|: rarely, sec. Q
“At ‘Christmas, we eal’ and diink freely aiid ‘of: a

Le JUST A THOUGHT

Bhp EV BISHOP. |
Be Christmas thoughts.

T hey’d be smug =I feel smug ~ thinking, ‘Oh sure,
. fampant: materialism abounds burl, -assailed by : a

* snags ‘of Visa bills, ‘a: ‘barrage of wrapping. paper, :
_afid'an onslaught of: parties dnd conéerts, manage —

-- to.keep my mind ‘on what the season's. really about:

“Uh huh. Jf (hat’s: true, what's’ with the question? :

|. “What question?” you asks ‘The questign:- “So, are:
“youl ready yet?” -."-

“iv

om still my favourite nis of the" year. Good

7 - season shows.’ that as a ‘society We at jest Mee: :
“mize: what we should-value: Because. in ‘obsessing. \
“|-over perfect and abundant gifts, we're-still- giving: |
to others and ‘not’ ‘ourselves, Because: for too many -]

loved ones, Perhaps, al Christmas our activities are:

"1's (oo frenzied (stresséd !),: our-motivations transpar- “|:
~ ent(have to. give hima present, ‘he gave me one} oyB

oe and. insincerity ‘ 100 often present. a wish. | stayed.
aD. home in bed!) but. our: ‘intentions are: ‘good. oe .
“+ AL Christmas,’ we wish’ for:peace, We. think.

" those: thoughts, making charitable donations’ ‘within %

= ur city, and abroad. :

“SAL Christmas; we feel’ a stronger ‘ccinniection, io: .
* our fainilics, evidenced’ by the billions-of dolfars mE

= spenton: plang. Jdickets: and. presents for people. we

| fer. food and ireats. generously, to. those. around us.

| -And: fora ‘turkéy “saturated. moment, -as: the’ kids fe
|: sugar ‘crash. nearby, ‘one or: two people snooze on:.|-.;

~ the couch,’ and the newly ‘purchased, non- -return-

cable Tacetta makes its last race. we realize we are -
‘|. blessed: = Bs

~And'shortly: after. Christmas;

“son.”

~ bread’ with -his disciples; it's good :to eal and cel:

“-ebrale witht Trienids. God creiited ‘trees; we decorate |.

a ge to. Christmas. ae

“th “Okay. | nade that | List’ one up.

a part of himself —his Son =

4 mas ‘is bittersweet. for: Hint as Well.

ob about: ‘Christmas’ best ‘of all; in. North ‘America, a
"Christmas is ashared experiance. For religious tea. -]
_ sons, for.anti- religious Teasons, for cominercial rea= "|:
|. sons orto rail. -against consumerism, everyone has ud:
~ something. to. say, about ‘the: season, - Whether you Sp
~ celebraie it-or not, you ‘probably: have’ ‘strong opin-
dons onit.: ‘Discussing dur: sentiments i is good for us

*: connects us.dven When we disagree,

‘ “IT guess, all pessimism aside, | ‘fervently beligve..
[ein Christmas ‘as it's:envisioned in, our ideals. L-be
‘over greed, ‘bravery. over’ deo

|}. tleVe- thal love. conquers

_ complacency, and: kindiess over sel

May: cach’ prove true. in our own: lives: this year I al

a ‘hope. you have a wonderful: Chita

eo
+

EBACE, GOODWILL. Love.” “Charity, ,
Mercy. - Kindness. Jesus. “Many people,»
_ , ifasked the meaning of Christmas, would:
“respond ‘with: one: those.” pat: ‘answers, °

Hmmmmm. Am: I; ‘eady for: ‘peace? “Absolute.
| ly... Past ready. Am’ T- prepared: for. goodwill? ‘Uh.-
oJ buh. “Am Talk set for love? You: betcha, You get, :
-[ my point, The query, “are. you ready?” gives away |.

“what wwe all: tty’ to avoid: ‘Christmas, for almost ev-.
.-ery North -American, ‘usually.’ means: overeating,
. overspending, and. frantic,’ ‘pressured social engage- ~
J) ments. Weal’ want it lo starid: for more,. but what”
stresses. US LOU, -exhausis us, ‘and ‘brings .us.to the.
",, brink of economic disaster: every, December? I'm”.
os Willing to-g0.0ul- On: a Jimb here ‘and, Suggest that i it s..
i notkindness. 2° ; “|.
cs Tdan't know: where 1 go “my. Grinch gene, but n
; $a dominant one and it gets more vocal the closer -
“we-pet. to- Christmas, Ironically: though, Christnias.-

: we all resalve, for |
cat least tie passionate second, io-béa belier per

- Brought: up ‘in ‘church: Uheard. lots of rationale

le to help explain’ Various:clements of Chrisimas. The | -
|. wise men /pave gifts: We: ‘give pil's.. Jesus'broke. -[

MT,” “a tradition

‘Tweet tweet! —

“to watch. the: Dec.: 15 daytime concert.

