The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 9

Staunton, Leader, Thursday, December 23, 1982 9 jWrfl Opinion Religious viewpoint 'i i it i 4i 1 'l5! ST. JOHN'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, on North Augusta Street, recently presented a living nativity scene as it's gift to the community. Participating were Eric Fitzgerald, Andy Shaver, Mrs. Mary Irving, Miss Cathy Ralston, Mrs. Polly Holston, Emerson Deitz, Bob Holston, Clay Wisely and Harold Ralston.

(Photo by Larry Kesterson) Christmas Eve services poor, needy, lonely and forgotten of our society. We have a choice in the way we celebrate this Christmas. It can be secular Christmas or a spiritual Christmas. The good old American tradition suggests that we make it bigger and better; but I suggest we make it better by honoring the Christ of Christmas. Vestrymen elected Six new vestrymen were elected Trinity Episcopal Church Sunday during the annual meeting of the congregation.

The six elected to serve three year terms were Jerry S. Clarke, Dr. Richard L.M. Coleman, Ernest M. Holley, F.

Freeman Jones, Mrs. Bobby Lichtfuss and Roy L. Sherrill Jr. All standing committees of the church submitted written reports of their 1982 activities to the congregation following a covered-dish luncheon and retiring junior warden, Carl W. Buchholz, gave a report on the condition of the church, parrish hall and grounds.

The Rev. David W. Pittman, rector, presided. 1 By CLYDE DUPIN Many years ago, a noted agnostic, Clarence Darrow called Christmas "a nuisance," He said, "People would be better off if they paid no attention to it." The fact is, millions will ignore the true meaning of Christmas, but the fact of Christ's birth cannot be ignored. Even Darrow had to date his legal papers, "in the year of our Lord." Jesus Christ is a real person whose birth is a fact of history.

On a recent visit to Russia, I learned the communists teach their children that Jesus Christ never existed. They teach that Christianity is only a myth used by religious dictators to control people. But no one has been able to erase Jesus Christ from history. It is unfortunate tha the keynote of Christmas for many Americans is the big once a year spending orgy. This secular approach to Christmas leads to exhaustion and disillusionment.

We must understand there is more to Christmas than tinsel and toys. Christmas is a wonderful time to give gifts to family and friends. It is also a good time to teach our children whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas. When we celebrate His birthday, we should remember the she time for holidays 11 GOD'S Si a at THE REDEEMED QUARTET of Waynesboro will be the guest singers at a Watch Night service to be held Dec. 31 at the Lighthouse Church, located on Route 720 in Swoope.

The Singing Vias from Stuarts Draft will also be singing at the service. A free will offering will be received. PROGRAM RESCHEDULED Christmas program 7 p.m. Sunday. The play will be "Simeon, the Stable Hand." Due to bad weather last Sunday First Church of God on Schutterlee Mill Road will be holding their GIFT OF LOVE CAN BE SHARED BY EVERY FAITH Hi wwisTi mm ipiiya Jf 11 1 pii oVC" ITHfl Iffy i -ly feTLJ Or7r When some observe this time of year The symbols of the Yuletide cheer With which they deck the hall; While others mark a different rite That's signified by candlelight, A new one added every night When Chanukah will fall.

Your House of Worship will convey The message of your holiday, So join the services and say The prayers that you recall; And don't forget, when we compare These holy days by which we swear, This gift that every faith can share: The symbols of the Yuletide cheer With which they deck the hall; is here, a Gloria Nowak MM. JjM ml a Urge You To Come To A Place Of Worship Every Week BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN The church will hold a candlelight Christmas Eve service beginning at 9:30. HEBRON PRESBYTERIAN A candlelight service will be held at the church at 10 with carols, scripture and a short meditation. Sunday morning at 11 a Christmas music program will be presented by the Adult and Children's choirs. This service was postponed from last Sunday.

