Church STOR’S RNER DL PR, pie: gh ge O° Ad RE La ig Ree i re SR se se ERS RSS SR = ESE Eh SAE EE E—S—"—"——S“——— i PS mse i | TT Bi SH —— ai eS Es EE & Sunday, December 21, 2003 Tue POST 15 C 0 The actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown. And there is no evidence of celebrating the @: or birth of Christ be- ore the third century. At that time, January 6th was widely observed as the manifestation of Christ on earth including His birth, baptism and visits of the Magi. There are various theories on the reason December 25th was chosen as the date to observe Jesus’ birth. The most widely accepted theory is that the date was already a major pagan festi- val called Sol Invictus. The fes- tival celebrated the birth of the “unconquerable Sun” and marked the winter solstice. When Christianity triumphed over paganism, Christmas re- placed the celebration. As Christians we have ap- plied “Sun of Righteousness” to this. In the bible we read in Malachi 4:2: “But for you who revere my name, the Sun of righteousness will rise up with healing in it’s wings and you will go out and leap like calves leased from the stall.“ If we look around and ob- serve the attitude and atmos- phere permeating modern soci- ety, we will find it very difficult to observe and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. The holiday seems to have made a full circle returning once again to the worship and celebration of the season of winter. Those who strongly adhere to the separation of church and state theory would disagree. But no matter which position you champion, whether it be Christian or pagan, the birth of Jesus or a snow man, it remains the practice of religion. This message is a wake-up call to Christian believers. The celebration of Christmas has nothing to do with snowmen, By Mary Ann Kotch River of Life Fellowship weather, Santa Claus, our gift giving, trees, wreaths, candles, or any of the commercial trap- pings that overwhelm the mar- ket-place. Christmas has to do with the birth of the Christ Child, who He is, what He is, and why it all happened. That is the focal point of December 25th. He is God's gift to us. His coming conquered death. His coming offers us eternal life by giving us victory over sin. He came to give us freedom and life on earth. He came to give us the authority and power to live victorious lives. He is “Emanuel, God with us.” He is “The gift of God that is eternal life through Jesus, the babe in ‘the manger, “Our Lord.“ (Ro- mans 6:23) Wouldn't it be resoundingly magnificent, as we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, that we would proclaim the true Christmas story as the center-piece of our celebration rather than reciting “Twas the night before Christmas” or sing about “Rudolph the red-nose Reindeer?” In the gospel of Luke, chapter 21:1-24 we read in part: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping “watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. ‘I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today is born to you a Savior, He ‘is Christ the Lord.” Christians and non-Christians are faced with a decision this time of year to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas or to celebrate the season of win- ter. We as Christians must con- tinue to proclaim “We have waited for our Messiah and He has come.” Community COME TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRISTMAS EVE TRUCKSVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECEMBER 24, 2003 4:00 PM FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE CHILDREN'S CHOIR, Carols Holy Communion and Lighting of Candles 7:30 PM TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE CHANCEL CHOIR with Special Music composed by Harry Trebilcox Holy Communion and Lighting of Candles Rev. Michael Bealla, Pastor Harry Trebilcox, Choir Director Vivian Jayne, Organist & Children's Choir Director Cindy Thomas, Guest Organist Church Road, off Route 309 Phone: 696-3897 & IN Che public is welcome {o celebrate Jesus' birth at New Life Community Church Wednesday, Dec. 24" 7:00 pm at the Glory Barn, Brace Road, Orange Pastor Dennis Madeira 639-5433 | Trinity Presbyterian Church’ § 105 Irem Road, Dallas, PA + 675-3131 + Pastor Rev. Mark C. Harper J Christmas Eve Services ; 5:00 P.M. - Candlelight service, pageant, music and carols 10:30 P.M. - Candlelight service, scriptures, music, carols and