Nyssa Gate City Journal
VOLUME LIX
THE NYSSA GATE CITY JOURNAL. NYSSA. OREGON. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22. 1966
Thunderegg Capital
NUMBER 51
Community Greets Christmas
With Worship and Rejoicing
“Deck the hails with boughs
of holly; ’tis the season to be
jolly. Christmas is for joy and
laughter; Christmas glows
I with merriment. Throughout
the community, families are
putting the finishing touches
on plans for holiday get-to
gethers.
Hideaways bulge with mys
terious packages; kitchens are
fragrant with the scents of
special treats and homes are
bright with gala decorations.
Schools and clubs prepare
their annual Christmas pro
grams. Holiday party plans go
forward. It is, indeed, the sea-
l son to be jolly
heartfelt prayer at this holy Christmas season,
DR. J. R. CUNDALL
"Silent Night, Holy Night, all
is calm, all is bright.” Christmas
is for prayer and peace; Christmas
gleams with the light of the Star
that shone so brightly, nearly two
thousand years ago. And through
out the community, the deep
' spiritual significance of the holy
! season spreads comfort and cheer.
In churches, the hours of wor
ship reflect the coming joy as dur
ing the weeks before Christmas,
the story of Christ’s coming is the
subject of study, sermon, song
and prayer—all building toward
the special services of Christmas
weekend.
Uniting in Joy and Prayer
Christmas is a joyful season;
Christmas is a prayerful season.
Since the earliest celebrations of
this Christian holiday, it has ever
been so.
The twin spirits of Christmas—
festive celebration and reverent
worship—are woven together in
all the lore of the season. History
says that when the time now cele
brated as Christmas was desig
nated, in the fifth century A.D.,
early Christian leaders felt that
the traditional winter merrymak
ing of pagan festivals such as the
Roman Saturnalia might be hal
lowed by association with the Na
tivity.
Christmas Lights Symbolic
Thus, pagan peoples who had
| once looked to mythical sun gods
/XJH
DEE-LITE BAKERY
TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN, a gaily-decorated tree—and fun for
all. This family holiday scene represents many of the Christmas
traditions most beloved. It is more than "an old-fashioned Christ
mas." for such customs as exchanging gifts and bringing greenery
indoors during the winter holidays originated in ancient times.
"Modern" Christmas celebrations combine traditions of many na
tions and eras, says the Encyclopedia Americana.
as the source of the rebirth of life
began to turn to religious obser
vances of the Saviour’s birth.
Christmas lights symbolized faith,
hope and life eternal.
Today, the glow of the tiniest
candle—or the twinkling of the
smallest electric bulb — still re
flects, however humbly, the Light
that Christ brought to the world.
Custom of Bringing Gifts
At the heart of the holiday fun
and feasting there glows the spir
it of giving. The Wise Men sought
to honor the Christ Child with
rare and precious gifts — gold,
frankincense and myrrh. Thus, to
give of the best at Christmas is a
time-honored tradition.
All may rejoice in the oppor
tunity to give generously, to
please family and friends, with
"just what they wanted" and to
share with the less fortunate.
Yet the best Christmas gifts
are still those that come from the
open heart as well as the open
hand, and the warmth of a friend
ly smile, the words of a cordial
greeting add priceless meaning to
the most elaborate of gifts.
Singing Christmas Carols
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth, peace, good will to
ward men.”
Across the years since shep
herds first harkened to an angelic !
chorus, Christmas rings with thei
BUZZING WITH HOLLY
An English tradition of long
ago says that sprigs of holly
should be placed in beehives at
Christmas. This stems from a
legend that, at the Manger, bees
gathered to hum a hymn of joy.
THERE'S MAGIC
The Danish Christmas Eve
ner features rice porridge
taining a “magic” almond
brings good luck to the one
finds it.
sound of voices raised in joyful
song.
Carol singing at Christmas is
both a tradition and a source of
tradition. Much of the legend and
lore of the season is known today
only because it has been preserv
ed in song—in carols passed on
from generation to generation.
f^rappy Holidays! Thank
WWW
and good will throughout the year,
you for your loyalty
ADRIAN MERCANTILE
George and Lois
all our friends and
(7 t’s good to greet our friends and neighbors at
this happy holiday season. And it's good to know that we have so many
loyal friends and patrons. We value your good will,
for their gracious patronage.
pleasure that Christmas
and cherish the privilege of serving you. Sincere thanks.
B & M Equipment Company
1100 Adrian Blvd.
NYSSA, OREGON
Phone 372-2239
A Merry Christmas to all.
FANGEN
FLORAL
Nyssa Co-op Supply