Newspaper Page Text
. The Summerville News, Thurs., Dec. 20,1979
6-C
Community Greets Christmas
With Worship and Rejoicing
By ANNA MANG
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly; ’tis the season to be
jolly.” Christmas Is for joy and laughter; Christmas glows
with merriment. Throughout this community, families are
putting the finishing touches on plans for holiday get-to
gethers. Hideaways bulge with mysterious packages; kitchens
are fragrant with the scents of special treats; homes are bright
with gala decorations. Schools and clubs prepare their annual
Christmas programs. Holiday party plans go forward. It is,
indeed, the season to be jolly.
"Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright.” Christ
mas is for prayer and peace; Christmas gleams with the light
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time, too, to count our Wgw
blessings. One of
the greatest of these is
the friendship of those
whom we are privileged to serve.
GREGG’S
AUTO PARTS
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Because tMe qood will of tliose we serve is
tlie fouNdATioN of our success, it's a real
pIEASURE AT ihis holidAy TIME TO SAy
M ThANk you" as we wish you a full yEAR of
lIAppiNESS ANd SUCCESS.
Bob Guffin, Butch Eieam, Hallie Martin,
Patsy Thompson, Joyce Smith, Jackie Smith
ShßopshißE &
Guffiu, Inc.
INSURANCE WITH SERVICE
FOR 53 YEARS
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Hhtilration fr»m the Bill m,inn Arthur
TOYS KOK THE CHILDREN, A GAILY-DECORATED THEE — and fun for all. This family holi
dat scene, recorded about 1850, represents many of the Christmas traditions most beloved today.
Il is more than "an old-fashioned Christmas,” for such customs as exchanging gifts and bringing
K nmrr> indoors during the winter holidays originated in ancient times. “Modern” Christmas
celebrations conibine traditions of many nations and eras, says the Encyclopedia Americana.
of the Star that shone so brightly, nearly two thousand years
ago. And throughout this community, the deep spiritual sig
nificance of the holy season spreads comfort and cheer. In
churches, the hours of worship reflect the coming joy as, dur
ing the weeks before Christmas, the story of Christ’s coming
is the subject of study, sermon, song and prayer, all building
toward the special services of Christmas weekend.
Uniting in Joy and Prayer
Christmas is a joyful season; Christmas is a prayerful sea
son. Since the earliest celebrations of this Christian holiday,
it has ever been so.
The twin spirits of Christmas — festive celebration and
reverent worship — are woven together in all the lore of the
season. History says that when the time now celebrated as
Christmas • was designated, in the fifth century A.D., early
Christian leaders felt that the traditional winter merry
making of pagan festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia
might be hallowed by association with the Nativity.
Thus, pagan peoples who had once looked to mythical sun
gods as the source of the rebirth of life began to turn to re
ligious observances of the Saviour’s birth. Christmas lights
symbolized faith, hope and life eternal.
Today, the glow of the tiniest candle —or the twinkling of
the smallest electric bulb — still reflects, however humbly, the
Light that Christ brought to
the world.
Bringing Gifts
At the heart of the holiday
fun and feasting there glows
the spirit of giving. The Wise
Men sought to honor the Christ
Child with rare and precious
gifts — gold, frankincense and
myrrh. Thus, to give of the
best at Christmas is a time
honored tradition.
All may rejoice in the oppor-
tunity to give generously, to
please family and friends with
“just what they wanted.” and
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Here’s to a Yule I ifj :
that's brimming » ' /
with fun, in T" " “ * •'
the season s J^g\. & «. /
spec t ia ! and
joyful
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best ,O V K
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S®Yy
We d like to
extend to you
the sincerest
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for this bright
and sparkling
season. May
Trade Center
to share with the less fortu
nate.
Yet the best Christmas gifts
are still those that come from
the open heart as well as the
open hand, and the warmth of
a friendly smile, the words of
a cordial greeting add price
less meaning to the most elab
orate of gifts.
Singing Carols
“Glory to God in the high
est, and on earth, peace, good
will toward men.”
Across the years since shep
herds first harkened to an an
gelic chorus, Christmas rings
with the sound of voices raised
in joyful song.
Carol singing at Christmas
is both a tradition and a
source of tradition. Much of
the legend and lore of the sea
son is known today only be
cause it has been preserved in
song — in carols passed on
from generation to generation.
Art Spreads
Story Os
His Birth
The Nativity scene has
always stimulated and
challenged painters and
sculptors.
In turn, great works of
art depicting the story of
the birth of Christ have,
through the years, en
riched the lives and en
hanced the spiritual
insights of millions.
Earliest Christian art
was simple and graphic,
as clear and easy to appre
ciate as a comic strip.
Later, religious paint
ings became stilted.
Then, Italian Renais
sance painters instilled re
newed warmth and hu
manity into art, renewing,
too, individual art appre
ciation, through their na
tural, lifelike creations.
Their work gained much
from the stimulus of the
changing times and the
new approach to art, fos
tered by the support of the
Medici and commissions
for paintings and sculpture
from the church.
For instance, Raphael,
famous for the "Sistine
Madonna,” came to Rome
from Florence to do a fres
co decoration in the Vati
can at the same time that
Michelangelo was painting
the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel.
Artists from other coun
tries, too, traveled to Italy,
there to experience and be
influenced by Renaissance
thought and feeling.
Trees Live and Bloom
in Legends of Yuletide
Almost every kind of tree
has a legend relating it to the
Nativity or the life of Christ.
The cherry tree, says “The
Cherry Tree Carol,” bent down
its boughs for Mary to pluck
the fruit.
The Glastonbury Thorn
blooms at Christmas because,
legend says, St. Joseph of
Arimathea, on his arrival in
England, drove his staff into
the ground, while he was car
rying the Holy Grail, the chal
ice used at the last supper.
The staff took root and grew
into a thorn tree.
HOLIDAY TIME SAVER
When cooking, double
your favorite recipe and
serve one half. Freeze the
second for a pressured day.
You’ll have vour dinner in
just the time it takes to
heat it up!
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311 ay you and yours he blessed with the
love and tranquility that abound throughout
this glorious season. We wish for you a
happy holiday. Thanks so much for your support.
Erwin-Petitt Funeral Home
Christians Celebrate Holy Day
With Prayer and Thanksgiving
For those who celebrate
Christmas as a holy day, the
holiday is greeted with re
joicing, with prayer and
thanksgiving, in church and
private devotions.
The word "greeting” has
a special significance here,
for herald angels singing to
shepherds in the fields and
a star shining in the heavens
truly brought greetings—ac
cording to the Revised Stan
daid Version of the Bible,
"good news of great joy
which will come to all
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Warm wishes
for a
4 Happy
\ Holiday!
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v One of
( the joys of
' Christmas is
the opportunity to say thank you
for your trust and confidence.
Jones & Buice
Insurance
Max Jones Leroy Buice
people.”
Long before the December
25 birthdate of Christ was
celebrated in devotions, it had
marked a season set aside for
another kind of greeting. In
Northern Europe, Teutonic
tribes of pagan times greeted
the rebirth of the sun, of the
winter solstice.
Earliest celebrations oi
Christmas combined some of
the ancient pagan traditions.
By association with Christian
beliefs, old customs of greet
ing the sun became symbolic
of a recognition—a greeting
of faith, hope and life eternal.