co hor ENE NEN Rr HOGER Ema ™ Tin PAGE FOUR HOLIDAY FOOD BASKET--Members of Dallas Wrestling Club met recently and elected Carol Eyet, president; Con Grace, 1st vice president; Mae Rome, 2nd vice president; and Bob Eyet, sec.-treasurer. The club completed their first project, chancing off a holiday food basket shown above on the table by Carol Eyet. (Mark Moran Photo) The peace of God never meant what the world means by peace. The world talks of peace as merely the absence of hostilities, the absence of disorder, the absence of active oppression, the absence of turmoil. This is not the peace as the Bible understands it. The peace of the Old and New Testaments, of which the angels sang at the Nativity of Christ, is the peace of God which passeth understanding - which goes beyond human reason; a peace which keeps the heart and mind in the knowledge of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ. When the question is asked: “Why hasn't religion brought peace to the world?” It suggests that Christianity is an outside power interested in forcing people to be good. But it is not a method for control over people. It is a life, and a love, expressing itself in people - in people of good will. This is the only way to peace, the only remedy for the troubles of our time. Good will is the Divine way for peace - the peace for which mankind longs. It is the way our Lord took, the way of love, of forgiveness, of humility and patience. The failure is not of God but of us. The world will be at peace to the extent that you and I are at peace. And we are only at peace as we are in the words of the angels: ‘‘men of good will.” Peace begins in the human will and it is from this beginning that it can reach out into our world. As we commit ourselves to Him whose birth the angels hailed, He fills our hearts with that spirit of mercy, of love and truth which is the only way by which the will becomes good. Let us listen to the Orthodox proclaimation: “Christ is born, glorify. Him. Christ has come from the heavens, receive Him.” Receive Him all people of good will! Fr. Stroyen, Ph.D. Administrator St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church Dallas Some one has remarked that if Christmas were not real In the midst of all the preparations and ‘‘busyness’’ of the season it is difficult to think of Christmas as necessary—but it is! Christmas is necessary as a reminder that God has entered into His world and the world is not forgotten. It is a worship service designed to fucus attention on the fact that God, entering the world in the form of a child, came to save us from ourselves. Christmas is the reminder that we need not be bound by our sin; we are not held in bondage of our guilt; we are free. Christmas is a necessity for it reminds us that our God is present with us. God is not a caretaker, remote and obscure. Christmas is the reminder that He is intimately concerned for His world and desires a relationship with His people. Christmas is a necessity for we need to be reminded that God calls us to love one another even as He has loved us. Without Christmas, without the spirit of Christmas in our lives, we become bound up within ourselves and we would be continually slaves to our own selfishness. Christmas is a reminder to be what God has called us to be. If we did not have Christmas what would be the ideal of goodness? How could we know that it was possible to give in complete love were it not for His gift to us in Christmas? Christmas is a necessity for it calls us to responsibility. One man rented a house on a barren piece of land. His wife was after him constantly to plant trees that would bring shade from the hot sun. ‘It is the landlord’s job,” he said, and he refused to plant trees. Then one day the landlord gave the tenant the deed, saying, ‘It is yours.” And the man who had been tenant for so long now wished the property included some trees. Because of Christmas someone has come and said ‘‘You are no longer ser- vants—you are sons of if sons heirs—heirs of life...” Christmas and the celebration of Christmas is necessary that we might claim the gift and respond to the joy of our inheritance. May God keep you continually in His Love. Douglas N. Akers Pastor Dallas Un. Methodist As the Christmas season has been approaching, warm memories have continued to be stirred of my childhood, Christmas, home and the birthday of the Christ Child. Why is it that at Christmas time our nostalgic thoughts return to our homes and families? Is it the thought of the family gathering for Christmas? Is it the remembrance of gifts we may have received as a child in our home from those who loved us? Is it a desire to return to a time of life when there was wonder and joy, which is identified with Christmas and home? Or is there something more significant in the connection of home with Christmas? When I opened my Bible to the second chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke, I was reminded again that our Lord’s birthday is near at hand. Each recurring Christmas gives occasion to emphasize anew the wonderful story of the love of God that led Him to send His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. ‘And she brought her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 No matter how we read the Christmas story it speaks to us of God's indiscriminate love for everyone of us--the good and the bad, the rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate, the strong and the weak, the winners and the losers, and those of every race and nation and every land. Christmas is the message of God’s love to all mankind. As we approach the birthday of the ‘‘Wonderful Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, let us ask ourselves the following questions: Are we demonstrating the compassionate Love of Christ in ALL our relationships? Are