Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan • Page 7

Enquirer ond News, Dec. 20, 1969 A-7 Omnipotent, mysterious, accessible Children see God vividly A Of The Churches jc only with important things, not your homework." "God is forever because He doesn't have to get elected." "God is in school but He lets the teachers run it." "God is in your heart and mine, too, I hope." How do you know there is a God? "Because it says so in the Bible and He wrote it, that's who." What does God look like? "I can't say for sure what God looks like because I never saw Him, but the police chief knows." "God looks like a very smart person but not with glasses." What do you know about him? "God doesn't have anybody to pray to so He's got to mind everybody else's business." What does God do? "God protects all people even the rotten ones. I guess that's okay but I don't see how." "Rainbows are what God does to tell us he still likes us." "God is always listening to even-thing. I bet he wishes He could turn it off sometimes." What does God want? "God wants you to grow up and make new people for Him to be God of." One youngster suggested that there must be a cat and dog god, too, because "I don't think they could live without one." By PATRICIA McCORMACK NEW YORK (UPI) Anyone out there still subscribing to the "God is dead" bit just hasn't asked a child. They not only know that He's alive, but they know where to find Him, what He looks like, what He does and wants.

Eric Marshall and Stuart Hample have put the proof between the covers of a new book, "God is a Good Friend to Have" (Simon Schuster). The two put to children the kinds of questions usually asked by children and avoided by adults. The answers are what's between the first and last pages of the book. "To children, God is many things omnipotent, mysterious, sometimes frightening by always vividly real and accessible," they said. Some of the questions asked the children and some answers Who is God? "God is whatever you think He is, but not a girl." "God is the only one who never has a birthday because He was the first one." "God is who tells you when you have to die and it does not matter how old you are either." Where do you find God? "God is always around when you need help.

But Mrs. Harold Janson will present a 15 minute program of Christmas Carols prior to the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service at Redemption Lutheran Church. This will be followed by the celebration of the Holy Sacrament. The Rev.

Armin C. Draegert will speak on "God's Christmas Proclamation." The senior choir will sing the "Sing Gloria" by Davis, directed by Carl Moore and the Women's Choir will sing the Mrs. Moore and Thomas Janson will sing a duet "Born is the Babe." The Rev. Mr. Draegert will speak on "How God Acts to Confirm Faith" at the 10 a.m.

service Christmas Day. "Christmas Bells" will be sung by the Senior Choir and the Martin Luther Choir will sing Little Town of Bethlehem" and "The Snow Lay on the Ground." The Holy Sacrament will be celebrated at this sen-ice. The Family Christmas Carol Service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at First Congregational Church will include a Christmas Cantata for children's voices, with the youth choirs participating. The Festival Service will be at 11 p.m.

The Celtic choir will present "The Holy Child" and the fourth of the Advent candle will be lighted by Da- At 2:30 p.m. members will gather at the church to prepare fruit plates to be delivered to shut-ins. There will be candlelight service in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. The Warren Marler family and the DeLos Smith family will light the Advent candles at services Sunday at the Pennfield Presbyterian Church.

At both services there will be a "Sermon in Song" by the adult choir. Between carols and anthems scripture will be read and children of the Sunday School will portray the characters of the Christmas story. The Aeolian Choir will sing "Hark, the Glad Sounds" at the 9 and 11 a.m. services Sunday at First United Methodist Church. The Sanctuary choir will sing "For Unto Us a Child is Born," and James Roach will sing the offertory number "For, Behold, Darni-ness." Music will begin at 4:50 p.m.

in the Sanctuary Wednesday, and the Aeolian, Wesley Youth and Sanctuary choirs will be participating in the Christmas Eve candle-lighting service from 5-6 p.m. The First Church of the Nazarene will have its annual children's Christmas program at 10 a.m. Sunday. A candlelight Christmas Cantata will be presented by a 24-voice choir at 7 p.m. The sermon topic at the 6:30 a.m.

sunrise service Christmas morning at the Macedonia Baptist Church will be "There Was a Child Born That Was As Old As His Father and Older Than His Mother." Among symbols represented on the Chrismon tree are, top center, a crown of gold beads trimmed with pearls, left, a Chi Rho symbol, the oldest monogram for Christ; right, the circle which symbolizes eternity, cross and butterfly which signify resurrection; and bottom, the Greek cross with the first three letters of the name of Jesus in pearls on a gold cross. Earliest Christian symbols adorn tree vid and Tom Cowles at service Sunday at Westlake Presbyterian Church. Christmas Eve a family service will be held at 7 p.m. with Christmas Carols and a Christmas story. The traditional candlelight Christmas Eve service will be at 11 p.m., with the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Tower bells will begin playing at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve at the Church of the Brethren. Mrs. Eleanor Hurd will sing Holy Night" and the Rev. Lloyd B.

