The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 26, 1991 Page: 5 of 18
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Church News
Thursday, December 26,1991 The Albany News Page 5
WORDS
about the
WORD
by members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance
By Rev. Lloyd Conner
j First Baptist Church
Did You Miss Christmas?
Few thingB in life are more tragic
than missing something important
when there was no real need to
mips it. Yet that is the experience
of many, many people. It is the
experience of those who missed
< the first Christmas, and also of
j those who miss Christmas today.
I. The first of the men who
missed Christmas was the inn-
; keeper. The Bible does not mention
i this man individually. Probably
by the time the story of the birth of
Christ was put into writing, no one
remembered his name; there was
po reason to remember him. Still
there certainly was an innkeeper,
, because the Bible tells us that Mary
"brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for him
in the inn," Luke 2:7. The point of
the reference is that in the hustle
and bustle of the season the inn-
keeper missed the most important
birth in all of history.
He should not have missed it—
sinjply because he was so close to
it. Mary and Joseph stood on his
doorstep, yet the child was born in
his stable, and his preoccupation
with his business kept him from it.
' The world is filled with such
people today — good people who
tiriii the meaning of Christmas
Simply because their business,
parties, Christmas cards, trees and
tifteel seem too pressing. Were this
hot so, there would not be so many
anxious faces as people rush about
doing last minute shopping, and
look "worn out" from the many
things that they have been doing.
Do you think that the Christmas
ptory is; merely speaking to the
npn-Christian at this point. It is
jffqbahly pot speaking to them at
aJJ» Caesar Augustus was too far
away. The story speaks rather to
Christians, for they are the ones
who should take note of the birth
of Christ deeply and yet often do
not.
II. The second man to miss
Christmas was Herod, King of
Judea. He was at home when news
reached him that Wise Men from
the East had come asking where
they could find the king of the
Jews, the one bom recently. Slyly,
Herod tried to get the Wise Men to
let him known where they had
found the child, but God warned
them not to go tell Herod. Herod
knew the significance of the birth,
but he missed it through the en-
crusted habit of greed and self-
interest.
Today, many people miss prac-
tically everything good in life be-
cause of greed ana self-interest.
We have not changed that much in
almost 2000 years. Jesus said,
"What shall it profit a man, if he
shall gain the whole world, and
lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).
III. Another group who missed
Christmas were the religious
leaders — the chief priests and
scribes. They of all men should not
have missed the birth of Christ for
they had the Scriptures to tell them
it was coming. They were the ones
who could tell Herod where the
birth was to take place...in
Bethlehem. Yet they did not bother
to investigate his arrival.
We see that in our world today.
In many there is no real hunger for
God; for a vital, joyous, and re-
warding reality of the presence of
the Lord Jesus Christ in one's life.
BUT SOME found Christmas.
The shepherds for instance. They
were just simple men, not impor-
tant in the social structure, but
they believed the message of the
angels, and came to find the "babe,"
and worshipped Him.
The Wise Men also found
Christmas; andthey were m>twan
REV. LLOYD CONNER
Jews — and everyone knew that
God's promised salvation was of
the Jews.
Simeon and Anna, poor but
saintly people, "looked for re-
demption in Jerusalem." Their
faith was rewarded in their getting
to hear of His birth.
Why did these people find
Christmas? They were honest
enough to admit their need of a
Savior. The self-sufficient would
never have made the trip to the
manger; they do not do it today.
These people knew they need a
Savior.
They were also humble enough
to receive the Lord Jesus Christ
when He came. They may not have
had a full comprehension of all
that was happening, like we do
with the full revelation, but they
believed, and in each case we are
told that they praised God.
Have you missed Christmas?
Listen to the message of the angels,
and join in singing, "Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth, peace
and goodwill toward men."
< ■
OBITUARIES
ELDON D. HEATLEY
Eldon D. Heatley, 76, died Fri-
December 20, 1991 at a Bi
inghospital. Services were hel
0 p.m. Sunday at Friendship
stChurch with the Rev. Bruce
rail officiating. Burial was in
Albany Cemetery, directed by
Godfrey-Neese Funeral Home.
Mr. Heatley was born in Rush
Springs, Oklahoma. He was a
Baptist and a retired cafe owner
and operator. He served in the
U.S. Air Force during World War
II
Survivors include his wife, Ruth
Heatley of Albany; a son, Vernon
r Heatley of Albany; two daughters,
j Linda Hill of Albany, and Florence
: Brooks of Gainesville; a brother,
Garland Heatley of Breckenridge;
two sisters, Lorene Davis of
Breckenridge and Ilene Pennell of
Sinton; six grandchildren; and two
great grandchildren.
Pallbearers were C.A. Bales,
Horace Johnston, Charles Ro-
driguez, Alex Duke, Joe Jones and
Buddy Brandenberger.
JEAN IE HUDMAN
Jeanie (Mrs. Robert) Hudman,
46, died Thursday, December 19,
1991 in a local hospital. Services
were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at
the Church of Christ with Dale
Scott and Joe Bass officiating.
Burial was in Albany Cemetery,
directed by Godfrey-Neese Funeral
Home.
Mrs. Hudman was born in
Gorman. She was a graduate of
Albany High School and a licensed
vocational nurse at Hendrick
Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband,
Robert G. Hudman of Albany; two
daughters, Kelly Green of Albany
and Shelly Swert of Wichita,
Kansas; a son, John Robert Hud-
man of Albany; her mother,
Juanita Blair of Albany; a brother,
John "Red" Alexander of Albany; a
grandmother, Mrs. Jesse Alex-
ander; and five grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Bob Skelton,
Dan Walker, John Williams, Billy
Holson, Butch Patterson and
Charles Barrett.
Eller finishes 6-month deployment
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class
Edward D. Eller. son of Billie M.
Hohenstein of Albany, recently
returned from a six-month de-
ployment to the Western Pacific,
Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.
tided
each,
homeported in San Diego. Eller's
ship was part of Battle Group
Foxtrot, an eight ship task group
centered around the Navy's new-
est nuclear powered aircraft car-
rier, USS Abraham Lincoln.
Eller participated in Operation
Fiery Vigil which evacuated more
than 17,000 Americans from the
Philippines after the eruption of
Eller serves aboard the gui
missile cruiser USS Long Bet
go
tic
Mount Pinatubo. The battle group
also spent more than three months
on station in the Arabian Gulf
joining the multi-national peace
keeping forces of Operation Desert
Storm.
Battle Group Foxtrot operated
with forces from France, Great
Britain, Japan, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia and several other Gulf
states to support United Nations
resolutions in the region. The group
also worked with the navies of
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Additionally, while off the coast of
"Japan, the battle group partici-
pated in exercises with the Japa-
nese Self Defence Force to enhance
Serving
ALBANY
at Shackelford Co.
Hospital
Pastoral Care
& Counseling
Center
Call 915-762-5683
for appointments
'■ i_
Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for tips leading to the arrest
and Indictment of persons committing felony offenses. You will
remain anonymous. Call if you have any information regarding
any criminal activity.
HELP STOP CRIME
CALL
762-3767
Club gathers
at ranch home
Sixteen members of the Blue-
bonnet Study Club drove to the
ranch home of Patti Bradford for
their December 18 meeting. Sheri
Mitchell and Pat Henrichson
served as co-hostesses.
President Nadine Brewster
called the meeting to order and
conducted the business session.
Minutes of the November meeting
were read and approved, along with
the treasurer's report. Pledges to
the American and Texas flags were
given.
The Club voted to make a $50
donation to the Albany Task Force
on Drug and Alcohol Abuse to be
used toward the purchase of video
cameras for the law enforcement
officers' vehicles. The treasurer
was instructed to make the Club's
annual donations to several other
organizations.
Sheri Mitchell led in singing
Christmas carols. Gifts were ex-
changed.
An assortment of snacks were
served buffet style during the so-
cial hour.
NUTRITION MENU
MONDAY, December 30: Frozen
tray — Beef cubes over noodles,
gravy, carrots, summer squash,
bread, milk.
TUESDAY, December 31:
Chicken, gravy, mashed potatoes,
pickled beets, jello, bread, milk.
WEDNESDAY, January 1:
Closed
THURSDAY, January 2: Steak
patty, carrots, green beans,
brownie, bread, milk.
FRIDAY, January 3: Frozen tray
— Beefaroni casserole, green
beans, vegetable blend, bread,
milk.
'Trinity
(Episcopa[
Church
Communion Service
1st & 3rd Sundays
9:30 a.m.
Morning Prayer
2nd & 4th Sundays
9:30 a.m.
No Services 5th Sundays
VISITORS WELCOME!
ALLIED EFFORT...
Four members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance, (l-r) Scott
Luckey, Don Clevenger, Tom Anthony and Lloyd Conner, begin
loading the 100-plus Christmas Baskets delivered last Friday.
£OJi tcM^sjnoxial
ziian dfiuxafi
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Worship Service .. 11:00 a.m.
CHURCH 762-3038
1IAN8E 763-3638
Today In the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; He is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11
the combined forces' defense of
Japan.
The 1979 graduate of Moran
High School joined the Navy in
June, 1988.
Lionesses give gifts
Fourteen members of the Al-
bany Lioness Club met Tuesday,
December 17 at the Fort Griffin
General Merchandise Restaurant.
Fanny Schkade was the De-
cember birthday honoree.
Following the business meeting,
members exchanged Christmas
gifts.
DEFINITIVE ANSWER
mm
"/j
IIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE FACT
THAT ALL THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE WAS DE-
SIGNED AND ORCHESTRATED F0RMAN.WH0
WAS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF THE ©REATOR."
~CARL E BAUGH, PA.D., F0MDFR& D/ttCrCZ
4W//AF0106-
iCAL MCA/JT/W, VX4S 7&M3
Godfrey - Neese Funeral Home
229 Hill-762-2211
Albany Communication
Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Bartee
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 26, 1991, newspaper, December 26, 1991; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth412511/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.