ATTEND
CHRISTMAS
SERVICES . .
simple faith
QuiPes us
to the tRue spiRit
of chRistmas
Plan to attend at least one of
the many beautiful church ser
vices which will be held through
out the Christmas season. Bring
the family. Everyone will enjoy
hearing the lovely music and the
re-telling of the wonderful Na
tivity story.
UNITED PROTESTANT CHURCH
CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE
Dec. 24 8:30 p.m.
REV. PAUL MOYER, Pastor
SUTTON COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GOD
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Dec. 23 3 p.m.
REV. JOHN MARSHALL, Pastor
PALMER CHURCH OF GOD
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM_Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.
CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE _Dec. 24, 11 p.m.
REV. WILLIAM A. MILLER, Pastor
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM_Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.
CHRISTAAAS DAY SERVICE_Dec. 25, 11 a.m.
REV. HOLLAND FRITZ, Pastor
PALMER CHURCH OF CHRIST
FELLOWSHIP DINNER _Dec. 20, 7pm
CHRISTMAS CAROLING_Dec 21,7pm
CHRISTAAAS PROGRAM _Dec. 23, 7 p m
REV. FLOYD HADDENHAM, Pastor
ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
HOLY COMMUNION
Dec. 25 7:30 p.m.
REV. DENNIS WALKER, Valdez
ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY _Dec. 22, 2 p.m.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS _Dec. 24, 11:30 p.m.
HIGH MASS-... . -Midnight, Dec. 25
SECOND MASS-Dec. 25, 10:30 a m.
THIRD MASS-Dec. 25, 11:30 a.m.
REV. FATHER FRANCIS NUGENT, Celebrant
WASILLA ASSEMBLY OF GOD
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Dec. 23 7:30 p.m.
REV. PAUL RILEY, Pastor
THE HIGHWAY CHURCH OF GOD
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM _Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.
"THE CHARACTERS OF CHRISTMAS MEET CHRIST"
REV. NORMAN JONES, Pastor
WASILLA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CHRISTAAAS PROGRAM _Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.
CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE _Dec. 24, 7 p.m.
REV. CLAUDE KLAVER, Pastor
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER DAY SAINTS
SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM_Dec. 23, 10 p.m.
CHRISTMAS SERVICE __Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.
WASILLA CHURCH OF CHRIST
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Sunday Afternoon Dec;- 23
. REV. WENTER HARVEY, Pastor
THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FROMTIERSMAN
Thursday. December 20. 1962 The Frontiersman — Hage is
The Great Story
Christ might have chosen to come as an earthly king,
amid regal splendor, but such would not have suited the
purpose of his life upon earth. He was born in the simplest
of surroundings and walked the earth as a leader and teacher
of men. There had been false prophets and pretenders through
the course of time, so the road was not made easy. Through
great examples, great teachings, through His great faith and
through performance of a few chosen miracles, Jesus Christ
gathered about Him true believers, who were to carry one
message to the distant corners of every land: "Truly He is the
Son of God!"
He chose the quiet, inelegant atmosphere of a stable.
History does not record, but we might safely assume that this
stable was not the most pleasant of surroundings. It was a
crude shelter for animals and as such certainly not suitable
accommodations for human beings. Crowded as Bethlehem
was at the time, it is safe to assume that other travelers had
turned their backs upon the dank atmosphere of the stable
and chose instead the chill of the night air. But the traveler
from Galilee was forced to seek s&m'e form of shelter fdr a
wife who was with child. Joseph, a carpenter by trade, none
theless was a proud man. We must wonder how difficult it
was for him to be practical and accept the fact that poor shelter
was better than no shelter at all.
Rarely do we find in the writings since that time reference
to the idea that the stable was dirty and unkept. Instead, the
manager scenes that have become so popular depict the stable
always clean and beautiful. This is quite proper, for it is all
so true that the greatness of the event which took place is such
that there is room for no more than beauty in the eyes of the
i beholder. The precious few who shared in the Miracle of
Bethlehem were made to realize the momentous event that
was taking place. The child, wrapped "in swaddling clothes
and laid in a manger" was such a glorious sight to behold
that an ethereal beauty touched the whole surroundings. The
dirty, unkept stable, because it was the only shelter avail
able to the weary travelers, was transformed into a holy piece
of ground.
In the light of the star they came, three wise men from
the East. No ordinary men were they, nor poor travelers. They
had not come with the thousands to register in accordance with
the wishes of Herod. These men owed no allegiance to Herod,
nor to one another. Each man was a king in his own right.
The bond between them was a bright and shining star which
told of the fulfillment of prophecy. So it was they came, fol
lowing the light of the star until it came to rest above the stable
in Bethlehem. Humbly bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and
myrrh, they came forward, these kings, to kneel reverently
before the manger and pay homage to the new born babe they
believed to be the "king of kings."
Shepherds came down from the hillside, where an
angel had appeared to tell them of the great happening at
Bethlehem. Bearing their simple gifts, these humble men came
to kneel in the shadows of the quiet stable, side by side with
the three kings from the East. As the magic star had guided
the kings across many lands, the messenger of God appeared
on the near hillside and instructed men of simple faith to
come forth and acknowledge the birth of the Saviour. And,
this is right, for He is the King of kings and the King of men;
He is the King of the near and the King of the far. Generations
as yet unborn shall be amazed at the vastness of His kingdom.
There is one most impressive fact to consider when we
think about the Story of Christmas. Let us call it the importance
—or the sacredness—of truth. Is it not surprising that a story so
old, so oft-repeated, and many times translated from tongue to
tongue continues to remain the same? Centuries of telling and
re-telling have not altered a single matter of site or situation.
Many of the customs and traditions associated with the observ
ance of Christmas may change with the times, often differ
greatly from one country to another; yet the Story of Christ
mas is forever the same. It needs no embellishment. In humble
surroundings Jesus Christ was born unto the world. Until He
died on the Cross of Calvery His life upon earth was one of
humility, faith, obedience and highest example.
Many times in our busy, work-a-day world we hear the
cry that "Christmas is too commercial." Certainly, none may
deny that there is much that is commercialized If it is too
much, the fault belongs equally to us all. It is not necessary
that we work so hard at "keeping up" with the folks across
the street or down the block. We need not let our observance
of the holiday get out of hand merely because others are un
reasonable. Instead, we can work to promote among family
and friends a realization of the true and complete meaning of
Christmas. If we do this, we place emphasis where it properly
belongs. We turn our thoughts and our footsteps to the church
by the side of the road; we give thanks that on this day a Savi
our was born.
And even unto this day there are disbelievers. It is true
that He came to save all mankind, yet His legacy provides
nothing more than opportunity. Each man is granted the right
to seek out eternal salvation; but there are no provisions to
insure that every individual make the effort. Each man must
build his own bridges along the pathway of life. For those
who would follow in His footsteps, there is no stronger work
ing tool than faith. During His life upon earth, Jesus Christ
many times was beseeched by the sick and the lame and the
infirm to perform miracles and make them "whole." Time and
again, He would ask one question: "Do you have faith?" When
there is faith, and only then, is the miracle possible.
So now again, it is the season of Christmas. The Story of
Bethlehem will be told and re-told, in mansions and in cabins,
! by the open fire and in the quiet darkness of a child's room.
And, certainly the real meaning of the Christmas Story will
touch many hearts for the first time. For as many as believe,
there will be special meaning in the merry lights, the bright
tinsel, and the outward trappings we have come to know
so well—for these shall share in realization and appreciation
of the fact that on this day God sent His only Son to save the
, world.