The Independent-News, Volume 116, Number 30, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 20 December 1990 — Page 4

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - DECEMBER 20. 1990

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PEACE ON EARTH “Peace On Earth" has been said, sung, recited and a part of our Christmas time wishes for many, many years. It was Peace On Earth being wished some 2,000 years ago in the minds of many al that first Christmas. Is "Peace On Earth" just words and wishes, or is it a legitimate hope that can come true? Peace on earth is not something we have witnessed world-wide very often if ever in these past 2.000 years as there is constantly going on differences between peoples and countries. In this year of 1990, we American are more heavily involved once again as we have some 450,00 to a half million service personnel in the Middle East. The United States has had military personnel all around the world for many years, particularly since World War II in a peace-keeping effort. It seems rather strange that peace should be maintained by armed force. Peace should be maintained by love and the willingness of all to get along together, not by showing of strength to dictate the power of one over another in an effort to keep peace. For many Christmas 1990 will be another of those years when fathers, husbands, sons, other relatives and friends are stationed in a troubled area where the threat of war is real and even predicted by many. Only time will tell if fighting will result in the Middle East, but at this time, America has high stakes involved again with people, the one commodity you just can’t play with. At this Christmas time a special prayer and thoughts should be directed toward the long sought after, but hard to find, “Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men".

BAH HUMBUG! This is my feeling about Christmas about the middle of November. Bah Humbug! I don't like to shop because I don’t know what they want. When I ask them, they always want a million dollars or a new car (large model) and this year 1 just can't quite swing these gifts. I'm back to square one. As time rolls on I start singing Christmas carols. My mood is improving. I still don’t have my shopping done. Finally the kids get the tree and decorations up. The windows are painted. This year granddaughter drew a picture of me on the window (it sure does look like Garfield the cat). I even have a few gifts bought by now. I finally wished a person Merry Christmas this last weekend. As of today, 1 have just one week to finally to get into the spirit of the season. I also need to get my samples to the pantry. Roy is grumbling about me dragging him to parties. We attended one last night and we have one more to go. I told him that he only has two parties to go to in a year. The party we attended last evening was at Al's Diner, at Koontz Lake. Every year they invite their regulars to supper. We always eat too much, but its good eating and fellowship. Thanks Al and Herta for an excellent evening. "Meeting smile after smile.” These words from the song Silver Bells haunt me at this time of year. I wish that I would see more of them on the shoppers. Maybe we put too much emphasis on the material things at this time and not enough on mental and spiritual things. Listen to the sound of the bells and people around us. The sounds of children. Listen to the sound of the falling snow. Enjoy your sense of smell, the tree, cooking, baking, even the smells of fireplaces. Enjoy your sense of sight. Decorations on the houses and tn the yards, the differences in the colors of the trees and bushes at this time of the year. Even the sky is bluer at this time of the year if the sun ever shines. Enjoy the different colors of the sky. What I’m trying to say is “stop and smell the roses." Enjoy and appreciate what we have around us naturally! Remember the true meaning of

Christmas. And in these troubled times the greatest wish that I have for everyone is please "God Bless us everyone!” Sincerely, Nedra Williams Presbyterian Church 512 Georgia Street Walkerton, Indiana SUNDAY. DECEMBER 23 9:30 a.m., Sunday School. 10:30 a.m., Worship service, presentation of Advent Banner. Joseph Lowry will be our speaker today along with the children from Sunday School who will present the program. This is "Pantry Sunday," please bring items to help re-stock shelves. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 7:30 p.m., Luminaries Services. This is a beautiful service, plan to attend. Everyone is welcome. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 Christmas Day Merry Christmas to all. “Whosoever will, may come." Lakeville Christian Church 20876 Pierce Road Lakeville 784-8505 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 8:30 a.m., Worship. Adult and Youth Choirs to be featured. 10:30 a.m., Worship. Adult and Youth Choirs to be featured. 6:00 p.m., Annual Christmas Multi-Media Cantata "Wow, It’s Christmas." Nursery available for all services. North Liberty Church Os Christ 65225 State Road 23 North Liberty, Indiana Charles J. Richmond, Minister Timothy S. Stewart, Associate Minister SUNDAY 9:30 a.m., Sunday School. 10:30 a.m.. Morning Worship. 7:00 p.m.. Evening Worship. 7:00 p.m.. Youth meetings, all grades. WEDNESDAY 7:30 p.m.. Evening Services. United .Methodist Church 1000 Georgia Street Walkerton, Indiana 46574 Pastor Marilyn Gebert THURSDAY. DECEMBER 20 7:00 Confirmation class

