T H ET R U EW I T N E S SO N - L I N EM A G A Z I N E

SISTER VERNELL TURNERAssociate Editor

SISTER BEULAH PRI EST-W H I TE

Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Inc.

Chr istm as 2015

Editor

Unto us a child is born unto us a son is given

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TABLE OFCON T EN T S

4 Editor 's Note 5 Unto Us..... 9 Jesus is the Reason17 Chr istm as Tradit ions 23 Chr istm as Gifts28 Chr istm as M em or ies 35 After Chr istm as

Publications BoardBishop P.L. Frazier Jr.,

Chairperson

Sis. Glenda Adams

Rev. Charles Beamer

Dr. Anne W. Fannin

Sis. Elizabeth Hallums

Sis. Nadine C. Houston

Sis. Jeanete Hunt

Jr. Mother G.Y. Johnson

Mother Odessa W. McCoy

Rev. Dennis Moore

"But ye shall receive power; after that the Holy Ghost is

come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in

Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Sumaria, and unto

the uttermost parts of the earth."

Acts 1:8

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I love Christmas! It's my favorite holiday. I still "ooh" & "aah" at the lights and Christmas displays. I like everything about it: the hustle & bustle, the decorations, the traditions, the food, the celebrations, Christmas out-reach, family, & friends. I even like how people show their generosity during this season more than any other time of the year.Christmas is all about love. For God so loved the world... I'm glad about God's love, H is great gift of love, and what He's done for me. Every day with Jesus, I love H im more and more. He saves & keeps me, He is the One I adore! This edition of the On-line True Witness celebrates this joyous season. I hope you learn some new things about the season and are inspired to research some of the information presented. Special thanks to Bishop Patrick L. Frazier Jr., Pastor Valeria Jackson, and Sister Cathy Brezeale, South Carolina District #1, for being our guest columnists in this issue. I truly appreciate everyone who contributed to this special edition of the On-line True Witness.

Vernell Turner

EDIT OR'S N OT E

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?I want to see the blessed face of H im who died for me sacrificed his life for my Liberty He saved my life (before I ever knew it) He paid the price (He didn?t have to do it) And I Know

(I never can repay H im)But All M y Life (I will ever praise H is N ame)"

If you have never heard this song, I urge you to do so. It is an expression of what this sacrifice should mean to us as believers.During this Christmas Season, let?s look at the son that we all hear about as our rescuer and our Savior. He is looked at as a baby, born lowly, but mightily. He took away the Sins of this world just for us.Jesus did a great thing for us! These words were found in the (N IV) Student?s Life Application Bible -John 17: 1: Jesus Prays for himself?When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said,? Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one of you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life-to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began."Jesus is God?s Son, a suffering servant of all people.Did Disobedience Come: Let this Cup pass from me.But True Obedience Won: N ot my will but thy will be done.Parents are usually the best judge of their children?s character. Sometimes, after knowing this, they still try to make all (if they have more than one) of their children the same. Sometimes, even choosing the one they feel is best fitted for a task. Character is what helps us be who we have been called to become, whether its stubbornness, creativity, or outspokenness. Who we are on the outside is who we are on the inside. We might try to pretend, but eventually it will be showcased. H is obedience, H is devotion to H is father and H is humility toward all people showed that he was raised to HON OR.

Sister Cathy BreazealeSouth Carolina #1 D istrict

God?s Sacr ificial Love Toward M ankind

"Unto us a child is born? .Unto us a son is given. She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call him Jesus"

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H is N ame describes H is attributes, H is character, H is Power, and Work.Wonder ful - from the Hebrew word ?pela? which actually means wonder or miracle.The angel, Gabriel, came down to announce H is birth. H is conception was wonderful. M ary questioned, how could a virgin give birth? "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35H is childhood was wonderful."And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:40H is ministry was wonderful. It consisted of teaching, preaching, and healing. H is teachings were wonderful. "And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." Luke 4:32Jesus clothed H imself in worthless human flesh, endured the weakness - the prison of sinful flesh, set H is face toward Golgotha, and willingly submitted H imself to to the horrors and torture of crucifixion on our behalf. Yes, He is Wonderful!Counselor - from the Hebrew "yaats" (a verb): to advise, counselIn ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people (1 K ings 4:34; M icah 4:9). Isaiah uses this word again in 28:29 to describe the LORD: ?This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.? Jesus is a wise counselor. He is able to advise H is people thoroughly because He is qualified in

ways no human counselor is. In Christ is "hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge""(Colossians 2:3), including the knowledge of all human nature (Psalm 139:1?2). Jesus always knows what we are going through, and He always knows the right course of action (Hebrews 4:15?16).M ighty God - Hebrew - "El Gibbor" - "El" - God, "Gibbor" - strong, mightyThe Hebrew word "gibbor" describes heroes like N imrod, ?a mighty one ? a mighty hunter before the LORD? (Genesis 10:8-9), and the ?mighty men? of K ing David of Israel (2 Samuel 23:8). It?s a word depicting bravery, courage, and action. Here God reveals H imself in words that portray H im as a great warrior and points to the day when all of God?s enemies, physical and spiritual, will be vanquished. Everlast ing Father - Hebrew word "?Avi?ad"He is the Father of Eternity, time, & all creatures made in time. In union with the Father, & the Holy Ghost, He is God, one with the Father & Father of all things, the maker & upholder of all creatures - John 1:1-4, Hebrews 1:2-3. He is the Father of all believers and the author of eternal life & salvation to them - Hebrews 5:9. He is the Everlasting Father who will affirm, guide, correct, forgive, and love us.Pr ince of Peace - Hebrew "Sar Shalom" - "Sar" - Prince, "Shalom" - PeaceSar means Commander, Chief, Ruler, Captain, Prince. The Hebrew word for ?peace? is shalom. It is often used in reference to an appearance of calm and tranquility of individuals, groups, and nations. The deeper, more foundational meaning of peace is ?the spiritual harmony

"? .and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting

Father, The Prince of Peace"

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brought about by an individual?s restoration with God.?Because of Christ?s sacrifice, we are restored to a relationship of peace with God (Romans 5:1). This is the deep, abiding peace between our hearts and our Creator and the ultimate fulfillment of Christ?s work as ?Prince of Peace.?

