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I 1 i The Meaning of Christmas By The Rev. SMITH L. LAIN Editor, FINDINGS Author, “Prayer,” in the NEW BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE The Episcopal Church Center New York, N. Y. c hristmas is the time when . . . We make approximately 75 per cent of our yearly profit*. The time roughly between Thanksgiving and ChrUtma* i* our busiest season in the store. Easter is busy, too, but nothing like Christmas. — a retail merchant * $ $ My wife and I think mostly about the kids. We had lots of fun when we were growing up, and we want our kids to have fun, too. Sure, we may go a little overboard on toys and all that sort of thing, but what the heck? Christmas is for kids, isn’t it? — a young father * « * We really go all out on music. Last year we hired a brass quar tet to accompany the boys’ choir. The congregation really loved it. The only trouble is that this year we’ll have to come up tvith something even better or they’ll think we are slipping. — a church organist * * * People think they are celebrating an historical event. But they really aren’t, you know. No one knows the exact date of Jesus’ birth. The primitive church didn’t even celebrate Christmas. Eventually the church settled on Decemlter 25th as a way to baptise an already pitpular, pagan holiday to celebrate the fact that the depth of winter was over and the days were getting longer again. — a historian • * * Some of us get leave. Next Christmas I’ll be home, I hope. It's a time when everyhttdy should be home. — a serviceman overseas * • * / get tired. The kids are on vacation. I have a thousantl and one things to do — 500 cards to address, a half-dosen parties to go lit, gifts for the children and Boh, a dinner party for Bob’s Intss and his snooty wife, get the tree and decorate it. — a suburban housewife People at Christmas time are kind of funny, kind of sad, kind of lonesome. Some are really happy no matter what reasons. Are these people really facing up to what Christmas is really all about? 1 wonder. 1 have a copy of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible on my desk, and so I opened it and began to look through it, remembering what these people had said about Christmas. Here are some of the passages I found. I found an expression of the wonder and humility of a mother expecting her first child, but a child unlike others: And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in Cod my Savior. for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name . . .’’ (Luke 1:46-49) 1 found the simple, moving story of Christ’s birth: "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nasa- reth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to Ire delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there teas no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:4-7) And further on I found the joyous message of the angels to the shepherds on the hillside outside Bethlehem: ". . . I bring you gmtd news of great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day ... A Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11-12) But perhaps, mo^t important of all, I found the story of Christ's life, a life which changed the history of the world and of the relationships between men. He said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of Cod." "Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied." “Blessed are yi>u that weep now, for you shall laugh." "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude y»>u and revile you, and cast out ystur name as evil on account of the Son of man! Ilrjoice in that day, and leap for joy, for be hold, your reward is great in heaven ...” (Luke 6:20-2.'i) And further on: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also ./. .’’ (Luke 6:27-29) For the message of Christmas is not just the familiar and beautiful story of the birth of Christ and of its meaning for mankind. Christmas is the time when we remember the prom ise fulfilled by the Man who was born on Christmas. The people I have quoted — people not unlike many of us — have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas because they have forgotten the promise of Christmas. The truth of Christmas and the renewal of our belief in the real message of Christmas lies both in our understanding of the simple and at the same time awesome fact of Christ’s birth and in our realization of the intimate and immediate way the fulfilled life of Christ touched and touches our lives. *+***************#¥*****' i» i p 1 : : t i 11 I ffetar’j ftkrljtmw PETER FINDS THE GOING A BIT ROUGH about half way down, Hince he i* new at chimney-gliding compared to Santa. But our hero doet* manage it and gnuggle* down into bed juat before Santa arrives with his presents. And so Peter has a very Merry Christmas after all. Once upon a time in Bloomington, Ind., there lived a small mouse who was a very woeful character, barred from his mouse house by a rock that rolled down a hill and blocked the front door on Christmas Eve. Peter was the mouse’s name, given him by a 16-year-old film-maker named Gerald D. Reynolds, who wrote and pro duced “Peter’s Christmas.” The Plot Thickens Since it was the day before Christmas (in the film) and Peter had to be in bed if he was to receive any presents from Santa, Peter tried everything to move the rock. Finally, his thoughts of Santa inspired him. He slid down the chimney just in time to have a merry Christmas after all. And just in time to win a prize for his creator in the Kodak Teen-Age Movie Awards com- petition. For “Peter’s Christmas,” Gerald Reynolds won a spe cial award for cartoon ani mation. The film included more than 800 drawings — half on paper and half on celluloid — and 25 back grounds. From th judges he got high praist — “remarkably well-done,” “good job of ani mation,” “displays consider able technical and creative ability.” Gerald was one of hun dreds of young film-makers in the competition that Ko-. dak sponsors annually in co operation with the University Film Foundation on behalf of the University Film Asso ciation, whose members serve as judges, and the Council for International Nontheatrical Events, which chooses films from among the winners for showing at foreign film fes tivals. Coninmniruling Idea* Most of all he is a member of today’s young film gener ation, a group to which the camera is almost as familiar as the pencil for communi cating ideas. Young people all over the country are making films to day. Students at Drake High School in San Anselmo, Calif. produced "The Idaho Test,” a satire on standardized test ing. A group of Long Island students produced "For Whom The Torch Burns,” a Poinsettia Shows Season’s Colors Showing the colors of Christmas, red and green, the tropical poinsettia adorns many homes at the holiday season Though it is now a favorite holiday houseplant, the poinsettia is a relative newcomer to the customs of Christmas. It was discovered by, and later named for, Joel R Poin sett. When he was serving as U.S. minister to Mexico in 1828, Dr. Poinsett sent a cut ting of the plant to a friend Growers became interested, but it was not until 1906 that the poinsettia was marketed “PETER’S CHRISTMAS” lell* the *tory of a mou*e barred from hi* mouse hou.*e on ChrLtmus Eve. The film, by Gerald I). Reynold*, won a *pe- eial award in the Kodak Teen- Age Movie Award* eompetilioi^ 90-minute thriller spoofing a plot to kidnap the Statue of Liberty. And teen-agers in Rich mond, Calif., made "The Dream Blowers — A Story of Sand, Sound and Soul,” a 16mm dream fantasy, for $100 In addition to the high school crowd, movie-making appeals to innercity groups Its especially booming on the college campus where an estimated 2,500 courses in film production and appre ciation are currently offered in the United States. For Fun or Currer Most of these young people make movies for the sheer joy of it, but for some, movie making is pointing the way to career opportunities. “I would like to have a small animation studio or work for one,” says Gerald Reynolds, who also is inter ested in television writing. For Gerald, "Peter’s Christ mas” gave a chance to tell the story as he envisioned it. And for all the movie gen eration, encouraged by new easy-to-use cameras and dedicated to seriousness of purpose, the movie route ap pears the most natural, crea tive way in the world to make a statement. TRIMMING TREE Tradition of decorating a community Christmas tree began in the early 1900’s and is a favorite custom today rMKMrMvaor^ I THE CHRONICLE. Clinton, S. C., Dec. 26, IdW-JtC ABOUT GREENS Many Christmas greens used today were once pagan symbols. Flowers and leafy boughs were used in Roman rites. The Saxons used holly, ivy and bay in their religious observances. "GOD "God Rest Ye Merry, men”, actually means Keep You Merry, This stems from the hMoiy of boisterous celebrating of : Christinas in England during the 1600's. A MOUSE AND HIS CHRISTMAS PROBLEM is il.c subject of an animated cartoon, called “Peter’s Christmas.” The story be gins happily on December 23rd, when Peter’s mother send* him to the store for some groceries. The delectable teen-age mouse is his sister, Ellen. PETER TRIES Al l. OI DECEMBER 23rd and 24111, but *nll the rock bars the doorway, knowing that Santa won’t leave him am presents unless he i* in bed, he fall* to the ground erving. Rut then he get* a brilliant idea. If Santa can *lide down the ehinmey, M* ran Peter! L It is one hundred and fifty years since the > be most sung of all Christmas carols came into being in the little known town of Oberndorf, 12 miles north of Salzburg, Austria. Josef Mohr was a young parish priest in Oberndorf a century and a half ago. Franz Gruber was the part time organist at the church The two were close friends. Oberndorf had no working rgan in the winter of had been church or( 1818. It had been damaged by flood waters of the river Salzach. It has been said that the thought of a ’'silent" Christ mas Eve Mass troubled Josef Mohr. On the afternoon of Dec. 24th, at any rate, he hastily wrote some verses and gave them to his friend Gruber to set to music. The result, played and sung by Mohr and Gruber to the accompaniment of the latters’ guitar, after the mid night Mass, and in the Church of St. Nikelaus in Oberndorf, brought instant approval from the townspeople. At Christmas in 1839, a group of Tyrolean folk singers sang the carol for the first time at a public performance in the United States — in a concert in front of Trinity Church in New York THE NEWS REACHES NAZARETH By Harriet Frye In Bethlehem nnse men have come bringing myrrh, 7 he bitter cold days have begun, And Mary the unje of the carpenter Has brought forth her firstborn, a son. He will run in the village and shout from the hills, He will walk by the sea in the sands. And, if he inherits his father’s skills, He will build many things with his hands. (We are told his Kinswoman, Elizabeth, Is convinced he will someday be king.) Our newest addition to Nazareth Must be making his mother's heart sing. We will turn out, rejoicing, to welcome her When her journey is over and done. For Mary the wife of the carpenter Will bring home her firstborn, a son. May your Christmas season be filled with rejoicing. JL Ray F«m*U and your friends at Southern Belt. (£) Southern Bell * + 1 •*. I ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦. As joy and laughter fill the air during the « Christmas season, we wish to take a * moment to add our best wishes and thanks. * NEUBERGER & CO. X '***»**»#»»#»****+*+********# FIRST NOEL The radiant Star of Bethlehem shines brightly as ever, symbol of the true meaning of Christmas . . . Our greetings and thanks to all of you. Johnson Bros. Supermarket 800 South Brood St. 83S-2422 lere’s no happier time than Christmas, because it s a time for sharing all the happiness we feel with those we care about most. That s why we d like to share our joy you, wishing you a Merry Christmas and saying Thank You. AUTHORITY III SOUTH BROAD STREET