The float that Butch towed was such a sightWe hope that it did not give you a fright

The Rec's float held pretty girls and a bearWith Mike on his four wheeler, driving here and there

Joey's float was such a sight to beholdAnd the Lawn Care, Mallettes and Websters too braved the cold

Alissa and Katie rode on top of the horses’ backWith Pa Lee to lead them over the railway track

The firemen kept all the traffic rolling alongWhile passing they enjoyed a cheery Christmas song

The crowds they clapped and cheered as we passed on the streetThey gathered all the tossed candy canes and the sweets

When what to our wondering eye did appearBut Santa and Mrs Claus bringing up the rear

As we travelled up the road to the warm fire hallWe parked in the field where we used to play ball

We enjoyed drinks and chili that was very hotThe kids sat on Santa's knee, they liked that a lot.

We're proud of this Parade we hope you are tooCome join us next year for we'd love to have you!

**Note: I apologize if I missed your float.  It was not intentional and all entries in this great parade are appreciated and add so much to our little town and the spirit of the Season...Colleen

The Christmas Stranger By Alanna Runnings

Once there lived a grumpy old man who hated Christmas. Every night he would get up and take stuff off his neighbor's houses. When the families would wake up the next morning, they saw foot prints in the snow. They called the police but the police couldn't do anything about it.

So one night everyone stayed up and watched for him. Finally, they caught him. They phoned the police and the police came. Everyone had the same questions - why? Why would he do that? Why did he hate Christmas so much?

When he was little he didn't get anything for Christmas. His family never celebrated Christmas because they were poor. It always made him sad when he was a kid and saw Christmas trees and other kids getting presents. Now he had no family so he had nobody to celebrate with.

This made everyone sad. The neighbors felt so bad and said if he promised to not do that anymore they would love to celebrate with him.

This made the old man so happy that he promised to never spoil Christmas again.

The Light of the world by Hope Attaway

The star that shone brightly over the manger where the baby Jesus lay wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Jesus matured into a man and died to atone for the whole world’s sins.

He arose from death and sits at the right hand of His Father.

His mother Mary was a virgin

His father is God

The choir of angels that sang and announced his birth to shepherds

The wisemen that gave expensive gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh.

People from all walks of life worshipped Jesus and still do.

The Bible still sells two thousand years later.

What makes Christmas special?

Knowing there’s love, hope forgiveness and new beginnings -

If we believe these amazing truths in faith, then we become very special people who care about the world around us.

God bless you at this very special time of year.

Merry Christmas.

What is a school bus driver? by Steve Dunham

A school bus driver is a person who smiles in the morning and smiles in the evening and eats Rolaids in between.

Bus drivers get there when nobody else can; they find houses that don’t exist and children with no names.

They dry tears, dispel fears and find lost notebooks.

School bus drivers have eyes in the back of their heads and hear every word that is said, even in sign language.

They separate the meek from the mighty – the timid from the bold – and give reassuring nods to anxious mamas standing at the end of their lanes.

Bus drivers are the epitome of patience and perfection of skills; they also have a good understanding of human nature and Mother Nature.

Bus drivers have a grudging friendship with the glaring sun, the beating rain and driving snow. And they know all about dust and the geological formation of gravel.

They are immune to noise.

A bus driver’s favourite words, besides “Good Morning” and “Good Night” are “Sit Down!”

Their favourite colour is yellow.

A bus driver’s worst apprehension involves five-year-olds with motion sickness – especially in the winter when the windows are closed and the heaters are on.

A bus driver knows all the school songs and pep cheers. Her vocabulary is always up to date.

To be a bus driver a person must be able to memorize the number of the bus garage and the superintendent’s number.

They can read maps.

Sometimes a bus driver gets tired – but seldom gets mad; and always, most faithfully, he gets there.

Many people set their clocks by a bus driver’s schedule; many mothers set out for a second cup of coffee.

A bus driver sits at the helm of a costly six to seven ton machine loaded with 60 units of the most precious cargo on God’s earth – our children.

