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time of anticipation
raHARRY CHRISTENSEN parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him
'tlChildren begin to get excited this time every according to the custom of the law, he took Hint up
if because the celebration of Christmas is get-
h closer. Many Americans have traditions of
.&ae kind that are associated with this holiday
] ' z "
Zgrandparents were Swedish immigrants, so
tw up having a Swedish smorgasbord dinner
hristmas Eve. We had pickled herring, potato
age, Swedish beans, rice pudding, ham, sweet
la, sardines, sweet pickles, rykrisp and various
ses, one with cardamom seeds in it.
IIhristmas Eve was my favorite meal of the
][le year. We would get together with my aunts
ltmcles who would bring var!ous delicacies, as
luas the anticipated presents. Following Swed-
Stradition we opened our presents on Christmas
|', and on Christmas morning ,we fbund stock-
hung in our living room full of all kinds of
childhood riches, ones that I often treasured
ethan some of the big presents fi'om the night
year I got a tiny plastic lamp that glowed
green phosphorescence. My aunt probably
it from Woolworth's, which was her favorite
r re, but as a child I valued it as one of my prized
.Sessions. (I eventually I lost it.) The presents
l 1 Christmas dinners of times past are now only
aories in the minds of adults Part of celebrat-
C •
St! hnstmas also for me wasnt only the sump-
$s smorgasbord and gift exchange, but the an-
Pation that led to Christmas As an adult I have
d that my anticipation rarely measures up to
t I eagerly look forward to.
LET ME TELL you a story about two people
se anticipation did not end in disappointment.
eon and Anna lived 2000 years ago in Jerusa-
in Israel. They were waiting for the birth of
(Us, which was the first Christmas. Let's look
)at the Bible tells us about these two. Simeon
l_nd behold, there was a man in Jerusalem
se name was Simeon, and this man was just
: devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel,
,. the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been
'ealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not
fF death before he had seen the Lords Christ. So
by the Spirit into the temple. And when the
in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now
You are letting Your servant depart in peace, ac-
cording to Your word; for my eyes have seen }AJur
salvation. (Luke 2:25-30)
Simeon's wait for Christmas had not been .just
for a few weeks, but for nearly his whole lilbtime.
It wasn't until shortly beibre he died that his long
wait came to an end. Simeon's waiting had not
been in vain; what he had hoped to see and touch
actually did become reality for him. We are told his
eyes beheld more than a little child; his eyes beheld
the One who would bring salvation to mankind.
In this same chapter the Bible, also, tells us of'
Anna, another person who had waited.
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was
of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven
years from her virginity; and this woman was a
widow of about eighty-four years, why did not de-
part from the temple, but served God with lastings
and prayers night and day. And coming in that in-
stant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him
to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusa-
lem. (Luke 2:36-38)
ANNA HAD BEEN married only seven years
when her husband died. I am sure that Anna was
heartbroken, but rather than give up on life, Anna
turned to the Lord and for the next 84 years she
let God's love and the hope He promised give her
the strength to continue. Her hope was similar
to Simeon's; she wanted to see the Savior whom
God had promised would come. Her long wait, like
Simeon's was rewarded.
There is anticipation of Christmas today, even as
there was for Simeon and Anna, but it is driven by
advertising and not by a longing to see Jesus and a
longing to be saved from the heartache of our lives.
The true meaning of Christmas is hidden fom the
view of most who make plans for our coming holi-
day. Consider the time where God has placed this
holiday. It is found in the dead of winter, the dark-
est time of the year, not during a season when it
is sunny, warm and pleasant. God planned it this
way because He knows, that for most people, liib
(Please turn to page 8.)
L
Weather
!
15
17
18
High Low Precip.
Fahrenheit (In.)
48 32 .32
53 44 1.51
52 41 .14
51 39 .52
44 33 0
45 30 .05
are recorded for
ational Weather Service at
Field.
morning the Na-
Weather Service predicted
days and cool nights dur-
|the next week. Wednesday
LThanksgiving Day should
rstly sunny with highs in
|,Pper 40s. Wednesday night
!fl. be partly cloudy with a low
d 29 degrees with Thurs-
fight mostly clear and a low
d 30.
Forecasters expect sunny skies
on Friday with a high near 46 fol-
lowed by partly cloudy skies Fri-
day night when the low should be
around 35.
Saturday should be mostly
sunny with a high near 48. Satur-
day night should be mostly cloudy
with a low around 36.
The extended forecast fbr Sun-
day through Monday calls for
partly sunny skies Sunday and
mostly sunny skies on Monday.
Sunday night should be partly
cloudy. The highs should be in the
upper 40s with a low around 35.
Alignments • Brakes ° Suspensions
We Service:
• Cars • Trucks • Semis • RV's • Trailers
3108 29th Ave. SW #101 Tumwater
, Mon.-Fri. 800m-5.m. 38o- 943-8136
Shelton congregations
challenged to perform
services to community
Iocal nl(,mbvr. ol'l he ('hutch of
,Jt',us (;hrist of l,attr-(lay ;lints
have stepl)(,(t up h) it htllnanitar-
inn chall(,n;;c lhis y,ar.
