COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Across the Fence 



By Arvord Abernethy 

This has been a very busy and colorful season of Christmas activities around Hamilton. I won’t try to describe all of them to you, but may I mention one, the tree lighting ceremony at the courthouse. There was a fine turnout of spectators to watch and hear the program, even though the air was a bit nippy and crisp. Ida Stephenson did a marvelous job in leading the large group of singers in singing the Christmas carols. It would have been great to have made a tape of the program, especially the singing of Silent Night. 

By the time the program was over, it was getting dark. Then as switches were thrown, lights began coming on in the front windows of the courthouse where lights and decorations had been strung. The beautifully decorated Christmas tree was aglow with lights. Then the lights on the top of the courthouse came on, followed by lights that outlined the business buildings around the square. All those colorful lights should have given everyone a feeling of cheer. 

Christmas is definitely a religious holiday, celebrating the birth of the Christ child who came to bring light to the souls of mankind. The prophet Isaiah said some seven or eight hundred years before Christ’s birth, “The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light. “Then after Christ’s coming, He said, “I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness.” 

As we see the beautiful lights around our square, as we see the warm glow of lights in the windows of homes, as we see the colorful lights on Christmas trees and on the eaves of homes, remember it is recognition of the one who said, “I am the light of the world.” 

May each of you feel the warmth and glow throughout the holiday season and the coming year of that one who came to bring peace and good will to all mankind.

Shared by Roy Ables

ACROSS THE FENCE