Editorial by Jeff Green

As is our custom, we send out greetings to our readers on our Christmas issue, which is also our final issue of the year and the occasion for our annual two-week break.

As you flip though our Christmas issue, you’ll see messages from the group that has brought this newspaper to your mailbox each week for the past 39 years – namely, the local advertisers who pay the bills.

The format of the Frontenac News has changed over the years, as has the name (for almost 30 years we were the North Frontenac News, which is still what we are called by many of our readers).

The paper was also produced by Northern Frontenac Community Services for many years, before becoming a privately owned business 10 years ago.

But - we hope at least - the main function of the Frontenac News, which is to let people know what is happening in their community, their township and their county and to foster communication between people in the scattered villages of Frontenac County, Addington Highlands and the western edge of Lanark County, has not changed.

We are getting set to celebrate our 40th anniversary, which we will do in March of next year with a special issue. Thinking back to the way things were in this region back in 1971, it is clear that nothing has replaced the mining, logging and railroad industries that were so dominant in the past, and that although agriculture remains viable in the south and in pockets, it is not the kind of economic engine that it once was. We drive far away for work now, and while we are there we do a lot of our shopping, and the retail sector in our villages is not what it was even 20 years ago.

Still, we work together in small and larger groups to forge a new kind of rural identity, and if there is one thing that we have chronicled in these pages week after week, in about 1,600 issues (the paper was not a weekly for the first 15 years) it is the things people do each week to re-make their own world.

At Christmas time we see this in spades. People drag themselves out of the house on Saturday mornings after a week of school and work, to participate in a parade, sing in choir, go to a meeting, or run to the mall.

There are groups trying to figure out how we can use the land to feed ourselves in a different way. We need to figure out how we will care for and educate our children, how we will care for the poor, the sick, and the old, all without any magic economic bullet to bring money into the region.

Essentially, we are all struggling just to get by, but in doing so we are also building new communities in the shells of the communities that came before.

It's easy to look around and see the problems that we are facing, but at the same time we keep building houses - $40 million this year in mainland Frontenac County. Tay Valley is building a fire hall, and so will North Frontenac soon; and a new school is coming.

I had a quick look at the new Frontenac Maps website this week, and when you look at the region at a 10,000 to one magnification you can see fields, roads and lakes in the south, trees, roads and lakes to the north, and little dots where the villages are. As you zoom down to 1,000 to one you can see houses, buildings, ball fields, churches, etc. in between the vast expanses of landscape.

That's what we have followed for 39 years, the activities of the people in those scattered enclaves. The people are still here, and we are privileged to be here to chronicle some of the joy and pain of modern life in a rural context.

See you in two weeks, on January 6, 2011.

By Susan Irwin, Executive Director / Lawyer, Rural Legal Services

I am often of two minds about the upcoming Holiday Season.The non-lawyer par t of me enjoy Christmas and New Years and all that this special time of year entails, especially getting together with family and friends. The lawyer part of me however,wants to scream "Bah, humbug"!

Why the lawyer as Scrooge or Grinch? It's simple really: over the next couple of weeks, with the season as a reason, or at least an excuse, people will do regrettable things, ranging from the remarkably thoughtless to the malicious,and lawyers who deal with people and their problems will get the calls.

The over indulgence in seasonal "spirits" will likely be a recurring theme for many calls received by lawyers at Rural Legal Services early in the New Year' as people begin to realize just how much fun they had over the holiday period. Not that I am a member of the Temperance League, but after a few years one wonders what it will take for people to finally get the message that they should not drink and drive: drive anything, including the snowmobile or the ATV.

Many of our columns have been devoted to the issues around impaired driving and the continuing legal changes being made in Ontario to tackle the problem including automatic driver's licence suspensions for impaired driving charges, the imposition of lower acceptable blood alcohol levels for drivers over 21 years and zero alcohol levels for drivers 21 years and under. As of December 1st, 2010, the province has again amended the Highway Traffic Act-this time to allow the immediate impoundment of the vehicle being used by the impaired driver for seven days. It doesn't matter who owns the vehicle; unless you can convince the police that it was stolen, it's off the road for a week if the driver has a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater.

