Brenda Kay Reed passed away in Holdenville, Oklahoma on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at the age of 59 years. Brenda was the daughter of Harvey and Peggy (O’Neal) Brewer, born on March 10, 1961, in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Lloyd Bryant Vance passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020, at Jack C Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma at the age of 90. Lloyd was born December 23, 1929 to Perry “Shorty” Alva Vance and Pearl Pauline (Montgomery) Vance.

Judy Tinker of Holdenville passed away in the Holdenville General Hospital on December 19, 2020 at the age of 74. Judy was born January 4, 1946 in McAlester Oklahoma to J. T. Heard and Ollie Evans Heard.

ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE DONATIONS - Hughes County American Farmers and Ranchers Insurance Company of Holdenville made donations to a trio of local organizations that Agent Robert Taylor and the board members of American Farmers and Ranchers Insurance had voted on to help with needs in the Holdenville community. President Leon Barrett, Vice President Gary Vinson, and Agent Taylor presented checks to the Holdenville American Legion, Holdenville Future Farmers of America (FFA), and the Holdenville Ministerial Alliance on Friday, December 11.

A class action lawsuit filed by a group of Native Americans seeking to “disgorge” cities and towns located in Indian Country of “ill-gotten gains” has been dismissed. Nearly 50 defendants, including Governor Kevin Stitt, Hughes County District Attorney Paul Smith and the City of Holdenville, were named in a lawsuit filed July 13 by Attorneys William B.

Many of us have played Secret Santa over the years but here may be the best “Secret Santa” of all…. During the winter of 1971, young Larry Stewart from Mississippi was at the end of his rope.

Every family approaches Christmas lists a little differently. Some families never make lists and whatever presents are received on Christmas morning it’s a surprise (and often returned!). Other families, like ours, make detailed and specific lists, complete with pictures of the desired item, clipped from a catalog, with color and size circled. Over the years I’m sure the types of items on your Christmas list have changed. In my younger days my list was lined with toys and outdoor sports items. When I was an eight year old I put a sled on my list and was disappointed Christmas morning when, after unwrapping all the gifts, no sled appeared. Then Dad feigned forgetfulness and said, “Oh, I almost forgot. I think you have one more gift in the next room!” There was the sled. The best gift ever.

Merry Christmas to you and your families. Did you know that the promise of Christmas began in Genesis 3:15? GOD told the serpent that a descendent of Eve would appear one day and crush him. The promise was made more specific with Abraham. GOD called Abraham to be the father of a people who would bring blessing to all the world (Genesis 12:1-3). Eventually through Abraham’s great grandson Judah (Genesis 49:10), and his descendant Jesse and Jesse’s son David (Isaiah 11:1).

Albert Keith Kindrick passed away at his home in Okemah, Oklahoma on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at the age of 63 years. Keith was the son of Willie John ‘Bill’ Kindrick and Opal Dean (Whitstone) Kindrick, born on March 3, 1957, in Ada, Oklahoma.

It’s time for Christmas music! Technically, of course, if you’re traditional about these things, it’s time for Advent music. Advent is the beautiful four-week season that precedes Christmas, a time of waiting in darkness for the light of Christ to dawn. During this tumultuous year of 2020, the season of Advent, and all that comes with it, has much to say to worshippers (read an essay I wrote on Advent and the hymns and carols particular to that season here).