Christmas Play at Stanley Union

The congregation of Stanley was delighted by the voices of young children as the Christmas story was unfolded by way of children's performing and singing Christmas carols along with narrative by Natalie Romero. The play was directed by Andrea Dennisson and Samantha Romero.

Despite the small size of the shepherds, their voices rung throughout the sanctuary. The whole cast of characters performed their lines without fault to the throng of photo flashes from proud parents.

It had been a long anticipated time since the last Christmas Pageant had been performed at the Union Church. Some estimates placed it at seven years. Thus, the pleasure was multifaceted and the joy abounded throughout the pews.

The kings in their elaborate bath robes carried their treasures to the babe snuggled in the manger. King Caesar proclaimed his anxiety at his throne being threatened. The lowly shepherds made their way to the Bethlehem stable with sheep all around as a lone donkey stood majestically over the holy couple and the star shone brightly to proclaim its location.

Afterwards, the congregation gathered next door in the Stanley Homemaker's Club for a time of fellowship and celebration of the season. The children accepted praises for the success of their acting and feasted on cookies and punch.

What is it about the sound of children's voices and laughter that makes the Christmas season so complete? Perhaps it can be found in the words of the Messiah when he spoke in Luke 18, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Pastor John and Ginger Nash along with all of the congregation of the Stanley Union Church wish you a very Merry Christmas. May you know the Christ of Christmas and be blessed with His presence in your life this day and all forever more.

Oh, Christmas Tree

In 2001 we finally were able to begin living in our casa in Alamos, Sonora even though it was not completed and wouldn't be for several more years. Ours was what the Mexican called poco, poco, which means little by little. That is how most of the casas in Mexico are built as no one has the money to build one from the ground up to completion right away.

Naturally that first Christmas in the casa I wanted to celebrate with a tree as some of our family were coming and I wished to have a tree for the grandsons. The only place I had seen trees for sale was in the neighboring town where we did our shopping. The trees there were bagged in a netting and piled in a stack and so dry all the needles were falling off. The tags on the trees noted, imported from Canada. Those trees probably had been cut sometime in the past fall.

One day I was talking with a Mexican friend of ours I mentioned I would like to have a live Christmas tree. He responded, "no problemo", that being the wonderful stock answer for many things in Mexico. He assured me that he would bring me a tree. He worked for the government in some capacity in the nearby countryside. Alamos being in the foothills of the Sierra Madre I had visions of a nice evergreen tree. One day shortly after that conversation he showed up with not one tree but two from which I could chose. My choices were between a leafless thorn bush, one of many which the state of Sonora is blessed or the one I chose, the beginning bloom stalk from a yucca plant. Once decorated as you can see it made a wonderful, but different tree. When the lights were turned on it was downright beautiful.