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 8:00 a.m., Early Worship. 9:15 a.m., Sunday School. 10:30 a.m., Late Worship Service Sermon: “Jesus Is Bom”; Nurseryavailable during Sunday School and Late Worship. Jr. Chruch available during the Late Worship. Communion 3:00 p.m., UMYF MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 7:00 p.m., Christmas Eve Service. 11:00 p.m., Christmas Eve Service. St. John’s Lutheran Chruch Riley & Stanton Roads 24955 Riley Road The Rev. Bert Pauluhn 656-4744 or 656-3475 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 10:00 a.m., Sunday School Cristmas program rehearsal. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 9:30 a.m., Sunday School. Congregational and Children's Christmas program. 10:30 a.m., Worship. 7:30 p.m., Choir. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 11:00 p.m., Candlelight Holy Communion Service. "We love, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19. Koontz Lake Missionary Church R.R.5, Box 214-C Walkerton, IN 46574 Pastor Rob Gates SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 7:30 a.m. CST, Worship Warriors. 8:00 a.m. CST, Worship Celebration I, Pastor Rob Gates preaching. 9:10 a.m. CST, Family Study Hour. 10:10 a.m. CST, Worship Celebration 11. 6:00 p.m. CST, Evening service. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 6:00 p.m. CST, Studying the word, Missionary cadets. United Methodist Church Crossroads 4 And 23 North Liberty, Indiana Pastor James C. Stansell THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 7:30 p.m., Choir practice. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 2-5:00 p.m., 50th Anniversary Open House for Max and Elta Steele. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 9z;30 a.m., Christmas Cantata, ”A Song Was Born.” 10:30 a.m.. Coffee & Fellowship. 10:45 a.m., Sunday School for all ages. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 11:00 p.m., Christmas Eve. Candlelight, scriptures, carols and communion. RILEY HANDS 6LENN SECOND LOSS OF SEASON The South Bend Riley Wildcats were just too much team for the John Glenn Falcons Saturday night as the visiting Cats were in command all the way for a 78-61 victory. The loss, only Glenn’s second in six games, was the second to a South Bend school this year but at the level of competition that is needed by the Falcons. Riley’s quickness and strength were the big factors as they jumped to a 14-9 first quarter lead, and although only leading by three at halftime, 28-25, they were not to be denied in this game. They broke things wide open in the third quarter paced by Ford who totaled 29 points for the night. They moved to 66-40 lead after three periods and then coasted home for the 78-61 victory. Ford hit his 29 on 10 baskets, two being three-pointers, and 7 of 8 from the free throw line. He had double figure help from Owens with 15 and Scruggs with 13. The Falcons were paced by Rick O’Connor’s 18 points, including two three-pointers and 10 and 11 from the line. Kevin Winger and B. J.