CU RTAIN CALL: These fine feathered friends — three ot the Four’ Calling Birds of
the costumed kids performing at Thornhill Elenentary School s Christmas concel

The: 12 Days of Christmas’ fame -.were just a. fewo of.
rt: last week. About 2 200 ro pari and. friends. turneckout -

“LESLIE DICKSON PHOTO -

~.. By JENNIFER LANG Me “orglbird/cbe |

BOXING Day i is’ for the birds - =in Terrace, :

a nya,

* Count..

: ing theone here’ ‘on Dee: 26: :

Birders of all’skill levels 26 out ‘and iden,
ity, count and record the birds they see in ina.

givea geographical area,

which: is promising to-post bird count results. Bird. Count, you're: “asked to-¢ontact Judy,
in “ear real time” this- ‘year,’ ‘or'the Audu-" ‘Chrysler at 798- 2535 Or. x Diane. Weismillér al.

cs about the world oul side. our door. And ‘we-act on. | ~. bor! Society” s website al awwwy, ‘aydubon, : 635- 6984:

° "That's the date the Skeena Valley Nati,
“ralis S are. “asking © ‘localvalumteers-1o. join,
- then: dn ‘the 105th ‘anni Christmas Bird |

' This year, ‘nearly’ 2,000 individual: coins: °; “For instai

of of us (in preaching t to myself-here, bear: with: me). ar. laking ‘place throughout the “Wester
“Christmas ‘is the ‘one’ lime-we force ourselves: to: | * -Hemisphere:from Dec. 14 to Jan. 4 elude

“get our butts int gear 2 ‘and ‘open Up our:-homes to our...

Voltinteers then> enter: iheir: count:

“conservation

cies.’

: Results help focus : avian. conservation efforts

. “In-Canada, that data is subiniited: to ‘the
National ‘Audubon’ Society, the: Canadian ®
Wildlife Service, and the Boreal: Species Ini-
‘Aiative For analysis. ~-.. a
Phe ‘results help f 5 us and prioritize bird ;
fforis. bee ;
population irénds show. the :
Rusty ‘Blackbird. is. experiencing a52-per
“een. annual edline,. ‘suggesting it may’ be.
ae “considered at. risk. _
“The Committee. Gn‘the Status of Endan:
gered Wildlife: is¢ regily assessing the: Spee, i

ion “you dike: lo. join ‘the ‘local: “Christmas ot

“ROBINS HAVE: been ‘known: to: ‘overwinter: here tke .
a these little. guys spotted in 2002... — FILE PHOTO,

years Muttifaith Calendar. -

“By JENNIFER LANG.

; AF ‘YOU'RE louking for gift.’
“|, ideas and a. svay. to. support.
oy ‘wanted to’
: “owrile: three: examples.) ‘But one -decidgilly- spiritual: 7
~ubpect stayed With me.. God became. man arid sent’a: »
=o make'a bridge to Him-~-
self for-us, and. tolive on: ‘earth:so (hat: He would. ‘|:
J. know. what it was like lo be\human. A-God. who: :
-]. actually cares “about human: ‘experience. Imagine.’
* Palivays: wondered (still: wonder) about what God. |>,
“thinks “about what some people. have dorie to others «|:
in ihe’ riame of. His Prince of Peace: Perhaps Chyist: 2

” a worthy. cause ~ |ook no’

further, ihan-the 2005 edition ”
«of the } Multifaith Calendar, :

‘A portion of the. ‘proceeds
m each locall y-sold ¢ copy |-
ill be-given to the. "Terrace ©
Multicultural: “Association; «
~av-volunteer.” group ‘known
_-for ils annual: Tinternatignal
“potluck: +-din

vthat’s brought.
~“tnembers of
- the: ‘community.
closer ‘together

* and festivals for the major’
faiths-of the: world: literally
‘From: A’ 10:2; Starting: with
~ aboriginal” spirituality’ “and
“ending. with Zoroastrianism,. :
“and basically covering Fr
erything | in between.

