Thursday, December 24, 1953 THE TRIBU.2E, WILLIAMS LAKR, B.C. Page 9 And Friends | And The Coming Year. ‘ Williams Lake 4 Note: We shall Be closed Wishing All Our Customers A Very Happy Christmas Health And Prosperity Throughout INTERIOR POWER & EQUIPMENT Phone 89R2 from December 20th to January 4th for annual staff holidays “tay your Christmas be Merry — and your New Year prosperous, Village Service Spike Hannah and George Nishiyama Christmas Messages From The Churches CHRISTMAS A young lad living in a city port would often wander out to a seclud-— ed spot which gave him a glorious view of the harbour. Almost at his feet, however, ribbons of railway tracks carried thousands of freight trains laden with their precious car- world Fre- strings of goes from all over the quently, the shunting freight cars hid his view of the har- bour. Then, one night, he discovered that by raising his eyes ever so slightly, he could see the stars above the freight trains. On these days, we have no trouble seeing the freight trains of industry and commerce. That we see the stars above them is not so certain. Ma- terial wealth, ambition, possessions | stars — and beyond. But the stars are still there shining, if only we raise our eyes. Christmas is the season when there shines a particular star, the Star of Bethlehem. We can see it this Christmas, if, with eyes of faith we lift our eyes from the commerce of this day, the freight trains laden’ with material things, and with humble, lowly expectant hearts seelt the Christ-Child. But we must be looking, yearning, seeking. Those who are satisfied with themselves, who ask no more of life than food, clothing, material success and fame, will never see the Star or find the King. If our lives are strangely empty, and we would have them full, His Star beckons us to Him. If we are burdened by our sins and ery forgiveness and peace, we will find it in Him. If we seek the very meaning of life, His Star shall go be- fore us ’til we have found our Lord and our Saviour. May the Star of Bethlehem shine brightly for each one this Christmas, and may we give Him our- best gift, the gift-of our life. Rev. Jack Colelough, Christmas Greetings to all of the readers of The Tribune. Rey. J. Naphin and Rey. J. Boyle” SAINT PETER’S CHURCH CHRISTMAS 19 Once again the Festive Season has arrived; a Season when everyone tries to be Happy, Jolly and Friendly. Business houses and private homes are decor- ated. Parties, re-unions, dances are the order of the day. Hundreds of Christmas Greetings are exchanged. Everybody likes to. indulge in ‘Ye Olde Christmas Spirit.’ Yes, it is certainly a very happy time for many. But, why all this? What is the mean- ing? Ah! I’m afraid that compara- tively few people could give a very vatisfactory answer. No doubt many would say, “Oh, we have always done this, ever since I can remember.’ But what is behind all this? Why? My Friends, come for a little journey with me ‘in the spirit’ over- land and through the ages. To the North-East of the old land we shall find the remains of an old Eastern town. True, there is very little to see now, but history records it as the birthplace of two kings. One of these was a shepherd boy, who being the youngest son, and old enough, it was his duty to take care ! of his father’s sheep while his older brothers did their term of military service for their king. I doubt whether this lad, whose name, by the way, was David, ever had visions ot being a king; yet, so was the Divine Plan,, ‘that in course of time this lad be- came, not only a king, but a much beloved and sucecessful one, Many years afterwards, a Royal Decree was issued for the taking of a general census, and for this, every fitizen had to journey to the place of his family’s origin to be enrolled. You can imagine how busy this little town was on this occasion, and how difficult it was to obtain accom- modation. Well, there came to this town an old man and his young wife and upon arrival found that the only shelter available was a stable where animals and their drivers'were lodg- ed. During the night a little baby was born in that stable, and, although few people knew it at the time, thut little. Babe was a King, yes, the King of the World. During, the early hours of the morning a party of shepherds came [tO visit this little Baby, and they told ny tend to obscure the vision of the! Of Egypt, nestling among the hills, : | how Angels had appeared to them out in the fields, telling them that the Son of God, the long expected- Messiah had at last come to earth and could be found in this stable, wrapped in a baby’s first clothes and lying in a manger. They said they had also heard the Angels singing praises to God for the coming of His Son. Not two years had elapsed when other visitors came from far distant countries, bearing costly gifts to the young King, Who now lived with His mother and His Guardian in a little house. When this Child had grown to Manhood He taught the people all about God and the Divine Plan, and He established a ‘Way’ by which mankind, living a Sacramental Life, could find the way back to God. ~ For ages the Church has celebrat- ed the Birthday of the King of the World. That little far-off town — Bethlehem (meaning House of Bread) — was the prototype of every Christian Altar where, not only at Christmas, but at all times may be found the Living Bread, the Bread from Heaven, by all those who, like the Shepherds and the Wise Men, spare the time to seek the great King. Believe me, my Friends, no Christ- mas is quite complete unless we first wend our way to ‘Bethlehem’ and pay our respects to the Great King. Rey. Geo. Fielder. THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS The Psalmist by prophetic utter- ance announced in Psalm 24: 7-10, “Lift up. your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up ye everlast- ing doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Host, He is the King of Glory.” It is at this time of the year that people of all lands, creeds and color generally accept and believe and pay tribute to, THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. Singing hymns of worship and adora- tion. Yet on the other hand it is at this time of the year that men and women from all walks of life seem to think it permissible to indulge in a round of drinking, debauchery and sin that is not paralleled at any other time of the year. This being an unde- miable fact it will behoove us to con- sider the CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS. It was no accident that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary. His birth was the culmination of the plan of God for man’s salvation. It was no ordinary child that was born to this Virgin, but in this Child was | embodied all the fullness of the God- j head bodily. This Person to whom we are paying tribute was God’s answer to sin. John delared of this Person; “Be- hold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” The An- gel announced to the father; “Thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.” The Prophet foretold that this Child would be born and that his name would be Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Everything about the birth, life and death of this person was a miracle. His life was short lived, He came to die. His Birth is important, Hi life is important, His death is im- portant, and His resurrection i portant. Jesus Christ » die as a supreme sacrifice for o sins. ‘For He had made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” The Scripture refers to Him as our Ransom, as our Pro- pitiation, our Peace, and our coming King. It was nesessary that Jesus Christ should die; ‘For without the shedding of blood there is no remis- sion of sin.” 1 Peter 1:18 “Foras- much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, — But with the pre- cious blood of ‘Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.” Some will say if this is true, if this Christ of Christmas is all that you claim He is the why is this old world in such a mess. The Answer is found in the Scripture. “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone his own way."’ God forces no man to serve Him, but rather pre- sents to the individual His plan of Salvation to either accept or reject. We can yield ourselves to serve sin or serve God. But in order to serve God we must come His way, Jesus |said, “I am the Way, the Truth and /the Life, no man cometh to the Fa- , ther but by me.” | ‘The Scripture concludes all to be under sin. All to be dead in trespass- es and sins. All having sinned and come short of the Glory of God. Wh-t hope have we in ourselves, or any- thing that man has to offer or ean offer. Man’s righteousnesses are as filthy.rags. Man cannot atone for his | (continued on page 11) im- born t fete rete peter tere Teen tere | ea ee Sara Ure URE LAUNDRY George Milliken muck promise for the CTThe loyalty of our many friends gives to us added confidence and Christmas and Successful New Year to all. Tony’s Leather Shop MRBmAwA® future. We wish a Joyful