Page 8—Section Two
THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C.
Friday, December 25, 1959
WHAT
CHRISTMAS
MEANS
I By Ralph Lightsey
Pastor, St. Mary's Free Will
Baptist Church
For many a person, Christmas is
a time of celebration with only
self in mind. It is a time to eat,
drink and be merry with no re
gard for its true meaning.
For others this season of the
year is a time of commercialism.
Every means conceivable to the
human mind is used to profiteer.
The idea of giving gifts is mag
nified, but there is little or none
of the spirit in which the wise
men presented their gifts to the
Babe in Bethlehem’s manger.
There is another group to whom
Christmas has a different mean
ing. When the idea is even men
tioned, their minds go back over
the years to the time of Micah’s
prophecy in which he names the
place where Christ is to be born.
From there they follow the Scrip
ture to Bethlehem, and the birth
of our Lord. The angel announces
that He is to bring peace on earth,
good will to men. Then Matthew
calls His name Jesus, and declares
HAMMOND ELECTRIC SERVICE
that He will save His people from
their sin.
To the Christian, Christmas
means the anniversary of the birth
of Christ as He came into the
world to seek and to save sinners.
That means that He came to save
you and me, as well as all other
people of the world, for He said,
“All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God” (Romans 3:-
23). Again, He said, “I am the
way, the truth and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but my
me” (John 14:6). It is easy to see
then that no matter who we are,
where we live, or how high on the
ladder of success we might have
been able to climb, outside the
redeeming grace of God there is
no hope for us. On the other hand
no matter how much one has sin
ned, there is hope in Christ. List
en as He says: “All that the Fa
ther giveth me shall come to me,
and him that cometh to me I will
M
BRIGHTEST
TO YOU!
Johnson Machine Shop
219 CRAVEN
ME 7-6113
SILENT NIGHT
May You Find the Peace,
and calm of a clear
winter night.
Harrell's Paper
Shop
in no wise case out” (John 6:37).
The Bible further declares’ that
“the blood of Jesus Christ, His son,
cleanseth us from all sin” (I John
1:7).
For the Christian, then, Christ
mas means the birth of Christ, the
Savior of the world. He is our Sa
vior, Lord and Master, the One to
whom everyone owes his whole
hearted allegiance
The chief charm of Christmas is
its simplicity. It is a festival that
appeals to everyone, because ev-)
eryone can' understand it. A gen
uine faith pervades our common
life—a fellowship whose source is
our common share in the gift of
the world’s greatest Life, which
was given to the whole world.—
Arthur Reed Kimball. *
This is the month, and this is the
happy morn.
Wherein the Son of Heaven’s
eternal King,
Of wedded maid and virgin mother
born.
Our great redemption from
above did bring.
For so the holy sages once did
sing.
That He our deadly forfeit
should release.
And with His Father work us a
perpetual peace.
—^Milton
It is the Christmas time;
And up and down ’twixst heaven
and earth.
In glorious grief and solemn mirth
The shining angels climb.
—D. M. Mulock
R. E. BENGEL
SHEET METAL WORKS
^’DECK THE HALLS’’,^
We hope your home and heart
■will be filled with laughter, joy and
good will this glad Holiday season—
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Forrest Gulf Service
LONNIE FORREST
4*
0' \ w
Cliristfflas Ble$siiig$
Johnson
Motor
Company
ii
5-
mwi
NMT-
HOLY
MAY
YOUR
UHRISTHAS
BE VERY
BRIGHT!
B & B Supply Co.