Happy New Year

May God bless you and your family with the best that 2009 has to offer.

Meaning of Christmas

Christmas: the True Meaning
Christmas's Religious Observance and History


One of the most popular holy days on the Christian calendar, Christmas honors the birth of Jesus, and is observed by most Christian churches. The name "Christmas" did not appear until the eleventh century. The word comes from the Old English Cristes Maesse, which means "the Mass of Christ".

Christmas History
The earliest records mention a feast held in the Church at Alexandria, Egypt, around AD 200, to honor the Nativity. The celebration of Christmas did not become a church-wide celebration until the late third and early fourth centuries. A variety of dates have been associated with the Feast of the Nativity. Western churches observed the feast on the 25th of December, while most churches in the East observed it on January 6th (Epiphany). The one exception seemed to be the Church at Constantinople, where the designated date mirrored that of the Western Church. By the end of the fourth century, almost all Christian churches had accepted the December date.

What is the True Meaning of Christmas?
Though the Church at Rome maintained that December 25th was the actual birth date of Jesus, the most likely date (according to civil and historical records) was sometime around the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, which was celebrated in autumn. The unanimous adoption of the December date came about as an attempt by the Church to integrate Christian ideals into the Winter Solstice festivals celebrated during that season.

In the East, the Festival of the Invincible Sun was the major winter celebration. In Rome, meanwhile, the Saturnalia literally closed down the region for twelve days. As Christian missionaries ventured into Northern Europe, they were exposed to the Feast of Yule, a widespread solstice celebration for many tribes and clans. While adopting a Christian focus for these festivals, the Church allowed many of the customs and traditions associated with their older significance to remain.

Christmas Customs
Many ancient Christmas customs survive to this day. Decorations of evergreen wreaths, holly, and mistletoe, along with Christmas trees, are found in many homes during this season. Colored lights and candles are often displayed. Christmas gift-giving is an intimate time for many families. Children's eyes light up at the mention of Santa Claus or Father Christmas. In England, the Twelve Days of Christmas are a time of great banquets, caroling throughout neighborhoods, exchanging presents, and attending parties.

Celebration of Christmas in Church
Christmas Eve services often include popular Christmas customs such as candlelight vigils, plays reenacting the Nativity from the Gospel of Luke, and hymns sung by children. Ceremonies on Christmas Day include three Masses, special readings from Isaiah and the Gospel of Luke, and elaborate hymns and carols. Many churches are decorated with candles, greenery, and nativity scenes.

For many people around the world, Christmas is the high point of the Advent season, which honors the birth of the Son of God. It is a joyous time for many Christians as they give thanks to God for His infinite love and mercy

Merry Christmas

Reminder

Christmas brunch Sunday at Hazel Creek....

December 25th

Cast for "Pageant of Barrington Hills"

CAST:

DIRECTOR: (Michael) James Clardy
Asst. Director: (Bianca) Elaine Fleming
Angela: Connie Browning
David: David Browning
Mary: Kim Sigers
Anne: Tara Sweeney
Joe: Cameron Coe
John: Blake O’Bannon
Tony: Jackie Whitney
Samuel: Terry Chaney
Robert: Bob Knight
Pat: Pam Perry
Carol: Makenzi Knight
Chris: Jake Smith
Lois: Laura Smith
Mrs. Barrington: Jennifer Browning

Sound: Ricky Page


God has truly blessed Hazel Creek Church. We believe
that God gives talent and it needs to be used to the fullest.

All glory and credit goes to our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
HAZEL CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday, December 14, 2008

Pastor: Bro. Terry Chaney
Music Director: Kim Meadows
Pianist: Shirley Heltsley
Organist: Barbara Ingram



WELCOME TO
“THE PAGEANT AT BARRINGTON HILLS”

SCENE 1: AFTER THE PREFORMANCE
SCENE 2: MEETING THE CAST
SCENE 3: FIRST REHEARSAL
SCENE 4: CRISIS REHEARSAL
SCENE 5: DO WE GO ON?
SCENE 6: THE REAL PREFORMANCE
SCENE 7: THE DIRECTOR

Director: Elaine Fleming
Asst. Director: Jennifer Browning

Click on link on right hand side to view photos

Click on link on right hand side flickr.com to view photos
of the Pageant of Barrington Hills.

Pageant of Barrington Hills Sunday

Reminder to come and see the play "Pageant of Barrington Hills" on
Sunday.

Movers & Shakers

" Movers and Shakers" are having a Christmas Party @ James and Melinda House Monday Night 6:00 December 15

Meaning behind the song "12 Days of Christmas"

1st Day: The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them.
The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.
2nd Day: The "two turtle doves" refers to the Old and New Testaments.
3rd Day: The "three French hens" stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13).
4th Day: The "four calling birds" refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
5th Day: The "five golden rings" represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
6th Day: The "six geese a-laying" is the six days of creation.
7th Day: The "seven swans a-swimming" refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
8th Day: The "eight maids a milking " reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.
9th Day: The "nine ladies dancing" were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
10th Day: The "ten lords a-leaping" represents the Ten Commandments
11th Day: The "eleven pipers piping" refers to the eleven faithful apostles.
12th Day: The ‘twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: belief in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, made man, crucified, died and arose on the third day, that he sits at the right hand of the father and will come again, the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

Camcorder

Does anyone have a camcorder that we could use the video tape the play?
If you do let us know.
Thanks