Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020 The Braselton News Page 7 A Social News Hoschton hosts Christmas decorating contest The City of Hoschton recently hosted a Christmas decorating contest for citizens and businesses. Businesses and citizens of Hoschton raced to the finish line during a recent Christmas decoration competition. Over 30 entries of a variety of busi nesses and residents registered and decorated in efforts to win first, second and third place. First place went to a resident of Creekside Subdivision, second place went to another winner in Creekside subdivision and third place went to a citizen in Brookglenn subdivision. The first place business went to Pretty Petals and Pickins on Highway 53. “Our first annual Christmas light contest was a great success and we look forward to hosting this event next year,” said Jennifer Harrison, city clerk. The City of Hoschton recently hosted a Christmas decorating contest for citizens and businesses. Church News Mike’s Minute Looking forward to the New Year By Mike Day Happy New Year! Doesn’t that sound so nice to say and to hear this year? Happy NEW Year. Aren’t we all ready to turn the page on 2020? We are all hoping, praying, and wishing for 2021 to be so much better than what we have experienced this past year. Like a six- year-old racing to the lighted tree on Christ mas morning to see her presents, we eager ly toss 2020 aside and sprint into 2021. But before we dash headlong into a new year with the hopes of putting the pain and sor row of this year behind us, let me challenge you to put on the brakes, to pause for just a minute of reflection. What lessons have we learned from this unexpected and challenging year that will serve us well in the new year and beyond? Sit down with pen and paper for a moment and write what you’ve learned to value in this difficult year. Here are a few thoughts I’ve jotted down that will guide me in 2021: People over politics. Yes, 2020 highlighted the political rifts in our country, families and even our church es. While many of us have some very strong political views, this year has shown me that people are more important than poli tics. While I will still vote according to my views, I will not let politics destroy rela tionships. I will not exclude someone from my life just because we do not see eye to eye on issues. In fact, I plan to have a few coffee chats to listen and learn from those who see the world differently than I do. Simplify life. Throughout 2020, many people saw their way of life crumble - jobs lost, incomes ceased, and savings depleted. What seemed like a secure and sure way of life vanished in days and weeks. Many of us realized that the material things we thought were neces sary really do not matter. Moving forward, I want to consider how to live with more pur pose and invest my time and resources in ways that benefit others more than myself. Live Faith in the moment. Too often our faith has been limited to worship and ministry in a building with a certain group of people on set days. With gatherings in church buildings canceled and fewer people venturing into packed sanctuaries, our religious practices have been tested. Rather than demonstrating our faith by showing up for a meeting, we are challenged to live our faith by caring for our neighbor and ministering to those who are hurting. As we walk into this new year, may we learn to live our faith in the moment where people will see Jesus in our words and actions. I realize we still have a long way to go be fore we are past the Covid threat and life is anywhere near the way we like it. But while I quickly walk away from 2020, I have to admit that it taught me some key life les sons that will guide me for years to come. Happy New Year! Mike Day is the pastor of Celebration Church. FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH you can list your group’s meetings! Call 706-367-5233 to advertise your meeting date, time and place. Banks County News • Jackson Herald Madison County Journal • Braselton News 15786 KIWANIS OF JEFFERSON Meetings every 2 nd & 4 th Monday at 1 p.m. Beef O’Brady’s f&k 15252 HUDSON LODGE #294 F & A.M. 1364 Hospital Rd., Commerce 1st Thursday of each month Meeting 7:30 p.m. • Dinner 6:30 p.m. Cameron Boswell 706-215-4282 15850 GAINESVILLE CHURCH belonging to Christ Meets for Bible study Wed. 7PM Sun. 9:30AM Worship Sun. 10:30AM 2815 Wallace Road • Gainesville, GA Free Home Bible Study • 770-835-4000 For info call (678) 928-9350. GCOC.org 12626 JEFFERSON ROTARY CEUB Meets Tuesdays 12:30 p.m. American Legion Post 56 309 Lee St., Jefferson Les Crane, President les.crane@bhhsgeorgia.com HALL COUNTY 442 DEMOCRATIC PARTY Meetings at 6:30 p.m. Gainesville Civic Center OPEN TO ALL ^470-577-0095 Pilot Club of Jefferson Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. Jefferson City Clubhouse 706-367-9313 or 706-693-4715 I2625 12971 MADISON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY Meets 4th Sat. @ 10:30 a.m. Madison Co. Senior Center 706-789-3336 mcgademocrats.wixsite.com/mcdp l2 Y BANKS COUNTY jjfl| AMERICAN LEGION llpr Post 215 Meets each 3rd Tues., 6 p.m. In Homer, GAat the American Legion Building on Historic Highway 441 ~ 12972 J&p ROCKWELL M LODGE F& A.M. No. 191, Hoschton, GA 2nd Tues. at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m. www.rockwelllodgel91.com Two blocks behind Larry's Garage West Broad at Hall Street BANKS COUNTY 13004 HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. Meets first Monday each month 7:00 p.m. in the Banks County Historical Courthouse at 105 U. S.Hwy 441 North in Homer, GA 12623 JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB Meets 2nd & 4th Monday Jefferson City Clubhouse 6:30 p.m.. (706) 247-4094 Robert Hall, President 4660 St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:00 p.m. Sun. 10:00 a.m. Monday ■ Friday 12:10 p.m, Spanish Sun. 8:00 a.m. Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org 706-367-7220 /&, 13905 JgWUNITY LODGE F & A.M. No. 36, Jefferson, GA 1st Tues. of each month, 7:30 p.m. Tom Hays • 678-316-7492 Borders St. Behind Tabo's BANKS COUNTY ill AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY - Post 215 Meets each 3rd Tues., 6 p.m. In the American Legion Building at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy., Homer, GA JEFFERSON AREA 2620 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION www.jaba-ga.org Meets 3rd Thursday • 11:45 a.m. Jefferson City Clubhouse 302 Longview Drive 12619 JEFFERSON UP AMERICAN LEGION Post 56 • Meets 3rd Tues., 6:30 p.m. Joe Ruttar, Commander Phone (860) 949-4037 309 Lee St., Jefferson, GA 12969 . Tri-County f Shrine Club 3rd Thurs. of each month 7:00 p.m. Rockwell Lodge 191 11067 JACKSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY Meetings at 6:30 p.m. Meets 3rd Thursday of each month ^ Bank OZK Jr 465 old Swimming Pool Rd. Meeting is open to all who wish to attend. www.jcdcga.org