If you lend your car to a friend or relative, or have a designated driver who hasn't taken the role seriously, your wheels will be off the road for a while,a nd the owner, of course, will be responsible for all the towing and impound fees that have to be paid before the vehicle is released. It is also agood idea to make sure the person you've given the keys to holds a valid driver's licence that is not under suspension or subject to special conditions, or undersome circumstances that too will now lead to impoundment. You can check to see if a driver's licence is valid, for a fee of $2.50, by calling1-900-565-6555.

Losing a driver's licence, let alone a vehicle, has caused more than a few people to endu p unemployed. It's the kind of holiday hangover most people can do without,especially as w eare all under such tremendous pressure tobuy things, needed or not, at this time of year.A little consumer overindulgence is pretty common at this time of year, but it would be wise to remember that an awfull ot of the low interest rate offers on credit cards, or consumer items such as furniture, have a time limit to them, after which the rates can increase to atmosphericl evels making payments difficult for many families. Every year Rural Legal Services receives many calls for help with debt problems that have started with a little too much holiday exuberance.

And then there are the truly heart breaking calls received from separated parents who were expecting to have their young children either for Christmas or for some part of the holidays. For some reason, either the custodial parent has decided not to live up to a Court Order or agreement to deliver the children in time for Santa, or the non-custodial parent has decided not to return them on time from a visit. In either case, the parent who was expecting to spend a special time with his or her children has just received at ruly Grinch-like gift.

It would be wonderful if we could all exercise some moderation and civility in our holiday indulgences that after the holidays, there would be fewer problems! Rural Legal Services will be closed from December 24 that noon until Tuesday, January 4, 2011. Until then, Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our readers!

Legalese is a column of general information and opinion on legal topics by the lawyers of Rural Legal Services, Box 359, Sharbot Lake, ON, K0H2P0, 613-279-3252, or 1-888-777-8916. This column is not intended to provide legal advice. You should contact a lawyer to determine your legal rights and obligations.

Bill MacDonald is always ready for a challenge. Ever since he went down to defeat in 2006 after serving as mayor in Central Frontenac for three terms he has set his sights on Queen's Park. He tried for the Liberal nomination in 2007, but lost out in a close vote to Ian Wilson. Randy Hillier ended up winning the riding for the Conservatives by just under 1,000 votes over Ian Wilson.

Since then Bill MacDonald has been working within the LFL&A Liberal riding association to secure the nomination for the 2011 election, and to that end he has sold over 400 memberships in 2010.

When it came time for the nomination meeting in Sharbot Lake last weekend, those memberships were not necessary because Bill MacDonald was the only candidate, and he accepted the nomination at a meeting at the United Church in Sharbot Lake.

About 50 people attended the meeting on Sunday, in an event that was hindered by a mini-ice storm in the region.

Ice storms are nothing new to MacDonald's political career, and he pointed out afterwards. “There was a pretty big ice storm right at the start of my career as mayor of Central Frontenac in 1998, so it might be fitting that there was an ice storm at the beginning of this election campaign for me,” he said.

MacDonald is undaunted by the prospect of campaigning to win an opposition riding for an increasingly unpopular two- term government, as the latest polls have the Liberals running five to ten points behind the Conservatives. “I think there is an opportunity here to represent the people. I think it is just a matter of selling myself, presenting myself as an alternative. I was born here and have worked here and campaigned here, so a lot of people know me and know what I have done and what I stand for.”

While he says he realizes that there is a mood for change in the province, he says he looks forward to bringing change by taking a candidate’s role in the development of the Liberal Party platform at meetings that are scheduled for the beginning of next year.

“We don't always look at what has happened in this riding lately. There is a new hospital in Smiths Falls, a new high school in Smiths Falls, an expansion of Algonquin College, a $1 million expansion of the Napanee hospital, a new school is coming to Sharbot Lake, and the list goes on. What I want to talk about is what we are doing and what we want to do in the future.”

