The Beacon - December 2024

CHRISTMAS BANQUET PHOTOS 2024

by Matt Cook

CELEBRATING JANET WILLISTON

by Alley MacDonald

JOY TO THE WORLD: THE SAVIOR IS COMING

THE BEACON

by Evan Carr

NO.4

DECEMBER ISSUE NO. 4

The Beacon’s Mission and Vision From the Editors

The Beacon Crandall’s Student Voice A channel that strives to emulate the diversity represented at Crandall in a unifying and respectful way.

One that does not detract from views and opinions, but in an attempt to build creativity and inclusivity, fosters community through print media.

Through The Beacon, we aim to provide a variety of viewpoints under the banner of truth with a free exchange of ideas and knowledge.

The Beacon as an independent entity does not subscribe to any radical ideology or belief, but believes that through careful examination and discussion, a deeper understanding of any topic can be achieved by all who believe it to be a worthy subject.

The Beacon does exist under the institution of the CSA and seeks to uphold Christian values and beliefs, as called by Christ.

If the possibility of miscommunication arises, please contact the editors, who would be happy to participate in a discussion on what The Beacon is meant to represent.

Editors: Malcolm Ohlhauser, Alley MacDonald Beacon Writing Team: Evan Carr, Abeni Knowles, Suava Hoffman, Justin Reimer, Noah Rooney, Amy Dykeman, Moriah Stagg

Special thanks to the CSA Credit to Matt Cook for front page photos and collages

The Beacon staff reserve all rights to edit submissions for the purpose of producing quality, relevant, and tasteful content.

To submit an article, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at crandallbeacon@crandallu.ca.

All content is the property of The Beacon unless otherwise stated.

December 2024 Calendar Schedule

Crandall Memes

Exam Month!

Good luck from the Beacon team!

Would you like your society’s event included in the monthly schedule? Let us know by the last Thursday of each month!

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Banquet Photos, November 2024 Photos By Matt Cook

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Celebrating Janet Williston

By Alley MacDonald This December, we’re celebrating the retirement a wonderful member of our community— Janet Williston! As the current Administrative Assistant for Undergraduate Studies, Janet has done key behind-the-scenes work at Crandall University for twenty-five years.

As a special thank-you to Janet for all she has done to support countless faculty, staff, and students, The Beacon reached out to a few members of our community to share about the blessing Janet has been in their lives.

Alley MacDonald: Growing up as a professor’s daughter, I have lots of really special memories of visiting my dad on campus after school. Every time I climbed the stairs above the Great Hall and turned down the hallway on my way to his office, I would see Janet in the corner cubicle, always with a big, welcoming smile and a cheerful greeting.

Once I became a student and was spending a lot more time on campus, that didn’t change a bit! Janet always greeted me when she saw me in the hallways, asking how I was doing and adding a little bit of joy and encouragement to my day. She’s reminded me of the wonderful impact a smile and kind word can have.

Evan Carr: Janet is a kind and helpful lady. When I had questions, she was helpful and responsive. She is also a friendly face at church. When I cross paths with her on my way to my seat, she always smiles and acknowledges me.

Dr. Sam Reimer: Janet is such a delight to work with. Not only is she great at her job, but she did so many little extra things to serve the faculty.

One of the biggest services was praying for us. She was always willing to talk, and you knew she cared. These and many other things I will miss when Janet retires.

I have to mention her contagious laugh, which would always lift my spirits. As far as I am concerned, Janet should not be allowed to retire until I do. It will not be the same without her.

Every blessing in your retirement, Janet!

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Professor Robert MacDonald: When I started at Crandall in 2001, Janet, as the Administrative Assistant to the VP Academic, took me under her wing and basically looked after this young professor. No question was too simple (or stupid!), and Janet seemingly possessed endless patience. She also possessed endless knowledge of how the university works, and if she didn't know the answer to your question, she would pursue it until she did.

Most of all, Janet cared deeply for each and every one of her professors, encouraging us, praying for us, and helping us along our way. There is not a faculty member who does not owe Janet a deep debt of gratitude, nor who will not miss her tremendously upon her retirement. God bless you, Janet!

Dawn Welner: Thank you Janet for your many years of faithful service to the staff, faculty and students at Crandall. Wishing you many years of health and happiness in your retirement years! Blessings to you in this new season!

Jessica Grimes: I am one of many who experienced joy from Janet Williston’s warm laughter and hugs. Janet understood her role at Crandall as a ministry. Understanding how important people are to Jesus, she made it a priority to be kind, even while she was productive and details-oriented. Janet, you will be missed!

Thank you for everything, Janet! All the best as you enter this next chapter of your life!