- excerpts from gotquestions.org. Bible Hub, the Mud Preacher

A Story of PeaceN ovember 21, 1873, in the icy waters of the Atlantic, 2 ships suddenly collided. When told her passenger ship, the Ville de H avre was sinking, a young mother gathered her 4 daughters on deck for a family prayer meeting. This young mother knelt with her daughters Annie (10), M aggie (8), Bessie (5) and Tanetta (2) and prayed that they might be saved or else be made willing to die. Ira Sankey revealed in his memoirs that Annie and M aggie had come to know Jesus in a small meeting in Chicago just months before. As the family huddled together, 3 of the daughters were swept away by the icy waves. Anna Spafford clung to her remaining daughter, Tanetta, but the force of the waves was too strong. Her daughter was snatched away by the angry sea, and the distraught mother was knocked unconscious. She was rescued by sailors from the Loch Earn.Back in the US, Horatio Spafford was waiting for news of his family, and at last, 10 days later (after the rescue ship had reached Cardiff), it came. ?Saved alone, what shall I do? was his wife?s message. Imagine the effect of this horrible tragedy. It had only

been a few months since the Chicago fire on October 8, 1871 caused the destruction of most of his real estate investments. N ow God had not only taken his wealth but also his family. For Horatio, it was a loss which could not be reversed in this life, yet he found that peace which indeed passes all understanding. Toward morning he told a friend named M ajor Whittle, ?I am glad to be able to trust my Lord when it costs me something.? Then, sometime later, as he reflected on the disaster at sea, he wrote this well known hymn:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea-billows roll; Whatever my

lot, Thou hast taught me to say,It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin? Oh, the bliss of this glorious thought,My sin? not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, 0 my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,The trump shall resound and the Lord shall

descend,?Even so?? it is well with my soul.

Such tragedy could only become peace because Horatio Spafford knew intimately the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

"? .and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting

Father, The Prince of Peace"(continued)

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M icah 5:2"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."I saiah 7:14"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."I saiah 9:6 - 7"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."Luke 1:30 - 35"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, M ary: for thou hast found favour with God.And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the H ighest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.Then said M ary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the H ighest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."Luke 1:39 - 45"And M ary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

CHRISTM AS SCRIPTURES

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And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of M ary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."M atthew 1:18 - 25"N ow the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother M ary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee M ary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.N ow all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as

the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."Luke 2:1 - 20"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of N azareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)To be taxed with M ary his espoused wife, being great with child.And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Chr istmas Scr iptures (continued)

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And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.And they came with haste, and found M ary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.But M ary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."M atthew 2:1 - 12"N ow when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,Saying, Where is he that is born K ing of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art

not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with M ary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."

Chr istmas Scr iptures (continued)

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Advent begins on any day between N ovember 27th and December 3rd. It always contains four Sundays and ends on Christmas Eve. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning ?coming?. The season proclaims the coming of the Christ child.The liturgical color for Advent is purple, representing both penitence and royalty. The primary symbols of Advent are the Advent Wreath and the Chrismon Tree.Advent Wreath: Advent Wreaths are a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passing of the four Sundays in Advent. A horizontal evergreen wreath and four candles are used. Often a fifth candle is placed in the center of the wreath. One new candle in the wreath is lit each Sunday before Christmas. The fifth candle called the Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Different congregations use different color candles on the wreath. The Christ Candle is always white. Some congregations use all blue, which represents hope and waiting, or all purple, which represents royalty, candles in their wreaths. In the Western World three purple candles and one rose candle are often used. The rose candle, which represents joy, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent. The third Sunday

of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete comes from the Latin and means rejoice and is the reason for the rose candle.

T he Chr istm as SeasonChristmas is not just 1 day. The Christmas Season also known as Christmas Tide includes the 12 days from sunset on Christmas Eve (December 24) through the Epiphany which is January 6.The word Christmas comes from the Old English Christes maesse (Christ M ass), meaning ?festival of Christ.? The season of Epiphany is a time in the life of the Christian year that marks the coming of the wise men to the manger and celebrates the appearance of Christ?s light and love in the world.The word Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning ?revelation? or ?manifestation?. Popular usage likens epiphany to words such as eureka or aha! Use of this word by some English speakers conjures images of having a light bulb turned on, or of being able to see something that was once hidden from view.Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of the divine nature of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the M agi. These M agi or Wise M en were non-Jews. Some sources suggest that they were priestly descendants of one of the tribes of the M edes known for their knowledge of the stars (astronomy) and their ability to interpret dreams.It was a common belief that when a world leader, like a king, was born that a special stellar phenomenon would appear in the sky. The M agi saw something that convinced them that they had seen the long-awaited sign. H istorians tell us that the Jews, the Romans, and the Persians were all watching the skies about that time, looking for signs of the birth of an extraordinary king.

Advent & The Chr istmas Season

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A few years before, around 11 BC, H alley's Comet had been seen. There were other stellar phenomena, including a bright star, Sirius, which appeared brightly in the daytime instead of at night. The Wise M en saw the star and began their journey.Their journey took them outside their country and their comfort zone. The Wise M en risked the consequences of disobeying Herod and returned to their country by another way.The Wise M en set out to find a newborn K ing by following a star and ended up in finding a baby born to young, relatively poor parents! They did the thing that people in the East or in Africa or in India would do when visiting royalty. They brought gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

- excerpts from the United Methodist Ministries & Churches

Chr ism onsChrismons are Christmas decorations with Christian symbols on them. They help Christians to remember that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus's birthday. They are often used on Christmas Trees in Churches and Christian homes.They were first made by Frances K ipps Spencer at the Ascension Lutheran

Church in Danville, Virginia, USA. She also thought of the word, Chrismon, which is a combination of Christ and monogram (meaning symbol). The idea quickly spread to other churches. Chrismons are traditionally coloured white and gold. White is the liturgical (or Church) colour for Christmas and symbolizes that Jesus was pure and perfect. Gold symbolizes H is M ajesty and Glory. Chrismons can be made from nearly anything, but paper and embroidered ones are the most widely used.You can make your own. Patterns for Chrismons are readily available on the Internet. Below is a list of a few of the symbols used for Chrismons: - Alpha and Omega: The first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet are used in this Chrismon to signify that Christ is the beginning and ending of all things. This is mentioned in the Bible in Revelation 1:8.

- Butterfly: The butterfly is a symbol of Christ's resurrection and eternal life. Just as the butterfly emerges from its cocoon and flies upward with a new body, the followers of Jesus Christ are reborn and given a new life.- Cross and crown: The cross and crown symbolizes a Christian's reward in heaven for being a faithful servant while living on earth. See Revelation 2:10.- M anger: The manger reminds us to be humble, and represents the simplicity of the birth and life of Jesus.

-W hy Christmas, Times & D emocrat

Advent & The Chr istmas Season (continued)

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M atthew 2 tells us that the magi, or wise men, travelled from the East in search of the Christ child. They inquired of K ing Herod where they might find H im, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him" (M atthew 2:2). Upon finding the baby Jesus, ?they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh? (M atthew 2:11).Gold is a precious metal and as such was a very valuable commodity. Its value could very well have financed Joseph and M ary?s trip to Egypt. The Bible does not tell us any other significance to these three gifts; however, tradition has it that there is a deeper meaning for each of the three. Gold is a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible. Pagan idols were often made from gold and the Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold (Exodus 25:10-17). The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of H is divinity? God in flesh.Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34). Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was

symbolic of H is willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving H imself up, analogous to a burnt offering.M yrrh was also a product of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It was a spice and was used in embalming. It was also sometimes mingled with wine to form an article of drink. Such a drink was given to our Savior when He was

about to be crucified, as a stupefying potion (M ark 15:23). M atthew 27:34 refers to it as ?gall.? M yrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction. The baby Jesus would grow to suffer greatly as a man and would pay the ultimate price when He gave H is life on the cross for all who would believe in H im.

www.gotquestions.org

Why did the Magi br ing gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus?

