Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors

Volume 20, Issue 12 December 2020

A monthly newsletter of Trinity United Methodist Church ...a Stephen Ministry Congregation

Come & See … “Mary Kept All These Things..” Live Nativity Christmas Eve Services Poinsettias for the Sanctuary Epworth Gift Cards Staff Christmas Gifts Memorials/Honoraria Flowers for the Sanctuary Children’s Sunday School Lessons Thank You Notes Stewardship Commendation Home Touch Page Trick or Trunk Pictures We Care for One Another Sympathies Birthdays and Anniversaries

… Go & Tell

Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors

“Mary Kept All These Things...” Luke 2:19

As we enter this season of Advent, I am reminded of the many things

that the birth narratives of our Lord Jesus cause us to pause and appreciate.

One of the most important is the role of Mary. Just one simple verse in Luke’s

Gospel (Luke 2:19) tells us so much of a mother’s special love for her child

and the many things she possibly could have been thinking, and “pondering,”

as she experienced the birth of God, in the form of her new born son, Jesus.

“Mary kept all these things….” Do you suppose we Protestants avoid talking about Mary

because she unnerves us with her calm when Christmas, for us, is anything but calm?

“Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” What things? What else but what

any other mother ponders as she looks at her own child: What will happen to this baby of mine? What

will become of him or her? What parents have not looked on their sleeping children and thought, “I

wonder what she will be when she grows up someday? I wonder where he will be twenty-five years

from now? Where will I be? Will she remember me? Will he still love me then?” These are the things

a mother ponders, as she looks at her children in the quiet moments of lullabies and cradles and cradled

arms in rocking chairs.

There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky! There’s a mother’s deep prayer And a baby’s low cry! Mary sat in such silence, keeping all these things, pondering them in her heart, quietly, while

everyone else was rushing about. Look at them all rushing about—-angels scaring shepherds to death,

then rushing about from caroling party to caroling party singing, “Glory to God in the highest!” Then, the

shepherds were rushing off to Bethlehem to see Christ the newborn king, spreading the news along the

way and once they have seen him, rushing off to glorify and praise God! Then stuck in the middle of

this picture like a calm in the storm is Luke 2:19.

“And Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart”

For us, now, the pondering is over. As Handle’s “Messiah” recalls for us: “He shall reign forever

and ever! Hallelujah! Amen.”

Tresco E. Shannon

Sunday December 20 4:00-5:00 PM

TUMC

Poinsettias for the Sanctuary

Given to the Glory of God & in Memory of… Earl Nobles, by Wayne Nobles

Patrick Henry, by Pat & Marvis Henry Johnny & LaVerne Creel, by John & Anne Creel

Their son, Charles, by Bill & Alta Fox Laura Merle Bishop, by Donnie & Carolyn Guyton

Brenda’s parents, Carlton & Catherine Poff, by Don & Brenda Murphy Elbert Long, by Athene Long

Terry Long Anderson, by Athene Long Robert McCord, by Margaret & Charles Jordan Henry Cannon, by Margaret & Charles Jordan

Annie Lou Spivey, by Margaret & Charles Jordan Gary P. Finkenbiner, by Iva Finkenbiner & Patti Herbert

Robert & Louise McCord, by Bryan, Nancy, Jesse & Molly Hopkins Alyson Iglesias, by Bryan, Nancy, Jesse & Molly Hopkins

Bob Fortson, by John & Anne Stewart Patrick Henry, by John & Anne Stewart

James H. Reddick, Jr., by Sara P. Reddick Jackye Driscoll, by Joe & Lana Hudson Wilson Webb, by Terry & Elaine Hyman Randy Pearce, by Terry & Elaine Hyman

Given to the Glory of God & in Honor of… Molly Nobles, by Wayne Nobles

Her children and grandchildren, by Shirley Long Johnson Their son, Bryan & family, by Bill & Alta Fox

Their grandchildren, Addison, Kate & Tripp Inabnit, by Davis & Libbey Inabnit Their grandchildren, Samantha & Aubrey Heinz, by Davis & Libbey Inabnit

Merilyn Holcombe, by Bryan, Nancy, Jesse & Molly Hopkins Angell W. Pettit, by Sara P. Reddick

Their grandchildren, by Joe & Lana Hudson Russell Dozier, by Guy & Jennifer Dozier Sims Dozier, by Guy & Jennifer Dozier

Again this year, one of our mission projects for Christmas will include providing $25 Walmart, Target, OR Kohl’s gift cards for each of our children who calls Epworth home.

Our goal is to send a total of 100 gift cards. We are beginning to collect them now in the church office. If you prefer, you may make a monetary donation. Make your check payable to Trinity and indicate on the memo line “Epworth”. We extend a special invitation to our Sunday School classes to adopt this project as their special Christmas project. We would like to have all contributions/gift cards no later than December 10th so that the money and gift cards can be forwarded to Epworth in time for the children to Christmas shop.

Thank you for continuing to contribute to the lives of these our children and this mission of the United Methodist church in S.C.

Epworth Gift Cards

SPRC is requesting Christmas love gifts from the members of Trinity for our staff. They have done a great job during 2020, under difficult circumstances, and we know you will want to join with us in showing our appreciation at this special time of the year. You may place your gift in the offering plate, drop it by the church office, or mail to P.O. Box 1072, Conway, 29528-1072. Please make checks payable to Trinity with “Staff Love Gift” on the memo line. Please have your gifts to us no later than Sunday, December 13, so that the monies can be distributed to the staff before Christmas.

+Christian Symbol+

Advent Wreath The Advent wreath is a symbol of watchfulness and increasing joy as we anticipate Jesus’ birth. The wreath’s circular shape symbolizes eternity, or life without end. The candles remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World — he brought light and life to a dark world (see John 1:4-5). On each of the four Sundays of Advent, we light a new candle. As the light grows, so do our hope and joy.

December 6—-In loving memory of their son & brother, Joey, by Joe & Saundra Parler, Mary Clark

December 13—Chancel—In loving memory of their parents and their son, by Bill & Alta Fox Narthex—In loving memory of Marvin August, by Jane August, his wife

December 20—Poinsettias for Christmas Narthex—Anonymous donor

December 27—In memory of their beloved Tracy, by the Johnson/Graham family

Memorials Given in memory of….

Henry Cannon Mr. & Mrs. James J. Johnson

Mr. & Mrs. Frank Holliday Mr. & Mrs. Pat Howle Mr. & Mrs. Joe Parler

Mr.& Mrs. George Hubbard Mr. & Mrs. Guy Dozier Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Mr. & Mrs. Pete Peterson

Jim Reddick Mr. & Mrs. James J. Johnson

Mr. & Mrs. Larry B. Hyman Mr. & Mrs. Michael S. Greer

Nye’s Pharmacy Mr. & Mrs. Frank Holliday

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Lewis, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Pat Howle Mr. & Mrs. Joe Parler

Mr. & Mrs. John T. Henry Catherine F. Beverly Merilyn H. Holcombe

Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Jordan Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Mr. & Mrs. Pete Peterson Dr. & Mrs. Lance Bedwell

Pamela Hamilton

Alyson Iglesias Mr. & Mrs. Larry B. Hyman

Shirley Long Johnson Mr. & Mrs. John T. Henry Dr. & Mrs. Lance Bedwell

Evelyn Dunn Brenda A. Allen

Merilyn H. Holcombe Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Dr. & Mrs. Lance Bedwell

Annie Lou Spivey Dr. & Mrs. Richard Eisenman

Rev. & Mrs. Gene Norris Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Hill

Wanda H. Stout Mr. & Mrs. Joe W. Hudson Mr. & Mrs. Larry B. Hyman Mr. & Mrs. Robert Booth Mr. & Mrs. Stan Cross

Linda A. Williams Athene S. Long Alice H. Allen

Shirley Long Johnson Harriet R. Hearl Marie R. Herrin Ashley Herrin

Brenda A. Allen Gail G. Kemm

Linda P. Hendrick Bunnie Butler Circle Linda V. Carmichael

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Richardson Mr. & Mrs. David M. Schaufele

