Tag Archives: Holiday

St. John’s Advent concerts start Sunday.

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St. John's Episcopal Lutheran Church; Corner of Grant and Second Street.

St. John’s Episcopal Lutheran Church; Corner of Grant and Second Street.


WILLIAMS—The Seventh Annual Advent Music Series sponsored by St. John’s Episcopal-Lutheran Church begins Sunday December 1 and runs each Sunday until the 22nd. The concerts begin at 4 p.m. in Walker Hall. The Church is located at 202 West Grant Street where it intersects with 2nd Avenue.

The concert on the 1st is a traditional lesson of scripture, readings and music in English and Spanish concerning the birth of Jesus. A Blue Grass Christmas with Julie and Roger Sullivan and friends will be held on December 8. On December 15th there will be traditional music with Rita Borden on the piano and Bert Herclerode on the tuba. The final music will be Susan “Squared” with Susan Kerley and Susan Hendricks on the piano.

A reception will follow each concert. There is no charge for the concerts but donations are appreciated.

Gratitude is ideal recipe for Thanksgiving Day and the holiday season

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1stThanksgiving_s640x427SAN DIEGO, November 26, 2013 — Thanksgiving Day in America is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year.

President Franklin Roosevelt signed a joint resolution with Congress to establish this tradition on December 26, 1941.

For most Americans, Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends, watch football, enjoy an extended weekend, and benefit from the discounts and bargains while holiday shopping on Black Friday.

For the Pilgrims who celebrated the original Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621, this occasion was an entirely different matter.

Arriving in America in the 1620’s having sailed on the Mayflower from England to America, the brave passengers were ravaged by disease and the brutal New England winter when they arrived.

Of the approximately over 100 Pilgrims, only half survived aboard the ship until the weather subsided.

Read more at The Washington Times Communities

‘Thanksgivukkah’: The Thanksgiving and Chanukah hybrid.

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We are being taught of the virtues of hybrid cars over fossil fuel vehicles. This year there will be an unusual holiday hybrid as Chanukah, commonly called Hanukkah, will be celebrated starting on Thanksgiving. The celebration will begin, this year, sunset on Wednesday, November 27, 2013, and ends in the evening of Thursday, December 5.

The fact that Thanksgiving and Chanukah fall on the same day is so rare that it won’t happen again for another 77,000 years.

This combination gave Stephen Colbert the opportunity to attack Christians, Jews (but not as bad), and America on his Colbert Report.

Most people have not taken the time to find out what Hanukkah is, exactly. Most Americans only know of the holiday because of its usual proximity to Christmas. The holiday is not considered that high on the Jewish calendar and is not of religious significance.

The Jewish Virtual Library Chanukah is a celebration of the Jewish people, led by the Maccabbees, over the Greeks. After their victory over the Greeks, the people went to rededicate the temple, but there was only enough oil to burn in the temple menorah for one day. The miracle is that the menorah burned for eight-days. The Festival of Lights celebrates the miracle of the oil, not the victory of war.

It is tradition to give presents each of the eight-days of items that are useful to the receiver, such as clothing, food and the like.

Interestingly the book of the Maccabbees is removed from the King James Bible while being retained in the Apocrypha used by the Catholics. The Catholics apparently did not add the Apocrypha until the Council of Trent (1546 AD). This is probably because of the descendants of the Maccabbees. The descendants are known in the New Testament as the Herods of the time of Jesus. There are arguments against the Apocrypha being considered inspired by God as is the Holy Bible.

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a celebration of thanks to God. Children today are only taught to think of turkey and pumpkin pie. Rarely are the Pilgrims mentioned and the Mayflower Compact is strictly forbidden teaching in schools.

Just as Chanukah is not about the victory, Thanksgiving is not about getting stuffed and watching football. It is about giving thanks to God for all that one has received through the year. Far from being closed for the holidays, churches should be open and having worship services.

Easter events this weekend

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Williams Easter Egg Hunt 2012

WILLIAMS—As the sign says, it is once more time for the Community Easter Eggstravaganza at the Williams Recreation Center and Skate Park on Railroad Avenue. The event features an Easter egg hunt and prizes and food.

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There will also be the annual Sonrise Service this Easter Sunday at 6am at the Younglife camp on South Road. This service is open to the entire community. Of course each Church will have their own Easter service.

White Christmas, but sunny today.

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Last Advent concert at St John's Episcopal-Luthern Church

Last Advent concert at St John’s Episcopal-Luthern Church

The last of the Advent musical presentations ended last Sunday at the St John’s Episcopal-Lutheran Church. Of course they invite visitors and new members to the 100-year old Church anytime.

The predicted snow of last night was less than spectacular leaving less than one-inch to add to the snow of the previous storms. Still there is plenty of snow left to construct that snowman as visitors to the Polar Express will attest to.

Light snow and rain is forecast for Wednesday during the day raising to a 50% chance on Thursday to deliver up to two-inches of fresh powder. Friday follows with a slight chance of light snow before 11 a.m. clearing to give us a sunny Saturday with a chance of snow the following two days.

Visitors to the Polar Express are reminded that they should stop at one of the local stores to purchase gloves for their kids.

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This is, also, the last week in which you can visit Bearizona Drive-Thru animal park during the weekdays. During January and February they will only be open on Saturday and Sunday during their normal hours of 8 a.m. with the last car being admitted at 4 p.m. They have a GPS system which gives you a personalized tour of the park. After driving through the main attraction you can relax and take a stroll among the animals and take in the Raptor Show in the walk-through area.

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We experienced hunters don’t need the GPS, but it might be useful for you tourists

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