3
Over the cave in which Jesus
Christ was born, a great basilica
was erected. Centuries ago, the
~ main doors of this Church were
. completely walled up to prevent it
urch and use it as a stable to
vw their mockery of the stable
underneath, the place of Christ's
i order to enter the Church
ne must first stoop in order
entrance to this sacred
1 der to enter into the real
of Christmas today, my dear
le, we too must stoop, we must
nble before the Child in the
d the people whom the Child
ered around Himself.
was born in a cave, one of
which dotted the countryside
1 Bethlehem and which were
s emergency shelters by both
and- beast. The dictionary
defines cave as a hollowed-out
chamber in the earth. Do we not in
our human pride dress us this cave
of Bethlehem so that we hardly
realize how far God came down on
the first Christmas Day? We glorify
the stable, romanticize the
shepherds, sprinkle it all with
hide or camouflage the ugliness of
the first cave. And the shepherds
were not a group of well-washed
men whom you would invite to a
Christening party. They were only
earthly peasants, a despised class
of people who were completely
segregated by the Jews who would
not as much be seen on the same
side of the street with them. They
came into the cave, running down
from the hills with muddy footwear,
matted beards, good honest dirt on
their hands, and rough voices. The
whole point is that God knew and
selected in advance the cave and
this His first audience on earth and
that is the way God wanted it. You
have to stoop to get into a cave,
especially into the cave at
Bethlehem, and the proud can
never become humble.
Abraham Lincoln who was born
in a log cabin, used to say God must
love the common people--he made
such a multitude of them. And on
Christmas we can gaze at God in the
cave and answer: Yes, God must
love the common people. Because
he became one of us Himself!
That is why Christmas will
always be the feast of the common
man; it is the day ‘when Christ
bypassed the proud Herods, the
sophisticated and the worldly, the
overbearing Pharisees, those
steeped in sin, and is the day when
Christ is born again among the
modern shepherds--plain; ordinary
people, the humble of heart, the
good-living and the sincerely devout
people who are trying to prove only
one thing in life, their love for God.
Wouldn't the shepherds have been
amazed if someone suggested that
they turn away from the stable and
give one another gifts, one a pair of
sandals, another a shepherd’s staff,
and so on. Wouldn’t they rather
have said: What about Jesus? Is
this not His day? It still is His day.
Let each of us on this glorious birth-
day of Christ give Him something
that will be very dear to Him. One
can give Him the sincere resolve to
get rid of some habit of sin, another
can promise Him more charity, or
honesty, or patience, or obedience:
or another to make a better mother
or father or child.
May the Light of His Face Your
Child Himself be your Christmas
Gift! 7
Rev. Joseph F'. Sammons
- St. Therese’s Church
ly two thousand years ago,
angel of the Lord came to the
erds and said:
not be afraid! I am here with
0d news for you which. will bring
t joy to all the people. This very
‘in David’s town your Savior
‘born--Christ the Lord!”
red the transforming power of
hat “Good News.” All of this
appened and is happening because
ey accepted God’s gift, Jesus
the commercialization of Christ-
mas. In the midst of this com-
mercialization, it: seems that the
opportunity to truly celebrate the
birth of Jesus is pushed into the
background.
As I talked with people about this
problem, there are many ex-
pressions of concern about the
commercialism that dominates the
Christmas scene, and we wish it
could all be swept away and re-
placed by a simple opportunity to
meaning of this great day. But after
these discussions, we go right on
with “Christmas as usual.”
Do you think it is possible that this
year might be different? Oh how I
a trip with the Shepherds and the
Wise men from where we are and go
to Bethlehem. It would be a trip
from preoccupation with com-
mercialism to a new found wonder
and joy in the birth of the Christ
Child.
It is also my hope that you will use
this time and holiday season to
come closer to our Savior. I invite
and encourage you, your family and
your friends, to take an active part
in the various Church services and
Christmas programs of your
church.
And then, on Christmas Eve, will
you gather in your church to wor-
ship the Christ Child who is our
salvation and the only hope we have
that “the Kingdom of this world
shall become the Kingdom of our
Lord.” There is a deep joy that per-
vades this night every year as we
celebrate Christmas.
I wish you a joyous Christmas. I
also pray that the “Good News'”
brought by the angel will remain
centered in your life throughout the
coming year.
Rev. Andrew Pillarella, Pastor
Trinity United Presbyterian Church
of my favorite people is Mrs.
lark. She personifies the
i Christmas.
For years, she resided in the old
ymeplace ini Beaumont. She taught
ol and raised a family in the
e village. Many people have
emories of her gentle, giving
t sweet, loving way still
al in her today. The only thing
that has changed her is age.
cle with a glow that anyone
envy. They are the eyes of
ess. She invites me to take a
and visit “for a spell.”
um the one who receives the
. Instead of joy, her cir-
nces should make her sad.
gentle face contains the mark
orrible battle with cancer.
nly though, the scar seems to
0 nothingness as the smile
ws greater. I am indeed in the
dst of a blessing.
Jer hearing is lost in one ear. For
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a long time, we had to scribble notes
to communicate. Now, she can
hear. She says that the Lord has
been good.
Her eyes are sharp. She reads
extensively. She prays abundantly,
too. I consider myself fortunate to
be the object of some of her
prayers. :
If anyone had a reason not to pray
and not to smile, it would seem that
Mrs. Clark would. In her situation, I
ask myself, “Would I be like a bitter
weed or could I be a blessing like
her?”’ 1 sometimes come to her
room loaded with my own set of
pressures and problems. However,
I always leave her room with a song
in my heart.
During one of those visits, she had
a beautiful new red sweater
wrapped around her shoulders.
This was no ordinary sweater.
You could tell by her face that this
was an extraordinary garment. It
was the grandest gift of all.
The sweater was a gift from her
husband who had died many years
ago. The gift was discovered in a
brightly decorated Christmas box.
Her husband had hid it in the attic to
surprise her on Christmas morn. As
the attic in the old homeplace was
being cleared out, a family member
discovered Mr. Clark’s gift for his
wife. He died before he could give it
to her. ;
Christmas would not be the same
that year. A grandfather-father-
husband would be missing. The
laughter, happiness, and gift
swapping of Christmas had a lonely
note in them.
Now, is it no wonder that Mrs.
Clark wears her sweater so
proudly?
Time and death have a way of
robbing us of the loved ones who
mas day.’ But, time and death
cannot steal away the gifts that our
loved ones leave. Their advice,
encouragement, love, and tangible
gifts are with us always.
Further, the sweater that graces
A Savior
God has turned to us! We are not
alone. In Jesus Christ, whose birth
we celebrate on Christmas Day,
God comes to us. The message to
the shepherds was, “Fear not, for
behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy--for unto you is born this
day in the city of David, a Savior
which is Christ the Lord.”
Life becomes confused at times.
Difficult decisions face us. Frustra-
tions and failures dog our paths.
Sometimes, we even get mixed up
about the meaning of life. Where do
we turn?
the little frail body of Mrs. Clark
says that giving is in harmony with
eternity. For you see, without the
heavenly Father’s gift of Jesus,
there would be no red sweaters.
That little red sweater symbolizes
to all that we are able to give to one
another and to God because He first
gave to us. Is that not why we sing
with the angels? “Glory to God in
the highest and on earth, peace,
goodwill toward men for unto you is
born this day in the city of David, a
Saviour which is Christ, the Lord.”
Rev. Danny White
Dallas Baptist Church SBC
is born
“Fear not.” This is the assurance
we need today. God did not send a
message. He sent a person, and He
is still with us, for Jesus said, “I will
not leave you. comfortless. I will
come to you.” :
The promise of Emmanuel is
always and ever fulfilled, and at
Christmas we celebrate again that
great event which assures us that
God is always with us. May this be
the gift you receive again this
Rev. John S. Prater
Prince of Peace
Episcopal Church
2 ] NS Misericordia.
AN
R 4 AB
¥:
PAGE FOUR
Buck season! Just the thought
stirs excitement in many human
beings. Yet when I recently talked
with a friend about his success or
lack of it during this past buck
season, he noted that hei¥eally
wasn’t in the mood to go hunting
this year because of the unseason-
ably mild weather we have had.
Some people are saying much the
same to me as Christmas ap-
proaches. Basically, the end of 1982
has been warm with little snow up
to now, and people keep saying that
it doesn’t feel like Christmas. Oh
yes, we're happy about lower fuel
bills, but many are saddened by the
lack of cold and snow for Christ-
mas. ]
Naturally, the love of God comes
to us through Christmas regardless
of the weather. For God’s great
miracle has taken place--God him-
self took on the form of a human
being and was born in a stable. And
Only Yesterday
So once again we take time to cele-
sense the peace and joy which this
great event brought with it and still
brings with it each year.
‘When this baby grew into a man,
it wasn’t peace and joy which sur-
rounded Him but rather conflict and
anger and'hatred. So much so that
people decided to kill him. Through
His suffering and death we gain the
promise of life--our salvation is
clearly at the manger. Don’t allow
all the tinsel to crowd Him out of
your view. Jesus is born! The
Savior comes! Regardless of our
health or prosperity, our individual
or community world problems; yes,
even regardless of the weather, our
Christ was born to save! Alleluia!
By Rev. Lynn H. Rothrock
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
50 Years Ago - Dec. 23, 1932 :
_ Dallas was ready to celebrate
Christmas Day. Central Dallas took
on a real holiday atmosphere when
in addition to the building decora-
tions of evergreen and ‘eolored
paper, a large cluster of evergreen
trees was erected on Main Street.
Many public-spirited women’s
organizations prepared baskets of
food for the needy.
Married Almeda Calkins to
Harvey Searfoss.
You could get--Tomato soup 4
cans 25c; cranberries 2 lb. 25c;
pumpkin 2 cans 15c; applesauce 2
cans 15¢; currants 10c pkg.; plum
pudding 3 cans 25¢c. _
40 Years Ago - Dec. 25, 1942
A resolution demanding 'that all
.alcoholic beverages be abolished
until after the war was written into
the records of the Pennsylvania
State Grange following its 70th
annual convention in’ Harrisburg.
Deaths--Porter Michael, Carver-
ton.
You could get--Cranberries 19¢
Ib.; grapefruit 3-17¢; turkeys 45c
lb.; oysters 45¢ pt.; halibut 35¢ 1b.
30 Years Ago - Dec. 26, 1952
The Dr. Sherman Schooley
Memorial Fund drew toward its
close with total receipts of $2,534.20.
The funds were used in the obstet-
rical department at the Wilkes-
Barre General Hospital and to esta-
blish a perpetual endowment for the
Dr. Sherman R. Schooley Memorial
niche of books at the Back Mountain
Library. :
Anniversaries--Mr. and Mrs.
Herman Garinger, Harveys Lake,
48 years.
‘Deaths--Clarence Jacoby, Car-
verton. :
You could get--Sharp cheese 69c;
eggs’ 55¢ doz.; turkeys 57c Ib.;!
potatoes 15 1b. bag 89c; haddock 49¢
1b. 1
20 Years Ago - Dec. 27, 1962
Howard Risley, owner and editor
of the Dallas Post for 32 years died
suddenly when stricken by a heart
attack during family Christmas
festivities.
Engaged--Josephine Balas to Ed-
ward John Geist.
Anniversaries--Mr. and Mrs.
Peter Wilson, New Milford, Dallas,
natives 50 years; Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas Hontz, Perrin Ave.
Shavertown, 43 years.
You could get--Pork loins 27¢ Ib. ;
bananas 10¢ Ib. ; granulated sugar 5
Ib. 54¢; coffee 2-1b. can $1.33; sauer-
kraut 2 th. bag 25¢c.
10 Years Ago - Dec. 28, 1972
Postmaster Edward Buckley re-
Post Office after 31 years of service.
Ralph Goss,’ Berwick replaced
Buckley as postmaster.
Engaged--Cathy L. Heffner and
Jerome M. Juris.
. Anniversaries--Mr. and Mrs. Ira
Tripp, Johnson City, N.Y., 50 years.
You could get--Pork loins 85¢ 1b. ;
bananas 10c 1lb.; lemons 3-29c¢;
pineapple 4-20 oz. cans $1; cran-
berry cocktail 49¢ qt.
As I mentioned previously,
holiday decorations across the Back
Mountain are really exceptional.
While homes and sections of town
ornamentation, proclaiming our
enjoyment of the season, area
business establishments are a treat
to enter as well. You might note the
Restaurant the next time you're in
the neighborhood--or should I say
poinsettia tree? It’s mammoth-to
say the least. Quite a treat!
-0-
The folks around the Dallas
Township municipal building ap-
pear to have got.more than they
bargained for in Frank Wagner. To
say the least, that esteemed
township father is full of surprises
these days. Most recently, he
delighted municipal employees by
repairing their Norelco coffee-
maker. Frank modestly admits to
under duress. For example, when
his wife threatens to leave home if
he doesn’t get the vacuum cleaner
running, Frank hops right to it. I
wonder how the municipal crew
coerced him into action. Perhaps he
morning like everyone else.
from Mak
Much has been made of the re-
cently ‘passed legislation appro-
_priating more than $1.4 billion for:
construction and repair of more
than 900 bridges across the com-
monwealth. The governor esti-
mates the projects will eliminate
costly detours on the state’s high-
way and local road networks,
generate 20,000 construction-
related jobs and increase the
demand for Pennsylvania steel and
concrete products over the next six
years.
Benefits appear to be guaranteed
by the wording of the legislation
which specifies all materials must
be made in America, preferably in
Pennsylvania. Monies for the
ambitious project are expected to
come from federal subsidies and
new fees on out-of-state trucks. :
Again, from Sen. O’Connell
comes the information that the
completion of the Cross Valley
Expressway in its originally
planned form is included in the
bridge building project. Of course,
this is a promise of further inevit-
able growth in our own Back
Mountain. 2
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