Pastor's Pen: Yes, Virginia. There is a St. Nicholas

Last December, Thomas and I caught the end of a Christmas animation special on television. When I think of animation and Christmas, I usually think of islands of misfit toys and boys with blankets quoting the gospel of Luke. However, this cartoon was different. Santa Claus rode a rocket sleigh propelled at dizzying speed by eight robot reindeer. Although there was no discernible plot, there were plenty of explosions and battle scenes. It’s as if the Power Rangers were given the opportunity to rewrite "A Visit from St. Nick." What a long strange trip it has been.

Long before being a pop culture icon, before being a huckster for rampant commercialism, before being "a jolly old elf," Santa Claus was simply Nicholas. The boy grew up in the third century in Patara, a small village in what is now modern Turkey. Born and baptized into the Church, his parents raised him to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. While still young, his parents died during an epidemic, and left him a small fortune. Moved by his faith, Nicholas used his entire inheritance in a ministry of compassion. In the name of Jesus Christ, he helped the needy, the sick, and the suffering. While still young, he became a leader in the church and was made Bishop of Myra. He was a leader of steady convictions which drew him into conflict with Roman authorities. Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, Nicholas was exiled and imprisoned for his faith. In better times, Nicholas attended the Council at Nicaea in 325. There he and the other bishops hammered out a statement of faith accepted universally by the Church that Jesus Christ is fully human, fully divine.

Over the years, Nicholas’ story has become encrusted with fantasy, hype and cultural baggage. Much of it is harmless fun, like stories of giants and beanstalks. In the process, however, we lost a great man of compassion, faith and conviction. Nicholas belongs to the Church, he belongs to us, and his example is a witness to Jesus Christ. Tell Nicholas’ story. Share it with your children and grandchildren. Receive this Christmas season a visit from old St. Nick.

Grace & Peace,

James

APC Food Pantry

Don’t forget to put the APC Food Pantry on your shopping list. It needs tuna, cereal, canned fruit or write a check indicating it is for the food pantry and we will do the shopping for you. Thank you.

 

YOUTH MISSION TRIP FUNDRAISER!

YOUTH MISSION TRIP FUNDRAISER!

Several  years ago some folks at APC made Christmas Cards to sell. On the front is a beautiful picture of our sanctuary at Christmas time. Inside the card says, “May the Spirit of Christmas with its Peace and Joy abide with you through the year.”.Since there are still many cards, we have decided to offer them again for sale. The cost is $3 for a packet of 20 cards and envelopes. Proceeds will go to support APC’s youth mission trip to Puerto Rico next summer. You can purchase the cards in the office during the week.

 

Boots for children in Jordanian Refugee Camp

Help is needed to provide rubber boots for 3500 children at the Za'atari Refugee Camp, in Northern Jordan.  The camp is a very large enclave recently set up in Jordan to receive refugees who have fled their native Syria during the continued violence there.  The children in the camp are between the ages of 6 and 15 and do not have appropriate footwear for the cold, damp and rainy winter season which has just started.  The cost of a pair of boots is $13.50 each. Contributions may be made with a check payable to Ardmore Presbyterian Church and "children's boots" in the memo line of the check. The APC Mission Committee is also sending money to support this project.

 

 

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16TH.

PLAN TO STAY FOR THE ALL-CHURCH LUNCHEON AFTER SERVICES IN FELLOWSHIP HALL WHICH IS THE SAME DATE OF THE NATIVITY TABLEAU.
Every generation is important for fellowship and sharing a meal.