communion All are welcome! | HIGH POINT CHURCH 1919 Mountain Road, Larksville, PA 570.779.7668 Come & Celebrate with us... Candlelight Service & Christmas Eve Drama 6:30 PM & 8:00 PM Directions - visit our website: www. highpointnepa.org Handicap Accessible... plenty of parking ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Cross Creek Cross Creek Community Church will present a Christian ver- sion of Charles Dickens’ Classic “A Christmas Carol” on Sunday December 21 at 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more inforamtion call 696-0399 or look at the church website; www.crosscreekcc.org. CHURCH NOTES Dallas Shavertown United Methodist ~~ United Methodist 163 North Pioneer Ave. 4 Parsonage Street, Dallas Dec. 21, Christmas Cantata with participating churches, Trinity Presbyterian and Al- bright United Methodist, Wilkes-Barre, 4 p.m. @Grace Community Memorial Highway, Dallas Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Ser- vice, 7 p.m. Idetown Methodist Idetown Rd., Lehman The Idetown Congregation will be joining with their sister congregation, Lehman UMC at Lehman from December 2003 through March 2004 for Wor- ship services and Christian Ed- ucation on Sunday's. Lehman United Methodist 1011 Mt. View Drive, Sunday Worship, 11 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m. 2nd and 4th Sundays, Youth ~ group at 7:30 Dec. 21, Christmas Vesper |] 9 Service, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24, Family candlelight service, 7 p.m. Dec. 21, Youth Group carol- ing and lunch,12 noon. Dec. 24, Christmas Eve serv- ices at 7 and 10 p.m. Prayer time Wednesdays, 7- 7:15 p.m. St. Paul’s Lutheran RR 4 Box 627A (off of 118), Dec. 24, 7 p.m. Family Can- dlelight Service, reception fol- lowing. Dec. 26-28 Jr. /Sr. High Win- ter Camp. Registration forms at the church office. Dec. 28, One worship serv- ice, 10 a.m. Trinity Presbyterian 105 Irem Rd., Dallas Dec: 24, 5 p.m. Candlelight service, pageant, music. Dec. 24, 10:30 p.m. Candle- light service. Trucksville United Methodist 40 Knob Hill Rd., Trucksville Dec. 24, Family Christmas Eve service, 4 p.m. Dec. 24, Traditional Christ- mas Eve Service, Chancel Choir. THE CHURCH OF THE GATE OF HEAVEN Dallas, PA CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th 3:30 PM - Children's Choir & Youth Folk Ensemble Carols 4:00 PM - Family Mass, with live broadcast in the gym; 5:30 PM and 10:30 PM - with Candlelight Carols at 10:00 PM Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25th 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM Mary, Mother of God New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31st: 5:00 PM New Year's Day, Thursday, January 1st, 9:00 AM & 11:30 AM Chuistmas Sewices at St. Paul's Lutheran Church RR 4 (Re. 118), Dablas, PA Christmas Eve - 7:00 p.m. - Family Candlelight Service with "Birthday Party for Jesus" reception following the service Christmas Eve - 10:30 p.m. - Traditional Candlelight Service. Rev. Charles H. Grube, Pastor Phone: 675-3859 Directions: 309N to 415. Turn left on R 118 then first right. The Congregation of St. Faul's Wishes You Peace and Joy This Christmas Season JR Shavertown United Methodist Church Phone-A-Prayer 675-4666 Every Saturday Every Sunday 5:30 PM Chapel Worship 9:00 AM RAM Sonay Seo 11:00 AM Traditional Worship Children's Musical "Miracle at Midnight" Sunday, December 14, 5:00 PM December 24 6:30 PM Music of the Season 9:30 PM Music of the Season 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship Candlelight and Communion Candlelight and Communion Children's Message God's Handful Youth Choir Cherub Choir and Children of Light Choir Chancel Choir Chancel Choir Handbell Choir Dramatic Message "Mary Speaks" Dramatic Message "Mary Speaks" Come to Worship Christ, The New Born King! Pioneer Ave. at Center St., Shavertown 675-3616 « www.unitedmethodist.org St. Therese’s Church Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown 0 Wy / 696-1144 A 4) Carll Worship Schedule Feast of the Holy Family Sunday, December 28th “Season of Christmas” Feast of the Birth of Our Lord Wednesday, December 24th A30pm- > Church 3 Hall 7:30am, 9:00am & 11:00am 6:30pm- Children’s Choir Church Thursday, December 25th Solemnity of Mary- Jan. ist Midnight Mass— Church 9:00am and 11:00am Wednesday: 4:30pm Vigil Mass Thursday: 9:00am & 11:00am
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers