December Tl, 2019
eRefiorter
PASTOR'S CORNER by father Theophan Buck
Experience the true joy
of our Lord’s Nativity
very year as we journey towards
Christmas I find myself thinking
how busy-making and consum—
eristic our society is at this time of
year. Increasingly, it seems we all live at a
frenetic pace and our attention is pulled in
a multitude of directions.
It seems that most of us
feel like we have no choice
but to be too busy to experi-
ence the grace and joy of the
Christmas season. Work,
school, Christmas shopping
and planning the holiday are
prioritized over our pursuit of
the Kingdom of Heaven.
In this anxious context,
somehow focusing on the
real meaning of Christmas
can feel like an additional
burden heaped on top of
everything we are already
juggling. We may see many “memes” that
suggest we should “put Christ back into
Christmas;” but it is often the case that
people of God themselves are not all that
interested in centering the season around
Christ.
Traditionally, when Christianity is taken
seriously by its adherents it becomes
radically countercultural. Christmas in
our culture has become primarily about
consumerism. How does one keep “Christ
in Christmas”, or keep “Christmas in
Christ?” Here are some pragmatic sugges-
tions.
0 Go to church regularly, especially on
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This is
one of the surest ways to make Christmas
a Holy day.
- Take time to read the prophecies in the
Scriptures that were fulfilled when Jesus
was born. Micah (426-7; 5:2—4), Jeremiah/
Baruch (3:35-4z4), Isaiah (7:10-16), (821—4,
9—10), (9:6—7), (11:1-10) Numbers (24:2-
3, 5-9, 17-18), Daniel (2:31-36, 44-45).
These are some of the prophecies of the
Messiah which were fulfilled in Jesus and
preached by the Apostles.
o Take time to read the stories of Jesus’
birth in the Gospels. Matthew (1:18-25),
Father Theophan
Buck
(2:1-23), Luke (221-20). These Gospels tell
the basic story of Jesus’ birth.
- Get a Jesse Tree or an Advent
Calendar for your children to make these
readings fun and to build anticipation for
the coming festival.
o Give of your time, talent, and treasure
to a local charity that feeds and
clothes those who have needs.
Or simply be charitable to who-
ever you might run into who
has needs.
- Spend more time in prayer
and spiritual reading than you
do shopping.
o Instead of feasting and cele-
brating before the feast, set aside
some time to fast in prepara—
tion for the feast. Traditionally
Christmas was celebrated for
at least a week after the 25th of
December, up to 12 days.
o Pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will be
born anew in your heart this year.
There are many more suggestions that
could be made as to how to properly put
Jesus at the center of the Christmas sea-
son. The suggestions above are tradition-
ally how Christians have prepared for the
joy of Christmas while at the same time
loving their families by giving and receiv-
ing gifts.
As we journey to our Lord’s Birth in the
manger/ cave, let’s challenge ourselves to
see what or who is at the center of our
lives. The hardest part of the Christian life
is realizing and making day to day choices
that put the Kingdom of Heaven first.
May God bless us to experience the true
joy of our Lord’s Nativity in a new and
real way this year.
Father Theophan Buck is pastor at St.
Innocent Eastern Orthodox Christian
Church, 7301 Rivoli Road, Bolingbroke.
The Pastor’s Corner is sponsored by the
Monroe County Ministerial Association,
which meets on the second Thursday of
each month at 8:30 a. m. at Christ United
Methodist Church, 417 N. Frontage Road,
Forsyth.
GR she has also learned more of She said that even with
Con“ med from 1 C how many grandparents are her years of experience
raising grandchildren. Some the grandparents raismg
. . of them have joined the local grandchildren support group
1:2”:2'13; ii: I; $33 support group, which meets has made her aware
of new
kifds ofsu gort the need, monthly, or have connected resources. She said
she appre-
from he: £511 bed an d with it on its Facebook page. ciates First Baptist
Church
h . t fig al “I have found out there , giving them a room for
yglenel ems 0 mm on are hundreds who are afraid their monthly meetings. She
gull: £311; .d h . . . to come forward,” she said. didn’t know about
the after
heraflfirdesiitf e ficfflsjdlrlgn “Most because they don’t school
care available through
and has raise d dren want DFCS [Department of Forsyth Monroe County
as a . dmother, over Family 8r Children Services] Boys & Girls Club. A
speaker
the 1:310 ears some of involved.” from Crisis Line spoke to the
them wereyfamily members She said the huge drug goup’ and labek
who wererfi technically her epidemic across the US. is tries'has
offered counsehng
dchfldren In Feb largely responSible for par— serv1ces.
glitch) te d th'ree m_ ents not being able to raise “Sometimes the
children
dren WED are nowggafl) and their own children. come to us damaged,’ said
12 They have been th her “One of the needs is food. Faulkner. .
this time Since Au t 2016 Kids eat a lot,” said Faulkner. She invites any
relatives
when She me e i231 0t “Sometimes you don’ t realize raising children to
connect
mu fiomasf}: 1m gfgce allthat’s involved with tak— with the group
through its
. th . ts ing on children, even teddy Facebook page. She said
saying Zimmn were bears.” many caregivers are afraid to
gciljnngftol t 1 h h d She found that grandpar— ask for help because they
are
downiriuzgliahizliofneaat that ents can get food stamps and afraid
Department of Family
time The had to ueeze Medicaid for grandchildren 8: Children Services will
get
eve 'One At firstlshe they are raising. She found involved. Faulkner
said most
100;: d for h'el with beddin a ministry in Griffin that of them never
expected to be
school suppfig: and Clothing" helped with bedding, clothes raising
children at an older
Now she is looking for help 3d SChogl suppheSAThe , . . h
with room additions because onroe_ ounty I cant imagine w ere I
u fitfl . 1 will need her Cottage is prov1ding Christ— would be Without
God cov—
our 6 gr fr ,, mas for foster children, ering mei’ said Faulkner.
Oglurligg i232 (ilml mvzth including some of those in Contact Brandi Pye,
parent
theafirst dchfd Sig took the care of grandparents. The coordinator at KB.
Sutton
in She 5?: e d him 19 ears Rock Springs Clinic in Mil- Elementary and
Monroe
' d h still ,th hyr ner, which has just opened County Middle School at
:glfiggschifil (mate 3:21 p a satellite clinic in Forsyth,
brandipye@mcschools.org
now working fie is proud of will help with medical care. to be added to
the grand-
him But She learned that Faulkner found help from an parents’ Facebook
page.
there: is hel available from adoption assistance program. Or contact Drew
Winters
various or tions And as “Every bit helps when at Monroe County Family
she has 163m d of reséurces you’ve taken on children,” Connection
478-508-4134
’ she said. for more information.
Page 3C
CHURCH CALENDAR. 9
Email church calendar news to Diane Glidewell at news®mymcmet by Monday of
'
10 am. Church information is published free of charge as space permits.
Dec. T4, 21 r
Mt. Zion Missionary
Baptist will have Yard
Sale
Mt. Zion Missionary Bapiisl
Church, T79 Mt. Zion Church
Road, Bolingbroke will have
a yard sale to benefit mission
proiecls on Saturdays, Dec.
14 and 2T from 8 a.m.—2 pm.
Dec. 15
First Baptist Foisyth
has’ChristmasWish
Concert '
On Sunday, Dec. T5 at 6 pm.
First Baptist Church Forsyih.
95 W. Morse Street invites
everyone to the “Christmas
Wish Concert" featuring a
SO-voice choir composed of
chairs from First Baptist and
Mt. Zion United Method-
ist. Call (478) 994-5240 for
further information.
Tessie Hall Baptist has
Musucian Appreciation
Tessie Hall Baptist Church will
celebrate Musician Apprecia-
tion for Brother Roy Farris
and Evangelist Meshell Farris
Dewberry on Sunday, Dec.
l5 of Ti am. All are welcome
to share in this celebration to
honor the Tessie Hall Baptist
Church ministry ofvmusic. Din-
ner will be served.
