Heart to Heart
By Pastor Richard Wright
I have an idea that the celebration of Christmas this year will take on a
greater significance and have more meaning for a lot of people. Because of the
recent tragedies our country has faced there is a closeness to God that we
haven’t seen in a long time. Let’s hope that continues after the crises is over.
For those of us who are Christians, the birth of Christ should always be important to us. When we think of what Christ gave up for us to come to this world to be born in a manger, we wonder at His unconditional love. So when we give gifts this year, let’s not forget to give to Christ who has given so much for us. All He wants are our hearts and all we need is Him. When we accept Him as our Savior we have the greatest gift that heaven could give. With the gift of Jesus comes other gifts; peace, joy, salvation, eternal life, a home in heaven. Gifts that are everlasting, gifts that will never pass away, or be put away. Gifts that are priceless because they were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men.”
We can sing praises to God now for the gift of Christ and be assured that soon there will be peace forevermore because of what He has done and will do.
May God bless each one of you as you celebrate Christmas. My wife and I want to wish you all the best and we thank God for such a wonderful church family.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Note
Wishing You All A Christmas Filled With LOVE
Text
“Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how
you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding
box.” Luke 2:11-12
Pastor Appreciation Weekend
October 27th, The Woodstock church celebrated Pastor Appreciation Weekend. It
totally caught our pastor by surprise. Pastor Richard Wright was abruptly
interrupted by the whole congregation as he went about his duties as a minister
that particular Sabbath morning. Many from the congregation spoke of how his
leadership has touched their lives. So much was mentioned of his home visits and
how much it meant for each individual to have him there in their time of
sickness, discouragement, or of their need for spiritual guidance and prayer. A
sum of money was raised for a weekend away for the pastor and his wife. May God
bless our pastor and all pastors who are leading congregations nationwide toward
the gospel of Christ.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!!
The family of Dora Hadley Hazelton is compiling a book about her life. We would
appreciate any anecdotes (long or short) that anyone could write about her.
Thank you! Laurie Wilson & Martha Hadley
Answers to Bible Books Puzzle
The Challenge: There are 24 books of the bible to find this
time. One appears twice. See how many you can find. Keep in mind that each
book name could span several words and disregard all punctuation and spaces.
Who Am I??
1. I retired when I was in my 30’s
2. I love to tell stories
3. My family was very non-traditional
4. I’m a people person but I do like my solitary moments
5. I wasn’t born in the hospital
Answer to this month’s on page 4
Last Month’s “Who Am I” was Bill Wisnosky
Christmas Caroling
December 21st, Meet at Thurlow Hall, 6 pm. (Church Family
Welcome!)
December 22nd, Meeting Place and Time to be announced in upcoming
church bulletin. Hot drinks, popcorn and games to follow at Frank & Christie
Hodson’s place. (Frank & Winnie’s former residence)
Past, Present, Future
By Lorena Faye Wilson
We all have memories that come to mind at this time of year of those we’ve loved
and held most dear coming home for the holidays or memories of we ourselves
going home. There is a type of home that has been dubbed the “Tin Can”, and back
in 1917, the “Tin Can Tourist of the World” was organized at Tampa, Florida, and
as it became more and more popular to own one of these trailers some folks were
afraid that far to many would forget the true meaning of home. “Home” means
different things to different people and many things to many people. Going
“home” might be where you live now or where you grew up or in a broader sense of
meaning one’s country or nation. Wherever home is to each of us those places
hold memories of the past. Now we can enjoy making new ones for the future until
that time when He says ”Welcome Home”. Then we will be home at last!!
Forestdale Turns “69” Years Old!!!!
On the 6th of December, Forestdale will celebrate its 69th
birthday! The school started on this date in 1932 and has been in continuous
operation ever since.
This past month we held parent-teacher conferences and collected canned food for the needy. We baked cookies for thanksgiving baskets and visited the Ledgeview residence. We had a fun day after school for the young ones and a Thanksgiving banquet for our grandparents. We delivered baskets/boxes of food to needy homes. We gave money for the children of NYC. We also continued to learn about the basics of math, reading, and writing of course.
Perhaps the highlight for most students this past month was the grade 3-9 overnight trip to Massachusetts. There we ate at AUC café with former Forestdale students now attending this college. We toured the campus and played in their gym. The following day we went to Old Sturbridge Village, an 1820-1840’s reconstructed village, live with actors that portray the time period. We asked the parson if he had heard of William Miller, we were amazed at the farmer who made pottery, we discovered what it was like for girls on wash day. We had great weather and a very good time. Katrina Mason deserves the award for packing the lightest!
On the 10th of December an evaluation of our school will take place. Mrs. Trudy Wright and others from around the conference will look over the school and access how we are doing and what we can do to make our school better. Again, this year we are raising money for prison ministries and are continuing our prayer partner program. The 5-6th graders, who have been studying about rocks and minerals, will be going on a tour at Perhams soon. Don’t miss our cantata this year. It will be presented Friday evening and Saturday morning, December 14-15.
We thank you for your prayers and support.
Mr. Stahl
Teacher at Forestdale SDA School
Answer to December’s “Who Am I?”
Jesus, the son of God
TOMORROW’S THANKSGIVING
By Burna Wilson
Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving, and that is the time
When we gather with friends and with families to dine
The dishes are sparkling, the silverware gleaming
The rolls have been baked and the pudding is steaming
We’ll bring out the fixings, and bring out the roast
and the taste-tempting foods that we all like the most
There’ll be onions and squash and potato and peas
Cranberries, celery, and turnip and cheese
Each person will gaze at his favorite pie
Lined up with the others in splendor nearby
We’ll pause to say grace (I should hope that we do)
And maybe give thanks for a blessing or two
Bestowed upon us in the year that has passed
Before we sit down to our annual feast
Good food is delightful. Good friends I adore.
But shouldn’t Thanksgiving Day mean something more?
Do we truly feel grateful for God’s special care?
Do we seek for some way, those blessings to share?
Do we think of that banquet we’re asked to attend?
Are we planning to go and inviting a friend?
The table prepared will be many miles long
The background music will be angel’s song
The food will be special, the fellowship sweet
And we can bow down at His visible feet
To offer our thanks for the sacrifice rare
That paid for our seat at that table so fair
And the power and guidance that, day after day
has steadied our feet on the Heaven bound way
So spread out the table, and spread out the food
And gather around it in true gratitude
Celebrate with your family and friends all about
But be careful you don’t leave your DEAREST Friend out
InnKeeper’s Tale
They think I'm some kind of cruel, heartless landlord. Someone must have told
them that. But they're wrong, just plain wrong, and it's time to set the record
straight, once and for all. People say I'm an innkeeper. I suppose you'd call it
an inn. To us it's just a big house. My grandfather, Joshua ben-Yahoudi, built
it back when his trading business was at a peak. And he built it big enough to
fit all fourteen kids. Well, a few years ago, the missus and I were just
rattling around in that big house--kids grown up and all--and we were thinking,
maybe we could take in a few travelers. Rachel has always been mighty good in
the kitchen, so we just let out word that we'd take people in, and they started
to come. Every night we'd have a person or two, sometimes more. People would
always come back when they came to town again, intent on another bowl of
Rachel's lamb stew. Then came that blankety-blank census the governor thought
up. Taxation, pure and simple! People from all over the province flooded into
town that week. Filled us clean up. Rachel and I slept in the main room where we
always do, and we started putting guests in the other three rooms. They kept
coming. Then we doubled up two or three families to a room. They kept coming.
Finally, when we had filled the main room with four families plus Rachel and me,
we started turning people away. I must have gotten in and out of bed ten times
that night, stumbling over bodies to get to the door. "No more room, sorry
folks. No more room. Come back in the morning. We have a couple of families
leaving then." They'd mutter something and head back to their party, and sleep
somewhere next to a house under the shelter of a blanket. I just couldn't make
any more room. That's the honest truth. But I did make room for one more couple.
Joseph was a burly man with big arms and strong hands, down from Nazareth, I
think he said. He wouldn't take "no" for an answer. I would say, "No, I'm
sorry," and he'd tell my about his "little Mary." Well, when I saw "little Mary"
she wasn't very little. She was just about as pregnant as a woman can get, and
awfully pale. While Joseph was pleading, I saw her grab her tummy in pain, and I
knew I couldn't let her have that baby outside in the wind and sleet. The barn.
That would just have to do, I told myself, and led them and their donkey out
back. Now it was pretty crowded, so I shooed several animals into the pen
outside to make room in one dry corner. Joseph said, "We sure are grateful,
sir." Then with a serious look, he asked me, "Do you know where I can find a
midwife in these parts? We might need her tomorrow or the next day." That man
didn't know much about having babies, it was plain enough to see. I ran to Aunt
Sarah's house and pounded on the door until her husband came. "One of the
travelers is having a baby," I told him. "I'll wait while Aunt Sarah gets
dressed." I stopped a moment to catch my breath. "And tell her to hurry." By the
time we got back to the barn, Joseph had "little Mary" settled on some soft,
clean hay, wrapped up in a blanket, wiping the perspiration off her brow, and
was speaking softly to her as she fought the waves of pain. Aunt Sarah sent me
to get my Rachel, and then pushed Joseph and me out of the barn. "This ain't no
place for men," she said We waited just outside in the shelter of the barn for
hours, it seemed like. Well, all of a sudden, we hear a little cry. "You've got
a baby boy," Aunt Sarah was saying as we peeped around the corner. She hands the
young-un to Rachel, and she wraps it up in those swaddling bands she had saved.
Cute little thing, I tell you. Well, Joseph goes over to Mary and gives her a
big hug, and a kiss on the cheek, and Rachel hands Mary the baby, and then comes
over to me and takes my hand. "Remember when our Joshua was born?" she whispers.
The lantern was blowing almost out, the cattle were lowing softly, and baby
Jesus was asleep in his mother's arms. That's how I left them as I walked Aunt
Sarah home. Chilly wind, though the sleet had stopped. By the time I got back,
Rachel was in bed, and I was about ready to put out the light, step over
sleeping bodies, and get under the warm covers, when I heard some murmuring out
by the barn I'd better check, I told myself. When I peeped in, I saw shepherds.
Raggedy, smelly old shepherds were kneeling down on the filthy barn floor as if
they were praying. The oldest one was saying something to Joseph about angels
and the Messiah. And the rest of them just knelt there with their heads bowed,
some with tears running down their faces. I coughed out loud, and Joseph looked
up. I was almost ready to run those thieving shepherds off, when Joseph motioned
to me with his hand. "It's okay," he whispered. "They've come to see the
Christ-baby." The Christ-baby? The Messiah? That was when I knelt, too. And
watched, and prayed, and listened to the old shepherd recount his story of
angels and heavenly glory, and the sign of a holy baby, wrapped in swaddling
bands, to be found in a stable-manger. My Lord,, it was my stable where the
Christ-baby was born. My manger he rested in. My straw, my lamp, my wife Rachel
assisting at his birth. The shepherds left after a while. Some of them leaned
over and kissed the sleeping Christ-child before they departed. I know I did.
I'll always be glad I made room in the barn for that family-- that holy family.
You see, I'm not some mean inn-keeper. I was there. I saw him. And, you know,
years later that boy came back to Bethlehem, this time telling about the Kingdom
of God. Oh, I believe in him, I tell you. I was there. And, mark my words, if
you'd seen what I've seen, you'd be a believer, too.
It Depends Who’s Hands It’s In
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million
It depends whose hands it's in
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million
It depends whose hands it's in
A tennis racket is useless in my hands
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands is a Wimbledon Championship
It depends whose hands it's in
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea
It depends whose hands it's in
A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands
It depends whose hands it's in
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in
As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your
families and your relationships in God's hands because
It depends whose hands it's in.
Note
Forestdale School Children will be collecting a Love Offering for Prison
Ministries on December 22, 2001. Consider donating for this cause.
In My Humble Opinion
Thoughts Expressed By Lamplighter Editor, Christie Hodson
Of all the holidays celebrated, Christmas is indeed my most favorite. I don’t
know if it’s the music, the lights, the family getting together or just the
overall ambiance of the season. As a child it was indeed the gifts that drew the
most excitement. Unwrapping a gift that you'd looked forward to and wanted was
the highlight of the day. As I’ve gotten older the excitement for the gifts has
been replaced with the need for togetherness. As a child and even as a young
Christian, it’s much the same way. We need a lot. We need information to answer
our questions, attention to soothe our insecurities, assurance to calm our
fears. As we grow in the Lord we realize that our wants being met are not what
will bring us the most lasting joy and peace, but rather meeting the needs of
others. The biggest gift we can give, that others need, is love, True love,
Agape love. Love is the base for the Gospel of Christ and is the greatest gift
given to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our definition of human love usually
comes with conditions or with the pressure to give people what they want. Both
involve self and our individual wants. Both will ultimately bring no lasting
joy. Commercialization of Christmas has ruined Christmas for many. The wants of
the stores to make money has played right into the wants of the consumers to buy
for others, what they think their friends and family want. Want, want, want. If
we’re all getting what we think we need why are so many still left wanting?
Webster’s first definition of want is “to be needy and destitute”. Our selfish
natures and our supposed need to have the things we want sets us up to be needy
and destitute of something. Both God and satan know this. The result; A Savior
and a deceiver. The road of deceit and want is a much easier and more natural
path because of our selfish nature. The way of grace and love is unnatural to us
and a much more difficult path. For we find it hard to imagine such an
unconditional love exists. There is also a drastic difference between the two.
One offers death, the other life eternal. As we enter this holiday season may we
not be so consumed with selfish want. That want will only leave us to being
needy and destitute for the lies of the deceiver. But may we want the love of
Christ in our lives, and be needy and destitute for His salvation, grace and
love. May love reign in our hearts for our Savior and for our fellow man. Light
a candle of love for each other this season and beyond. May our natural
tendencies to want leave us needy and destitute for a Savior who’s birth was the
greatest gift we were ever given. I thank you all as you’ve helped me through
this first year as Lamplighter Editor. My prayer for each of you is that you
choose Christ this day and every day. Take the unnatural path of agape love for
it leads to the Savior who promises to return soon to take us home, to a place
where every day will be like Christmas. Happy Holidays!
Light A Candle
By Christian Recording Artists—Avalon
Light a Candle for the old man who sits staring at a frosty window pane.
Light a candle for the women who is lonely and every Christmas is the same.
For the children who need more than presents can bring.
Light a candle, Light the dark, Light the world, Light a heart or two.
Light a candle for me, I’ll light a candle for you
Light a candle, for the homeless and the hungry a little shelter from the
cold
Light a candle, for the broken and forgotten. may the season warm the soul.
Can we open our hearts to shine through the dark.
Light a candle Light the dark, Light the world, Light a heart or two.
Light a candle for me, I’ll light a candle for you.
And in this special time of year,
May peace on earth surround us here and teach us there’s a better way to live
Oh every everything that burns we must somehow learn
That Love is the greatest gift that we could ever give.
Light a candle, Light the dark, Light the world Light a heart or two.
Light a candle for me, I’ll light a candle for you.
Note
We’re On The Web
www.woodstockchurch.com
Hello Friends
By Laurie Wilson
As I was reading my devotional book this morning, I was in awe of how it
described me and maybe others in the same shoes. The title was “Chosen”. I just
had to read it twice. the second time to my husband as we both related to this
story in school and even sometimes today.
In high school physical education, my husband and I had always experienced the team “boo’s” or maybe I should say “blues” as we were eventually chosen to serve on their so-called best team. Actually we wanted to run far way when the time came for the captain to call us as he sent us over with an unneeded shrug and sigh that told you and everyone else that he will take you if he has to. (We were always last anyways!) How it hurt!!!!! If only the highest in class or even your friends that were always there for you would have understood! To be “chosen”. We realize now that it was all the growing experiences like a lot of the experiences that we face today. With those experiences in mind that lead us to change our attitudes. We can be truly thankful that we don’t have to prove a thing to Jesus to be chosen by Him. We already are children of the King. We don’t have to be the best in sports, the skinniest, best dressed, etc. to suit Him right? It feels great to be chosen and my heart swells with pride to know the Captain calls me always to be on His awesome team! Doesn’t yours?
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you… I have chosen you out of the world. John 15:16-19
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