Photo Credit: Crandall University YouTube – “Walking in Faith, Covered by Prayer”

Alley MacDonald is a fourth-year history major who once got trapped in the Tower of London.

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Joy to the World: The Savior is Coming

By Evan Carr Did you know that “Joy to the World,” one of the most popular Christmas carols and the most published Christmas carol the United States, was not originally written as a Christmas carol? [1] Isaac Watts was fed up with the current state of worship around him. He perceived it as monotonous and noticed that congregants appeared to have a “‘dull indifference’” as they sang.

[2] So his father challenged Watts to do something about it. Watts consequently set out to compose worship songs that exalted Jesus and pointed people to the cross. One of the songs he composed during this campaign was “Joy to the World.” [2,3] The lyrics were based on Psalm 98, and it was composed as a poem without music scores. It first appeared in his collection titled The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (1719). Watts believed that the Psalms pointed toward the New Testament and that this poem was connected to the second coming of Jesus. [3] The song was eventually coupled with music a century later thanks to a music teacher (Lowell Mason) from Boston. Since it was released at Christmas, it was adopted as a Christmas hymn. [1] Psalm 98:4 captivated the writer. It is a command for all the earth to make a joyful noise to the Lord, to break into joyous song and sing praises. So, Watts set out to compose a poem capturing the praise and adoration of Christ.

The song does not speak of Christmas themes, but of the day when Jesus returns as a glorious and powerful king, hungry for justice. Think of these verses: “Let earth receive her king…no more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground…He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness...” [2] These verses do not speak of a baby in a manger and angels singing choruses in the sky.

Rather, they tell of the day the Savior will return in glory and be received by all the earth. [1,2,3] When Jesus first came, he was rejected by many and bore the sins of all (Isaiah 53). He did not come to rule the world as many had hoped, but He came so that all who believe in Him could have eternal life and life to the fullest (John 3:16; 10:10).

Only following Jesus’ second return will He be physically ruling with justice, grace, and mercy (Isaiah 9,11; Jeremiah 23:5-6). Only then will the whole world receive Him, whether they want to or not. Subsequently, in the new creation, there will be no more sins, sorrows, or thorns in the ground.

Of course, the Christmas story sets the stage for the second coming, which is something to be celebrated. Don’t we long for the day when all tears will be wiped away and all things will be made new (Revelation 21,22)?

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So, when you hear or sing this song during the Christmas season, reflect on how the humble and helpless babe in the manger will one day bring a glorious new creation where sorrows and sin will be no more and where thorns will not infest the ground. Jesus is the only hope for the world, and this song reminds us of that.

[1] Robertson, P; Pfann, C. 2022. The Story Behind the Song: Joy to the World. CBN News.

Retrieved from: https://cbn.com/article/holidays/story-behind-song-joy-world [2] Poblete, A. 2014. Joy to the World: A Christmas Hymn Reconsidered. The Gospel Coalition.

Retrieved from: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/joy-to-the-world-a-classic-christmashymn-reconsidered/ [3] N.d. History of Hymns: “Joy to the World”. United Methodist Church. Retrieved from: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-joy-to-the-world

Evan Carr is a fourth-year science student who loves a white Christmas.

The Beacon’s Christmas Playlist Andrew Peterson, “The Holly and the Ivy” Whitney Houston feat. Georgia Mass Choir, “Joy to the World” Owl City, “Peppermint Winter” Michael Bublé, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” Coldplay, “Christmas Lights” Jim Croce, “It Doesn’t Have to be That Way” Tom Chaplin, “Under a Million Lights”

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Linkin Park From the Persepective of Christianity

By Amy Dykeman Music has always played a crucial role in my life. I have always been more inclined towards the rock and metal genres, which, combined with my Christian beliefs, led me directly to Skillet.

After years of fangirling, the story behind their song “Victorious” introduced me to Linkin Park.

While not a Christian band, I wanted to take some time to highlight some of their songs that could be interpreted as holding more positive meanings than one might expect, in honour of the release of “From Zero,” their first album in seven years.

What I’ve Done: This is one of the band's best-known songs due to its inclusion in the Transformers soundtrack, and also one of its most optimistic. The singer reflects on past mistakes and regrets, a common theme in previous tracks, but this time takes a more productive approach.

Even though the singer is determined to fix the causes of his sorrows, he asks, “So let mercy come / And wash away / What I’ve done” in the first few choruses. Later, he accepts a second chance with determination to do better.

The Catalyst: This is interestingly the only Linkin Park song to mention God in any context, and the usage is not in vain. The album A Thousand Suns carries some of the heaviest lyrical content, as it represents and navigates a post-apocalyptic fallen humanity. “The Catalyst” is no exception.