When he is not doing politics. MacDonald runs a logging company and an educational resources company as well.

He said he does not want to conduct an oppositional campaign against Randy Hillier, who began his own political career by attacking the rural policies of the McGuinty Liberals and others.

“I will let Randy Hillier campaign for himself,” MacDonald said, “My focus will be on promoting myself.”

He summed up his campaign strategy at the conclusion in his acceptance speech.

“I am approachable and I know how hard the people of LFL&A work to earn their living and pay their taxes. I am someone voters can place their confidence in, as I will work for all people of the riding. I will work to make this riding the best in all of Ontario – where your family and mine are able to enjoy a safe, affordable and sustainable lifestyle. This riding is our home. We deserve better representation in Toronto,” he said.

While MacDonald said he plans to do a lot of door-to-door campaigning, he may be tweeting as well, at twitter.com/Bill_MacDonald. 

One of the first official acts of the newly elected warden of Frontenac County was to officially launch the public version Frontenac Maps, marking a coming of age of sorts for the Global Information Systems (GIS) project in Frontenac County.

Now located online at Frontenacmaps.ca is a digital map of the entire county. Using a viewer, people can now get a picture of the county as a whole, and can zoom in to bring up aerial photography in detail of buildings, roads, ball - fields, shorelines, trails and more.

The aerial photography was done two years ago by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and along with baseline mapping data it makes up the base level of the new system.

While local municipalities have access to planning and zoning data as well as roll numbers and tax data, the public version of the map is less elaborate, but it does include lot lines, rights of way, and other information.

Over time, the county plans to work with lake associations, the Frontenac Stewardship Council, and tourist organizations to put more and more layers of information on the map, so it will be able to give a visual picture of the county and the local communities.

“There are other Counties that are years ahead of us on this, but at least we have made a real start, and we have something that people can use now,” said Joe Gallivan, the Director of Sustainability Planning for Frontenac County.

A county-wide GIS project has been in the planning stages for several years, but since the different townships were at different stages of development for their own global information projects, it wasn’t until the summer of 2009 that a co-ordinated approach was approved.

With funding coming from a National Gas tax rebate to the county, and approved through the county’s Integrated Sustainability Plan, a GIS intern was hired to oversee the project in 2010. The municipalities have had access to the mapping data for planning purposes since early this fall, and now the public can see the maps as well.

Joe Gallivan said that as part of the project, printable .pdf versions of maps will be easily downloadable from the Frontenacmaps.ca site as well.

The magnification is detailed enough to show large and small bodies of water, even vehicles that happened to be parked at locations on the day the aerial mapping was done.

Frontenacmaps.ca was available to the public as of yesterday, December 15.

Unfortunately for some, a high speed Internet connection is necessary to use the mapping without facing excessive delays.

Photo: African Nativity scene

It took organizers Jean Freeman and Kristine Caird and numerous volunteers over six hours to set up the over 1500 pieces that made up the 101 Nativities show-(there in fact were 145 scenes this year) which took place at the Cole Lake Free Methodist church in Godfrey this past weekend. The show, which was back by popular demand after its very successful first year last Christmas, is not only a way for the church staff and members of the congregation to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, but also a way to demonstrate how Christmas unites so many people from all over the world. Included in the show this year were nativity scenes from countries from as far away as Panama, Haiti, Cuba, Mexico,, and Israel along with entries from numerous African countries.

New this year to the event was a special kids workshop led by Alexa Craven and Shannon Harper in which youngsters were invited to create their own nativity scenes using wooden tongue depressors and old fashioned clothes pegs. The event was so popular last year that organizers extended it from two to three days this time around to give more interested viewers a chance to check it out. Cole Lake's minister, Rev. Shawn Craven, said the show is great for the church in a number of ways. “The show attracts not only church members but other members of the community who come out to enjoy a snack and the show and it gives people in the community who might not otherwise have the time a chance to visit in what can be a very busy time of the year.

The show also highlights what Christmas really is about and what it represents, which is important since I think more and more people are wanting to experience what the real meaning behind the holiday is and this show does that in both an entertaining and a meaningful way.”