Dec. 15, 22
First Baptist High Falls
hasCantata,caroling
First Baptist Church High
Falls, 4408 High Falls Road.
will perform its Annual
Christmas Program on Sun~
day, Dec. l5 at (3pm. The
Cantata, “Silent Night,“ will
be followed with finger foods
and fellowship. Everyone is
invited to join in celebrat-
ing our Saviors birlh. First
Baptist Church High Falls will
have Christmas Caroling on
Sunday. Dec. 22.
Dec. 17
Union Hill Missionary
‘Baptlsthasl’re-
Christmas Service
Union Hill Missionary Baptist
Church, 299 Union Hill Dc.
, Forsyih invites everyone to ‘
iis Pre~Chrisimas Service on
Tuesday, Dec. T7 at pm
Rev. Clarence Thrower and
the Forsylh Parish United
Methodist Church lene’rte,
Hopewell and Rocky Ml.
U.M.C.l will be special guests.
Dec. 20-21
JoumeytotheManger
Christ United Methodist
Church, 4T7 N. Frontage
Road. Forsyih will present
“Journey to the Manger," a
live Christmas story, on Fri—
day, Dec. 20 and Saturday,
Dec. 21 from 67:30 pm.
The theme is “Unwrap the
meaning of Christmas on the
iourney to the manger." it will
be a drive~lhrough event (no
speaking parts) and will take
place rain or fair weather
Dec. 22
First BaptistForsyth
hosts Edectic Jazz
Concert.
On Sunday. Dec. 22 at a
pm. First Baptist Forsy’rh, 95
W. Morse Street will present
the Eclectic Jazz Concert
featuring a lO-person en-
semble ,wiih special guest
vocalists performing sacred
and secular Christmas favor-
ites. Call (478) 99445240 for
further information.
Dec: 24 v ,
Christmas Eve service
On Tuesday. Dec. 24 Firsi
Baptist Church Forsyfh, 95
W. Morse Street will have a
mini~conceri featuring instru-
mentalists from First Baptist at
4:45 pm At 5 pm. there will
be a family~friendly Christmas
Eve Candlelight Communion
Service. Call (478) 994-5240
for further information.
Dec. 30
stt High Falls
hasBloodDrive 7
American Red Cross Blood
Drive will be held at First
Baptist Church High Falls.
4408 High Falls Road, on
Monday, Dec. 30 from 2
until pm in the Fellowship
Hall. All donors will receive
a free Red Cross T—Shirl‘. For
an appointment, log onto
redcrossbloodorg and enter
sponsor code: fbhighfalls. To
expedite your donation, log
onto redcrossbloodorg/rapid-
pass to complete your health
history prior to arrival.
Birthdays Anniversaries
Dec. 10
Mary Beth Corbin
Nancy Waller
Dec. 12
Janie Willis
Wayne Wilder
Pat Roquemore
Todd Donna Daniels
Dec. 13
Omega Owens
Rebekah Jenkins
Michelle R. Edwards
Macy Morris
Jeff 8: Sheila Stark
Dec. 14
Jediah Ham
Carson White
Pam Patterson
Cindy Walker
Randy Daniels
Jeffrey Terri Tyson
Lloyd 8: Mary Ellen
Strickland
Dec.15
Catherine D. Lawrence
Curtis Jenkins
Dec.16
John Howell
Dec.17
Kenneth 8: Paula Jenkins
Dec. 18
Walter T. Carter
Matthew Cleveland
Tommy Zellner
Terry Herndon
o This week's birthdays and anniversaries are courtesy of Forsyfh Lions
Club calendar. To have your name
added to the calendar, contact Virginia Remick at 994-5426.
Children's birthday notices through age l2 and birth announcements are
published free of charge for
the communily. Email Diane Glidewell at news©mymcr.nel with information
and picture.
Reporter in is Square
Bud and Billie Ann Pierson look their Reporter to New York for Thanksgiving
and look
this picture in Times Square heading to the Macy's parade on Nov. 28.
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