The singer once again calls for salvation, but also questions, “Will we burn inside the fires of a thousand suns” for humanity’s sins. While less explicit than the rest of the song, the breakdown of the bridge that simply repeats “Lift me up / Let me go” could be interpreted as a declaration of surrender.

Roads Untraveled: This song is much softer than the more heavy-hitting fan favourites, but more fans have been coming to appreciate it as an underrated hidden gem. Each of the three verses that compose the song’s lyrical content take a different approach to the vast unknowns of life.

The first encourages one to surrender worries of abandoned chances, the second supports forgiveness for past mistakes and lost love, and the third celebrates friendship and love despite life’s uncertainties.

While not overtly Christian, the theme of surrendering that which is beyond our control and practicing fellowship can be taken from a faith-based viewpoint.

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One More Light (warning for heavy content matter): This is the title track of the last album completed before the band’s lead singer, Chester Bennington, took his own life. Linkin Park has never shied away from difficult subject matter, and this is not their first song that tackles death.

What sets “One More Light” apart, though, are the brief notes of hope amidst the sorrow. Even though Christians are assured the promise of Heaven, the pain of loss is still devastating. This song offers compassion and understanding, encouraging us to be the ones who care “if one more light goes out.”

Sharp Edges: Following “One More Light,” this is the final song on the last album done by Linkin Park with Chester Bennington. The opening words and themes of the verses offer motherly advice that can be interpreted in a similar manner to the lessons in the book of Proverbs.

The singer openly admits that he “[n]ever listened when she said / Sharp edges have consequences” and recognizes that his scars are a result. This song walks a fine balance between recognizing one's mistakes without glorifying them and encouraging disobedience.

Since Linkin Park does not subscribe to Christian values and beliefs, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend the entirety of Linkin Park’s discography, as many of their songs stray from Christian values. Nevertheless, this band holds a very special place in my heart for the variety of their music and the struggles it has helped me through.

Amy Dykeman is a third-year psychology student. She discovered the band during COVID, so From Zero is her first time experiencing new Linkin Park music as it comes out.

Camp Wildwood: Missions in the Backcountry

By Moriah Stagg On Friday, November 8th, a group of students from Claystone and CU Serves piled into the Crandall van to start what us Claystoners call our Fall Missions Trip. The van wound around old country roads until we found ourselves at Camp Wildwood. One of the oldest places of its kind, Camp Wildwood was founded in 1912, but despite its age it is still alive as ever.

We spent four nights staying in the camp’s cozy cabins after long days of work. I think I speak for more than just myself in saying that the amazing food made us feel right at home after hours of stacking firewood. The mornings were pretty quiet with only the sound of Dr. Dale Stairs’ chainsaw in the distance, but the evenings were full of hearty laughter, worship, and even dancing.

The purpose of the trip was to bless the camp, but I think we all came away equally blessed.

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Organizing books, sorting craft supplies, painting walls, dry walling, chainsawing (unfortunately somebody wouldn’t allow us students to help with that), clearing brush, burning scrap wood, stacking firewood, chopping firewood, organizing rooms, cleaning rooms, washing walls, and in my case, cleaning bathrooms—there was work for everyone, and we were ready to work.

Before I go on, I want to take a moment to give a huge shoutout to the entire team. The majority of the team was working outside cleaning brush from the forest, but no matter how cold or wet it was, guys and gals alike (whether they had raincoats or not) kept trudging through the woods. It was truly inspiring being surrounded by people who were so committed to God’s work.

I admit, when we were first told that our fall missions trip consisted of physical labour and organizational tasks, I wondered if it was right to call it a missions trip. Don’t get me wrong—I know that maintaining a camp is a lot more work than it seems, and I know the importance of maintenance in order to operate a camp ministry. Missions is just such a big word with such big ideas. When I think of missions, I think of evangelizing overseas or running a program like Harvest House here in Moncton, but I don’t think of physical labour.

The truth is that Jesus calls every one of us to His mission, and our talents and gifts are made for His purposes. Most of us aren’t made to go overseas, and lots of us are not made to clean bathrooms either. The point is that if all you are good at in this life is stacking firewood, God can still use you.

While at Wildwood, our biggest project was cleaning out the woods. At first it didn’t seem like some divine calling, but consider its impact! Not only are we maintaining God’s creation, but we are maintaining a camp where incredible ministry takes place.

For those of you who are intrigued by the CU Serves trips, take my advice and just go for it.

There is nothing more amazing than being the hands and feet of God.

Officially, Moriah came to New Brunswick to study English at Crandall, but the real reason she is in the Maritimes is to see a puffin. Unfortunately, it hasn’t happened yet.

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