SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times. Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Silent night, holy night
Christmas messages from locol pastors
sent God’s Son to show us and pride. Who would have
Willow Creek some states in early U.Si
how to live the love of God. thought that a helpless baby
history outlaw ed it. But,
During Christmas, Christians would grow up to be our
Baptist Church still the celebrations per
celebrate the coming of the Savior, the conqueror o f
sisted and came back even
“Party Hearty
Son of (iod, Jesus, into the darkness, o f sin and death?
stronger in western history
physical world. In the Chris We have hope, thanks to this
Incarnationally ” largely in part to the writings
tian Scriptures (New Testa infant, and a light that can
I must admit that 1 of Charles Dickens.
ment in the Bible) in the Gos never be extinguished has used to be a bit o f a Scrooge
The church fathers
pel according to Luke chapter been cast into our future.
when it came to Christmas. in the m iddle ages were
2, we are told that in the region
Get down on your For me it was too much also looking for ways to
of Bethlehem, there were knees and look closely at the stuff added to a “to do” list battle the Gnostic and Ar-
shepherds out in the field tend Christ Child in the manger. in an already too busy life. ian heresies. Without get
ing their sheep. Then a host of Find light. Find hope, all There was very little joy in ting into a long theological
angels appeared to them and an w rapped up in one tidy the celebration. 1 did enjoy discourse on what these
nounced to them that in Bethle parcel.
buying gifts for others, but heresies entail, suffice to say
In Thy light, we see m ostly I ju st wanted the that Christmas, the celebra
hem, the city of David, a Savior
had been born, and the angels light. Psalm 36:9
whole season to get over tion of the incarnation, Jesus
told them how to find this baby. -P astor Katy Anderson
with so 1 could cross it off coming as fully God and
1 believe that it is safe to
“my list.” I rem em bered fully man helped to remind
assume that these shepherds St. Patrick’s
the joy and wonder o f the and reinforce the people
were of the Jewish faith, but, and St. Wil
Christmas celebrations of against these heresies. Jesus
because they spent all of their
my youth, but it was mostly was God incarnate who has
time tending sheep, killing wild liam’s Catholic
lost in the haze o f memory. come for our salvation and
animals to protect the sheep and
But, that has changed for me redemption of the world. 1
disposing of sheep who died, Churches
in recent years.
probably cannot overstate
thus making them “unclean”
Now, Christmas cel the importance o f this, but I
“2009: A time to
in the eyes of the religious
ebrations are not without do not want to get into a long
leaders and because they were look up and hope ”
some controversy and some discussion of theology.
As 2008 comes to a
unable to observe ritual wash
refuse
to celebrate Christ
I
want
to
wish
everyone
Now, just because a
Phillips Brooks was
ing practices, they would not thundering conclusion, it is mas for different reasons. celebration or practice is not
in
South
Morrow
County
a
an Episcopalian bishop who
be allowed to enter the Temple time to look up and hope. Some see Christmas as “too mentioned in the Bible, does
wrote this carol while he merry Christmas. It is my hope
to worship on a regular basis. Christmas is a feast of hope. religious” and do not want to not mean it is anti-Bible.
was the priest o f Trinity that during this Christmas
Thus they were looked down There is an old saying that see decorations that include Christmas is a post-biblical
Episcopal Church in Boston. season, each one of us will
upon by the religious leaders of hope springs eternal. So any religious symbols or festival, but it is not an anti-
As an Episcopalian pastor, experience the reason for the
their community. Although they C hristm as is a feast that hear their local store clerk biblical festival. For exam
I am not to sing carols until season. Unlike the world of
were not valued by their own causes us to look up and say “merry Christmas.”
ple, the Jewish celebrations
Christmas Eve, yet I have retail trade in which Christ
hope. For those o f us who
religious
leaders,
they
were
evi
S
ti
ll,
so
m
e
see
of Hanukah and Purim are in
found myself quietly hum mas ends on December 25,
dently valued by God for it was believe that Jesus Christ is Christmas as “too pagan.” this category. More simply,
ming this carol as the snow in the Christian calendar, the
to them that the birth of Jesus the Savior, celebrating His T hey point to the origin of the Bible does not mention
falls around Heppner. We season of Christmas extends
was first revealed. And then in birth is a feast of hope. Hope the C hristmas celebration driving automobiles either,
are, in a sense, a lot like from December 25-on which
the Gospel according to Mat is that virtue that is like and the use o f the symbols but that doesn’t make driv
Bethlehem. We have fields we celebrate the birth of Jesus
thew chapter two, we are told water that flows through a like Christm as trees and ing them anti-biblical. In
o f grain, cattle and sheep and the shepherds' worship
that God later led alien non- sieve; it is like the fire that their supposed ties to pagan fact, I believe that God
and plenty o f bams around of Him-until January 6, on
Jewish wise men to Bethlehem moves through wood. Hope worship. They would say enjoys a good celebration.
our landscape. We have a which we celebrate the com
to worship the birth of Jesus. In moves through difficulties, that when we sing “noel” You cannot read the Bible,
motel that is often full. We ing of the wise men, the first
His adulthood, Jesus was also and come out smiling.
we are actually saying “no especially the Torah and see
are snuggled in this valley, to bring Christmas presents.
