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.