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If we were going to visit someone in another town or city, we might first ask someone who knew how to get there to give us some directions. They would probably give some general directions and recommend some roads for us to take. We could also use a map to find out how to get there (or the maps/GPS on our smart phone). We would check the map as we traveled to know where we were. If we follow the directions we received and check the map, we will surely find our way.After Jesus was born, some wise men heard that a K ing had been born. They wanted to find the K ing so that they could worship and honor him. They went to Jerusalem and asked some priests there if they knew where to find the K ing. The priests knew where Jesus was to be born, because they had been told by the prophet M icah, so they told the wise men that they would find the new K ing in Bethlehem. N ow, the wise men did not have a map (or GPS) to guide them to Bethlehem, but they had something even better. God gave them a star to guide them. So the wise men followed the directions that the priests had given them and followed the star that God gave them and it led them right to Jesus. When they found him, they gave him gifts and bowed down and worshiped him.Wise men today are still seeking Jesus. We don't look for H im in Bethlehem, because he is no longer there. He is on H is throne in heaven. We don't need a map to help us find H im -- we don't even need a star to help us find H im. We can find our way to Jesus by reading God's

Holy Word! The Bible is our map and our star. It leads us to Jesus.

- excerpts from www.sermonsforkids.com

WORD SEARCHBET H LEH EM

EAST

FRAN K IN CEN SE

GI FT S

GOLD

M YRRH

STAR

WISE

WORSH IP

H EROD

Wise Men Seek JesusChildren's Lesson

Matthew 2:1-12

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A Christmas tradition is a transfer or continuation of something done to celebrate Christmas from generation to generation.France: 'Joyeux N oël!'In France, Christmas is called N oel. This comes from the French phrase les bonnes nouvelles, which means "the good news" and refers to the gospel.Italy: 'Buon N atale!'Italians call Chrismas I l N atale, meaning "the birthday."Central Am er icaA manger scene is the primary decoration in most southern European, Central American, and South American nations. St.

Francis of Assisi created the first living nativity in 1224 to help explain the birth of Jesus to his followers.

excerpts from History.orgT he Catholic Church designates the 4 weeks preceding Christmas as Advent, a time to prepare the way of the Lord for H is coming as K ing and Savior. Catholic children also decorate a Jesse Tree. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. Each day through advent a special decoration or ornament, that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the tree.Latter D ay Saints: a common tradition is to display a N ativity scene or

protray a "live" N ativity Scene with Actors & live animals..FBH Churches: Christmas Sunrise Service - typically held at 6:30 a.m. Christmas morning. Annual Christmas Program - usually orchestrated by the Sunday School Superintendent - Plays, skits, & recitations followed by Sunday School gifts and treat bags or containers (apples, oranges, nuts, candy).Editor 's Tradit ion: M y sister- in- law introduced me to an organization that provides Christmas cookies you donate to prisoners. You can bring any number of cookies or type. You can also volunteer to help wrap the cookies.Share your traditions on our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/FireBatizedChurch.

CHRISTM AS TRADITION S

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The birth of Jesus was celebrated by music: ?And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.? (Luke 2:13-14). Christians of the 1st century continued the tradition of the angels. There are historical records from as early as 129 AD of songs written specifically for Christmas celebrations. These Christmas songs were primarily written in Latin, and were not called Carols, but hymns. The word carol comes from the French word carole, meaning circle dance, or song of praise and joy. The singing of carols did not originate with Christianity, but

with the pagan practice of celebrating the seasons. The Winter Solstice celebration generally took place around the 22nd of December. It was this time of the year that the Christians claimed for their own celebration of the birth of Christ. Interestingly, although the pagan celebrations took place during all four seasons, only the winter celebration has survived - not as a pagan celebration of season; but as the Christian celebration of Christmas. The majority of the first Christmas Carols were written in Latin, which was understood only by members of the elite churched few. Because of this, by the M iddle Ages (the 1200s) the majority of Christians lost interest in the singing of Christmas

Carols. In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi revived an interest in Christmas and in the singing of Carols. He started putting on musical plays in which the majority of the songs were written in the language of the common people. Because of his efforts, the singing of Christmas Carols once again began to spread throughout Europe. M ost of these new Carols were not based strictly on Scripture, but were simply light-hearted stories, sung by traveling minstrels and changed from town to town to fit the desires of various communities. These Carols were rarely sung in church. Instead, the music resounded from the streets, and in the homes.Because the Carols were not strictly Scriptural, and not

written in Latin, there were those who considered them inappropriate. With the coming of the Puritans to England in 1647, the celebration of Christmas and the singing of Carols disappeared from church services altogether. The joy of Christmas and its music however, survived in secret. During the Great Reformation (beginning in 1570), there was a revival of hymns, including the singing of Christmas Carols in the language of the people. And although it would be many years before the Christmas Carol would come into its own, new freedoms were coming to the common people, including the right to worship as they chose, and to sing music how, when, and where they pleased.

CHRISTM ASCAROLS

By Sharefaith.com

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During the Victorian era (1837-1901 ), two men by the names of William Sandys and Davis Gilbert published a collection of Christmas songs, old and new from various villages in England. Thus, the singing of Christmas Carols was revived. People began singing on the streets, in homes, in churches, for money and for free. The tradition of 'Carolling' from home to home was born, along with the giving of alms (money, food, wassail, gifts) to the singers. In honour of the angels announcement to the shepherds and of the star leading the wise men, the custom of lighting candles while singing on Christmas Eve was instituted. This custom remains popular today and is often referred to as the Candlelight Service.The songs that were once quieted because of fear and ignorance, now sound out freely throughout much of the world, not only from Christian homes and churches, but also from elevators and skate parks and shopping mall sound systems. Even unbelievers enjoy the music and the sights; the lights and the trees. And although many of the traditions may have lost some of their original meaning, and in spite of the actual Saint N icholas evolvement into a jolly ol' elf, even the skeptics cannot deny the spirit of giving that prevails. M ost everyone knows that Christmas time is somehow different from all the other seasons. N o matter what style of music a person may choose to enjoy the rest of the year, the traditional Christmas Carol breaks through the musical preferences and barriers, to be universally recognized as the most beloved music of all people; of all times.

Silent N ight (1818)Words: Josef M ohrMusic: Franz X aver GruberConsidered to be the world?s most popular Christmas carol. It comes in several different

translations from the German original. It started out as a poem by the Austrian Catholic priest, Father Josef M ohr, in 1816. Two years later, M ohr was curate at the parish church of St N icola in Oberndorf when he asked the organist and local schoolteacher Franz X aver Gruber to put music to his words.It was first performed at midnight mass on Christmas Eve 1818, with M ohr and Gruber themselves taking the solo voice roles.Its fame eventually spread and it famously played a key role in the unofficial truce in the trenches in 1914 because it was one of the only carols that both British and German soldiers knew.

H ark! T he H erald Angels Sing (1739 or earlier)Words: Charles WesleyMusic: Felix M endelssohnCharles, the brother of M ethodist founder John Wesley, penned as many as 9,000 hymns and poems, of which this is one of his best-known. It was said to be inspired by the sounds of the bells as he walked to church one Christmas morning and has been through several changes. It was originally entitled H ark How All the Welkin R ings ? welkin being an old word meaning sky or heaven.As with most of his hymns, Wesley did not stipulate which tune it should be sung to, except to say that it should be ?solemn?. The modern version came about when organist William H ayman Cummings adopted it to a tune by German composer Felix M endelssohn in the 1850s.

Chr istmas Carols (continued)

-excerpts from Historyextra.com

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O' H oly N ight (1847)Words: Placide Cappeau de RoquemaureMusic: Adolphe Charles AdamsIn 1847, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure was the commissionaire of wines in a small French town. Known more for his poetry than his church attendance, it probably shocked Placide when his parish priest asked the commissionaire to pen a poem for Christmas mass. N evertheless, the poet was honored to share his talents with the church.In a dusty coach traveling down a bumpy road to France's capital city, Placide Cappeau considered the priest's request. Using the gospel of Luke as his guide, Cappeau imagined witnessing the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Thoughts of being present on the blessed night inspired him. By the time he arrived in Paris, "Cantique de N oel" had been completed.M oved by his own work, Cappeau decided that his "Cantique de N oel" was not just a poem, but a song in need of a master musician's hand. N ot musically inclined himself, the poet turned to one of his friends, Adolphe Charles Adams, for help. As a man of Jewish ancestry, for Adolphe the words of "Cantique de N oel" represented a day he didn't celebrate and a man he did not view as the son of God. N evertheless, Adams quickly went to work, attempting to marry an original score to Cappeau's beautiful words. Adams' finished work pleased both poet and priest. The song was performed just three weeks later at a M idnight M ass on Christmas Eve.Initially, "Cantique de N oel" was wholeheartedly accepted by the church in France and the song quickly found its way into various Catholic Christmas services. But when Placide Cappeau walked away from the church and became a part of the

socialist movement, and church leaders discovered that Adolphe Adams was a Jew, the song--which had quickly grown to be one of the most beloved Christmas songs in France--was suddenly and uniformly denounced by the church. The heads of the French Catholic church of the time deemed "Cantique de N oel" as unfit for church services. Yet even as the church tried to bury the Christmas song, the French people continued to sing it, and a decade later a reclusive American writer brought it to a whole new audience halfway around the world.N ot only did this American writer--John Sullivan Dwight--feel that this wonderful Christmas songs needed to be introduced to America, he saw something else in the song that moved him beyond the story of the birth of Christ. An ardent abolitionist, Dwight strongly identified with the lines of the third verse: "Truly he taught us to love one another; his law is love and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother; and in his name all oppression shall cease." The text supported Dwight's own view of slavery in the South. Published in his magazine, Dwight's English translation of "O Holy N ight" quickly found found favor in America, especially in the N orth during the Civil War.* * * * *Adams had been dead for many years and Cappeau and Dwight were old men when on Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden--a 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison--did something long thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time in history, a man's voice was broadcast over the airwaves:

Chr istmas Carols (continued)

-excerpts from " Stor ies Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Chr istmas"

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O' H oly N ight (continued)"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed," he began in a clear, strong voice, hoping he was reaching across the distances he supposed he would.Shocked radio operators on ships and astonished wireless owners at newspapers sat slack-jawed as their normal, coded impulses, heard over tiny speakers, were interrupted by a professor reading from the gospel of Luke. To the few who caught this broadcast, it must have seemed like a miracle--hearing a voice somehow transmitted to those far away. Some might have believed they were hearing the voice of an angel.Fessenden was probably unaware of the sensation he was causing on ships and in offices; he couldn't have known that men and women were rushing to their wireless units to catch this Christmas Eve miracle. After finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, Fessenden picked up his violin and played "O Holy N ight," the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves. When the carol ended, so did the broadcast--but not before music had found a new medium that would take it around the world.

* * * *Since that first rendition at a small Christmas mass in 1847, "O Holy N ight" has been sung millions of times in churches in every corner of the world. And since the moment a handful of people first heard it played over the radio, the carol has gone on to become one of the entertainment industry's most recorded and played spiritual songs. This incredible work--requested by a forgotten parish priest, written by a poet who would later split from the church, given soaring music by a Jewish composer, and brought to Americans to serve as much as a tool to

spotlight the sinful nature of slavery as tell the story of the birth of a Savior--has become one of the most beautiful, inspired pieces of music ever created.12 D ays of Chr istm asIs an English Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the Church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. The "True Love" one hears in the song is not a smitten boy or girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas Day. The partridge in the pear tree also represents H im because that bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by feigning injury to draw away predators.According to Ann Ball in her book, HAN DBOOK OF CATHOLIC SACRAM EN TALS:The two turtle doves were the Old and N ew TestamentsThe three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.The four calling birds were the four gospels of M atthew, M ark, Luke, and John.The five golden rings represented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior.The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Chr istmas Carols (continued)

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12 D ays of Chr istm as (continued)Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and M ercy.The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.N ine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [K indness], M ildness, Fidelity, M odesty, Continency [Chastity].The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.- excerpts from The Catholic Tradition

We T hree K ingsThe Christmas carol, "We Three K ings" is one of the most popular carols ever written. It was written by Rev. John Henry Hopkins Jr. In 1857, while teaching music at the General Theological Seminary in N ew York, Rev. Hopkins wrote the hymn, "We Three K ings" for a Christmas pageant that was presented at the Seminary that Christmas. He probably wrote the hymn with his nieces and nephews in mind. He traveled from N ew York to Vermont every Christmas to visit them, where his father, John H . Hopkins. Sr., was the long time Episcopal Bishop for the State of Vermont. The family always had a dramatization of M atthew chapter 2 and the entire Christmas Story. The hymn was sung

by the family for the next two years, and was so popular with family and friends that by 1863 it had been published by Rev. Hopkins in his first collection of "Carols, Hymns, and Songs". It was reprinted in 1865 with illustrations. The original title of the hymn was "Three K ings of Orient". It was probably these illustrations that pictured only three wise men on camels (The Bible does not mention how many wise men followed the star).Little did John Hopkins know the theological implications of his hymn when he wrote both words and music.