Stauffer will give a talk entitled "Sweet Mystery," followed by communion. Battle Creek Central High School's orchestra will join the First Presbyterian Church adult choir in the presentation of Vivaldi's "Magnificat" at 5 p.m. Sunday at the church. The soloists will be Miss Marilyn Smith. Miss Beverly Donney, Mrs.

Penny Colburn, Mrs. Richard Wilson and Mrs. J. E. Lonning, with Mrs.

Peter Highland on the harpsichord, Gary Forsleff, organ, and Mrs. Arthur An-good, flute. Roger Sweet will be conducting the choir and the orchestra. A Christmas Eve service for families with small children will be held in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. Wednesday, and the annual Christmas Eve candlelight service will begin with organ music at 11 p.m.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church will have its i-annual reception for new adult members Sunday. Following the service a coffee and fellowship hour will be held. The Chapel Hill Methodist Church chancel choir will present the Christmas Cantata "Night of Miracles" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary.

Keith Crocker will be the narrator, with Mrs. Guy Bennett, Mrs. Gerald Beard, Joe Thomas and Wesley Culver as soloists. The Rev. Lawrence Taylor, superintendent of the Albion District, will speak at the 8:30 and 11 a.m.

services Sundav at Birchwnod United Methodist Church. The William Richardson Jr. family and the Frank Sherman family will light the Advent The good news of Christmas Christ: living embodiment of God's love for man A Chrismon tree resembling those used in the early days of Christendom is standing in St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church where it may be viewed by the public Dec. 22 and 23.

The unsual tree is decorated with Chrismons Christ monograms of gold beads and pearls made by the women of the church. The symbols are copies of those used by the early Christians to identify themselves to each other during times of persecution, to designate meeting places and to teach converts. More than 30 such symbols are represented in the more than 130 decorations on the tree. They are all of white and gold white for Christ's purity and perfection and gold for His majesty and glory. By LOUIS CASSELS LPI Religion Writer The shepherds were frightened when the angel appeared.

But the angel said: "Don't be afraid. For I am here with good news for you, which will bring joy to all the people." The coming of Christ is "good news" for you, for me, for all people. That was the Herald Angel's proclamation on the first Christmas Eve. It is still the basic rationale of Christmas festivity. Nearly everyone would agree, probably, that the birth of Christ is "good news" in the sense that the world has been a better place because of His life and teaching.

But the Herald Angel meant a great deal more than that. And it is the more that makes Christmas an occasion for joyous celebration by all men in all ages. What the angel meant and what has always been the heart of the Christian gospel is that Christ was the living embodiment of a message which God was unable to get across to mankind in any other way. The message is simple and enormous ly comforting. God does not hate us.

He loves us. He does not wish to punish us for our errant ways. He seeks reconciliation and offers forgiveness. The destiny He has prepared for us is not extinction, which would render our brief existence ultimately meaningless. He offers us eternal communion with His own timeless being, and thereby confers crucial importance on each deed and word and thought by which we become more or less worthy to be called His sons.

The distinguished British tehologian Erik Routley points out that men have an ingrained tendency to suspect that i God is hostile toward them. This is a hangover from the primitive era of religion when gods were thought to be vengeful and capricous beings who had to be appeased by every means possible. Some versions of Christian theology have helped to perpetuate this unflattering concept of God, Routley says, by depicting Christ as a scapegoat who sacrificed Himself in order to assuage God's hatred of humanity. Witnesses plan training session church sets live tableau ing trend of lawlessness. "We sincerely hope this advance training will help us in sharing in this most urgent work," he explained.

The assembly will be climaxed Sunday afternoon by a discourse given by Mr. A. A. Catanzaro, District Representative of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Brooklyn, New York. His subject is: "True Worship Versus the False." TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH W.

Coguoc 24th St. SUNDAY SERVICES Worship 10:00 A.M. "The Child" Sunday School ...11:15 A.M. Sunday Evening 7:00 P.M. "Room in the Inn" Christmas Worship Service Thursday 10 a.m.