Walls chipped in with 15 and 14 respectively. Play At Home Thursday The Falcons will conclude their action before the holiday break with a home game with South Central on Thursday evening. The B-Team is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. BOX SCORE Glenn fg ft fta p tp Winger 5 5 7 3 15 Stedman 3 0 0 2 7 Walls 4 4 4 2 14 O’Connor 3 10 11 3 18 Groves 22207 Seiders 0 0 0 0 0 Norris 0 0 0 0 0 Johnson 00000 TOTALS 17 21 24 10 61 Riley Hecht 3 0 0 3 6 Ford 10 7 8 0 29 Owens 6 3 7 4 15 Scruggs 6 1 2 3 13 Taylor 2 0 0 3 4 Battles 3 0 0 5 6 Swanson 1 2 2 0 5 Stultz 0 0 0 1 0 TOTALS 31 13 19 19 78 3-point goals: Riley 3, Ford 2, Swanson 1; Glenn 6, O’Connor 2, Walls 2, Stedman 1, Groves 1 Score By Quarters Riley 14 28 66 78 Glenn 9 25 40 61 Wise Men Confirm Jesus’ Birth "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying. 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.’ ’’ — lite Bible, Matthew 2 No creche would be complete without the three figures of the Wise Men, and yet little is actually known about them. But the mystery of their presence in the birth story his inspired poets and writers to specualte about their origin and significance. The term "wise men” had particular meaning to the Jews of the Old Testament period. About the time of the birth of Jesus were two outstanding rabbinical schools — Hillel and Schamai. Made up of pharisees, the schools were called "Assemblies of the Wise”. “The account of the arrival of the Wise Men confirms the fact that the expected event (the birth of Jesus) had long been known to the wise individuals. It also was confirmation that people came from afar bringing gifts because they had heard about this for many decades, if not generations,” said Kenneth R. R. Gros Louis, vice president, Indiana University and editor of two volumes of "Literary interpretations of Biblical Narratives”. He explained that being Wise Men, they understood that Herod was very unhappy about the birth, and after being warned in a vision, they ignored his instructions and returned to their homes by a different route to avoid reporting back to him. "To clarify, Herod felt threatened by Wise Men looking for a baby who was to be ‘king of the Jews’. Afterall, was he, Herod, not king? The Wise Men were smart enough to figure out that Herod meant the child some harm” Gros Louis said. That medieval writers were intrigued by the Wise Men is evident in their appearance as characters in two of the mystery plays performed in the English city of Chester. Too, an anonymous medieval author wrote “The Legend of the Three Kings of Cologne,” which made a connection between the Old Testament oracle, Balaam, and the Jesus birth story. Summoned from the city of pethor in Babylonia by King Balak of Moab, Balaam told the king something he did not want to hear, “I sec him, but not now; 1 behold

him, but not near” and that ”a star shall come forth out of Jacob, a comet arise from Isreal”. Balak had wanted Balaam to curse his enemies, the Israelites. There is a tradition which says that the Wise Men were descendants of Balaam, whose lore was handed down at least 1,000 years before the birth of Jesus. History has recorded that the Babylonians and Assyrians, neighbors of the Israelites, had more than a passing interest in astronomy and astrology. One surviving account of the education of an Assyrian youth says, ”1 Assur-bani-i pal, understood the wisdom of Na- । bu .. . I explained the heaven with the learned priests, recited the multiplications and divisions which • are not immediately apparent. • Actually, the origin of the name • "wise” in Greek was "Magos", whose definitions are "one of the priests or wise men of Persia” or i “an enchanter or wizard”. • Perhaps the most fanciful writer • who speculated about the Wise 1 Men was American Henry Van Dyke, author of the story, "The Other Wise Man". Artaban, the fourth Wise Man. had an appointment to meet the other three, who I were Babylonians, within 10 days of the conjunction of two planets. Artaban was delayed on his journey, because of his compassion for an ailing Jew he found along the way. Having missed both the other Wise Men and the family of Jesus in Bethlehem by three days, the seer’s odyssey took him over the Holy Land during the next 33 years, seeking the phenomenal person whose birth had been heralded by the star. Along the way, Artaban gradually gave away to the helpless and needy the jewels that had been intended as his gift to the baby. Finally, at the site of the crucifixion of Jesus, after giving up his last jewel and despairing over never seeing the one he had sought for so many years, he heard a voice, saying, ”Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me". One tradition says that the city of Cologne, Germany, is the final resting place of the three Wise Men; their remains purportedly brother there by Frederick Barbarossa, the German emperor, who sacked Milan, Italy, in 1162. According to the legend. Thomas, the apostle to India, had converted the Wise Men to Christianity. After they died, perhaps in Constantinople, their remains had been moved to Milan, where Frederick found them. Use The Gassifieds The flying fish, when pursued by enemies, can soar above the water from two to 15 seconds and cover distances of 45 to 200 yards WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS? The Salvation Army knows better. Donations of time and money make Christmas a reality for children who could only dream about it before Sharing is Caring For mon mformotmn on newts, nmfoto Th? S&otion Army. 799 Bbomfrtid Annul Vvtma NJ 07044