-excepts from Warren Shiver article in The Gaffney Ledger

Chr istmas Carols (continued)

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Gifts

- something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present. - the act of giving. - something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned: - a special ability or capacity; natural endowment; talent:

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Holiday greetings to everyone! I am Leslie Spangenberg and I teach journalism and argumentative writing at H amilton Freshman School in H amilton, Ohio. This is my third year in the classroom as a licensed teacher but my eleventh year in education. Throughout my years in the classroom, I tend to remember one or two students each year based on behavior or contributions. With so many, I cannot tell you about the first interaction, but I can recall their names for years to come. Daniel Sutton will definitely be one name I remember.Since the very first week, Daniel exhibited strong leadership skills. I recognized determination and a drive that many of his peers seem to lack. Given his placement in honors classes, I assumed he had already been identified as a gifted student. H amilton City Schools offers a gifted test for all academic areas as well as fine arts. I was surprised to hear that Daniel had neither been tested nor knew anything about the opportunity. After a conversation with M rs. Sutton, I recommended Daniel to be tested on multiple subjects. One moment will forever stick out in this first year of teaching journalism. Daniel was selected to be the editor- in-chief of our publications. During our first print publication process, I had created a system to identify students ready to move on to the next step and those who failed to complete a written assignment. Before I could even share with Daniel, he was taking control of the situation and separating his peers into the

two groups. I knew from that moment that future editor- in-chiefs will have the difficult task of living up to expectations Daniel has created for the position. Daniel has received his test scores and I did not need a test to tell me that he is a gifted student. Daniel is well liked by his peers, and I notice friendly competition between them to perform better on tests or in the class on the whole. Daniel is appreciated by his teachers for being such a driven student who turns in assignments and always participates in class. Administration and district employees know Daniel for his creativity and determination to make himself known (in a

positive way). And, I have no problem bragging about him because I know that Daniel?s future is bright and no obstacle will be too much for him to overcome. I often say I wish I could duplicate some of my students to make the classroom more enjoyable. Daniel Sutton will always be one of those students in my many years to come in my education profession.

Mrs. Leslie SpangenbergHamilton Freshman School

Journalism/Argumentative W riting

Daniel SuttonYoungest son of Pastor Joseph Sutton and Reverend Rosa Sutton, National Directress of Junior Mission, 3rd Episcopal Diocese

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Even though this does not in any way compare to what God did for us, when he gave his ON LY Son, Jesus to bring us back to H im. I found myself thinking of a situation when I was in M iddle School. I always loved school and my parents. One day, I asked my mother, SC#1 District M other Edith M ansell, if I could stay with my Aunt Ethel. She was my mother?s sister and had no children. That was the only reason I gave my mother for the request.M y parents had six children. Without hesitation my mother said, ?Yes.? I have five siblings. So, at the time, I figured one less would be great for her. But now, I realize that wasn?t the real reason at all. She saw me as her eccentric child, so she didn?t ask me why nor did she make me feel sad for wanting to leave her. I stayed with my Aunt until I was 23 years old. M y Aunt died suddenly in 2011 from a heart attack. M y life with her consisted of a lot of reading. She ordered novels all the time. She watched Christian T V all the time and I either had to watch that or read.

I visited my mother quite often and I played plenty of sports. M y Aunt was a very intelligent woman, as is my mother. The great thing about all of this is my relationship with my mother - It seems like we never were apart!

I salute you, Deaconess Edith M ansell, for allowing me an opportunity to get to know my aunt. This helped me understand what a great woman of God you are and how blessed my siblings and I are to have you in our LIVES.Thank you Bishop P. L. Frazier, Jr. Elder R .J. Shackleford, I, Pastor Cody Breeze, and

Sister Vernell Turner for this opportunity.

M erry Chr istm as!!!!

Sister Cathy BreazealeSmith Chapel FBH Church

Pickens, South Carolina

Mother Edith MansellDistrict Mother

South Carolina District #1

?Mother Showing Sacr ificial Love For Me?

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Pastor D rucil la Robinson100 Years Young!Pastor Drucilla Verdell Bailey Robinson, a sweet woman of God, was born in Fountain Inn, South Carolina to the late John and M oriah Bailey. On Wednesday, December 23, 2015, she celebrated 100 years of life at Laurel Baye Health Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Sister Patricia Jenkins and her niece, M rs. Dianne M oore, did a wonderful job coordinating the event.Friends, family, Church family, and clergy flowed in and out of the Rehabilitation Center from 1:00 pm to 6:00 p.m. to share the gift of Pastor Drucilla Robinson. At 100 years of age she is still quite alert. You can view videos from the celebration on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/patricia.jenkins.94/videos/10205358042382423/

M other is one of 17 children. She and her sister are the only survivors in her family. Her sister was unable to attend the

celebration. Pastor was married to the late John Henry Robinson in 1935. They had three sons, John Albert, Willie James, and Randy. Reverend Robinson has been a member of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church for more than 50 years and is currently a member of M acedonia F.B.H . Church in Greenville, South Carolina. She has served as pastor of M t. Olive F.B.H . Church & M t. Z ion F.B.H . Church in Greer, South Carolina, Fuller Temple F.B.H . Church in Anderson, South Carolina, and Smith Chapel F.B.H . Church in Pickens, South Carolina.

Sister Cleve A. M ackA Note of T hanks"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: : blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Psalm 34:8I'm sending a very special "Thank You!" for all my Birthday financial Love Gifts. Thank you to all our bishops & their families: Bishop P.L. Frazier Jr., Bishop J.L. Davis, Bishop A.L. Rodgers, our N ational Officers, Elders, Pastors, District Officers, and the sweet Saints. Each year, Pastor Carolyn Owens organizes this celebration around the time of my birthday, December 7. Your support is greatly appreciated!I have been a member of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church for 65 wonderful years. Aging is not always convenient, but, it can be productive. I focus on the "Can Do's" instead of the "What I Used to Do's". By following the example of Christ, we can create a blueprint for the next generation.Love and Prayers,Sister Cleve A. M ack

Gifts of L ife

Mother Drucilla RobinsonSister Patrica Jenkins, Standing

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Sister Elizabeth Rum phEX T RA EX T RA READ ALL ABOUT IT !On December 19, 2014, Elizabeth H . Rumph was in the hospital because of a major stroke. She was in the hospital and rehabilitation center until April of 2015. Who knows, what the devil meant for bad, God will turn it around for your good. And He is doing that on our behalf. Are you ready for the big praise report?Sister Elizabeth H . Rumph went to church on Sunday, December 20, 2015 and walked all the way to the front to her seat, with the aid of a walker. Isn't God good? Look what the Lord has done with your prayers!!She still has a long way to go. Sister Rumph is working hard in Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy. It is our goal to see each and every one of you in M ay at the 100th Sisters of Charity Convention.M erry Christmas to you and your lovely families! Please continue to pray for M om (Sister Rumph) and me. We love you!Angel JacksonSister Rumph celebrated her birthday at the Olive Garden Restaurant on December 31,2015.