Stephen J. Elias Mr. & Mrs. Daniel E. Epps

Audrey V. Johnson Mr. & Mrs. John Creel

Mary Alice Batten Dr. & Mrs. William Fox Mr. & Mrs. Barry Cates

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Mason Gibbes De Lis M. Browne

Conway National Bank Mr. & Mrs. Pat Howle Mr. & Mrs. Pat Henry Mr. & Mrs. Joe Parler

Mr. & Mrs. John T. Henry Mr. & Mrs. Randy Myers Mr. & Mrs. Don Murphy

Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. Floyd, Jr. Mary S. Phillips

Michael D. Ferris Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Johnson

Martha M. Cline Virginia R. Buck

Elizabeth L. Lane Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Staton

Mr. & Mrs. John Lox Mr. & Mrs. George Hubbard

Merilyn H. Holcombe Ladies Friendship Class

Dr. & Mrs. Richard H. Bond Janet S. Howard

Mr. & Mrs. Guy Dozier Mr. & Mrs. Pete Peterson

Rev. Earl Nobles Dr. & Mrs. Richard Eisenman

Mr. & Mrs. Frank Holliday Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Bob Fortson Mr. & Mrs. Frank Holliday

Mr. & Mrs. George Oliver, III Friendship Circle

Mr. & Mrs. George Hubbard Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Jordan Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Randy Pearce Mr. & Mrs. Frank Holliday

Roena Vaught Mr. & Mrs. Frank Holliday

Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Barbara Carter Dr. Cynthia Terres

Lois Merzke Dr. Cynthia Terres

Mr. & Mrs. Barry Cates Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Robert McCord Mr. & Mrs. Pat Howle

Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer Mr. & Mrs. Pete Peterson

Patsy Oliver Mr. & Mrs. Pat Howle

Patrick Henry Mr. & Mrs. Pat Howle

John Bunn Gail Kemm

Linda Scott Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Horner Mr. & Mrs. Don Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Nora Lee Hanna Mr. & Mrs. George Hubbard

Gene Cook Mr. & Mrs. George Hubbard

Dick Nixon Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Merle Bishop Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Elbert Long Mr. & Mrs. Mike Moyer

Joy Price Dr. & Mrs. Lance Bedwell

Honoraria Given in honor of….

Merilyn Holcombe

Mr. & Mrs. Sid Blackwelder

Carolyn Causey Mr. & Mrs. Pete Peterson

Ralph Fields Mr. & Mrs. Pete Peterson

Week 1: December 6 What is advent? Family suggestion: Do an advent calendar together Song: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” Video to watch: https://youtu.be/FsbfJNB1bRw

Children’s Sunday School Lessons for December

Week 2: December 13 Angels and Shepherds Family suggestion: Make angel shaped Christmas cookies together Song: “Angels, We Have Heard on High” Video to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJIC57EvYFo&t=56s

Week 3: December 20 Wise Men Family Suggestion: Wrap your gifts together (for ones that aren’t a secret) and put something very special to you under the tree for Jesus Song: “We Three Kings” or “In the Bleak Midwinter Video to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk1LhnqROCM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk1LhnqROCM

Week 4: December 27 Joseph, Mary, and Jesus Family Suggestion: Gather round and throw a birthday party for Jesus with birthday cake, streamers, eggnog, the works. Don’t forget to present Him with your gifts from last week! Song: “Happy Birthday” Video to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3656G6tWuI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3656G6tWuI

My Dear Trinity Family, I will never be able to express in words how much I appreciate your precious deeds of love and compassion during the loss of Mama. Your memorials, cards, telephone calls, e-mails, visits and especially your prayers really helped to get me through so many of the sad days that have followed her death. You all know how much I loved my mama, and I hope you all know how much she loved all of you, her church family. Even when I lived away from Conway for so many years, she would talk about her Trinity family. You were so very special to her and you are also very special to me, each and every one of you. How wonderful it is to belong to such a caring church family with so many memories! Mama would want me to end this in her words, giving her last Sunday School lesson! “Remember, when you go out into the world, remind people that we are all on a journey and you are going to end up in one of two places. Where are you going?’ Much love and God bless you, Gloria Moyer

Volunteers are a very important part of keeping the church office running smoothly. We are in need of help from 9:00am—12:30 pm on Thursday

mornings and from 12:30-4:00 pm on Thursday afternoons.