We need hope in a
revealed to the Jews and Jewish
-
el” with the word “el” it any other way. I challenge
There
were
times
while
coated with inch upon inch
leaders to be the Son of God. world that is facing eco being the Hebrew word for you to read Deuteronomy
our
children
were
in
their
of snow and awaiting that
Thus, everyone has reason nomic crisis. We need hope God (actually, “noel” is a 14:22:?6 and note that,cqn>
night'when all Hie .’mystery formMve years, that Dorine
to celebrate the coming of as we face the collapse of French word for the nativ mand to celebrate, th e prob
and wonder o f the Christ and 1 were, like many par-
Jesus into the physical world m onum ental institutions. ity.) My favorite comment lem is not that we celebrate;
Child comes to life. Where ents, dumbfounded that our
we know. At Christmas, we We need hope as we witness that I have heard is “when the problem is the focus of
will Mary and Joseph and children, for whatever reason,
celebrate the Good News that the decay o f integrity.
you rearrange the letters of our celebration.
the Christ Child find room evidently did not understand
In the midst o f con
God’s
love
is
uncondition
the word “Santa” you get
the messages we were trying
What about the use
this year?
cern and confusion, we can
al,
inclusive
and
everlasting
“Satan”
(actually the word o f all o f those pagan sym
As I shopped in the to convey to them. At those
and that we are challenged to hear again the message of “santa” is related to the word bols, like Christmas trees?
grocery store or v isited w ith times, we wished that we
love others as God loves us. the angels: “Peace on earth “saint” and someone needs Idols are nothing, unless you
parishioners at church, I could have somehow gotten
It is my hope that Jesus will to men o f goodwill for unto a rearrangement o f their... worship them. The problem
have heard questions about into their minds-entered their
be born anew in the heart and you is bom a Savior.” We never mind). A third group is that many Christians see
w hether loved ones will “world”—in order to commu
soul of each person who is read can marvel again at the Magi would rather not celebrate them as magical as if they
make it home for Christmas nicate with them more fully.
who, in their wisdom, trav
From the creation of hu ing this message, so that God eled far, found the Savior, Christmas because they are contain some special power.
and see the mist o f tears in
might reveal to you God’s love
just too busy. Christmas just This is not a Christian view,
some people’s eyes. Christ mankind, our Creator (who
and worshipped Him.
for
you
and
so
that
you
might
adds another busy thing in it is a magical view and
mas can be the most joyous is known to some as higher
This is a tim e to
share God's love with others.
an already too busy life. Bah Christians need to quit being
power,
supreme
being,
Je
of times and, for some, the
Come celebrate the birth hope that man’s inhuman humbug...
hovah,
YHWH,
Allah,
Our
afraid o f the “dark.” Sym
loneliest of times. Disap
of Jesus with us on Christmas ity to man may be replaced
I understand bols are related to content
pointm ent for postponed Father, God), tried to com
Eve. We will have services at w ith u n d erstan d in g and these positions and maybe and context. For example,
dinners and fear for those municate to humans God's
7 p.m. featuring a choir can compassion.
have some em pathy for most Christians would see
trav elin g icy roads may desire that God wanted us to
T his is a tim e to
tata and at 11 p.m. with carols.
them.
But, 1 do not think the cross as a symbol o f
love
one
another
as
God
loves
sometimes try to diminish
Everyone—believers, seekers, hope that the celebration of that our problem is that we love, but others in the world
us.
(Because
1
believe
that
God
the joy o f this season.
ones seeking a sense of commu the birth o f the Savior will celebrate Christmas. I think would see it as a symbol of
Yet, “ in our dark is inclusive, I will not be using
nity, or a warm place to spend inspire many to reach for that the problem is that we hypocrisy, death and perse
streets shineth an everlast gender specific pronouns in
moral integrity.
an hour-are welcome.
do not celebrate Christmas cution. The six pointed “star
ing lig h t...”, and we find place of God.) God’s love was
This is the time to
well. But, before we talk of o f David” was also used in
-Pastor
Jonathan
Enz
unconditional
and
inclusive.
the One w ho came to earth
hope that truth and justice
our Christmas celebrations, Hindu occult practices. The
In
the
Hebrew
Scriptures
(Old
2000 years ago to be with
will again become the stan
Valby
Lutheran
let’s take a brief look into five pointed pentagram is
Testament
in
the
Bible),
we
us. That is what “Emman
dards of life.
the
history o f the Christmas associated with Satan, yet
uel” means...God with us. read how God conveyed this
This is a tim e to
Church
holiday
and maybe through there are 50 o f them on the
He does bring joy in our message of love directly to
hope that each o f us can
that we can get some insight American flag. In Acts 20
hearts in different ways. some and indirectly to others
travel through the v icis
into how to celebrate Christ Paul uses a pagan idol and
through
the
prophets.
