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).

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).

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.

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.

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 special thanks to Core Civic who made a generous donation to the Holdenville Fire Deptarment’s Toys for Tots drive. Pictured are Fireman Colton Bridger, Santa Claus (Glen Robinson), and Santa’s Elf (Karen Hefner).

Augie Robinson has been a good boy all year and is eagerly waiting for Santa to arrive. Christmas music at its best! A special thanks to Julie Wilkinson and her daughters (L to R) Bonnie, Olivia, and Lorena for bringing special Christmas music at the Church of the Nazarene recently.

Dear Santa: I am a little boy 4 ½ years old. I have been a very good boy all year.

The first snowman that we saw Sunday was built by Zachary Stallcup, Age 8. He did a great job! One of our favorite holiday traditions each year is to visit the Nativity at the home of Marie Grimes.

Good morning to you. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas – especially with the snow this week. Let’s look at the long Christmas Journey that Mary and Joseph took more than two thousand years ago. Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary encountered every challenge at Christmas, so let’s see what we can learn from their experience. It appears that Mary and Joseph were compelled to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea. That is, had it not been for Caesar Augustus declaring a census throughout the Roman Empire, they might not have left Nazareth at all (Luke 2:1).