CALLING ALL INVINCIBLES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 18 December 1948, Page 3

CALLING ALL INVINCIBLES

(Sponsored by Y.M.C.A.) I

llullo, Girls and Boys, Wlmt an exciting time this is for you. School is finished for the year and Christmas is just round the corner. isn't Christinas a thrilling time?

The shop windows are bright with lovely things, most appetising smells will soon be coming from the kitchen as good things to eat are prepared for the great day. Some of you are getting ready to go away for Christmas and there is excitement in (he very air. QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTMAS Why do we do all these things? What is it that makes Christmas such a wonderful time and how did it alt begin? Let us ask some questions. First, why is Christmas especially a time for children? Why does everybody want to make children happy? 1 am sure that you can answer that.

It is because the coming of a Child made Christmas. It is especially a children's time because of the Little Child who was born amid angel song on the first Christmas Day.

That brings us to a second question. 1 -j Why is Christmas particularly a time i I for singing and music? Christmas 1 | hymns and Christmas music are being ! $ played by the bands in the streets, they | f are being broadcast over the radio, sung j Si at concerts and parties and sung in the j | churches. No doubt most of you have 1 | already been singing the Christmas j c hymns. Why do we do it? i 3 It is because the first Christmas Day | began with singing. Of course, you re- 5 member the song of the angels, "Peace on Earth —Goodwill Towards Men.” c

Now, I know that you are wondering what sort of presents you will get for Christmas. I am sure that on Christmas Eve you will be so excited that you will hardly be able to sleep, and that on Christmas morning you will be awake ever so early, much earlier than Dad and Mum want you to be, so that you can see your presents. But why do we give and receive presents at Christmas time?

Of course, it is because the Baby in the manger was God’s wonderful'gift to mankind. "God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son.” You remember, too, that the giving of presents was part of the wonderful story, for the Wise Men brought their gifts to the Holy Child. We give and receive gifts in memory of that. WIIAT SHALL WE GIVE HIM?

So, everything about Christmas that is happy and good comes from Jesus. He gave us Christmas when He gave us Himself. How can we remember Him at this time? We can and ought to pray to Him and thank Him for coming. We should think of what we arc saying when we sing the Christmas hymns. We should go to church on Christmas Day if we can. And we should give Him a present? What can we give Him? What can I give Him,

Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man,

I would do my part: Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart.

I have received quite a number of very pretty Christmas cards for our Christmas card competition. No doubt there are still many to come. Those that come before next Saturday will be mentioned in the radio session and the full list will be in the paper next Friday. Don’t forget to listen for something special on ’Saturday from 2XG at 7 p.m.

Cheerio The Padre