Tile challcng(, for 2007 was
given to ill(! [,I)S rncmhers who
reside Wit}lilI l ilil|(,-collreglttion
area kv.)w s Ih(, l,;Ima Washing-
ton Stake. The challenge, which
{housed on llumamt,arian service,
WaS ill Itlrt'o paris: 1.()collect coats
tbr the needy during the wintry
months o/' 2007, to restock h)cal
fi)od banks dtlritlg the .pring and,
finally, to (l(wch,p a projee, t (:luring
the summer and fall that would
benefit, local conimunities.
ttundreds or coats, gh)ves and
hats were collected and delivered
in the l)egirming of tim year as the
challenge was accepted by the con-
gregations of the Elma Stake. Cans
and boxes of lbod began to flow to
local fbod banks, and homemade
quilts mid clothes came by the
boxfuls to l)arhme l:}lazo, the coor-
dinator of the large-scale program
and a person lhmiliar to those who
gather at the Mason County Se-
nior Activities Center in Shelton.
"Everybody did well and really
stepped up to the plate. 1 was very
pleased at the way the challenge
was acc(pted," Blaz() said.
Many donations were delivered
h)cally and other items were sent
directly to the large Church Dis-
tribution Center in Salt Lake City
tbr delivery as needed throughout
the world. Ehna Stake members
have hand-crafted more than 3,000
items so far, including hundreds
of painted wooden blocks made by
children who are ages 3 to 12; more
than 500 baby hats made by teen-
agers; and nearly 200 school bags
of supplies and hygiene kits com-
piled by local youth and adults.
THERE ARE three congrega-
tions of the Elma Stake in Shelton,
including one of Spanish-speaking
people. There are two congrega-
tions in Elma and others in West-
port, Ocean Shores, Raymond and
Aberdeen. All of the congregations
participated fully in the challenge,
with each unit finding creative
ways to oflbr service to their local
communities during the year.
Women in the Shelton First
Ward met once a month to make
baby hats, mittens and quilts and
donated their handmade quilts
and baby items to Care Net Preg-
nancy Center in Shelton. "Care
Net is a good organization with
kind people," said Kathy Johnson
of the First Ward. "They offer help
and education to mothers, so we
(Please turn to page 8.)
3
I LOWeS"
*340
Patriot
Vaults
T,/(e$200 OFF
#0
$00L|S
Thursday, November 22, 2007 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page 7
time of anticipation
raHARRY CHRISTENSEN parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him
'tlChildren begin to get excited this time every according to the custom of the law, he took Hint up
if because the celebration of Christmas is get-
h closer. Many Americans have traditions of
.&ae kind that are associated with this holiday
] ' z "
Zgrandparents were Swedish immigrants, so
tw up having a Swedish smorgasbord dinner
hristmas Eve. We had pickled herring, potato
age, Swedish beans, rice pudding, ham, sweet
la, sardines, sweet pickles, rykrisp and various
ses, one with cardamom seeds in it.
IIhristmas Eve was my favorite meal of the
][le year. We would get together with my aunts
ltmcles who would bring var!ous delicacies, as
luas the anticipated presents. Following Swed-
Stradition we opened our presents on Christmas
|', and on Christmas morning ,we fbund stock-
hung in our living room full of all kinds of
childhood riches, ones that I often treasured
ethan some of the big presents fi'om the night
year I got a tiny plastic lamp that glowed
green phosphorescence. My aunt probably
it from Woolworth's, which was her favorite
r re, but as a child I valued it as one of my prized
.Sessions. (I eventually I lost it.) The presents
l 1 Christmas dinners of times past are now only
aories in the minds of adults Part of celebrat-
C •
St! hnstmas also for me wasnt only the sump-
$s smorgasbord and gift exchange, but the an-
Pation that led to Christmas As an adult I have
d that my anticipation rarely measures up to
t I eagerly look forward to.
LET ME TELL you a story about two people
se anticipation did not end in disappointment.
eon and Anna lived 2000 years ago in Jerusa-
in Israel. They were waiting for the birth of
(Us, which was the first Christmas. Let's look
)at the Bible tells us about these two. Simeon
l_nd behold, there was a man in Jerusalem
se name was Simeon, and this man was just
: devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel,
,. the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been
'ealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not
fF death before he had seen the Lords Christ. So
by the Spirit into the temple. And when the
in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now
You are letting Your servant depart in peace, ac-
cording to Your word; for my eyes have seen }AJur
salvation. (Luke 2:25-30)
Simeon's wait for Christmas had not been .just
for a few weeks, but for nearly his whole lilbtime.
It wasn't until shortly beibre he died that his long
wait came to an end. Simeon's waiting had not
been in vain; what he had hoped to see and touch
actually did become reality for him. We are told his
eyes beheld more than a little child; his eyes beheld
the One who would bring salvation to mankind.
In this same chapter the Bible, also, tells us of'
Anna, another person who had waited.
