Reformátusok Lapja, 1969 (69. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-12-01 / 12. szám
10 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA j±L barn-yard animals and the beasts were quiet as the stillness of the night was broken only by the worshipful voices of the villagers. It must have been thus 2000 years ago on the night Jesus was horn in Bethlehem. For me it was a Sacred Christmas never to be forgotten and always to remind me of the Love that same down to eartli in the Christ-child. But somehow, I can’t shake the feeling, that the secular must become sacred and the sacred must become secular. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Jolin 3:16. Ar pad L. Beret z I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY I heard the bells on Christmas Day, Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet the words repeat Of peace on earth, good will to men! And in despair 1 bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth,” 1 said, "For hate is strong, and mocks the son Of peace on earth, good will to men!” I thought how, as the days had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along the unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men! Then pealed the hells more loud and deep; "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, \\ ith peace on earth, good will to men!" H. (f . Longfellow A Gift for the King It was Christmas Day. And the king sat upon his throne to receive the gifts of his people. And they brought to him freely of their riches, of their art and beauty, of their wisdom. All hut one. He stood without the throng with bowed head and thoughtful mien. So it came about that when all had given hut the one, the king turned to him. “And where are thy gifts?” Then the man bowed his head still lower. "I have neither gold, nor beauty, nor wisdom. I can give you only my heart, which is friendly, because full of faith. . . which is happy, because free of malice... which is peaceful, because full of hope. Of that only can I give you, but of such as I have I give you both willingly and freely, for my store is unlimited.” And the king bade the man to sit beside him on the throne, saying, “Thine be the honor of having brought me the richest and rarest gift in all the world ... a friend!” And this is the spirit of Christmas. Author Unknown The Legend of the Christmas Tree Today, the Christmas tree is a center of our festivities. Topped with a star, and glittering with lights and ornaments, it is a part of the beauty and meaning of the Christmas season. How did the Christmas tree come to play such an important part in the observance of Christmas? There is a legend that comes down to us from the early days of Christianity in England. One of those helping to spread Christianity among the Druids was a monk named Wilfred (later Saint Wilfred). One day, surrounded hv a group of his converts, he struck down a huge Oak tree, which, in the Druid religion, was an object of worship. As the Oak tree fell to the earth, it split into four pieces, and from its center there grew a young Fir tree, pointing a green spire toward the sky. The crowd gazed in amazement. Wilfred let his axe drop, and turned to speak. “This little tree shall he your Holy Tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for your houses are built of the Fir. It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are evergreen. See how it points toward the heavens. Let this he called the tree of the Christ Child. Gather about it, not in the wilderness, but in your homes. There it will he surrounded with loving gifts and rites of kindness.” And to this day, that is why the Fir Tree is one of our loveliest symbols of Christmas.