Please contact Carolyn at 843-248-2194 to volunteer.

Thanks Trinity!! You filled 100 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child!!

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9 God is telling us: learn to wait — wait — wait for your God, wait for love, be

patient with everything. Everything that is worthwhile must be waited for! —Carlo Carretto

One of our children recently begged us to come for a visit. With the stay-at-home orders easing somewhat, she wanted us to visit.

Her request sounds like the words of the prophet in the reading above: “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down.”

Had these Hebrews forgotten that God loves to visit? God is a visiting God. The Bible

begins with the Creator God not only bringing creation into being, but visiting our first parents in the Garden of Eden. In fact, according to Genesis 3, the Lord came walking into the neighborhood where Adam and Eve lived: “The Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (v. 9).

That is the question, isn’t it? Where exactly are we? God wants to visit us, so what are

we doing? Yet God loves to visit us. From the very beginning, this has been amply demonstrated: • God visited Abraham in the guise of angels who sat down for a meal. • God visited Jacob, wrestling with him in the night. • God visited Moses in the burning bush, on Mount Sinai and elsewhere. • God’s presence went with the Israelites through the wilderness in the form of fire and

cloud. • God visited Samuel as a boy, calling him in his sleeping hours. • God visited Elijah in a still small voice. Now, the prophet cries, “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down.” The

prophet knows that it is in God’s nature to visit us. “When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down” (v. 3). The prophet says, in effect, “Hey, you used to visit us a lot. What gives? Why aren’t you coming around anymore? Please come for a visit — soon!”

Yes, it is in God’s nature to visit. And in the birth of the Christ child, God visited us!

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

God has visited us in Jesus, and God will visit you today. Look for his coming!

—Timothy Merrill

Prayer: Thank you, God, for visiting us in Jesus Christ, and for your daily “visits” with me as we fellowship together. Amen.

HomeTouch® | Visit us at: HomeTouchMinistry.com | © 2020CRI, PO Box 9290, Canton OH 44711

Trunk or

Treat

Rolling Green Village, 4 Hoke Smith Blvd Greenville, SC 29615 Eloise Smith Rm. 238 864-371-6829,

Conway Manor 3300 4th Ave., Conway, 29526 Angell Pettit (406 W) Laurel Crest 406 Joseph Walker Drive W. Columbia, SC 29169 Jane MacDonald 803-828-9396

Lakeside Place Senior Living 478 Hwy 378., Lexington, SC 29072 Mozelle Goldfinch (Room 404)

Brookdale 872 Singleton Ridge Rd., Conway, SC 29526 Lloyd Davis (Room 305)

The Palmettos of Garden City 9415 Frontage Road, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 Davis McNeill (Room 208) Eagle Crest 3736 Robert M. Grissom Parkway, Apt. 223 Myrtle Beach, SC 29577—843-902-7032 Carrie Raymor—743-902-7032 Claiborne at W. Lake 557 Furys Ferry Rd, Martinez, Georgia 30907 Janet Mayers Summit Place NMB 491 Hwy 17, Little River, SC 29566 George Driscoll—843-465-1913

Homebound Barbara Thompson 9613 Captain Smith Lane, Corryton, TN 37721

Pat Rose 1011 Moore Lane, Conway, SC 29526 Ruby Pittman 1706 Sherwood Dr., Conway, SC 29526 Jac Cannon 207 Park Ave., Conway, SC 29526-3636 MEMBERS Wayne & Karen Nobles Pete & Martha Johnson Iva Finkenbiner Sara Reddick Diane & Dale Ginty Joe & Saundra Parler Tina Hubbard Cheryl Robertson

Dolly Updegraff Jean Murdock Larry & Dorothy Deitrich Wally & Cookie Elston Robbie Yarborough Carol Bunn Emma Lou Johnson Betty Ackley Lucy Olson B.G. & Jenny Gantt Lana Fortson Athene Long Marti & George Hubbard Alan & Ellen Nagy Pete & Lettie Byrdic Lynn Spires Allen & Phyllis Koch Jimmy McLain Alan Edwards Tom Scott Mary Miller Helene Stamm Gloria & Mike Moyer