Unfor
“
Where
do
we
find
The laughter o f a child who
situdes o f life and worship
mas
well.
tunately,
the
Hebrews
con
quotes a Greek playwright
hangs an ornament whether
the light we need? ” that Savior.
T
h
e
d
a
t
e
sidered
God's
love
to
be
just
to share the gospel o f God.
at home or in your church,
This is a tim e to
o f Jesus birth is not men The symbols in our houses
sensing the melting o f hard for them and they interpreted
In these darkest days hope that we can soon hear a tioned in the Bible and is like Christmas trees are not
ened hearts that have been God’s message of love to be
o f the year—when daylight message of permanent peace not known. Some traditions an issue unless you bow
hurt by disappointments, or a call to exclude themselves
is brief, the economic news around our world.
have suggested a December down and worship it. I think
the shoveling o f snow by from non-believers and even
This is a tim e to
is not good, and terrorists
25lh date, but the best infor we in America are more apt
fellow
Jews,
whom
the
reli
a neighborhood angel who
remain at large around the hope that 2009 will be a mation places Jesus’ birth in to bow down at the altar of
gious
leaders
deemed
not
to
shows up unannounced...
globe— light is a precious year in which many will the spring. The December mammon (wealth) called the
these are all the Christmas be “pure" enough to enter the
look to Jesus and be inspired
25th date began to get sup shopping mall, than we are
Temple (church) to worship. commodity. Where to find to greatness.
miracles that we see.
the
light
we
need?
Where
to
port in the middle ages as the to a Christmas tree. In fact a
Wanting to communicate
How are hopes and
find hope?
church
fathers were looking Christmas tree can be a great
directly
with
humans,
God
-Fr. Gerry Condon
dreams met this Christmas?
At C h ris tm a s ,
for a substitute for the pa tool to point to God. We can
we celebrate G od's great
gan festival Saturnalia that talk o f living waters, vine
interruption into the world
was held around the winter and branches, the bright and
as we were running it . .
solstice. Saturnalia was a morning star, I am the light
.the world God had created
festival in which all morality of the world and the glory
as good and orderly, but
was thrown off and included of God lighting the world in
we defiled with selfishness
such things as carolers... Rev 2 1 -22 to name a few.
drunk, naked carolers. But
So how can we cel
W ill be closed from
even with the religious sub ebrate Christmas and do it
stitution the Christmas cel well? How did I rekindle
S p.m. December 21 to
ebration was pretty rowdy. the wonder of the Christmas
676-9181 "W here Friends M eet" 142 North Vlain
a.m December 27
The reformers o f the 17,h celebration? I learned to
century did not like the cel “party hearty incarnation-
Have a M erry Christmas!
New Y ear’s Eve!
ebration, too much drunken ally.” We need to live and
ness. Christmas was banned celebrate “ Immanuel, God
W ed nesday, D ecem b er 3 1 s t -
in England for a time. Here with us” and all that this
C ra b & R e e f F eed
in the U.S. the puritans
denounced Christmas and
continued on next page
I would say they are met in
the person o f Jesus Christ
who not only loves, forgives
and restores us...no matter
what! He understands that
our hopes and dreams are
sometimes anchored in tra
ditions. May our anchor this
Christmas be the presence
“May your hopes o f God with us, the Christ
and fears he met in o f Christmas.
For “the hopes and
fears o f all the years are met
Christ ”
in thee tonight.” May you
find
your hopes and fears
“O little town o f Bethle
met
in
Christ this Christmas!
hem. how still we see thee
For with it comes joy and
lie;
peace that can never be di
Above thy deep and dream minished! Worship, praise,
less sleep, the silent stars laugh and love...bring the
go by.
joy o f Christmas into the
Yet in thy dark streets
world in a new way! Christ
is bom! Alleluia!
shineth the everlasting
light.
The hopes and fears o f the Heppner Uni t
ed M e t h o d
all years are met in thee
tonight. ”
ist
Church
All Saints
Episcopal and
Hope Lutheran
churches
Taylor's Restaurant
HEPPNER ELKS 358
t