we promoting the spirit of * Love where there is discouragement, despair? Are we endeavoring to break down barriers where racial conflicts and discrimination exist? Are we reaching out to the poor and neglected in our country and throughout our suffering world with a selfless love that is of Christ? Are we literally sharing the Unspeakable Gift of Love and Salvation with the unloved and unsaved in our community and the larger com- munity of the world? This is our Christian privilege and responsibility. re “How beautiful upon the Mountains are the feet of them that bring good tidings of Peace.” We can become God’s- Christmas messengers everyday in the yea through the grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Chris#® when Emmanuel becomes a daily living reality in our life: Through Christ, God calls us home for Christmas, to be in our hearts with all whom we have shared love, and God calls us home for Christmas to be with Him. The Good News of Christmas is that we have an eternal home because we have an Eternal Father who so loved us that He came at Christmas to express personally that love for each one of us. Let us pray for the grace and the power to make a new Let us pray that our communion, our at-one-ment with Christ be so complete, so immersed in the love of God that we feel more intensely than ever His deep concern for the well being, peace and salvation of the peoples of the world. It is my hope and prayer that Christmas may fill your heart with peace and joy, comfort and hope, and prepare you for the coming celebration of the birthday of the Christ Child. May God so bless your home and your life with His presence and His love. Rev. Andrew Pillarella Pastor, Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Dallas, Pa. What a tremendous story! What an astounding truth! Christmas tells us tht God wants us to know Him, per- sonally, intimately. The God of the universe, who gives us life, became a full-blooded man so that we may ex- What does this-mean for us? That God, alive, active, and mighty is now at work in our lives. His power enables us to overcome our failings and inadequacies, to smooth out our rough natures. He gives us meaning and purpose to life. Since He created us, only He knows where and by what means we will be satisfied with life. Only He fills our deepest needs by His great wisdom. Yet, God demands something of us, too. We must give ourselves as Jesus gave Himself for us. We must give ourselves to God. Thus, we must put our trust in Jesus - that He died in our place so that we might have eternal life with Him, and that He knows what is best for us. We. and for the world. This Christmas, may the peace, purpose, and presence of Christ fill you. Rev. Cliff Jones Huntsville Christian Church CHRISTMAS! The time of giving--the time of joy--the time of memories--the time when we feel so close to God. And naturally Christmas is much more. Christmas is the time when God showed His love for us by sending His son to our troubled world. Nothing greater than that can ever be given or shared, and nothing brings more joy. . Allow me to share with you a poem by Helen Steiner Rice as my way of wishing all a joyous Christmas in which you feel God at your side. May this poem bring peace to each of you. THE MOST PRICELESS GIFT OF CHRISTMAS Christmas is a season for joy and merrymaking, A time for gifts and presents, for giving and for taking... A festive, friendly happy time when everyone is gay-- But have we ever really felt the Greatness of the Day... For through the centuries the world has wandered far away From the beauty and the meaning of the Holy Christmas Day... For Christmas is a heavenly gift, that only God can give, It’s ours just for the asking, for as long as we shall live... It can’t be bought or bartered, it can’t be won or sold, It doesn’t cost a penny and it’s worth far more than gold... It isn’t bright and gleaming for eager eyes to see, It can’t be wrapped in tinsel or placed beneath a tree... It isn’t soft and shimmering for reaching hands to touch, Or some expensive luxury you've wanted very much... For the Priceless Gift of Christmas is meant just for the heart As we receive it only when we become a part Of the kingdom and the glory which is ours to freely take, For God sent the Holy Christ Child at Christmas for our sake, So man might come to know Him and feel His Presence near And see the many miracles performed while He was here... And this Priceless Gift of Christmas is within the reach of all, The rich, the poor, the young and old, the greatest and the small... So take His Priceless Gift of Love, reach out and You Receive, And the only payment that God asks is just that You Believe. May God grant you a blessed and holy Christmas Season. Peace, Rev. Lynn H. Rothrock St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Christmas Santa’s on his way with a sleighful of warm wishes for the happiest of holidays. May you and yours enjoy it to the fullest! 3 “ ; fi A ° = - B— bo YZ Furniture ~~ =2 2 “Where Customers Send S== =F Their Friends’ = ==. 50 Main St.,Luzerne Ee ==== 29E. Carey St.,Plains 4 — - n EY iY = 2 RE === Eo — 3 : mT a ; ; = = E23 Best (Uishes DUE The scent of pine... TEs 1% 3 0 ZA “the spirit of love... 17/iA4 SHAE \} may all things that v Ni mean Christmas joy ] be yours this sea- son. To all our good friends, “thanks.” MARIE N. GOODMAN “Flowers For All Occasions’’ Fr ad td £22 Here's wishing you a oe) holiday season filled with peace, love and harmony, this yearand many more to come! ECKERT POWER EQUIPMENT Dog-gone wishes for a Christmas celebra- tion packed with fun and surprises. Hope you all have a ball! THE HOAGIEBAR A ARIES May thoughts of peace and love... joy and content- ment be with you this merry season. Boyd R. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers