Calvin Synod Herald, 1980 (80. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1980-11-01 / 11-12. szám
3 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA HOLLIDAY CANON Poem by Shawn Hall Leslie Kondorossy (Bayreuth, Germany 1948.) CHRISTMAS GREETINGS The curtain on a decade is slowly rolling down. But before the lights on the stage would be totally extinguished, the spotlight falls on the manger of Bethlehem which shines brighter than the sun — and we celebrate Christmas ... Christmas! What a magic word for young and old, children and adults alike.. . Christmas! a time of depression for some, but a season of rejoicing for most of us... Christmas! the mystery of incarnation and the manifestation of God’s love.. . ‘‘Joy to the world! The Lord is come!” Let earth receive her King...” Perhaps one of the most meaningful and moving Christmas carols was written by an American minister, the great Philips Brooks (1835-93). In 1865 he visited the Holy Land and on December 24 of that year which happened to fall on Sunday, he went by horseback from Jerusalem to nearby Bethlehem and before nightfall he was on the field where, according to tradition, the shepherds saw and heard the heavenly hosts. From 10 o’clock until 3 the following morning, he attended the Christmas service in the Church of the Nativity. Soon after that, impressed with the experience, he wrote the exquisite lyric now sung all over the world: “O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie; Above the deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by: Yet in thy dark streets shineth The Everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight...” This hymn is a perfect combination of the Bethlehem background, the Gospel Story, the spiritual message for our day, and the poetic beauty of expression. Personally I like the last stanza the most. It is a prayer for children of all ages: “O Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sins, and enter in, Be bom in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us. O Lord Emmanuel...” May we march into the 80s with this prayer in our hearts: this is my Christmas wish to all of you. Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! Dr. John Butosi CHRISTMAS CHILL FACTOR We wrapped her up in faded blankets, hand-me-downs, held her close and huddled on the sagging davenport, hummed ‘‘Silent Night’’ and stared at cracked linoleum on the floor in the light of a yellow flame sputtering in a rusty heater. It was bitter cold that Christmas. She was ten and thought him wonderful— the puppy that we gave her. We watched them romp beneath a shabby pine, shivering when they paused, her sweater thin, as was his mongrel coat. We were out of work and it was cold that Christmas. Glowing lights on a silver tree shone in the picture window, the rug lay thick beneath us. We gazed at a crackling fire making music in the hearth. Presents clothed in glittering foil invited us to open them. But she was gone. It was the coldest Christmas of them all. —Wanda M. Traioick Je - sus is the Son of God, Cham-pion of the low - ly. Thorns His crown a staff His rod, Love His creed most ho - ly Son of man, like Him must die, An - gels sing His praise on high Death's em - brace did He de- fy, Hal -le-lu - -- - — ja.
