EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 20, 2000
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Santa doesn't know your name. He calls you "Little Boy" or
"Little Girl"..... Jesus knew your name before you were bom. He
even knows the future.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly..... Jesus has a heart
full of love.
Santa offers a hearty, "Ho Ho Ho"..... Jesus offers Hope, Help
and Happiness.
Santa says, "You'd better not cry"..... Jesus says, "Cast all your
cares on me."
Santa's little helpers make toys.... Jesus mends wounded hearts,
repairs relationships and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle.... but Jesus gives you joy that is
strength.
While Santa puts presents under the Christmas tree..... Jesus
gave His life as a gift.
I think my son is nght. This Christmas as with every Christmas
it has to be the real thing. No more of the fake ones. I hope and
pray you all have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New
Year.
-Pastor Andrew Johnson
St. Patrick' and St. William's
Technology ,
psychology
and
commercialism are not the answer
People all over the world have been preparing for this first
Christmas in the new millennium. For many that preparation has
involved frustration trying to find parking at stores, rushing
through the crowded stores, and desperation at the fear of
forgetting someone or something. It seems that Christmas, like
everything else, has become very commercialized. Christmas
carols have been played on radio and TV for weeks. Some
programs have a Christmas theme. Drinkers overindulge, the
lonely get more depressed.
Confronted with problems, our world turns to technology to
solve some and to psychology to solve others. Even with all our
modem communication skills, we have not overcome the
selfishness of individuals and nations. For some strange reason,
our world refuses to adopt the principles of Jesus Christ. Would
that the new millennium would bring about a change of attitude.
Through this advent season churches have contemplated the life
and teaching of John the Baptist. This man of great austerity pulled
no punches. He preached a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins. That was an external manifestation of the
internal attitude of the people that he baptized. Its purpose was to
pave the way of the Lord into the hearts and minds of people.
That call of John is brought to the world today by the Church.
That spirit pervades the lives of multitudes of people. Many of
thoSfc who had wandered away from the way of the Lord, stumble
back and find their peace with Him. Many who were in spiritual
depression look up and find hope. People who have had
disagreements make the effort to be reconciled. Some who have
been caught up in selfishness, gladly share some of their material
blessings. Some, who from one end of the year to the other do not
grace the door of a church, come to worship the newborn Savior.
So there is hope for the future.
This is a time of joy and happiness as we celebrate the coming
of the Savior, the Prince of Peace. For all who are depressed, those
who bear physical illnesses, the lonely and the unwanted, He
comes bringing peace of mind, heart and soul.
May this first Christmas of the new millennium be a permanent
turning point so that the true spirit of Christmas may pervade the
lives individuals and of nations.
-Fr. Gerry Condon
Christian Life Center
Christmas: The Truest Thing in the
World
Christmas is the story of the infinite, limitless and all-powerful
God of creation identifying with humanity in the finite, limitations
and helplessness of the infant child.
The prophet Isaiah foretold the Child's coming in 740 BC.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will
be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him
Immanuel." Isa. 7:14. The great eighteenth century songwriter,
Charles Wesley, described this miracle in one of the world's most
beloved Christmas carols: "Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to
the new bom King. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner
reconciled!"
Someone once said, "Religion is man trying to reach God,
however, Christianity is God reaching man." This is the message
and hope of the Christmas story: God and sinners reconciled in the
birth of a baby, a helpless infant bom two thousand years ago. This
child was not bom in a palace surrounded bv privilege, but in a
stable, rife with the sounds and smells of common barnyard
animals. This little child did not appear as anything resembling a
king and that is the beauty of the Christmas message. God came,
in the form of humble flesh, to feel what Spirit cannot feel - what
suffering flesh feels. He felt it indeed and He still does.
In an excerpt from his December 23, 1971, TV broadcast for the
ABC Evening News, Harry Reasoner captures the significance of
this miraculous event:
"On previous Chnstmastides, I have talked about the peculiar
nature of Christmas, for Christmas, excuse me if you’ve heard it
before, is such a unique idea that most non-Chnstians accept it,
and I think sometimes envy it. If Christmas is the anniversary of
the appearance of the Lord of the Universe in the form of a
helpless baby, it's quite a day. It's a startling idea, and the
theologians, who sometimes love logic more than they love God,
find it uncomfortable. But, if God did it, He had a tremendous
insight. People are afraid of God and his very bright light. But
everyone has seen babies and almost everyone likes them - so if
God wanted to be loved as well as feared, he moved correctly here.
And if he wanted to know people as well as rule them he moved
correctly, because a baby, growing up, learns all there is to know
about people. If God wanted to be intimately a part of man, he
moved correctly - for the experience of birth and familihood is our
most intimate and precious experience.
So it comes beyond logic. It is what a bishop I used to know
called a kind of divine insanity. It is either all falsehood or it is the
truest thing in the world. It is the story of the great innocence of
God, the baby, God in the power of man and it is such a dramatic
shot toward the heart that if it is not true, for Christmas, nothing is
true.
It's all right that so many Christians are touched only once a year
by this incomparable story, because some final quiet Christmas
morning, the touch will take."
While others may seek more proof this Christmas, may we, like
the Wise Men, seek Him instead.
-Pastor Tim Van Cleave
First Christian Church
Put the emphasis on what’s real
Every year our family has a tradition like all families of going to
get a tree for Christmas. You may have to hike up through the
woods or dnve to your local Christmas tree lot. It may be a tall
one or small. It may be spruce, pine, fir or some other variety. It
may be sparsely branched or so thickly branched you cannot see
through its greenery. But at least in our family we cannot have a
(dare I say it) a fake tree. At our church we put up a fake tree and
I have visited several folks' homes and some of them have fake
trees, and for several years now my grandmother in Boise has
used a fake tree because of medical problems. But at our house it
has to be a real tree.
Now don't get me wrong, I personally would not mind having a
fake tree. No more trips to the Christmas tree lot where the best
trees cost the most. No more trips to the mountains where the best
trees are the farthest from the road. Or in the spot where the snow
is deepest. Or when you started out, it was a beautiful day, but now
that you're up here, it is snowing heavily and it is much slicker
than you thought it would be.
The problem, really is the k#ls. They expect to have a real tree.
They say, "We know you don't have any medical problems like
Grandma, sooooo.... " That's right. We need a real tree.
This year I really did not feel like going to the mountains to get
a tree and it is really nice that Green Feed and Seed has trees for
sale, so I loaded up the kids and we headed there directly. That is
when 1 discovered the problem. My son Drew said, "Dad, we can't
get a tree from here."
I said, "Why not?" He said, "Dad, the trees aren’t real there!"
I said, "Yes they are and I will show you." Well, to make a long
story short my son did discover that the trees at Green Feed are
real. Which was good because we were then able to pick one out
and pay for it and haul it home and put it up.
You might ask why I brought up this little bit about a real tree.
Well it seems like in this day and age we put a whole lot of
emphasis on what is not real. I just want to close with an E-mail I
received that talks about that a little.
Santa rides in a big red sleigh...... Jesus walks on water.
Santa comes but once a year...... Jesus is an ever-present help.
Santa fills your stockings with nice little goodies.... Jesus
supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down the chimney..... Jesus stands a the door and
knocks.
You have to wait in line to see Santa...... Jesus is as close as a
whisper of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap.....Jesus holds you in His arms.
approached it on foot. Today, many people approach it riding on
a Mercedes-Benz bus.
"How does one approach Bethlehem?" Mary and Joseph
approached it slowly for Mary was very pregnant. Pilgrims
throughout the ages have approached it cautiously, for local
inhabitants have always seen in pilgrims the opportunity to make
money.
Once again we ask, "How does one approach Bethlehem?" Each
of us needs to answer this question. What approach will you use to
approach Bethlehem and celebrate Christmas this year?
Perhaps some of us will emphasize the family approach.
Christmas for us is a celebration of family. It feels good to be all
together and coming to church at Christmas for it maintains an
important family tradition.
Although there are several ways to approach Bethlehem, there is
really only one correct approach to the celebration of the Lord's
birth. This approach was demonstrated by a nun in the cave in
< Bethlehem which marks the place where our Lord was bom. She
quietly walked to the silver star which marks the spot of Jesus's
birth, dropped to her knees and kissed it as an act of adoration and
worship.
Yes, to properly approach Bethlehem and Christmas, we must be
willing to humble ourselves at the manger, forget our pride and to
let the love of God reach down from heaven and touch us.
Scripture tells so beautifully, "For unto us a child is bom, unto
us a Son is given." In Jesus, God is saying to each of us, "I love
you, I forgive you of your sins." Because of the manager, the cross
and the empty tomb, all believers can join a pilgrimage that will
end at the heavenly Jerusalem. For unto us is given salvation
freely, fully and completely.
How do you plan to approach Bethlehem this year? How do you
plan to celebrate Christmas? I suggest that each of us spend a few
minutes on our knees humbling ourselves before the Lord as the
shepherds once did. The Magi, even though they were kings, fell
on their knees when they came to Jesus. All of the saints found
God more approachable from their knees. A nun unconcerned
about the stares of others, only recognized one thing: that she stood
at the place where the Son of God supposedly once lay. Therefore,
she positioned herself appropriately for worship.
From your knees, spend a portion of this Christmas thanking
God for His gracious gift.
From your knees, confess your sins to God.
From your knees, invite the powerful presence of the Holy
Spirit to deepen your faith.
From your knees, celebrate Christmas.
-Pastor Glenn Anderson
Church Services
First Christian Church
Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday at the First
Christian Church, 293 N. Gale Street, Heppner, with worship
service at 11 a.m.
All are welcome to attend.
Lexington Baptist Church
Christmas Eve worship service at the Lexington Baptist
Church, 170 'B' Street, Lexington, Sunday, December 24, will be
held at 11 a.m. with a candlelight service planned at 6 p.m.
All are welcome to attend.
S t Patrick Church
Confessions will be held at St. Patrick's, 525 N. Gale,
Heppner, on Saturday, December 23, from 11:30 a.m. to noon and
4-4:30 p.m.
Mass will be held on Saturday, December 23, with a Vigil
at 5 p.m. and on Sunday, December 24, at 11 a.m.
On December 24 a Vigil of Christmas will be held, witii
Christmas carols at 8:30 p.m., a candlelight procession at 9 p.m.,
with the Blessing of the Manger Scene and a Christmas Vigil
Mass.
On Christmas Day, Mass will begin at 11 a.m.
St. William’s Church
Mass will be held at St. William's Church in lone on
Sunday, December 24, at 8:45 a.m.
On Christmas Day, Mass will be held at 8:45 a.m. with the
Blessing of the Manger Scene and Christmas carols.
Hope and Valby Lutheran , All Saints
Episcopal Churches
Lexington Baptist Church
How Does One Approach Bethlehem?
"How does one approach Bethlehem?" Most people approach it
from the north as Mary and Joseph did the first Christmas, for
Bethlehem is about six miles south of Jerusalem. One could also
approach it from the south or from the west or perhaps from the
east-as the Magi did.
"How does one approach Bethlehem?" Traditioij tells us Mary
approached it riding a donkey. Christian Arabs, even today, find
camels helpful in approaching the town. For centuries pilgrims
An ecumenical worship service will be held at Hope
Lutheran, 675 S. Alfalfa, Heppner, on Sunday, December 24,
beginning at 10 a.m., with Holy Communion. Both Lutheran and
Episcopal bishops will preside.
Christmas Eve candlelight services will be held on Sunday,
December 24, at Hope Lutheran at 6 p.m.; at All Saints Episcopal,
W. Church St., Heppner, at 7 p.m.; and at Valby Lutheran at 9
p.m.
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