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Show BEN LOMOND BEACON, warm Dec. 21, 1978, Page 7 Read aloud Christmas story CCnimg Mamy SD PuiasycffllS: by Carol Shaw Harry S. Pussycat was a king. His family called him kitty, but he knew in his heart he was the king, so it didnt bother him too much. After all, they did wait on him paw and tail. They hurried to open the door whenever he wanted to come in or go out. He didnt even have to say anything most of the time, merely sit in front of it. Look at Christmas! A family day, a happy day, a day we long have cherished. So let us see the good we can do for others as we help them to know our Saviour. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him; and when Dinner was always served him on demand - no tiresome waiting around. It was always the most choice food: bits of meat, fish or a specially prepared delicacy just for cats. He slept where ever he pleased and whenever he pleased. He did everything pretty much as he pleased. The family always said, Look, isnt Harry cute! no matter what. The family loved him, just because he was himself. They took turns petting him and cuddling him. They were so thrilled if he would give them a little attention! If he were to leap onto one of their laps, the person would invariably exclaim, Look, Harry likes me best now! Harry had a large brick home, all carpeted and warm. It was full of soft furniture for him to lie on, leap on, hide behind and scratch. He had lots of toys and things to amuse himself with. He had balls and spools of thread to chase. He had crackly newspapers to hide in and prickly brush rollers to toss. He had mittens to put under the beds and a warm fireplace to curl up in front Matthew 2:11. When he got bored, he would go outdoors for a tour of his kingdom. It was a very to President Vaughn (Editors Note: Stake Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-DaSaints and ministers of local churches have contributed special Christmas messages to the Ben Lomond Beacon. We thank these devoted men for their time and talents and hope you enjoy the messages.) mortal life. To keep Christmas, for longer than a day, is a noble challenge and a worthy goal for all of us to pursue. If we could extend the spirit of Christmas Day to last all through the year, then we At this joyous season when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, may we reflect anew upon the blessings that His life has brought to each of us. The scriptures proclaim His divinity, the hope of peace for all men, and the potential of life eternal. These gifts It is our prayer that each of us will find daily peace in our hearts and love in our homes, which comes by living the precepts taught by Jesus Christ. y are as meaningful and beautiful today as they were on that first day of His could Pastor President Rhees that say truly Christmas living is the best kind of Christmas giving. Sincerely, J. Gordon Vaughn, President North Ogden Utah Stake Presidency It costs nothing, but creates much. It enriches those who imwithout receive, poverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich they can get along without it and none are so poor but are richer for its benefits. It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business and is the countersign of friends It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and natures best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away. And if in the last minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours? For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give. KEEPING CHRISTMAS There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas Day, and that is keeping Christmas. Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people and to remember what other people have done for you? To ignore what the world Hall owes you, and to think what LOOK AT CHRISTMAS you owe the world? When they saw the star, To admit that the only they rejoiced with exceeding good reason for your Matthew 2:20. great joy. existence is not what you are Christmas has become one of the greatest holidays of going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to the Protestant, Catholic, and life? Greek churches. The origin Are you willing to stoop of the celebration of down and consider the needs Christmas is uncertain and desire of litle children? who first celebrated it, To the remember where, or how. We do not weakness and loneliness of even know the exact date of people who are growing old? Christs birth. To stop asking how much look at Christmas, how much this Christmas your friends like you, and ask yourself whether you day should mean to every love them enough? Christian. Sad to say it is To try to understand what often desecrated. those who live in the same What place should we give house with you really want, Jesus when we plan the without waiting for them to Celebration of His birthday? tell you? How wrong we are to look for To make a grave for your Christmas in the shops and ugly thoughts and a garden stores of a big city. for your kindly feelings, with If I would find Christmas I the gate open? must first think of the one for Are you willing to do these whom it was established. Think of the millions who things even for a day? Then you can keep have yet to hear about Christmas. Christ. So I cannot close my Are you willing to believe home and leave my family to that love is the strongest go to foreign lands and look stronger for Christmas; but I can thing in the world than hate, stronger than ' make a gift of money to help and that the blessed ' someone who wants to go to a death which Life began in mission field. Bethlehem nineteen hundred Because there are hungry years ago is the image and people in our city, I cannot brightness of Eternal Love? say, We will not eat. Then you can keep However, I can take food to Christmas. the needy and helpless. So when you get ready to look for Christmas there are Henry van Dyke some plans we might make. Enthrone Christ in your ! heart and think first of Him on the anniversary of His birth. Plan to worship Christ. The men from the East fell down before the child and worshiped Him. We to o need to worship our Saviour and Lord. We must worship Christ in our homes as well as at church. We can begin by worshiping in song. The time is just right for reading the Christmas story from the Bible. they had opened their treasureres, they presented unto him gifts of gold, and frankincense and myrr. THE MAY JOY OF SERVING CHRIST YOUR BRIGHTEN CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS AND GIVE SPECIAL MEANING TO