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The Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, December 24, 1981 SEVEN
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Christmas Services
St. Patrick' Roman Catholic Church
Confessions: Christmas Eve--3 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 8:30
p.m.
Masses: Christmas Eve--I2 midnight and Christmas
Duy-ll a.m.
St. William's Roman Catholic Church
Manses: Christmas Dny8:45 a.m. Confessions before
Mass.
All Saint Epim-opal Church
Christmas Eve Service to begin ut 11 p.m. with traditional
carols as a prelude to the service of Christmas Eve Midnight
Mass. Everyone welcome.
United Methodixt Church
Christmas Eve Candlelight celebration to begin at 11 p.m.
and last until midnight. Everyone invited to Join in
celebration.
lone United Church of Christ
Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Scrvlce-7 p.m. and
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service-10;30 p.m.
Hope Lutheran Church
Christmas Eve Candlelight Serviee--7 p.m.
Valby Lutheran Church
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service-9 p.m.
Christmas Reflections
(Editor's note: Local clergy have been invited to share
their thoughts of Christmas in this special Christmas issue.
Following are their accounts):
First Christian Church
The Angel Came
The angels came bringing a tremendous message to the
shepherds on that first Christmas, 2.000 yeurs ago. The
message was, "Fear not ; for behold, I bring you glad tidings
of great joy which shall !c for all the people."
We, at the First Christian Church, hope that all men
everywhere will find the courage promised by the angels at
Christ's birth In a day and age where we ore confronted by
fear-inducing news everyday, the reality of Jesus Christ's
birth can bring courage.
We also pray that men everywhere may discover the joy
that Christ came bringing to all. This joy comes when the
person of Christ is realized and felt in one's life, even 2,000
years after his birth.
We wish each and everyone a blessed Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
The Kev. Don Shelton
Hope and Valby
Lutheran Churches
The (lift
"Mommy, read me a story,
"David, will you stop bugging me! I've got to get these
cookies baked fur your Christmas party."
Ho! Ho! Ho! "Tis the season. Tinsel and tension.
Everyone wants to he happy -especially at Christmas. So
we try to make things so right.
If I can get the right gift for you. (Oh my budget.)
If the decorations are beautiful. (Don't touch that!)
If we can just see all the people that we really like. (I've
got a splitting headache.)
The heart of Christmas is giving. Right? So we give, and
give, and give until we give out.
I think we forget the secret.
Christmas is a giving time because of a first gift. God gave
us a baby-Jesus. A present to us of good life. A present
without a price tag. A gift of joy that only asks us to be good
receivers. No more.
"I have come" says Jesus, "that you may have life
abundantly." The gift asks no return from us except that we
enjoy the life he gives us.
The heart of Christmas is giving : God giving us his gift of
life.
Come first to the manger bed and open your present from
our Father. He promises you will then have a very merry
Christmas.
The Rev. John Maas
Christian Life Center
A Christmas Prayer
As we pause on the threshold of our Lord's birthday, may
we be drawn into the orbit of His pure and holy love. As we
look into the manger, may we become as little children in
simplicity and in the acceptance of that faith which our Lord
makes possible. As we join the shepherds in adoration and
worship may we be humbled in mind and spirit. As we join
the angelic hosts in songs of peace and goodwill may there be
a song of peace and goodwill in our hearts. As we are bathed
in the rays of the starlit night may we be alive with light and
hope. i
Send us from this transforming experience renewed and
rededicated by the spirit of love and service which your Son
and our Savior brought to light and life at the time of His
birth. Amen.
The Rev. Doug Thomas
St. Patrick's and St.
William's Roman
Catholic Churches
Salvation Through Christ
The anniversary of our Lord's birth is one of the greatest
feasts for all Christians. Each year as this great day recurs,
we read or hear the story of the first Christmas as narrated
by St. Luke. The gospel graphically describes the incidents
of that blessed night-the arrival of Mary and Joseph at
Bethlehem as the evening shadows were falling, their
unsuccessful attempts to find lodging and their recourse to a
cold, damp cave on the hillside, where in the silence of the
night, Christ our Saviour was born. There was joy in heaven
and on Earth.
The purpose of the coming of the Son of God to Earth is
very clear and simple, He came to make infinite satisfaction
to His heavenly Father for the infinite malace of sin and to
merit for all mankind the graces necessary to attain eternal
happiness, From the days of His mortal life He directed all
His thoughts and intentions towards the salvation of the
human race.
Today the world stands in need of salvation, even as it did
the first Christmas night, almost two thousand years ago.
Indeed we are slowly but surely returning to the pagan
customs of old. Wickedness and Godlessness seem to be
more widespread at the present day than they were at the
time of Christ 'scorning. But. today as of old, the only way to
recover peace and happiness is to return to Christ and His
laws. If those who are striving to solve international
problems and to preserve peace amongst men would imitate
the shepherds and go in spirit to Bethlehem and beg the
Divine Child for light and help, there would be far greater
assurance of peace for the world than is afforded by the
councils of statesmen who will not call on God.
Vours in our Lord,
The Rev. John A. O'Brien
Church of The Nazarene
('hristmas-Everyone Gets Involved
Christmas--the only holiday of the year when the whole
world gets involved.
We have national holidays that we celebrate in America.
The rest of the world goes on while we celebrate. Not so with
Christmas. Almost everyone is involved.
Whatever a person's motive: to make money, to
commercialize, to do good deeds, to feel good because they
have gone to church for (he first time all year, or simply to
celebrate Jesus' birthday. There seems to be a different
attitude and spirit among people at Christmas time.
There would be no Christmas if God had not loved us and
sent His Son. Jesus Christ into the world "To save the people
from their sins," Matthew 1:21.
In your rush these days, preparing for the big day, have
you stopped to think of the reason you celebrate Christmas?
King David wrote in Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I
am God . ."
To be still means to stop and be silent, calm, and quiet. To
restrain enough to enjoy life and those around us. But most
important, to be st ill and know HE is God. After all it is God's
Son's birthday.
Have a Merry Christmas.
The Rev. Floyd Wilks
United Methodist Church
(rare. Peace. I.ove
. One of my favorite quotes is from Gerald Kennedy. I think
that he catches the true meaning of Christmas when he
says,".. Let this Christmas season be a renewing of the
mind of Christ in our thinking, and a cleansing of our lives by
his pure presence. Let his joy come to our weary world
through us . ."
One has only to look at the evening paper or tune in a
fiivuiite news broadcast on the television or radio to
understand what is meant by the term "weary world."
Throughout the world there is warring and starvation and
suppression. Generally the mood of people has become one
of opathy--the feeling that nothing can be done and so we
must just live with it. Or it has become one of
opportunism-the blatant disregard for anyone or anything as
we move to accomplish our own interests.
It is as if we have never heard of the Almighty God who
rules all creation. Or if we have, we have shelved that idea
and moved through life in complete disregard for His Moral
laws of existence.
And yet, as one looks over the world we must realize, I
think, that this is precisely the situation into which God
entered in the Christ Child of the Bethlehem stable.
It was a time-not unlike our own-when the world seemed
totally lost and out of control. It was a time when God cared,
and when He showed His care through the incarnation of
Christ, and when he said in that one splendid event that
changed all history, " . . I ha ve come to seek and to save the
lost ..." A time when God reached out into the darkness of
our lives with all the love and all the grace and all the mercy
of the Almighty and touched his children in a way that they
would never again completely forget.
And so once again we join throughout the world to
celebrate this great act on God's behalf. Once again we are
reminded that we are not alone in all that surrounds us. Once
again we find God saying to us that our lives can be
different . . that they don't have to stay this way forever!
the good word, then, is found in the words of the angel who
spoke to Joseph and said, " . . , Behold, a virgin shall conceive
and bear a sort, and his name shall be called Emmanuel,"
(which means, God with us).
Come and sing praises to the Almighty God for the Gift pf
Christmas. . .The Christ Child born into a world of need, with
the gift of Salvation for all !
Grace, Peace, Love
The Rev. S. Michael Sheridan
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints
A Christina Story
In "Precious Jeopardy: A Christmas Story," by Floyd C.
Douglas, it was Christmas Eve and Phil was disgruntled
because he had just lost his job. 'His financial situation had
been difficult enough when he was working: now it seemed
impossible. Phil refused to join his family in Christmas Eve
activities, and he grumbled about everything that was
happening.
Later. Phil called from the hallway. "I've stepped on a
needle. "Phil clamped the pliers and pulled. Out came half of
the needle!
The next day. Christmas. Phil drove to the hospital, but
paused outside the door. Somewhere he had heard that if oi
get a tiny piece of metal in your body and do not remove it. i;
could eventually move to one of the vital organs and cause
death. For some reason. Phil decided to leave the needle
fragment in his foot and take the consequences. He drove
home and told his wife that everything had been taken care
cf.
From that moment Phil believed his life was in jeopardy.
He decided he would try to make the most of each day. He
treated each member of his family with kindness, and for the
first day in a long time, felt close to them.
"Precious Jeopardy" ended on Christmas eve one year
later, Phil was happy and at peace. As the clock struck
midnight, his wife handed Phil her gift-a small box
containing a tiny fragment of steel, pierced through red
velvet. She had found the other half of the needle a few days
after the accident but had secretly kept it because it had, in a
sense, given Phil back to his family.
May we all appreciate the life that Jesus Christ has given
us. and may we strive each day to make others happy.
Christmas is a joyous season. It is a time of good will to
others which we hope will continue throughout the year. We
rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ and his life on earth.
The Rev. Curt Perkins
United Church of Christ
Christmas Time
Christmas time: God-with-us-time
Praising the works of Creator
Knowing the love of Christ
Feeling the breath of Spirit
Welcoming Enjmanuelf God with us.
Christmas time: Present-time
. God's Presence in our presents,
in our present
Giving us creativity, love...
salvation!
Inspiring our giving.
Christmas time: Greeting-time
Cards, letters, calls, even shouts
Dusting off once-a-year addresses
Relishing each family's news
Displaying our cheer!
Christmas time: Tradition-time
"Because we always do" time
Baskets for the poor
Treats and carols for the shut-in
Love for the children.
Christmas time: Nativity-time
Amid the bustle of the day-to-day life
A babe born in a stable!
A star beams, angels sing
Shepherds gawk, wise men travel
This day is holy.
In all-times we can indulge
in these Christmas time joys
We're limited
only by our lack of imagination
For God is always with us
the present is the time for presents
the mail service runs year 'round
the needy are in need in every season
and tiie Christ can be born in our hearts
each day!
Merry Everyday!
The Rev. Cathy Barker
Cliristmas Cantata slated
The Hermiston Nazarene
Church will present a special
Christmas Cantata entitled
"The King of Love" at the
Heppner Nazarene Church on
Sunday, December 27 at 5
p.m., weather permitting.
The Cantata is to be presented
under the direction of the Rev.
Larry McNaught.
Everyone is invited to
attend.
AN OLD FASHIONED DESSERT IS
A HEARTY WINTER FAVORITE
RAISIN BREAD PUDDING
1(1 pound) loaf Raisin Bread, diced
4 eggs
12 cup sugar
1 quart milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
14 cup butter or margarine
Place bread cubes into a greased 3 quart casserole.
Beat eggs in bowl. Beat in sugar, milk and vanilla. Pour
mixture over bread cubes. Dot top of casserole with butter.
Bake in 350 oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until puffed,
brown and firm to the touch in the center. Serve hot or
cold. Delicious served with sliced peaches, whipped
cream or scoops of vanilla ice cream. Serves 6 to 8.
All Saints Episcopal
Church
Christmas 1981
The 12 year-old asked her father if he was ready for
Christmas, and he replied "No, unfortunately," and then
added he probably wouldn't be for several weeks after
Christmas, either. The yonger child, age nine, jumped with
glee, exclaiming that he had been ready for weeks. He
couldn't understand why anyone could wait until the last
minute to get ready, as only nine-year-olds can put across so
pointedly and painfully to older family members.
How much like the biblical characters do we find ourselves
to be. repeating these same omissions, building expectations,
hoping, dreaming, and then come crashing into the reality of
what is, rather than what we would like it (life) to be.
The prophet Isaiah (9:2 ff ) proclaims the coming of a new
king who will deliver the Israelites to peace (shalom ) and
re-establish the Davidic kingly line in a secular fashion. This
becomes a part of the hope of the whole Jewish tradition over
centuries: A king to re-establish a God -centered people,
chosen by God. Yet, over time, this secular idea of a
monarchy gave way to a Messianic deliverer-king: A true
Emmanuel, as proclaimed by Micah chapter five.
It is this Emmanuel's birth that we celebrate in our own
various family traditions on December 25. We celebrate and
rejoice, though we often are not ready to, like the father of
my story, or some of the first century Jews. We get so caught
up in the first coming and get centered in on Bethlehem that
we lost sight of the purpose of Advent's introduction
purpose-The proclamation of Salvation, the arrival of
Emmanuel for the whole world, as heralded by the Heavenly
Hosts in Luke 2:13 ff. Without Bethlehem, there is no
Gethsemane, no real intrusion on History and no real
salvation and God's gift of Grace.
The Rev. Edwin Watts
Seventh-day Adventist
Church
BETHLEHEM Drive Slowly
BETHLEHEM-Drive Slowly-so a road sign is warning
travelers to this Palistinian town. Bethlehem is a very real
place, where men have to be warned lest they drive their cars
too speedily through its streets. Bethlehem has links with an
ancient past-Ruth and Boaz; David, the King: and the child
Jesus.
Yet. it stands in the present because it has a real message
for us today as it had nineteen hundred years ago. God with
man-"for unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given."
Here heaven and earth are linked together-"and thou shall
call his name JESUS : for He shall save his people from their
sins."
Jesus, Saviour, the Star of Hope, the Desire of all the ages,
and the only future this world can claim-that is the meaning
and message of Bethlehem !
We will do well to slacken our foolish pace and pause
awhile. The eternal is breaking into life, the spiritual world
impinges upon the material. There is not much time in this
age of speed, for reflection and meditation. We are in the
treadmill of constant business and engage in life's endless
activities.
Today, the glory of Bethlehem is still there. During the
festifities of this season, let us capture it and find the solace
and joy Bethlehem can give, as we slow down, pause, and
reflect upon the true meaning of Bethlehem.
The Rev. Gunnar Sjoren
Holiday Fun With
California Dried Fiss
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There's holiday excitement all around." Now is the time to
plan lot the festive moments. Luscious, plump, nutritious Cali
fornia dried figs can bring enjoyment during this season in
cookies, poultry stuffings, cakes, desserts, muffins, and as won
derful gifts all by themselves. Both golden and dark shiny dried
figs bring a touch of fresh sunshine goodness to everyone you
want to remember. Make up your own fig gift packs or purchase
them already beautifully packaged.
Here's the quickest, easiest candy yet . . . you'll want to let
older children make it themselves. How nice that dried Hgs add
a bit of good nutrition to holiday sweets!
If you have a food processor, use It to chop figs in a hurry.
Just snip off stems and add sugar called for in the recipe to
processor bowl along with whole figs. One or two on-ofl flips
and figs are chopped fine. Or, use a kitchen scissors dipped Into
hot water to cut figs with no fuss or sUckiness.
CALIFORNIA FIG-PEANUT BUTTER ROLL
tablespoons butter or 1 pound powdered luru
margarine , , ,
tpoon. peanut butter 1
W cup evaporated milk
H teaspou, vanilla H CUP chopped peanuU
Melt butter; stir in peanut butter, milk and vanilla Remove
from heat; add sugar and California Dried Figs. Blend together
and knead on board until smooth. Form Into 2-inch rolls coat
with peanuts. Chill until firm; slice. Makes about 30 slices '