Christmas Reflections

from Trinity, Saint John

by David Goss

Members and friends of Trinity Church in Saint John have produced Christmas Reflections # 3, Christmas 2005.

This colorful booklet contains 16 half-pages of stories that reflect on the Christmas season including Gordon Chapman's search for the location of the first singing of the Messiah in Ireland, and Audrey Straights recollections of toy lands of her youth in uptown Saint John. Kelly Van Buskirk recalls, with some humour, two almost tragic incidents as a musician in the Saint John Santa Claus parade. Eleanor and Fergus Price fondly remember good times with their grandchildren. George Teed dips back almost a century to Christmas at Trinity when Santa seemed to mysteriously come down the chimney into the Sunday School Hall.

Laura Foster not only tells the story of a 1974 Christmas Eve when she hosted her popular television program, Magazine, but provides a great full colour picture of the occasion that few, if any, have ever seen before. Donna Goss wrote about the Cabbage Patch Doll and Tickle-Me-Elmo rages from her perspective as a 25-year employee of K-Mart. I even dipped into my memory bank for a story about Christmas toys that plagued my parents –– drums and cork pop guns.

There is also an interview with Don Landry, Trinity's sexton, who gives some behind the scenes information on the beautiful greenery and decorations that grace the sanctuary each Advent and Christmas.

The current volume even includes two poems, one fairly recent by an anonymous author; the other provided by Bertha Parsons, who fondly remembers it from an old school reader.

All in all, this little booklet is a calming antidote to so much of the news we read and hear these days, and, along with a cup of coffee and a nice chunk of fruit cake, will make for a pleasant hour of Christmas reflection as the 25th approaches.

It is available for $5 from Anglican House at 116 Princess Street or from the church office (506/693-8558.) It can be mailed out upon receipt of your cheque for $6, which includes postage costs. It is also available following services through the month of December as long as the 150 printed copies lasts.

Donations covered the production costs for this booklet, so all sales proceeds go toward church projects.

Diocesan Communications
06 December 2005