Back to HomeChristmas Edition - December 22, 2012Christmas 2012

Art Contest

Christmas Truce of 1914

101 Nativities Back By Popular Demand

Christmas Messages for the Clergy

Christmas Poems

Early Literacy:Holiday Books for the GivingThe Stablehand's EventualityBy Antonia Chatson

Christmas Messages from the Clergy

A  Christmas Message by Rev. Jean Brown

No sense keeping ‘Christ’ in Christmas Without Easterby Rev. Judson Bridgewater

Christmas PS By Rev. Raymand Klatt

A Christmas Messageby Rev. Jean Brown

The first Christmas celebration came unexpectedly to the participants Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men who all responded to God's messages to “Fear not”. It has been wisely noted that when God's messengers say “fear not”- it's time to listen, give up our fears, pray ferociously and put the future into God's hands. Such is the case in the Plevna Ompah United Church, who somewhat unexpectedly in mid-November motioned to request a congregational vote on December 3 that would close both worship sites at the end of December 2012. We could almost hear the angels' reminder of “Fear not” as we prepared to vote and also pondered up-coming Christmas celebrations. How in the world we wondered, would we celebrate Christmas this year at our two worship sites? When the vote passed, we added the pressure of a service of deconsecration on December 16 and a future of looking at best possible usage of our two worship sites, and their holy contents. We certainly understood more clearly the dilemma of Mary and Joseph, two frightened young parents who set off on a donkey, ended up giving birth to the Saviour in a barn, were visited by shepherds, wise men and angels and then had to flee for their lives to escape a jealous dictator. Certainly when they set out they had no idea of all that awaited them, and neither do we as we now set out on a journey of church closure, pondering the future, making decisions that honour God and our ancestors dreams. We don't know what the future holds, but we do know that God holds the future and just as God guided our ancestors to build the churches, so too will God guide us as we journey into closure and moving in with other existing area churches. Like Mary, who had no real plans to give birth, we had no real plans to give birth to a church closure- but with God's help, prayer, discernment, discussion we will persevere- just as our ancestors did in past years.

This might not be the Christmas we had imagined, however I always wonder just how Jesus would want us to celebrate his birthday? We know that Mary “pondered” and together they prayed and sought direction. In our Plevna Ompah United Church, we too have been pondering, praying, worrying, laughing and crying, but mostly we have been brought to our knees in prayer. One thing about church closure- it brings us closer to God and to one another and it allows the Christmas scriptures to point us in new directions.

So, if ever there was a Christmas when God's message spoke to my heart personally and to our closing churches, this was the year. We sure let go of the tinsel, lights and glitter and asked God to help us get through and God met our needs. So many kind folks offered and continue to offer their prayers, and to extend invitations to worship at their locations. So many folks have suggestions on future plans for our two churches and their contents and with God's help it will all be revealed. We have every confidence that God will open a new door and a new way to be a Church in our area. We are, in a frightened kind of way, excited for all that God has in mind for us and like Mary continue to ponder all these things, to pray, and to trust in God.

In closing, thank you dear folks of the area for your kindness. In the short time of 15 months of service in your area you have stolen my heart and the heart of my husband Allan as we've ministered with you.

My contract finishes on December 31, 2012. A well known Presbytery representative Bruce Hutchinson who has helped us out in the past will then prayerfully start to meet with the Trustees to determine just what will happen to the church buildings, and contents. In the spring of 2013 another farewell to the churches is planned when more summer folk return. God bless everyone and thanks ferociously.

No sense keeping ‘Christ’ in Christmas Without Easter

By The Reverend Judson Bridgewater, Parish of Loughborough

“Roses are reddish, violets are bluish if it wasn’t for Christmas we’d all be Jewish.” This politically incorrect and sexist ditty from British comedian Benny Hill’s TV show shaped my early understanding of Christmas and Christianity...even after my Dad tried to set me straight.

“No”, he said, “People aren’t Christians because of Christmas. It’s because of Easter. And why were you watching Benny Hill?” (I was 9 at the time.)

You should know, I did not grow up in a religious household; neither was my father a historian nor a theologian. In fact, he identified himself as an atheist. And yet, he was quite sure that the reason people revered Jesus many years ago and why generations of people today continue to follow and worship Jesus has little to do with the spectacular birth stories retold each year at Christmas.

And sheepishly, I now have to admit that I was 19 before I experienced what my Dad was trying to tell me. And yet, I wonder how many people wanting to ‘keep Christ in Christmas’ today understand what my Dad was talking about.

Is the miraculous birth of Jesus really enough reason to celebrate ‘God’s gift to the world’ 2000 years later? Maybe this birthday is as good as any to throw an awesome party and visit with distant family & friends but really, is the birth of Jesus what motivates anyone to worship Jesus as God this Christmas?

I don’t think so. In fact, I am certain that the only reason we know anything about Jesus’ birth (or earthly ministry of healing the sick and feeding the poor) centres upon what the first followers experienced after Jesus had died on the cross. Something remarkable happened. Something marvellous occurred. Something miraculous and maybe even a little scary was witnessed by the first followers of Jesus.

I’m talking about the mystery of the first Easter, when Jesus was resurrected from the dead. What ever happened at the resurrection and subsequent days shook people to the core. This experience encouraged them to talk and eventually write about a Jesus who had defeated death and appeared to many people afterwards. For these followers (as for later generations) who claim that the Spirit of Jesus continued to empower, comfort, and reconcile them with the divine, Jesus is much more than a nice guy who did nice things for people long ago. Jesus is more than a baby born to Mary in a manger.

For some, baby Jesus will remain ancient history, a myth or fairy tale; however for others, the Risen Jesus is God’s gift of abundant life, peace, justice, and forgiveness now and forever. It is a gift that is experienced rather than read about, talked about, bought or sold - as I discovered while sitting in an old stone church one Sunday as a teenager.

And in an era where abundant life, peace, justice, and forgiveness seem in short supply, my hope is that more people will experience this type of gift. Merry Christmas and Happy Easter!

Christmas "PS"

By Rev. Raymond Klatt, Pastor of River of Life Christian Fellowship, Plevna

PROBLEMS: Joseph and Mary had some serious problems as they became the Christmas Story. Mary was pregnant - that was a problem because the child wasn't Joseph's, it was God's. Try explaining that to your family and friends. But Joseph and Mary were both obedient to God's will - both of them were willing to do their part in God's plan to send His Son to earth.

Let me share three obvious problems that Joseph and Mary faced and see if they don't sound like something you and I might face.

1. Taxes

2. Travel

3. Too many people.

The whole point in having to register was so that the Romans could accurately calculate how much tax they were going to levy against the Jews. On top of that, the Emperor was forcing everyone to travel to their family's hometown for the census.

The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 90 miles. So we have a financial burden, coupled with the burden of a long, and dangerous journey, and then on top of that, a mass of people that were all in the same situation.

Then Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, which was a feed box for the animals.

PROMISE: When God sent angels to announce the birth of His Son He didn't send them to the religious leaders or the elite of society. He sent angels to shepherds. And yet, God chose these unlikely recipients to hear His message of promise.

All the Jews had been waiting for the coming Messiah. The angels spoke words of promise to the shepherds---the Messiah would be a SAVIOUR and His salvation would for all people.

The promise is still available today. God is still in the saving business and if you haven't claimed His promise, today is the day to do so.

PROCLAIM: The shepherds took off for Bethlehem to see it for themselves. They did not wait around. They simply got up and went straight to Bethlehem. What did they find? Exactly what the angels had told them and they also began proclaiming the birth of the Messiah to everyone who would listen. Wouldn't it be amazing if we were as faithful in proclaiming the message of Jesus as those shepherds were the night He was born?

The shepherds praised God because of what they had seen and heard. And they glorified God because they believed He had sent His Son for them. Can you offer that same praise today? It is God's gift of His Son to you.

