| Show V0I8I Number Gunnison 52 Stranger in by Lori Olsen One night last week on my noticed something way to bed strange amongst the Christmas was decorations at our house clicking off the lamps in the front found a stranger in room when the manger of my porcelain nativwent to the next lamp ity set There was a stranger in the manger of my nativity set bought in Mexico Even one of the lambs was a foreigner was curious and checked my other sets chuckled as discovered each bed of hay had a stranger Oh it was still Jesus but from another nativity set The Christ Child in my miniature set was taller than Joseph and Mary found a little brown Jesus in my white porcelain set and a plastic “Precious Moments’ baby in my pink set from Mexico Someone in my house was having a little fun the manger made a As a young mother fabric nativity set The characters were printed right on the material stuffed them with batting and Each figure was weighed down with a hand full of dried pinto beans in the bottom so they would set up straight and tall My young children loved to play with them and act out the Christmas story It also kept the kids away from my porcelain set placed up on the piano We used the clothbean-baset for years until it was worn and started losing beans One year made a little cardwith decorated board manger markers and set it in the middle of our cloth nativity set on the kitchen table Every time a family member did an act of kindness they were to cut off a piece of golden yarn and place it in the manger The goal was to have a soft full man Utah 84634 Salina Utah 84654 December ger for the baby Jesus by Christmas Eve It worked well as we all looked for opportunities to serve each other It was more effective than threats of Santa skipping our the kids didn't behave house We kept the tradition for several years and then moved on to new ideas to interest growing children But nativity sets have always been an important part of the Olsen Christmas celebration Nativity sets have now become one of my passions at Christmas time only have teenagers and young adults around the house now and it is relatively safe to put out our precious nativity sets Over the years have collected a couple of nice sets a few fun “kid safe” sets and several expensive “Dime Store" sets The variety is fun and many sets have a story to tell besides the story of Christ’s birth was telling my sister about our Jesus exchange and she asked if put them back in their proper beds “Not yet” explained You see I’m looking for some kind son finally admitted he of symbolism and meaning in the a d the switching around think he don't think it just wanted to put his personalty pranksters switch into my “Martha Stewart" Christhas anything to do with ethnicity You know - a ceramic brown baby mas decor with a white porcelain Mary and But there could certainly be a deeper meaning Perhaps it can Joseph Oh that's not it think my teens were regressiremind me that Christ should be a big part of our Christmas celebra-iong to playing around with the na- like the huge baby surand acting out the tivity pieces story in a fun and unique way Our rounded by miniature angles Wisemen shepherds 75 2002 25 cents - OR the babies are not really strangers just welcomed visitors We should welcome Christ into our lives and make sure there is a - and love in every manger in every heart Merry Christmas! Jesus is Salina LDS Stake Presidency Message Imagine it ve could have been there on that night of nights hen the shepherds were abiding in the fields and the angel the I ord appeared to them announcing "1 ear not tor befor unto you is hold I bring you good tidings of great jov born this dav in the city of Dav id a Sav lor which is Christ the The shepherds went with haste to the ) Lord" (Luke manger to pay honor to Uhrist the I ord Wise Men ourneyed from the t ast to lerusalem "say tng Where is he that is born King of the Jews? Lor we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy And vv hen they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped him: and when they opened their treasures they presented unto him gifts gold and frankincense and myrrh" (Matt 22 "True happiness" said President Pav id O McKay "comes only' by making others happy— as son and daughter of Cod we bring the world the happiest message of all In short the Christmas spirit is the spirit of Christ that makes our hearts glow in brotherly lov e and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of serv ice It is the spu it of the gospel of Jesus Christ obedience to which w ill bung 'peace on earth' because it means — good will toward all men " May the Lord Bless ou and your family this Holiday Season and throughout the coming y ear of Sincerely Salma Utah Stake Presidency President IVnnis K Sperry President Bart Key nolds President Neal Bosshardt Ked Nielsen Pwaine Burr Brown Dahl Gunnison LDS Stake Presidency Message s -V '3D ) W1 J ef( May the light and love of His blessings shine upon your home this holy season and beyond The Salina Sun and Gunnison Valley News hristmas is almost here By' now most of the preparations are behind us Our emotions are the sum total of all of the thought and pieparation hope and expectations of the last few weeks As the Stake Presidency it is our hope that all of your wishes for a happy holiday season come1 to pass We wish that your family experience will be all that you have hoped tot In addition and most importantly we hope that peace comes into your homes and liv es The peace we speak of is the peace that comes from a love of Cod and his son lesus Christ or after all it ist bust's birth that we celebrate even the Prince of Peace lie said "Peace leave with you my peace give unto you not as the world giveth give unto j you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid " i Of all the gifts cit b hristmas this might be one ot the most j prized Vt there are eligibility requirements associated j w ith this gitt ot peace The follow mg poem might nil that L COPYl - suggested requirement Civ eto your enemy forgiveness To our opponent tolerance fo vour friend vour heart To all men charity for the hands that help are holier than lips that pray fo every child a good example and to yourself - t Anony nious It is our experience that lives lived in the service of others an happier lives and in these homes there is a gnat measure ot peace Ian that Additionally we de-- c those w ho focus their Christ who W'as born in Bethlehem of Judea will not only have this gift of peace on this earth but will have eternal peace It is our prayer that your life be tilled with that kind of confidence and that Peace abide with you and your family through this holiday season liv es on Jesus Cunmson Utah Stake dency ( urtis Anderson L hristensen Ian Natman R lensen Presi- |