"Gloria in Excelsis" The Rev. M. E. Klarren, Pastor 701 CAPITAL S.W. WO 3-511 SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF DIVINITY 81 CHAMPION ST.

Service 7:00 P.M. Christmas Service Healings, Messages All Welcome 1 RICHARD FUNERAL HOME FAMILY ALTAR Urbandale The Urbandale Methodist Church will present four special programs in recognition of the Christmas season. On Sunday at the regular 10:30 a.m. service there will be special Christmas music by an ensemble made up of young people from the church, directed -by A. B.

Coff-man. In addition the choir will sing special Christmas music and the Rev. Gaylord Howell's sermon will be "Light Shining Out of Darkness." At 7 p.m. the same day the IA I i i Tf'V CHURCH EVENTS Trinity United Methodist Monday. Council ot Ministries.

7 p.m.; Wednesday, Christmas Eve candlelight service. 7 p.m.; Friday, Four Square Class, 7:30 p.m. Central Christian Tuesday. Willing Workers Class Party; Wednesday, Christmas Eve service. 7 p.m.

Chapel Hill United Methodist Sunday, Christmas Cantata by chancel choir, 7: p.m.; Wednesday. Christmas Eve family communion, 7 p.m. Lakeview Baptist Sunday, White Gifts program, 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Christmas Eve Carol and Candlelight service, 1.1 P-m- ,0 midnight. Trinity Lutheran Sunday, White Gift Service. 10:45 a.m.; Luther League Caroling, 6:30 p.m..

Adult Christmas Party with Dr. and Mrs. Harold J. oh I man, 20660 Carpenter Drive, 4 p.m.; Wednesday. Christmas Eve Can-dlelighting Communion Service, 11 p.m.; Thursday, Christmas Day Communion Service.

10 a.m. Urbandale Baptist Sunday, Christmas Cantata by the choir, 7 p.m. West lake Presbyterian Monday Joint Senior High Caroling with First and Pennfield Presbyterian Church, 6:45 p.m., Westlake Church; Tuesday, senior high caroling at VA Hospital. Holy Russian Orthodtx Church, Albion Today, evening vespers, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Divine liturgy, 10 a.m. Before or After Church PANCAKE HOUSE RESTAURANT OPEN DAYS A WEEK 7 A.M.

TIL 1 1 P.M. Capital S.W. Corner Fountain St. A Dickman Rd. Batllt Creek FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SPRINGFIELD 120 N.

34th St. Phone 965-1842 Worship Service 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Training Union 6:00 p.m.

Affiliated with Southern Baptist Convention Joe E. Jones. Pastor Ph. 968-6374 Church of Spiritual Truth 28 W. Fountain St.

1 1 :00 Service Pearl Bambrick of Dimondale No Midweek Service Dec. 25th. Pres. WO 4-7287 Sec. WO 2-3016 Memorial Spiritual Church 85 W.

Bidwell December 21st 11:00 a.m. service Speaker: Rev. Ruth Fashbough Candlelight Service Sec. 4-7388 Pres. PA -5100 FREE GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS SALVATION Eph.

2:8, John 3:16 HOLY SPIRIT Acts. 2:38, 39 HEALING Mtt. 8:17 We Would Like For All In This Area To Know Of God's Love' To Them. Come For Your Gift This Week. Welcome.

OF GOD Andrus VViUag (1 Mi. S. of Columbia on Main St.) 11 :00 A.M. SERVICE "Joy in a Land of Tears" 7:00 P.M. SERVICE Cantata Song Unending Dan Pierce, Dir.

The Cantata "LOVE TRANSCENDING" By John W. Peterson Directed by Tom Galley WILL BE PRESENTED TOMORROW 7 P.M. Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Hour 11 p.m. "THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE" CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Wednesday 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

First Assembly of God 800 S. 24th St. Hetbert E. Eicher, Pastor Pastor D. BURDETTE PRICE A ft ii ft ft a ft ft" ft ft ft a a a A fi a 3 Tune in WVOC 1500 kc Weekdays at 8:45 a.m.

"FAMILY ALTAR OF THE AIR" Pastor DON F. PRICE The two local congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses were informed this week about a three-day training program to be held at the W. K. Kellogg Auditorium, Battle Creek, Michigan, Jan. 16-17-18.