Gifts of L ife (continued)

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Christmas is a wonderful time of year. A time to appreciate & celebrate our many gifts: Christ, Family, and friends. This sections contains memories of Christmas in the form of recipes, short stories, and Christmas greetings. N ation M other M argaret Watson & D aughter, V irginia Watson"From our house to yours... M ay the roads you travel in 2016 lead to great success because of the N ew born

K ing ! He is the K ing of

K ings and the Lord of Lord!"A Chr istm as M em ory of Rev. Charlie Young Sr The last Christmas Holiday I spent with my dad was in December 2014. On December 19th, 2014 around 5:30 pm we traveled south to Williamson, South Carolina to attend a Christmas dinner in which Dad Young along with Sister Edith Durham Dennis started in 1978.This fellowship has improved and gotten greater each year. The Lord keeps on blessing! Once we arrived, we were greeted by the Saints. Devotion started in the sanctuary, God's holy spirit made us feel even more welcome. Dad began to sing "I'm glad to be in the number one more time". We felt the presence of the almighty God. After the blessing of the food we

M erry Christmas!"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

& CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

29

went into the Fellowship H all for a delicious, fantastic dinner. When dinner was just about over, the Saints began to share their testimonies and gratitude for seeing Dad Young as he was known to some and Father Young to others. One of the guests that traveled with us wanted to hear Dad Young sing a little bit more of "I'm glad to be in the number one more time". Wow! The anointing fell upon several along with Dad Young. They all rejoiced as never before. I had no earthly idea that this would be the last time I would hear my dad sing..... I spent Christmas Day with the Young's side of the family, Dad being the only sibling left of eight. Again he was recognized with a special presentation by one of his great nephews. Of course, I'm a little saddened as we prepare for Christmas Days this year. It seems as if he is still here telling me to get the food ready for Christmas Day. Oh, how sweet and happy his last Christmas Holidays were with me and the memories I will treasure! M erry Christmas Dad Young! R . I. P. I love you, Ruby (M s Queen) YoungDistrict Editor, South Western N orth Carolina DistrictRev. Shedr ic M cGauley Jr.As we approach the Christmas Holiday, we come upon a time of not only giving, but a time of celebration! We celebrate the birth of the born, risen, and

living K ing, Jesus Christ! So, from my heart to the heart of everyone near and far, I extend love and well wishes during my favorite time of the year! Let?s also remember to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas!M erry Christmas and a H appy N ew Year with love! Reverend Shedric M cGauley Jr.Amazing South Florida District

MemoriesMemories are a special house

We build inside ourselvesWhere love and laughter linger,Where all our past life dwells.On holidays like ChristmasWe can draw upon the store

Reliving happy timesAnd feeling all that warmth once more.

Wherever we may travel,This house is always there

To help to blend the old and new,To build on . . . grow . . . and share.

This house can never get too full,Just grow from floor to floor,Because the joy of memories

Is always making more.

Evangelist Sondra F. M cKoySeason?s Greetings!I remember celebrating Christmas as a child growing up in M ount Z ion FBH Church, Philadelphia, Pa. At that time Bishop N .T. Scott was my pastor (He was Elder then). We, as the youth, could not wait for the Christmas program.It started 5:00 pm sharp. We had Christmas solos, Christmas speeches, Christmas Skits, and most of all we couldn?t wait for Sis Christine Scott?s part in the program to display all the youth she worked with through the year (I was one of them, of course). She played and I sang my Christmas Song. Sometimes I would be in tune,

Chr istmas Memor ies (continued)

31

sometimes out of tune, and sometimes no tune at all. But she never gave up on me as a soloist. I am grateful for every voice lesson she ever gave. The highlight of the Christmas program was when they brought out the white bags with red ribbons tied to keep them closed. In those bags was a child?s dream come true. The bags contained: that hard Christmas Candy, N uts, two pieces of fruit which was an apple & an orange, and a candy cane. Boy! We were so thankful to get that bag! Out of all the gifts we may have received, we always looked forward to that white bag from M t Z ion at Christmas Time.I am very thankful today for growing up in M t Z ion, although the Saints were strict, they knew how to let us be children in the church. Even though we enjoyed the goodies, M t Z ion taught us the true meaning of Christmas. In closing, I would like to share my Christmas recitation when I was eleven years old (I still know it):See those lovely gifts, they are gifts for Christmas

day.I thought I?d keep them all myself not one I give

away.But something plainly told me that surely not the

wayTo spread love, Joy and happiness when it is

Christmas Day So I quickly changed my mind and now I know

it?s true.It?s much more fun to give than get

Try it you will like it too!

M erry Chr istm as! Evangelist Sondra F. M ckoy, N orth Florida District

Frank M organ Jr.'s Chr istm as Speech taught to him by his grandm other, the late Evangelist Cornelia M . M organ

"Why you looking at me so hard for?I didn't come to stay.

I come to tell youthat Jesus was born today!"

Pastor Yvette ClarkN ew H ope FBH ChurchM y sister and I were raised by my Grandma, Sister Ann Tolbert. Her youngest son, Leon, was our age. He just knew he was going to get a bicycle for Christmas and we weren't.On Christmas morning, my sister and I both had bikes. They weren't new like Leon's, but they rode fine. We peddled down M ansfield on Christmas morning with the rest of the neighborhood kids. Yes, I have to say, that was the best Christmas!

T hink About I t ....Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.

- Dale Evans Rogers

Chr istmas Memor ies (continued)

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T he Parks Fam ilyOur most memorable Christmas was when our mother, M other M azie Parks, gave birth to our youngest sister, M arcie Parks. What an exciting time it was for our family. Our father, the late Rev. Winston C. Parks, who passed 6 months after her birth, was so proud of the new edition to our family. We are so grateful that God granted our family with one of H is best gifts when He gave us M arcie. It has been 34 years and she still is our favorite Christmas gift. Here is a photo of M ama with her 6

children. M arcie Parks is the one next to M ama in the blue dress.The Parks FamilyParks Grove FBH ChurchLincolnton, GASoutheast Georgia DistrictCynthia H il lSouthwest Ohio D istr ict I don't have a favorite Christmas memory. But, I miss M ama' Collards & Dumplings.In memory of the late Pastor U.W. H ill - Southwest Ohio District, here is a recipe for Collards & Dumplings.Prepare your collard greens as usual and add cornmeal dumplings towards the last 10

minutes of boiling.Cornm eal D um plingsIngredients:1 cup of cornmeal (yellow or white)1/8 teaspoon of saltblack or red

pepper to taste boiling water Directions:1. M ix dry ingredients together.2. Pour in just enough boiling water to form a very thick paste3. Stir(The trick is to be sure and use boiling water. It makes the dough stick together.) 4. Use your hands to form the dough into balls.

5. Add the balls of dough to your greens for about the last ten minutes that they are boiling.

Do N OT stir the pot or you will break up the dumplings. You can optionally add chopped onions

when forming the dough balls.