THE NEW YEAR. Pastor View J. Hall, Valley Church Baptish B. Pleasant View Stake Jay H. Rhees, President Miottcraslker pe&fomnaimGe slatted Good seats are still available for the two Ogden performances and a Saturday matinee of The Nutcracker presented by Ballet West. Performances wil be on Jan. 5 and 6, beginning at 7 p.m. with an additional matinee on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. to be given in i the Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, on the Weber State College. For ticket information, those interested should call the Ballet West office, 2580 Jefferson The office is Ave., at open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including lunchours. This is the 24th year that the ballet companyhas put on 392-357- The Nutcracker, and William F. Christensen, cofounder of Ballet West, will put the finishing touches on the performance. He was the first to create the first version of this Christmas fantasy in America. He has retired as the artistic director of Ballet West, but continues to help in the production. This year the company will be aided by 150 full-leng- th and apprentices students area. in the children Throughout their tour of Portland, Oregon; Long Beach, Calif; Albuquerque, N.M.; Flagstaff, and Tempe, Arizona., approximately 75 local childm are also chosen to participate in the producballet tion. Sondra Sugai mistress for Ballet West, travels ahead of the Company to select and rehearse the children in the communities. The company will also appear in the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City beginning Thursday and Provo after the first of the year. Sets and costumes are designed by Ronald Crosby with lighting by Greg Geilmann. The production was made possible by a generous grant from the S.B. Eggertsen Foundation and Mr. Dean E. Eggertsen. The story of The There is much excitement in the air, particularly among the children. Clara, the daughter of the partys host, is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her Godfather, a Herr Drosselmyer, e toymaker who creates toys for the children's enjoyment. He brings a mechanical doll, a dancing bear, and a Nutcracker which he presents to Clara. life-siz- Claras brother Fritz breaks the Nutcracker. After all the guests leave, Clara steals back into the living room and sees an amazing spectacle. The Christmas tree is growing to an enormous size and the Nutcrakcer is as tall as she. The Nutcracker fights an armice and is turned my of into a handsome prince who takes Clara on a fanciful journey. the Flowers. Her most memorable moment is the Grand Pas de Deux of the Sugar Plum Fair and her Cavalier. thoughtfully leaving Harry with some peace and quiet. He had a good time unrolling the toilet paper and batting balls off the Christmas tree. Then he had a long nap on the clean, freshly folded clothes on the dryer. He had to rearrange them to make it more comfortable, but after he got the clothes all fluffed up, it was a cozy bed. When he woke up, he was Nut- On their voyage, the Prince and Gara are entertained by mystical Arabians, animated Chinese dancers, spirited Spanish dancers and three Russian Cossacks. She meets Mother Buffoon and her Buffoon children, and is tantalized by the lovely Waltz of nice kingdom. It had trees full of birds and a field with several mice for whenever he felt like going hunting. In the summer, his family planted his kingdom with flowers. In the winter, they shoveled the walks for him. But Harry did have one very important responsibility. As king, he had to get everyone up and going each morning. If he didnt get them up bright and early, everyone was late for everything. He usually accomplished this task by springing onto each persons chest and demanding, as loudly as he could. That would always bring them to their feet in a hurry. One night the family had gone somewhere for the evening, cracker is based on an old German talen about a Christmas Eve part in Nuremburg. Unfortunately, of. ABOVE IS a scene from Clara's Christmas party in "The Nutcracker," to be performed by Ballet West in the Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts Jan. 5 and 6. Good seats are still available for both performances as well as the Saturday matinee. hungry, He opened a cabinet with one paw and slipped irde to see if there was anyihing decent to eat. YUK. All there was cereal and some banana i, that cupboard. How cjull humans stand such stuff? he thought. Then he realized it was getting late and they still hadnt come home. How would he manage to get them up in the morning? They would be so tired. It would really be hard. Harry started making the rounds of the window sills, anxiously watching for their return. When they finally came in, he really let them have it. He told them in no uncertain terms how inconsiderate they were to worry him so. He stewed and fretted until he finally got them into bed. He was worn out by all the hassel. But he just got settled down for the night, when he heard a loud clatter outside. Now what? he thought. Holy cats! I thought I could have some rest. Who in the catnip would come at this time of night? He jumped onto the window sill and peered out. Who is that? he asked himself. I dont remember seeing that character around here before. He looks sort of strange in that wooly red suit with his long white hair and beard. I wonder what he has in that big bag he is getting out of the back of his station wagon. Harry became very perturbed. That person, whoever he was didnt even bother to ring the doorbell. He just walked right in and started dumping things under the Christmas tree. But the fat old guy just kept right on cluttering up the house with his packages and junk. I hope you dont mind my coming in the door, but chimneys are too hard on my new Corfam boots, the man By the way, laughed. Harry, I have a special present here for you. Maybe I was too hard on the guy, thought Harry. He has good intentions, anyway." Harry watched while the strange fat man unloaded his bag and filled the familys Christmas stockings. He even told him, Come again, when the man left. Then Harry sat down to open his gift. He had a lot ol fun playing with the wrapping paper and string and a lot of fun playing with the catnip mouse that was in- side. He had so much fun, he played and played for hours. In fact, he played so long that he overslept. He was sleeping soundly when he heard the family come into the room. Look at Harry lying on the wrapping paper, they exclaimed. Isnt he cute? How embarrassing, thought Harry. I have been neglecting my kingly duty. |