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About Nyssa gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1937-199? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1969)
PAGE TWO THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 19*9 THt NYSSA OATS CITY JOURNAL, NYSSA, OREGON The Gate City Journal DQUCK NEESY, Ertcr A Pabiistor OWYHEE COMMUNITY CHURCH MAN • HIS ARTS AND IDEAS BY CLYDE T. SWISHER RVBEN LOPEZ. Stop Foremz Cr.AdUUN, DEPT OF ENGLISH '•YSSA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SLB8CR1PTTON RATES Su<Je Copes................. lOf k Malkewr County. Ore gon. aad Payette and Caaycc Counties, Idaho. O k Year»................ 44.00 Siz Mortis............... »75 Elsewhere is the V. S. A. Per Year.................. 45.00 Six Months............... S3.00 1 Christmas, 1969 No one really likes to change. Somehow that lndxates to us a weakness in our character. If we change our minds, we think we are saying we are wrong, if we change our actions, we think we are admitting that we have made a mistake. Yet, not to change is far more senous and dangerous. If we refuse to reconsider our thoughts, attitudes or actions, we are saying our judgements are perfect. I suggest that, Biblically speaking, Christ alooe fits that precious category. It 'ollows, of course, that it we are not perfect, then all of our ,'tiocs and thoughts have room for reconsideration, revision and growth. The cntral thrust of Christmas is change. Outwardly, our community has changed since Thanksgiving in quite a radical way. We now have pily lighted streets, pine-scented homes, carol-singing congregations and beautifully decorated store windows. If the change stops there, our community, homes and congregations will have pined little from Christmas, 1969, If we open our hearts and minds to the possibility of thinking freshly and openly in the area of community relations and affairs, our own moral and spiritual life, politics, and attitudes toward each other, then the Spirit of Christmas can produce some positive thrusts from each ooe <4 us in concrete terms of producing changes in our life, our community and our nation. The Christ of Bethlehem makes all the difference. In Him *e can have the strength to endure the statement, "I was wrong.” In Him resides the possibility of "a better way.” In Him we can claim forgiveness for all the mistakes, for the lack of enthusiam and initially» w.- oave displayed. This forgiveness can open up to us a whole new world of exciting possibilities. I don’t advocate change for the sake of change itself. But it refuse to be open to changes that ought to take place in us or the area where we live, then we either assume the role of God in determining that our judgements are always right, or we become lethargic, which is a kind of death. In either case, the meaning and joy of Christmas, 1969, will fade as quickly as the dead needles fall off our Christmas tree.— Rev. Orville A, Jacobson, Pastor of Faith Lutheran, Nyssa and Grace Lutheran Church, Vale. sions of love, hate, joy and fear.” And the human soul he portrayed was his own. One incident in his childhood betrays the exceptional sensi tivity that was to plague him all his life. When he was 5 years old be was given some desultory piano lessons. Though the instructions were hap hazard, the music excited him. One aight, going to bed after hearing a concert, he was found weeping. “The music won’t leave rny head,” be whimpered. “It won’t let me go to sleep.” Whenever Tchaikovsky con ducted an orchestra early in his career be was in continual dread that his bead might slip off his shoulders; his baton in his right hand, he would hold his chin with his left hand. He was sure that some day he would die as his mother had, from cholera. Eventually, he did. As one observer of the com poser’s complex nature said, “His character is a formidable contradiction of genuine passion and hypocritical sham.” However accurate a measure of Tchaikovsky the man, it pales in importance beside the monu mental musical heritage left by Tchaikovsky the composer. Ed. note—Because of school vacation, the next of Mr. Swisher’s column will appear in the Jan. 8 issue. RAY DESSERT SUCCUMBS The Nyssa branch of the Dessert Seed Company, Incor porated announces the passing away of its founder Ray Dessert, Sr. in El Centrel, California this past week. Mr. Dessert was active in the company until he retired seven years ago, but remained Chairman of the Board until his death. Appropriately enough. be will utilize material from four of his own film scores to illustrate the meaning of background music for motion pictures and the intricacies internet in com posing it. That Copland is the man to helm the Young People’s seasonal opener is attested by do less an authority than Leonard Bernstein, who has been in volved in all previous Young People’s Concerts. Bernstein's commitments in his new post as laureateconductor of the New York Philharmonic now pre clude the narrating and con ducting every one of the Young People's presentations. On the occasion of an all Copland program celebrating the composer’s 50th birthday on a Young People’s Concert broadcast on the network during the 1960-61 season, Bernstein said of his colleague: “it wouldn’t be possible to list for you all the things Aaron Copland has done for the young during his lifetime -- the dozens of young composers be has rooted for and brought success to, the even more dozens whom be has taught at Tanglewood and at Harvard and at other places, and most of all, the many pieces be has written mainly to be preformed by young people. “The truth is that his music is full of variety, and little thorny ones, and great majestic bushes, and then tiny shy little buds—all kinds. One thing they all have incommon is American roots. Don’t forget that Aaron Copland was born in Brook lyn, which makes him 200 per cent American — and also that he was born exactly in 1900, which makes him 200 percent a composer of our time.” Copland has been no stranger to the Philharmonic’s Young People’s concerts over the past 12 years. Including his “birthday party” — which be g-jest-c inducted lus “El Sale® Mexico” -- a total of eight broadcasts have been adorned by 17 of his works. He was the soloist for lus own Con certo for Piano and Orchestra on the senes, Marc:. 11, 1S64 program entitled ‘Jazz in the Concert Hall,' and be led the Ph.lnarmoaic m ore selection on the second Young People s broadcast on Feb. 1, 1958,con ducting his Symphony No. 3. A second TV program which I’d like to call to your attention is scheduled today Dec. 25) on channel 2 KBOI at 2 30 p.m. Sol Hurok, the impresario's impresario, has long been fond of calling Peter Bitch Tchaikov sky popularly known for his ‘‘Nutcracker Suite”) "Ameri ca’s most popular composer.” Considering the enormous and perennial popularity in this country of the great Russian composer's works, there may be more truth than poetry, Hurok style, in that. Showman that he is, Hurok has turned to Tchaikovsky for the program content of FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH NOTES The congregation Faith Lutheran will celebrate Christ mas with a service at 7 p.n. for the entire family. A thirty voice youth choir composed of high school students from Nyssa and Vale Lutheran congre gations will give two selections: a spiritual, "Mary.Mary,Where is Your Baby,” and a cannon, "Mary had a baby.” In addi tion to the singing of carols and a special Christmas mes sage, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper will take place. The high school students will enjoy a sleding or skating party, Dec. 29 beginning at 3 p.m. Cars will leave from the church at 2:30. CHRISTIAN CHURCH Recovery Incorporated, a non-sectarian, non-denomi- national, non-profit organi zation meets each Friday, at 8 p.m. at the Nyssa Christian Church, 5th and Ennis Ave. It is tor anyone wishing to learn how to solve personal problems. Adrian Mercantile GEORGE and LOIS At Christmas, a special prayer: May mankind be blessed with “Peace on Earth.” And a special wish: May your personal Christmas be a most happy one OWYHEE TRUCK & IMPLEMENT CO. COAST-TO-COAST STORE the fragrance of holly and poinsettia and everybody dreams about an old-fashioned Dirick and Margaret Nedry Ruben Lopez Betty Talbot Joy Huskinson