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Times Advocate, 1993-12-22, Page 4Page 4 Tres -Advocate, December 22,1993 Ptibileher Jim Beckett NOM iWltOT: Adnan Harte liestnessiklaemiger: Don Smith Composition fil er: Deb Lord Publications Man Registration Number 0385 SUBSeR1PTlON RATES_ I30NtiDA WltMkf 40 Mlles (8E kw,. j eddreased to non latter earner oddneses $30.00 plus 62.10 0.S.T. Outride 40rtMNsf.$inn.) or any tettered $er *dare's $30 .00 plus 4120.00 (teta160.00) + 4.20 O.S.T. Oaltalde Conde $99.00 (I rodeGoo $88.40pestsge) A Christmas £7{essage By Rev. Vernon Dean, Senior Pastor, Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle Some years ago, a song writer wrote a song entitled Wise Men Still Seek Him. The words tell of those ancient wise men who travelled far in order to bow down and worship the infant Jesus. They somehow had discovered that he was the prom- ised one that the world had long. awaited. Nearly two thousand years later, most of the world recognizes the holiday known as Christmas. "Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely." . . . i iecau$oy T bl ated Exeter, Otllt aby Sm21i., er\\-\.e.) Gree&\ �\k apc 3\ \ tzttrblfaide �n St., as Ltd. 1 112.7. •R106210t3► Christmas is a confusing time of year for many peo- ple. Often, they are inundated with responsibilities of pick-. ing out presents, pur- chasing :and wrap- ping them, hoping somehow they will be appreciated by the re- cipient, knowing full well many of the gifts will be ex- changed or worse yet, kept out of obligation but never used. The procrastinators fend off the pressure until the last minute and then charge around town grabbing whatever they can find before that momentous morning occurs. Most will spend more than they want to. Many will confess that Christmas should be less commercial- ized but who has the courage to make it so. At least, not this year. After all, if my kids only get one present, how will they feel when they see the huge pile of gifts their friendsreceived. Speaking of feelings, I wonder how Jesus feels on His birth- day. We all know it is His birthday. What have we done for Hi on His birthday? Did we make Him a cake or buy Him .a prest? Ohes we will make our annual Y � u pilgrimage to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. That should really impress Him, -right?. Somehow, -I think Jesus wants more than a mere acknowl- edgement tha it is His birthday. He came to give us His very best, His all, His life. Why should we offer Him any less? Is it possible, that wise men still seek Him? eter's P ing Loy I Bra:. Ksfi,er Amber Z4 I .diShavAlimm Confessions of a Santa `s helper wc.„ r ��v:.oti ffa# 2knarc nw:. rs&.s-y::: When Karen at the BIA first told me about the plans to setup a Santa Store in Exeter, I con- sidered it a very good idea in- deed. It was about time the town took the time to extend an invitation to the Jolly Old Elf to spend some of his valuable time here, let kids sit on his knee and get their picture taken with him as a keepsake. It was understood that Santa would be needing some help, and I knew Karen would be so- liciting support from the town office (I hear the mayor and ad- ministrator helped out). from lo- cal organizations and from busi- nesses. I was a little surprised when Karen asked for my help, but 1 agreed to play a minor role in Santa's Exeter campaign. An- other volunteer would be need- ed to help out with the suit and beard, of course. That was be- yond my,abilities. Despite my search, none came forward, so I hoped Karen had had more luck in finding an ap- propriate Santa's helper. It came as a total shock last week when I discovered I'd have to carry the can myself - 1'd have to be the main man. I'm Sony, but I can think of many, many more appropriate people to entrust with this posi- tion. Ghengis Khan or the an- droid Data come to mind as be- ing much more jolly -old -elf -like than I. Nevertheless, Karen was un- daunted, convinced it would be up to me to help Santa find out who in Exeter had been naughty or nice, and what they wanted most under the Christmas tree. My shift was only three hours long Friday evening, but I pan- icked all week over it. I knew 1'd be terrible at it. I feared chil- dren would be scarred by the ex- perience for life. Joanne was enlisted to make sure the kids got their candy b and gifts free, Sarna, so in ways my job ..;cored easy - c, .,veryone but me at least. Come Friday evening, we ar- rived at the Santa Store, I got dressed and dreaded the worst. Suddenly, Santa Claus was magically there. As Karen had tried to tell me, the children take one look at that red coat and white beard and are enchanted. Although a little hot in a suit better suited to flying over the North Pole, Santa waved out the windows at the passing children. Many convinced their parents h was time