Each failhis’ given equa
_Ireatment: ‘whata: refreshing
message at this time of year;
when Christinas, a Christian

holiday, seems" lo’ “eclipses

any athe? sont of |
tradition: - oe
a The, calen:

‘dars. > Gonlain *:

tion Son “tunat

7 for 20 years. ~- phases ° “and im:
~The ‘calen. m: portant -Seoular

dary ‘a project : eal” datess: For ine

“of the Mullin) . fundraiser - ‘es - Slance,: daylight’,

: -faith - “Action. .

your gift list:

Sof important reli igious: ‘dates

“apts 4 in 2005, and. World:
Refugee. Day (designated by a
. tHe UN).falls on June:20,
oo The ‘hal liad of ‘these
“calendars Is their inclusion :

: Society, are, a must- ‘have
“item: forthe global citizen on,

oh March 2,:members of the.
a ‘BaHa’t i faith been a 19+ ‘ny

savings “begins

“On amore spiritual: note...

useful ‘informa.

: graph

Seasons of the soul

fast called Ala: those. 61 “age”
in good, ‘health abstain'Trom ©
food and:drink-from‘sunrse.. * _
Ad SUNSeL 10: prepare for Naw. :
Rug, the newyears
And?it turns: out, not All °
2 Chilstians celebrate the. birth”
“of, Jesus’ on! Dee.25,° The. 3
Armenian Orthodox Chuich:
“celebrates the nativity of Je-
_suson epiphany (Jain 6),
eme is Sea- »-

This year’s

sons ofthe’ Soul; illustrated: |
‘by. visual: artists :who'come. . | °-
“from “different. backgrounds a
-and religious traditions.” ee

4

nlricate ivory: carving, is ac-

“tally: Avork entitled Four -
. Harmontous: “Friends; : by
‘Lobsang‘Teiizin: It's'a Bud
hist; yak-cbutter sculpture °
‘symbolizing i impermanence. |

~The: Mulhifaith: Calendar

3005" is available-at Misty
‘River ‘Books in.
- from.imembers of thé! tulli- :
eultural, association. ws

J > to sce.ivhat, this collaboration brings and: We, reope you.

For . instarice,” a= photo:
what tooks like.an- |

Terrace, or-

\ ‘ound Town |

“A brand new Jenny

“the country lo seé the. newest. version ofthe Wailin’

The “barid’s. upcoining 8, C tour,: -whigh: statis ih
~ Prinée “Rupert, marks: the debut: of ils. new. Hinie-up;
Singerssongyeriter Annabelle Chyostek ‘as j Jol ned, the «
band. a :
_ Chiostek hails from Montiel

where she’ ‘S: ‘known

: for-her soulfil, acoustic:jazz:pap, a

“Pounding | member and alto Clara’ (sft left t the: band

~ in fate October, ‘after an “appearance: on CBCs: Vlad |

Cafe, becaiise, shé Wanted to résume her solo career,
Their perfofmunce, Jan; 7 at the R-EiM,- Lee, Thee"

1. : : “alre’ (See City, Scene-on page. B2 for details) ‘will only 7
oe af A DETAIL FROM A painting entitled Minstrel, by Katherine Ace, an ilustration | in this _ be.thetrsecand s show featuring the new line up with.
he don't know where L got. my 7

| Grinch gene, but it's adominant one. | \.
: and.it gets more vocal the closer: v we ao

“Chevostek,: a
" 2'Anrabelle has A belt tich allo voice, Nirites”

: press eee earlier this month,”
“She's a pretty fine: persons too!-We are ve yA

excited:

will like what. “you heir":
~The three, original "Jerinys"
"Meh. and soprana:
- plished sitiger-songwriters i

‘their 6 own: ight In 2001,

night: only: incarnation, sothey. formed |

“know for ‘its * ‘spine-tingling’ “angeli¢’-sounding
_ vocal harmonics, particularly ti live performances. _ -
: “Their full-length 2004 CD, 40: ‘Days; was teleaséd to. .
creative acclaim, across Canada and the United ‘States. .

| FOUNDING JENNY “Clara Luft, centre, has left
‘the band,

TheA Wallin’ Jennys, an.ensemble that. quickly. | became

TERRACE. AUDIENCES will be: among the first in|.

Jennys when the folk-roots supergroup. performs here | i” oe
J -carly-next month,” ae

°

4 they decided lo gel togethe for a guilar workshop | in -
: “Winnipeg. ° = Be os
2 They were, “Uhl lcd: at tie Creative -an ‘musical re: |: