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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1985)
KOI K I h r llrp p n rr G a iette Tim es D epporr O rr |M M ednrvdav O n r m b r t IS. IMS ■ a *? /fa the Heart of Christmas “ Fiew; from the Cave' In ancient Greece (hr urfal and rlhrnal philospher Plat« oner envisioned people as chained in an underground cave where (hr) see only (hr shadows of objects rail upon (hr cave wall» In thti situation. hr u id people would readily conclude that (hr shadows o( things c onstituted reality Whal if these chained people could escape hr asked and ire things as they are’’ I'lato'i famous vmon u called his "view of the cave " Christmas provide* ua with another view from a rave, the cave of Relhlehem in which people and the world are seen for the firit time in an enlirrly new light, the light which we call the "Sun of Juitice," Jesus, the laght of the World It is true, the Christ event tells us. that our vision as human beings in clouded by the cave like confines of this earthly existence Through Christ we can free ourselves from the chains that bind us (ignorance, suprrstition bigotry, etc and acquire a sound glimpse of reality and its meaning Hut only when we can see being as a reflection of find, the Infinite Creator and Sustaliter of all that exists can we perceive creation as it actually is Christmas means the coming of Eternal laght into human history The shepherds were in darkness that first Christmas night The Shepherds symbolize most of us good ordinary people, responsible, hardworking, serious minded people looking for answers, searching for light in the gray corridors of life It is Christ, God made man. Ktnmanuel. who enters the cave of our life, and enables us to see all reality in Ills Light The 'view from the cave” that Bethlehem gives us is a veiw of heaven and earth of God’s living among us, of insuperable light in the midst of darkness, of lilieration from human chains "The (¡lory of the Lord shone around them They were very much afraid, hut the angel said I>o not in- afraid. Listen. I bring you new of great joy. a joy to lie shared by the whole people Today in (he town of David a sav lor has been born to you. He is Christ the laird " Luke 2 »-11. K alher Itrian J McGovern SI I’atrlrk’s « hurrti llrppnrr .1 Experience Christmas The first and second chapters of the Gospel of St Luke contain three great expressions of praise and exhultation. of which the first is from the lips of the Virgin Mary, the mother of our laird After having been told of the ungelie messenger of her appointed blessedness by firing the mother of the Son of God. she breaks into joyous praise. "My souJ magnifies the laird and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’ which is the first Doxology of the New Testament Here is a simple peasant woman who has been informed of her role in God’s purposes of redemption, and. accordingly, she breaks forth into praise and exultation Why all this happiness’’ W hat does it lake to bring joy and happiness to your life’ Gifts’ Good Health’ Possessions' Prestige’ Influence’’ Praise of friends and approval’ Sense of accomplishment ’’ Whut really makes your heart rejoice’ Mary, the Angelic Hosts, the hillside shepherds all gave praises because of the "Greatest Story Kver Told’ that of the high privilege of God * salvation made available lor each of us Over and over again the New Testament Holy Writers give voice to praise because of God's Salvation through Jesus Christ This is the real meaning of Christmas Anyone who misses this Truth is not experiencing Christmas. He’s just observing it look mg on Today as in Ihe yesteryear, we are caught up in the drama of Kedemplion, therefore, let us not lose Ihe wonder of it all Mel Dixon Interim Pastor. United Methodist Church Christmas Peace-Frenzy The Christmas season, with its extremes of frantic preparation and quiet meditation, is not unique to our culture Occasionally we hear of the interesting customs of other lands I grew up with an Advent calendar called "Christmas Around the World Each day from December I to 24. we opened a little door to learn one of Ihe way Christmas is celebrated in another country I still have that Advent calendar and I take great joy in trying to remember what lies behind each little door before I open it As many of you know. I had Ihe priviledge of traveling in Last Germany . Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union last summer Our group met with Christians wherever we went, and we made many friends I’ve been thinking alxiul them frequently during this holy season of Advent I know we are hearing the same scriptures of the prophets. the gospel accounts of John the Itaplist. as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ once again I can imagine them singing the lieautiful carols of Christmas in their own languages, their faces glowing with joy in the candlelight The other day I received a Christmas card from Anne Kathrin. one of my friends in Hast Germany She is a delightful young lady who knows the cost and joy of lieing a Christian in a socialist society In her letter she describe* the hustle of the Christmas rush in the cities she complained about the hiihbbub just as we do lier Christmas wish was for "Peace tp all *’ I know she means that in the most far reaching sense as well as the most personal I have ceased lieing surprised, but I’m still delighted to discover still more commonalities w ith the people of Eastern Europe and the l SSH I inv ile you to remember these brothers and sisters in your prayers and meditations, this season and throughout the year Angels Still Sing, also Weep t alh v d a r k e r , lo n e I titled I lull 1 h of t h ri sl If the angels who sang at our Lord’s birth were to hover over our land today . whut do you think their reaction would be’’ Would they sing or weep ’ Or do both’ I think it would tie both Sing, because peace on earth and goodwill towards men is still God's message to mankind The God who "so loved the world that he gave his only tiegolten Son has not changed The passing of Iixxi years has not diminished that love one iota Not only angels. I hi I men can sing about that Cry. because 20110 years have passed and peace on earth is not a reality, goodwill towards men is not a fact Cry. because the merchants of our land moaned the fact that Thanksgiving came late, hence there was less time for the commercialization and exploitation of Christmas Because getting still overshadows "giving Not only angels, but men should weep over that DHimate peace and goodwill will only be