It is possible that we could make a bigger impact for Christ in our world if we spent a little less time griping and complaining and a lot more time praising Jesus.

PONDER: In quiet contemplation Mary took all these events in and pondered what they all could mean. In faith she said “Yes”, and in faith she pondered on how God would use someone like her, someone like Joseph, someone like the baby she held in her arms to change the world.

If you really believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son, that He died on the cross for your sins, that He rose again to give you the hope of eternal life, and you are willing to repent of your sins, and receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you don't have to wonder anymore. Then you can really worship Him.

"The shepherds returned to the fields glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, which was just as they had been told." Luke 2:30

In a surprise announcement, the Ontario Ministry of Health announced a new initiative last Thursday. “Health Link” is designed to co-ordinate the “care for high-needs patients such as seniors and people with complex conditions” according to a ministry release.

Among the stated goals of the program are: “Improved access to family care for seniors and patients with complex conditions; Reducing avoidable emergency room visits; Reducing unnecessary re-admission to hospitals shortly after discharge; Reducing time for referral from primary care doctor to specialist appointments; and Improving the patient's experience during their journey through the health care system.”

The initiative takes its cue from the recognition that a small percentage of the population makes use of a disproportionately high share of health care services and dollars, and better co-ordination of care for these people would improve outcomes and save health care dollars.

Health Links are being established in 19 locations throughout the province, three of which are located in the region of the Southeast Ontario Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)

Frontenac and rural Lennox and Addington Counties are one of the early adopter areas.

The Rural Kingston Family Health Organization (FHO), which inlcudes the primary care clinics in Sydenham, Verona, Newburgh, and Tamworth as well as the Family Health Teams in Sharbot Lake and Northbrook, is the co-ordinating agency for the region.

Lynn Wilson, the administrater for the Rural Kingston FHO, did not have a lot of lead time before the announcement was made last Thursday – having received an email only a few days earlier. She also did not receive any communication from the ministry or the Local Health Integration Network about how Health Link will roll out in Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties. A meeting of primary heath care practitioners with Dr. Jonathan Kerr (lead physician), and Paul Huras (CEO) of the Southeast LHIN has been scheduled for Dec 20.

Health Link partners in Frontenac and L&A will likely include, in addition to Rural Kingston family care physicians, the Southeast Community Care Access Centre, Hotel Dieu and Kingston General Hospitals, Lennox and Addington County General Hospital, the Perth hospital and local community service agencies.

“I expect that we will focus on chronic heart care, obesity, and other issues in an attempt to enchance the ageing at home program in Frontenac and L&A, but we will have to see what Doctor Kerr says next week before we know where this is all headed,” said Wilson.

The timing of the announcement of the Health Link program is interesting as well, since there is a vacuum at the centre of Ontario politics with the prorogation of the legislature, and a pending election once the governing Liberal Party chooses a new leader in February.

The Conservative Party, led by Tim Hudak, has vowed to eliminate the LHINs if his party attains power.

Photo: Kielo Carlson sorts and organizes clothes a Style Revival.

A year and half after moving to the Verona area, Kielo Carlson has decided to start something new in her church and her community. She has gathered high quality, gently used clothing from friends in the local area and further away, and has set up a free boutique in the basement of the Verona Free Methodist Church.

The "Style Revival" boutique looks and feels like a small store in larger centre, but the difference is that the clothes and accessories are free.

“I would like people to treat the boutique a bit like a store. We have limited quantities, so I'm asking people to take only what they need, and what looks good on them. If people will take one or two pairs of shoes instead of five or six, there will be more available for the next person,” said Kielo Carlson at the grand opening of the homey store on November 21. The store opened without any marketing, but there was still a steady stream of customers on opening day. “Style Revival” is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm.

“I think I can handle those hours,” said Kielo, who is planning to oversee the store though the winter with the help of volunteers. She vets all the clothes herself to ensure quality. For further information and to donate clothes, accessories, or jewelry, contact Kielo at 613-374-5289 or Verona Free Methodist Church at 613-374-1232.