IMMANUEL EPISCOPAL At 5 Christmas Eve a children's and family service will be held at the church. At 10:30 carols will be sung and at 11 Holy Communion will be served. Christmas Day at 8 a.m. there will be a Holy Communion service at the church. PLEASANT VIEW LUTHERAN A Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be held at the church beginning at 10:30.

Several Christmas selections will be presented by the Bell Choir under the direction of Mrs. John P. Arehart. Other music will be provided by the adult choir under the direction of William H. Battermann, pastor with Mrs.

J.M. Garber, organist. Following the sermon by Battermann, Holy Communion will be observed. REV. AND MRS.

DERR Pastor and wife honored The Rev. and Mrs. William B. Derr Jr. were honored recently with a surprise "Pastor Appreciation Dinner" given by the congregation and friends of Emmanuel Wesleyan Church, 930 Sudbury St.

Mrs. Howard Diggs, pianist, provided a program of Christmas carols before dinner with the invocation given by the Rev. Basil Bish. Following the meal, various organizations within the church greeted the Derrs. The Derrs' ministry began at the church in January 1965 and throughout the program highlights of the church's accomplishments under their leadership were pointed out.

Musical accompaniment for the program was provided by Mrs. Kenneth Taylor and Mrs. Robert Kilmer. After the presentation of gifts to the Derrs the group sang Christmas songs. The Derrs have four children.

Future event ST. PAUL'S The Adult Christian Endeavor will meet at the church at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Mrs. James L.

Driver will be the leader. Wednesday the prayer meeting and Bible study group will meet at 7:30 p.m., followed by Chancel Choir rehearsal at 8 45. The annual New Year's Eve Communion service will be held in the sanctuary at 11:30, under the direc tion of the Rev. Albert J. Schrader.

is i If I Mm 1 v. II FIRST PRESBYTERIAN A special Christmas Eve service will be held at the church beginning at 5. The Christmas Eve meditation will be delivered by Dr. J.H.J. Vernon, pastor.

The service of worship, which will include scripture and Christmas hymns, Will conclude with the observance of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. MT. CARMEL PRESBYTERIAN STEELES TAVERN The traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols will be held at the church on Christmas Eve beginning at 8. The service will feature traditional carols for the congregation, choir, harpsichord and organ. The Chancel Choir will also present carols.

Commercialism disgusts Santa By GEORGE W. CORNELL AP Religion Writer Santa Claus, that jolly, bewhisk-ered old philanthropist to the young, says he's disgusted with all the commercialism that clutters up Christmas, but that he can't stop it. "It makes my temperature go to about 120," he said in a fancied interview in his workshop home at the North Pole before making his world-girdling rounds Friday night. Puffing on his pipe, he sighed sadly about the flood of pictures of him used to whomp up advertising pitches and the "phony guys that dress up like me to hawk their stuff on the tube. It's repulsive." "But I'm not responsible for how much they corrupt my image," he said in conjectured comments to U.

S. Catliolic, a monthly magazine published in Chicago by the Clare-tian Fathers and Brothers. "Don't try to pin the materialism of your nation on me," he said. "Fortunately there are still millions kids mostly who keep my image clean." He said they "know I stand for giving selflessly" and "think of me as a person who gives bounteously and without asking for anything in return except affection." Ask if that impression wasn't a bit god-like, he stroked the side of his red nose, grinning. "Exactly.

Precisely. Think about kids. They need something to hang on to, a face, a body, a someone. "They can't grasp abstractions and vague notions of God. So they look to me.

Many of them think of God as looking like Santa benevolent, giving, trustworthy and loving without exception." Santa noted that all his many names have religious implications, that Santa Claus derives from a slurring of St. Nicholas, that Father Christmas has priestly connotations, that Kris Kringle stems from a German expression meaning Christ-child. "Whatever people call me, it's a compliment," he laughed, shaking like jelly. Magazine staffer James Brieg says he asked if it wasn't dangerous for children to "think of God as being like you" because when they found out about him, they might think "of God as a phony." Patting his ample girth, Santa said it was up to parents to "replace me with something more" as children get older. But "some parents like to get off easy," he added.

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