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was
of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven
years from her virginity; and this woman was a
widow of about eighty-four years, why did not de-
part from the temple, but served God with lastings
and prayers night and day. And coming in that in-
stant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him
to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusa-
lem. (Luke 2:36-38)
ANNA HAD BEEN married only seven years
when her husband died. I am sure that Anna was
heartbroken, but rather than give up on life, Anna
turned to the Lord and for the next 84 years she
let God's love and the hope He promised give her
the strength to continue. Her hope was similar
to Simeon's; she wanted to see the Savior whom
God had promised would come. Her long wait, like
Simeon's was rewarded.
There is anticipation of Christmas today, even as
there was for Simeon and Anna, but it is driven by
advertising and not by a longing to see Jesus and a
longing to be saved from the heartache of our lives.
The true meaning of Christmas is hidden fom the
view of most who make plans for our coming holi-
day. Consider the time where God has placed this
holiday. It is found in the dead of winter, the dark-
est time of the year, not during a season when it
is sunny, warm and pleasant. God planned it this
way because He knows, that for most people, liib
(Please turn to page 8.)
L
Weather
!
15
17
18
High Low Precip.
Fahrenheit (In.)
48 32 .32
53 44 1.51
52 41 .14
51 39 .52
44 33 0
45 30 .05
are recorded for
ational Weather Service at
Field.
morning the Na-
Weather Service predicted
days and cool nights dur-
|the next week. Wednesday
LThanksgiving Day should
rstly sunny with highs in
|,Pper 40s. Wednesday night
!fl. be partly cloudy with a low
d 29 degrees with Thurs-
fight mostly clear and a low
d 30.
Forecasters expect sunny skies
on Friday with a high near 46 fol-
lowed by partly cloudy skies Fri-
day night when the low should be
around 35.
Saturday should be mostly
sunny with a high near 48. Satur-
day night should be mostly cloudy
with a low around 36.
The extended forecast fbr Sun-
day through Monday calls for
partly sunny skies Sunday and
mostly sunny skies on Monday.
Sunday night should be partly
cloudy. The highs should be in the
upper 40s with a low around 35.
Alignments • Brakes ° Suspensions
We Service:
• Cars • Trucks • Semis • RV's • Trailers
3108 29th Ave. SW #101 Tumwater
, Mon.-Fri. 800m-5.m. 38o- 943-8136
Shelton congregations
challenged to perform
services to community
Iocal nl(,mbvr. ol'l he ('hutch of
,Jt',us (;hrist of l,attr-(lay ;lints
have stepl)(,(t up h) it htllnanitar-
inn chall(,n;;c lhis y,ar.
Tile challcng(, for 2007 was
given to ill(! [,I)S rncmhers who
reside Wit}lilI l ilil|(,-collreglttion
area kv.)w s Ih(, l,;Ima Washing-
ton Stake. The challenge, which
{housed on llumamt,arian service,
WaS ill Itlrt'o paris: 1.()collect coats
tbr the needy during the wintry
months o/' 2007, to restock h)cal
fi)od banks dtlritlg the .pring and,
finally, to (l(wch,p a projee, t (:luring
the summer and fall that would
benefit, local conimunities.
ttundreds or coats, gh)ves and
hats were collected and delivered
in the l)egirming of tim year as the
challenge was accepted by the con-
gregations of the Elma Stake. Cans
and boxes of lbod began to flow to
local fbod banks, and homemade
quilts mid clothes came by the
boxfuls to l)arhme l:}lazo, the coor-
dinator of the large-scale program
and a person lhmiliar to those who
gather at the Mason County Se-
nior Activities Center in Shelton.
"Everybody did well and really
stepped up to the plate. 1 was very
pleased at the way the challenge
was acc(pted," Blaz() said.
Many donations were delivered
h)cally and other items were sent
directly to the large Church Dis-
tribution Center in Salt Lake City
tbr delivery as needed throughout
the world. Ehna Stake members
have hand-crafted more than 3,000
items so far, including hundreds
of painted wooden blocks made by
children who are ages 3 to 12; more
than 500 baby hats made by teen-
agers; and nearly 200 school bags
of supplies and hygiene kits com-
piled by local youth and adults.
THERE ARE three congrega-
tions of the Elma Stake in Shelton,
including one of Spanish-speaking
people. There are two congrega-
tions in Elma and others in West-
port, Ocean Shores, Raymond and
Aberdeen. All of the congregations
participated fully in the challenge,
with each unit finding creative
ways to oflbr service to their local
communities during the year.
Women in the Shelton First
Ward met once a month to make
baby hats, mittens and quilts and
donated their handmade quilts
and baby items to Care Net Preg-
nancy Center in Shelton. "Care
Net is a good organization with
kind people," said Kathy Johnson
of the First Ward. "They offer help
and education to mothers, so we
(Please turn to page 8.)
3
I LOWeS"
*340
Patriot
Vaults
T,/(e$200 OFF
#0
$00L|S
Thursday, November 22, 2007 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page 7