The announcement was made by Mr. Earle W. Wissink, presiding minister of the North Unit. Plans to attend the three-day conference will include both the two local congregations of Battle Creek along with 16 other congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses in Southern Michigan. Forthcoming arrangements will require the cancellation of all local midweek and weekend meetings during the time of the Battle Creek sessions.

According to Mr. Wissink the program will equip every one of the preaching fellowship of Jehovah's Witnesses in the practical use of the Bible in coping with the ris 0 9 I Mrs. Zucker and other mothers knocked on doors to gain support and contributions of other Jews for a school for deaf children. The school grew into a congregation for all ages that worshiped in loaned rooms of other synagogues, and finally moved into its own four years ago. The members are working on paying off the last $15,836 they owe on the temple (fiP chapel and chancel choirs will present a musical program.

As people enter the church they will observe a live tableau at the altar depicting the Nativity. During the service the story of the Nativity will be told through songs and readings. That same evening the church will begin its portrayal of the Live Nativity Scene, which is presented on the lawn of the church. There will be music by the choirs as well as record music. along with family members and a few friends, gather at the beige temple to study Judaism, converse and pray as they do during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights." The words of the rabbi are repeated in sign language by an interpreter.

The words of the cantor also a rabbinical student are expressed again by a deaf choir following a script and signals from the rabbi. Christmas Eve the church will join with Calvary United Methodist, 25 N. Woodlawn Ave. for a 7 p.m. family service, with special music by the children's choir from both churches.

The two churches will unite at the United Church for the traditional communion service at 11 p.m. The Rev. Harold Mann of Trinity Methodist Church will give the message and music will be provided by the combined adult choirs of both Calvary and United churches. Members of the congregation say in sign language the portions of prayers and songs other worships would speak or sing. The few hearing members sing aloud in the small sanctuary.

"It started because a group of small Jewish deaf children asked about Iheir heritage," said 53-year-old Rose Zucker of suburban North Hollywood. Amonc: the children was her daughter, Helen, then 17. I -aA' "1 5 567 West Territorial Rd. Rev. Albert R.

Fesmire, Pastor i December 21. 1969 When so mony want Peace, why is there no Peace among men ond nations? Hear the answer at Bible Church this week. 1 1 :00 A.M. "The Prince of Peace" 7:00 P.M. Sunday School Christmas Program Our 50th Year of Bible Ministry to Battle Creek ytimtttitiimtitttmitthiimiitmmmttiirititwti I ihr mi ii in mi I lllf Jt i II A m.

.1 8. -1 fa mi ml. m'f 1IT11 -'l ill 1 i 1 -jr 1 h. I 'ti ii FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH INVITES YOU TO OBSERVE A CHRIST-CENTERED CHRISTMAS Welcome to Our Worship Services Sunday, December 21 FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS 9:30 and 1 1 a.m. Advent Vespers 5:00 p.m.

December 21 THE VIVALDI MAGNIFICAT The Choncel Choir, Soloists and the Battle Creek Central High School Orchestra CHRISTMAS EVE Informal Family Service at 7:00 p.m. for parents with small children Candlelight Service 1 1 :00 p.m. Magnificent Music by the Chancel Choir Carols, Poetry, Scripture, Meditation In the Beautiful Sanctuary The clergy and staff of First Presbyterian Church extend holiday greetings! FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 111 Capital N.E. Ministers AlUn I. Weenink, lames D.

Hill, Runell D. Damstra Ministry of Music Rogei D. Sweet and Gary E. Forslelt Rebecca Grossman, right foreground, uses hands aloud the Hebrew chants and. through Mrs.

Gross-to direct choir during Hanukkah services for the man, the deaf choir repeats the chants with their deaf at the Temple Beth Solomon in Los Angeles. hands for the congregation. At right is Rabbi Robert The cantor, Ron Gerson, second from right, sings Tornberg. 150 form synagogue for the deaf LOS ANGELES (AP) As a small Jewish congregation sits reverently during the holiday of Hanukkah. a cantor chants in a minor key a thousand-year-old prayer.

Then, a choir does it again in silence, their fingers repeating the prayer in sign language, as the hands of the congregation move in union. Temple Beth Solomon is a synagogue for the deaf, one of a handful in the nation. Some 130 deaf persons, L. L. MACUIRE CHURCH 19th and.