Chr istmas Memor ies (continued)

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M em or ies - Vernell TurnerChristmas was big at our house growing up. We didn't get toys at any other time of the year, not even on our birthdays (and we never had a birthday party).We loved to go rehearse for the Christmas Program with Sister Augusta Howard, whom we affectionately called "Sister Gussie". She walked to our house to pick us up and my sister and I would walk with her to the church and back (I calculate the distance, with the help of Google, to be a little over a mile each way).In those days my grandmother, the late Evangelist C.M . M organ made our dresses for Christmas. The dresses always had puff sleeves, organdy overlays and big sashes in the back. M y mother could not tie a pretty

bow for our

dresses. But, Daddy could. That was his job every time we went to church.We loved the dresses then, because we got to wear a "can can" slip to make the dress poof out, and we liked to spin around in the dress.

We had to be careful because the bottom of our church shoes were slippery.....Even though my mom seldom went to church with us on Sundays, she always came to the Christmas Program to hear us say our speech. M y aunt, who grew up in the church but got turned out, came too, and of course, my Grandmother was there.We had to curtsy before & after saying our speech, and, we could not stammer or get help saying it. We always got a treat bag that we could not open until we got home - apple, orange, shell nuts, and the holiday hard candy.M ama liked to take us downtown to John Shillito's Department Store to see the huge annual Christmas Display. We had a live tree every year, which my mom bought on Christmas Eve because she didn't want to pay more than $1.00 for it.M y grandmother and my aunt always came over for Christmas dinner. Louie (my mom) made Applesauce Cake each year. In addition she made Pineapple Graham Cracker Cake, but not every year.On the cocktail & end tables were a 3-pound box of chocolates that we were free to eat as much as we wanted, along with peanut brittle, nasty ribbon candy, and the nasty filled hard candy (I hate the green ones), a dish of nuts in their shells and a nut cracker/w pick. We loved shelling the walnuts. The Brazil nuts were a little tough to break. We shelled them, but someone else had to eat them and the almonds. The filberts were the last nuts left in the dish.To this day, I still buy a live tree, peanut brittle and plenty of chocolate candy. I still love the Christmas Program and I occasionally buy my granddaughter a dress for the Program.

Chr istmas Memor ies (continued)

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Reverend Em m a N esbitD istr ict Secretary, California D istr ictM y mom, N ational M other M ary N esbit, always took the time to have some family time with us whenever she could. One year, for Christmas, my mom brought us Ten-speed Bicycles. I guess she wanted to join in with us riding our bicycles. When it became her turn, she mounted the bicycle and began to ride down the sidewalk. Well, several houses down, the sidewalk makes a sharp right turn and an immediate left turn. The problem with this portion of the sidewalk is, if you don't make that right turn you will ride straight into a huge bush. It took months of practice (on skates & bicycles) before us kids were able to make the turn. We all must have seen the bush at the same time and we (the children) began to run behind her screaming for her to put on the brakes. Unfortunately, when M other N esbit was a girl, to engage the brakes on a bicycle, you had to peddle backwards, but the brakes on a ten speed are located on the handle bars. M other N esbit began peddling backwards, but the bicycle would would not stop. N o matter how fast she peddled backwards, the bicycle kept going forward toward the bush. We all thought she was going to crash into the bush! We kept running behind her yelling "Brake! Brake!" and she was yelling, "I'm trying!". She thought the brakes on the bicycle were broken and to avoid crashing into the bush, she finally pulled a "Flintstone". She stuck her feet out and let them drag the ground until she came to a stop inches before she hit the bush. While laughing we asked her, "Why didn't you put on the brakes?" and she said, "They were not working." Just then, one of my brothers squeezed the handles and said, "Yes. They are working." She simply replied, "Oh, I didn't know those were the brakes." It took

several minutes before us kids were able to get up off the ground from laughing as we watched our mom walk back to the house.T ia Brenita GreenD istr ict Editor. Eastern Nor th Caolina D istr ictI remember when we were young, we had to tell M ama and Daddy the meaning of Christmas before we could come out of the room and open our presents.They made it clear that the true meaning of Christmas was about Jesus.N ow, my son has to tell my husband & me the true meaning of Christmas. Because Jesus received 3 gifts, my son receives 3 gifts from us. We are instilling the true meaning of Christmas in the next generation.Sister Cheryl WilsonD istr ict EvangelistSouthwest Ohio D istr ict The most memorable moments for me at Christmas are:M y parents bringing home the fresh pine tree that smelled up the whole house with the the pine needles dropping all over the floor as my dad and brothers carried it in. The excitement we had to clean the house, get the tree up, and decorate it was exhilarating.We put the big glass colored light bulbs that screwed into the green cord on the tree - remember those? Oh, how we had a love/hate relationship with those lights. We loved it once the lights were on the tree, just right. It looked so pretty! We used to turn off the interior house lights to let the tree lights shine while we were putting them on, But, let me say, we hated to unravel those cords! I don't care how nicely we put them away; Each year we had to untangled them. I mean every year, again and again!

Chr istmas Memor ies (continued)

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We put red, green, and gold garland (sometimes blue) on the tree. Tinsel and snow on the tree was a must. M y mom had the most prettiest, real glass ornaments I have ever seen. They were so unique! The ornaments were all shapes, sizes, and colors. M ama and Daddy knew just how to arrange them on the tree. I'm sure we had the most beautiful tree in the whole wide world right there in that living room. It was the best time ever, everybody working together, and singing, M ama and Daddy dancing together, telling jokes, and laughing..... Laughing so hard that your stomach would hurt, and your eyes would water. Those were the days!! Editor's Note: Yes, I remember those bulbs, they were size C7 or C5. I still have some. They used to burn you until they made the "cool" touch bulbs. And.. these bulbs hardly ever screwed gently into their sockets.....

Ar ina TurnerN ew H ope FBH ChurchI loved Christmas night with my cousins at my Grandma's house. She always has a number of candy bowls with different kinds of candy in each of them. On Christmas night my 2 cousins and I would each get the bowl of our choice containing our favorite candy. M y favorite was peanut M &M s. M y

cousin Darrian's favorite was peanut brittle, and my cousin Darius's favorite was plain M & M s.

I would just sit for hours watching them play their video games and eat my M & M 's. It didn't matter that I didn't get to play their games. I was too fascinated watching their skills with the games. It also didn't matter if we ate all the candy in the bowls.... M y grandma refilled them the next day....Jacqueline WatsonAm bassador for Chr istSouthwest Ohio D istr ictM y Special Chr istm as M em oryM y favorite Christmas memory is from when I was a young girl. M y family went to Georgia during my Christmas break from school and we also ended up going to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It was one of the best times that I had! I enjoyed not only seeing my family, that I don?t see every day, but also the nice weather in Florida. Going to Disney World was so much fun! It was a little weird not seeing snow (since I?m from Chicago) but overall we still enjoyed ourselves. It was a great Christmas trip!

Chr istmas Memor ies (continued)

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"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

Philippians 1:6Greetings!We bless God for an awesome season of thanksgiving and gift giving...After we have exchanged recipes & baked all the goodies, exchanged gifts, played all the board games, enjoyed & entertained each other, travelled from Auntie's to M om's, then to Grandma's house, visited friends & cousins, attended various celebrations of this holiday season, opened the final gifts, bid farewell to all

the company, washed the dishes, and the last of the wrapping paper from our gifts is thrown in the trash... what's next?? Getting back to everyday routine and getting back on schedule ...no more time off until Spring break....Saints, serving God never ceases! There is always a gift to open every day: our eyes, our voice, our hands, our ears, and the sense of smell - all of these are gifts. Our prayer is, Lord what do we do after the wrapping paper? Well, He who hath begun this work in us (if your life is in Christ) will keep our thanksgiving and Christmas going. So, after the tree is taken

down and the ornaments are packed away, Christ still gives gifts to us.Life is wonderful! Always open your gifts! They keep moving us forward. Unwrap and recieve your gift without wrapping paper today!!! HAPPY N EW YEAR 2016

Always Something !! Awesome God!!!Pastor Valeria Jackson

"What's After the Wrapping Paper?"

AfterChristmas

37

Boxing D ayBoxing Day takes place on December 26th in Great Britain and is only celebrated in a few countries; mainly ones connected to the UK including Canada, Austrailia, and N ew Zealand. While the exact origins of the holiday are obscure, it is likely that Boxing Day began in England during the M iddle Ages.Some historians say the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but took the following day off. As servants prepared to leave to visit their families, their employers would present them with gift boxes.Another theory is that the boxes placed in churches where parishioners deposited coins for the poor were opened and the contents distributed on December 26, which is also the Feast of St. Stephen.As time went by, Boxing Day gift giving expanded to include those who had rendered a service during the previous year. This tradition survives today as people give presents to tradesmen, mail carriers, doormen, porters, and others who have helped them.Boxing Day is just one of the British bank holidays recognized since 1871 that are observed by banks, government offices, and the post office. The others include Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Whitmonday (the day after Pentecost), and the banking holiday on the last M onday in August.

=excerpts from Infoplease.com

Car ing for Poinsett ias After Chr istm asPoinsettias are easy to maintain, but it takes some effort to make them bloom a second time. To grow them after the holidays, all you need to do is treat them similar to other houseplants:

- Give them bright light, - allow them to slightly dry between

waterings, and - feed them with a liquid houseplant

fertilizer according to label directions. The bracts (which are the leaves that look like flower petals) will eventually fade and fall off the plant. At that point, cut back the stems to just below the flowers and let them continue to grow. In spring, once nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50F, place your poinsettias outside where they'll receive bright, indirect light. They will grow but will remain completely green all summer. In mid-summer. Prune back the plants by one-half to one-third and re-pot them in the same pot, or in one that's slightly larger if the plant has grown significantly. Use a commercial potting soil. Feed the plants with a standard houseplant fertilizer during this time of new growth. Bring the pots indoors before nighttime temperatures fall below 50F. From September 21 through the end of October, the plants need 14-15 hours of uninterrupted darkness daily, and nighttime temperatures around 65F. This is the secret to triggering new flowers to form and for the bracts to change color.This means that every day at about 5 p.m., you'll need to cover the plants. Uncover them between 7 and 8 the following morning.

After Chr istmas (continued)

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Absolutely no light can penetrate the darkness. If you place a box over them, it must not permit light to enter. If you place plants in an extra bedroom, no light can enter the room beneath the crack of the door or through a window. Even car headlights shining through a window are enough to interrupt the required darkness. Greenhouse growers use thick black cloths to cover their poinsettia crops, blocking out all light from passing cars and nearby shopping centers. If you successfully carry out the darkness routine, by early N ovember your plants will be developing color, and you can end the daily darkness ritual and set the plants in bright, indirect light. By the end of N ovember, the bracts should be coloring up nicely, and you'll be able to enjoy them through the next holiday season.

Better Homes & Gardens

Upcom ing Issues of T he True WitnessA Call for Ar t iclesWe need your help to make our plans to publish the On-line True Witness in January, February, and M arch, 2016 a reality.Please submit articles concerning your church activities, praise reports, member highlights, etc. to your District Editor as soon as possible. You can send items from your Thanksgiving & December activities, 12-Day Consecration, Founder's Birthday Celebration, Love M onth events, and your Easter news. The earlier you send them the better.Dr. Susan Wilson will be our guest columnist in the January On-line True Witness. Stay tuned for the start of a new teaching series from our Chairman Prelate, Bishop

Patrick L. Frazier Jr., on Stewardship.What topics do you want to see in the On-line True Witness? Are you interested in being a guest columnist? Simply drop us an e-mail for additional information.Feel free to share any suggestions or critiques that will help make this publication informative, inspiring, and educational.Art icle Subm ission D eadlines1/26/2016 - January Issue2/20/2016 - February Issue3/26/2016 - M arch IssueD istr ict EditorsI am asking each District Editor to join me in a message forum. I am using a free tool, Remind.Remind will allow me to send updates and share information.You can communicate with me using Remind via text message or e-mail.To receive messages via text, text @fbhed to 513-283-8143. To unsubscribe, text unsubscribe @fbhed to 513-283-8142.To receive messages via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to fbhed@mail.remind.com.You can unsubscribe by sending an e-mail to fbhed@mail.remind.com with the word, unsubscribe in the subject line.Note: Please pass this information along to your District Editor.

Vernell Turner

After Chr istmas (continued)

39

Answer: There are many who view the word Xmas as part of an overall ?war on Christmas.? They view it as a blatant attempt to take Christ out of Christmas. While it is undeniable that some use Xmas in that manner, the actual origin of the word Xmas has nothing to do with taking Christ out of Christmas.In Greek, the original language of the N ew Testament, the word for ?Christ? is ???????, which begins with the Greek letter that is essentially the same letter as the English letter X . So, originally, Xmas was simply an abbreviation of Christmas. N o grand conspiracy to take Christ out of Christmas. Just an abbreviation.But there is no denying that there is a trend to, in a sense, take Christ out of Christmas. In pursuit of tolerance, inclusiveness, and political correctness, some are attempting to obscure the Christian origins of Christmas? as if our society?s materialism has not already obscured the meaning of Christmas. Whether they refer to it as ?Xmas? or ?the winter holidays? or something else, some will not be satisfied until the celebration is entirely secularized. In response to this, rather than getting angry or complaining about the use of Xmas, we should be sharing the love of Christ through word and deed.

Got Questions.org

Question: " Is it wrong to say 'Xmas' instead of 'Chr istmas'?"

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Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Inc.Bishop Patrick L. Frazier Jr., Chairman Prelate, 1st Episcopal

Bishop Johnnie L. Davis, 2nd Episcopal

Bishop Alonzo L. Rodgers, 3rd Episcopal

@fbhchurchfbhtruewitness@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/FireBaptizedChurchwww.fbhchurch.org/publications/

A nd H is name shall be calledWonderful

CounselorMighty God

Everlasting FatherPrince of Peace