realized when that Babe horn so long ago returns as King as kings and laird of lords I'ntil then let us individually and collectively la- sure our energies and efforts promote that cause for which our Savior came and about which the angels sang Taking Christ out of Christmas Me have taken the Christ out of Christmas Me have put an "X” in His place Me have commercialized His birthday Till it nearly hides his face Me have left Christ out of Ihe picture In most of the things that we do Till Christmas is just a hig Holiday Now what does it mean to you I think I see (Hid in the heaven As he looked down on the sinful men Saying what ran I do lo redeem them And then he wrote out the plan If I had someone to send To that sinful world below To redeem man from his awful plight But who could I get to go And then His heart was saddened And Hi* eye* were filled with tears I just could not ask any body to go Now the birth of Jesus Christ is on this wise When as his mother Mary But I will call for volunteers was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost So he gathered the angels around the thrown Then Joseph her husband being a just man. and not willing to make her a Told of the plight that man was in Mho would go down lo earth below publick example, was minded to put her away privily But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord And redeem man from his sin appeared unto him in a dream, saying Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy w ife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy (•host Mho would leave their lieautiful home And she shall bring forth a son and thou shall call his name Jesus for he And gu down to earth below And redeem man from his awful plight shall save his people from their sins Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the My Jesus said. I will go laird by Ihe prophet, saying. Behold a virgin shall tie with child, and shall bring forth a son. and they But man will reject you, he II spit in your face shall call his name Emmunuel. which being interpreted is. God with us You will have no resting place for your head When Joseph tiring raised from sleep did as the angel of the laird had An outcast, a stranger on earth will you be hidden him and took unto him his wife But I'll go. my redeemer yet said And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son and he called his name Jesus Mould you be witling to suffer all this Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the Kor falling man below And finely die on Ihe cruel cross for their sin king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem Saying W here is he that is horn King of the Jews’ for we have seen his star My Jesus still said. I will go in the east, and are come to worship him When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all So my Jesus came from heaven Jerusalem with him (in a cold December day And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people Born in a cold cattle stable And in a manager lay together, he demnded of them where Christ should be born And they said unto him. In Bethlehem of Judaea for thus it is written by Ihe prophet The angels sang his welcom And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda. art not the least among the From heaven up on high princes of Juda for out of the shall come a Governor, that shall rule my The shepherds on the hillside's people Israel Heard the music in the sky Then Herod, when he had privily t ailed the wise men. enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared Yes. my Jesus came from heaven And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said Go and search diligently for the He left all that glory above young child and when ye have found him. bring me word again, that I may To die on the cruel cross for my sin come and worship him also Such wonderous matchless love When they had heard of Ihe king, they departed and. lo, Ihe star, which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the I think that it must grieve our laird young child was The way some of his children do The way they act you would not know When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy And when they were come into Ihe house, they saw the young child with They new what day it was Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him and when thev had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and l-et us put Christ hack into Christmas In all that we do and say frankincense, and myrrh And living warm'd of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod Kor after all let us remem tier It is our lairds Birthday they dejiarted into their own country another way St Matthew 1 IH-2: II Find Peace through the Source The world hasn’t changed much in the last two thousand years That is, at least, in the things for which men are seeking The angels appeared to the shepherds on the hillside and declared, (¡lory to God in the highest and on earth peace lo men " The world was searching for peace .then as unfruitfully as now The message of Christmas is a message about the secret to attaining peace on earth The angels declared lbs birth. Isaiah the prophet foretold it in chapter » 6 when he called Him "Brince of Peace ’’ It was this small child lying in a manger that was to become the source of peace for mankind Men may search all they want, hold all the summits they want, conduct all the arms control meetings and sign peace treaties, but the truth is. they will not find peace They will not find peace because they have left the most crucial element in Ihe equation out They are forgetting the source of peace the child called the Prince of Peace I’ntil He is brought to Ihe throne of people's lives peace will In- a mere illusion, and an unattainable dream May this be the Christmas that men finally see in this child of the manger He who was Ixirn to bring peace on earth May the peace of Christ richly dwe!1 upon each of you in this Christmas season Don Mvrllon. minister I irsi ( hrislian r ..... - .......... 3 ..... " Kloyd M ilks Pastor of lleppner Church of the Nazarene of Kev CELEBRATE.r M ay the magic of Christmas bless one and all with the spirit of brotherhood and unity. llm iltrlbei Seventh day Adventist Guidi d by a S tar , ihi Wisi Mi ( ami ro B u fili hi m to n woRship AN(I Rl joitt. TodAy, MANkiMd TURNS A(,AÌN TO I hi M a NC j I R, TO M nc 1 pi AC I ANd bltSSiNCjS. MAy youR ChRiSTMAS joys bE boUNTiful. The Heppner GAZETTE-TIMES 676-9228 Sandy, Eileen, Joyce, Marcy, Denue, Maryann, Rusty, David, Bonnie. Ellen, DelpHo, Mary, Justine, Mike, Aahl^, Dana, Eric.