MEMBERS’ PARENTS Molly Nobles (Wayne Nobles’ mother) Rebecca Suggs (Gregg Suggs’ mother) Mary Hopkins (Bryan Hopkins’ mother) Carol Reis Starr (Erik Reis’ mother) Carolyn Holden (Carol Baker’s mother) Alex Strogen (Gray Strogen’s father) Barbara Nagy (Alan Nagy’s mother) Marilyn Johnston (Elaine Hyman & Joey Johnston’s mother) Molly Robertson (Steve Robertson’s mother) Barbara Calhoun (Alanda McLain’s mother) Betty & Alan Taylor (Rick Taylor’s parents) Beverly Mason (Margo Strong’s mother) Maxine Moore (Diane Ginty’s mother)

MEMBERS’ FAMILY Caroline Robertson (Cheryl & Steve’s granddaughter) Bill Darby (Jo Rush’s brother) Finn Brown (grandson of Sara Newton Reddick) Christine Kennerly (Pat Rose’s daughter) Vincent McLean (Lana Fortson’s brother-in-law) Chuck Johnson & daughter (Pete & Martha Johnson’s son) Ron Harper (Lynn Long’s brother) Allen & Fay McNew (Wayne Hill’s brother & sister-in-law) Mark Peters (husband of Patti Herbert’s niece) Cynthia Inman (Donna Cartrette’s sister) Tonya Hawkins (Allen & Phyllis Koch’s daughter) Marie Finkenbiner (Iva Finkenbiner’s granddaughter) Sylvia & Michael Calhoun (Janice Hardwick’s sister & brother-in-law) Jay Elston (Wally & Cookie Elston’s son) Alan Weiler (Wally & Cookie Elston’s son-in-law) Karl Cates (Barry Cates’ brother) MEMBERS’ FRIENDS & FRIENDS OF THE CHURCH Rock Smith (Joe Hudson’s friend) Mac & Carolyn McCormick(Iva Finkenbiner’s friends) Rev. Julian Riddle (Russ Nixon’s friend) Janice & Danny Elmer (Jerri Woodle’s friends) Marie Freeman (Lana Fortson’s friend) Barbara Jenkins (Lana Fortson’s friend) Beth Milcheck (Lana Fortson’s friend) Patty Springle (Pete & Martha Johnson’s friend) Karen Coats (friend of Russ Nixon) Lib Pearce Wayne McGinn (Wally & Cookie Elston’s friend)

Janet Gregory (Meredith Hyman’s friend) Jessica Putnam (Carolyn Causey’s friend) ARMED FORCES Michael Merzke (Diane Fouquet’s nephew) Matthew Merzke (Diane Fouquet’s nephew) Capt. Joseph O’Brien (Barbara Davis’ cousin) Jackson Schade (Genie Peterson’s cousin) Major Matthew Linton (Beth Linton’s grandson) Gene Austin Norris, Jr. (Gene & Carolyn Norris’ son) Ray Davis (Gene & Carolyn Norris’ son-in-law) Dax Battaglia (Mary Ann Mehl’s nephew) Alex Kann (Mary Ann Mehl’s granddaughter)

SPECIAL REQUESTS

All in our church and community who were affected by the flooding.

Samaritan Counseling Service

We Care for One Another

Are there any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them. James 5:14

Please let us know if your

phone number has changed and/or if you

have dropped a land line. Please update your

preferred phone numbers. We Care and we want to

stay connected!!

Trinity’s We Care/Concern List is purged every three months. If you

haven’t touched base with a Shepherd and a name has been removed prematurely, please call and have that person’s name put

back on the Prayer List.

Thank you for loving each other!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Richard and Phyllis Eisenman following the birth of a

granddaughter, Lila Spring Adrian. Proud parents are Debra (Eisenman) and Nick Adrian.

Joe and Lana Hudson, following the birth of a grandson, Mack Henry Hudson. Proud parents

are Alison and Colby Hudson.

Rev. Shannon joins the

entire Trinity Church family in

expressing our deepest

sympathy and Christian love to:

The family of Betty Reid, following her death.

Janice Hardwick & family, following the death of her brother, Ricky Jordan

The family of Dennis Murdock, following his death.

TUMC Mailing address : P.O. Box 1072,

Conway, SC, 29528-1072

1 Lilly Reaves Gene Johnson Dennis & Kay Graham Bruce Glass Cynthia Terres Liam Luttrell

2 Kim Molineu

3 Garrett Johnston David Custon Jeliaijah Singleton

4 Tiffany Suggs Gladys Ortiz-Yanez Chap Hutchinson Daniel Arel

6 John Calhoun 7 Melissa Cox Allen Koch Bill Racz 8 Sue Myers Jaeda Custon Robbie Yarborough

9 Janet Mayers Jeannette Woodle 10 Kip Miller

Raylene Williams Andy Altman

11 Susan Glass

Gloria Moyer

12 Kay Graham Cassidy Hewitt John Rogers Amy Price

13 Gene Norris Courtney Henry 14 James & Diane Tufts

15 Lynn Hucks 16 Julio Fuentes

Marie Skipper Janet Howle 17 Sam Kinon 18 Stoney & Creola Harrelson

Cheryl Landry

19 Gwen Winn Page Spivey Shauna Hughes

20 Lee Boyd Joe & Donna Lunsford Leigh Richardson 21 Wesley Jordan 22 Lynn Long

Glenn Cartrette Brooke Howle Kelly Arel Paul & Pat Smith

23 Pat Hardwick

Burnett & Geraldine Owens Mary Ann Mehl Dan & Melanie Wysong Dylan Luttrell

24 Julie Strickland 26 Jill Cribb Tina Anderson 27 Mike & Gloria Moyer Dalton Gore Mac Smith

28 Wayne Suggs Nancy Hopkins Charles Calhoun Tim & Jean Hoover Larry Woodle

29 Russ Dozier

Luke Skipper Phyllis Koch Jan Green

30 Timmy & Alicia Reaves Shorty Langdon

31 Jennifer Graves

Melanie Wysong

We Care Ministry

Trinity’s We Care Ministry needs 3 new shepherds. If you enjoy calling others and praying, you will enjoy

serving in this ministry. We meet once a month.

Call Brenda Murphy at 843-369-1267 for

more information.

Thank you.

DHEC will be offering free drive-thru testing for COVID-19 on Wednesday, December 2, from 10:00-2:00 in the Cordie Page parking lot.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

CONWAY, SC PERMIT NO. 136

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ...a Stephen Ministry Congregation P.O. Box 1072, Conway, SC 29528-1072

198 Long Avenuje, Conway, SC 843-248-2194 phone, 843-248-4445 fax www.trinityconway.com Change Service Requested ____________________________________________________

REV. TRESCO E. SHANNON, Pastor 843-248-2343, parsonage or 803-260-0723, cell tshannon@trinityconway.com

ELIZA EDGE, Program Director 843-504-6089 or eedge@trinityconway.com,

DR. ANDREW FOWLER, Director of Music 843-457-9686 or andyfowler@sc.rr.com

CAROLYN CAUSEY, Business Administrator 843-907-0030 or ccausey@trinityconway.com

ANNE STEELE, Financial Administrator/Internal Auditor

RALPH FIELDS, Facilities Maintenance

Christmas presence

Amid the secular trappings of the holidays, we can lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, until we lament with Charlie Brown, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” These reminders call us back to where it all began — in the heart of God. “The giving of gifts is not something [people] invented. God started the giving spree when he gave a gift beyond words, the unspeakable gift of his Son.” —Robert Flatt “Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that he gave his only Son. The only requirement is to believe in him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” —Corrie ten Boom “The great challenge left to us is to cut through all the glitz and glam of the season that has grown in-creasingly secular and commercial, and be reminded of the beauty of the One who is Christmas.” —Bill Crowder “If we do not set aside time to focus together on what God’s word tells us about the promise of Christ, on Christmas morning we can find ourselves surrounded by mounds of torn gift wrap, our laps full of presents, but with hearts that are empty and unprepared.” ―Nancy Guthrie