for a visit. I counted more than 20 children who came in to have a little chat on Santa's knee. All my fears were erased as each little kid shyly confessed they had been good, for the most part, this year. They listed off Christmas wishes, including the latest video games,.dolls, and stuffed animals, and had their picture taken for $5, which went to the Christmas Bureau. They ranged in age from one month to seven years old, and most were quite timid around the kindly old gent. Fortunately for me, there was no need for Santa to have a booming "ho, ho, ho" or he would have scared them off for good. One little girl wouldn't come any closer than the guard rail, despite the coaxing of helpers and parents. In all, it was a wonderful ex- perience working that close to the real Santa Claus - far, far less intimidating than I'd ima- gined. At nine o'clock, the Santa Store closed for the night, and the man in the red suit was quickly on his way. If he comes calling in future years. I confess I may be a little less reluctant to help him out, even though I'm still sure there are many more qualified for the job. (Continued from last week) "I'm Shirley Holmes, Private Investigator. Can I speak to you for a minute?" "You should have telephoned my secretary for an appointment. I'm a busy man, and I have a plane to catch." An81'm a busy woman. I don't waste my time speaking to secretaries. I just want to Fisk you one question, Mr. Eaton." "One question." "Do you have the spirit of Christmas?" "You dare to come here, to ambush me in my own home. to ask me a question like that?" "Do you have it or not?" A long pause followed. The chief executive of the enormous Eaton Mail empire stood there and stared into the detective's probing eyes. Then he said, gently. and with much under- standing: "I know exactly what you mean. Ms. Holmes. I'm sorry. l'm not the person you should ask." Next, Shirley called Air Canada and discov- ered that for $7000 she could fly first class to Rome on Wednesday night and retum Thurs- By Yetr'r day afternoon. She telephoned the Vatican and arranged a private audience with His Holiness and Pope. Yes, he was in town, and yes, for such a amount in gold coins he would be able to see her at 11 a.m. Thursday. The officer of the Swiss Guard. who had picked Shirley Holmes up at the airport. per- sonally drove her to the Vatican. "Your Holiness, forgive me for barging in like this. My client is extremely anxious to find the Spirit of Christmas. You simply must tell me whether you have it here or not." "1 know your client very well, my dear," the Pope said. "Unfortunately I am unable to help you or him. Circumstances are less than ideal. The spirit must be somewhere, I agree. But itis not here. Go in peace." AndJie.rang for the Swiss Guar:. It was around noon on Friday, Christmas Eve, when Shirley, Holmes called Walter, her con- stant weekend companion. "I might be a bit late tonight, Walt," she said. "No. not tonight, Shirt!" Walter's voice al- ways rose by an octave when he was annoyed. The Christmas Case (2 of 2) "Tonight is special". "I'm still on the Christmas Case, and I'm very close to cracking it. Sony, I'll be over as soon as I can." "Do you want me to help?" "Not this time, I'm afraid." Shirley Holmes went into her tiny kitchen _and opened the drawer in which she always „Joist a hand full of rotting apples. She inhaled !.deeply. Nothing stimulated her as much as that -r:slightly putrid aroma. It was a raw evening. Some fresh snow was fallir g. She put on her cape and hat and walked tithe short distance to her sister's house. As ex - led, he sister's three young children were at "It's Aunty Shirley!" they shouted as they }danced around her. Then they took ,her into the living room. where dozens of wrapped parcels were piled up under a tall decorated Christmas tree. "I want to ask you a question," Shirley Holmes said to her nieces and nephew. "Why are you so happy? Why arc your eyes so shiny? Why are your faces glowing?" "Those were time questions," said the young- er girl. "I know the answer to all three of them," said the older girl: "Because tomorrow is Christmas, and we can hardly wait." They all danced around and laughed. "I completely understand how you eliminated Mr. Eaton and the Pope," said Walter, as be un- corked a bottle of Niagara ice wine later that evening, "but I fail to sec what clue led you to your own sister's house." "Elementary, my dear Walter," said Shirley Holmes. "I remembered that I was once a little child myself." At two minutes to midnight, Shirley called her client. "It is done. The spirit of Chrisunas has been found. It is alive and well in the beans and eyes of little children." "Let me pay you..." "No," interrupted Shirley Holmes, "the satis faction of solving the mystery is prize enough for 0.0. CAJAPdAtiAllt, w&. to Christmas!,.