ELLAVILLE — Birth announcement

James and Leslie Storey of Ellaville announce the birth of a son, James Joel Storey lll,  on Oct. 16, 2012, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. The infant weighed 9 lbs., 2 oz. and measured 21.5 in. long at birth. He will be called Jase. He has a sister, Sara Beth Storey. Grandparents are Joel Blizzard of Americus, Tommy and Jody Whitaker of Buena Vista and Jimmy and Shirley Storey of Ellaville.

 

The legend of the poinsettia

A charming story was told about a poor Mexican girl whose name was Pepita. She did not have a gift to present to the Christ child at Christmas Eve service. As she walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

"  am sure Pepita that even the most humble gift is given in love will be acceptable in God's eyes," said Pedro, trying to console her. Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them together into a small bouquet.

Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back her tears as she entered the small village chapel.

As Pepita approached the alter she remembered Pedro's kind words "Even the most humble gift is given in love will be acceptable in God's eyes.” She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the front of the Nativity scene.

Suddenly the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena or Flowers of the Holy Night for they bloom each year during Christmas Season. Today the common name for this plant is the poinsettia.



Christmas in Christ: A special day of love

Ebenezer Baptist Church in Schley County sponsored Christmas in Christ on Saturday, Dec. 15  in the old Schley County gym downtown. This special event is to help the needy in any way. This event began at 10 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m.

Let me assure you that God was in the gym. I was told that two individuals were saved on this day.

This is how it works: As people of families entered the back door of the gym there were pastors that took each group and spoke to them about the word of God and ministered to all that came. They were presented with a Bible that was given to every family or person that came through the pastors. Sam Curry, a Gideon pastor, passed out Bibles, along with Jody Dillard of  Ellaville United Methodist Church.

Ebenezer’s pastor Brian Bentley was among those who ministered to the guests. Each person or family was given a number and invited into the kitchen area where they were served soup, chili, coffee and soft drinks. When the volunteers finished helping people get what they needed in the gym, they would call those sitting in the kitchen area by number and get them into the gym and help them find what they needed and when finished, they wished them a Merry Christmas as they left out the front door.

Stephen Fripp especially thanks all the churches , businesses and individuals for helping out and volunteering many things to make this community event a huge success by helping others to have a Merry Christmas.

I will say that God's hands were on each person or group that made a donation without being asked to help. God was in the Old Gym with those that were in need as well as those that were volunteering to help and those who had made donations of any kind. It's a blessing when people get together and give in a time as this and don't just think of themselves but of others.

Stephen Fripp coordinates this special "Christmas in Christ” event. He does a real good job, but he told me, “it was God that had made this so successful and God put His hands on our community as they all came together in many ways to help others."

What a community we do have here. Thank you Ebenezer and others for touching so many people’s lives in a time of need. Thank you all for caring for others.



Note for a special Christmas Day

Today is a special Christmas Day and as you read this we are thinking and wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas as we all go through the day as well as the days after into the New Year.

We all here love to celebrate this time of the year by being blessed to have each of you as a reader and friend.

So just remember that I have come into your homes today with best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year.

Always remember that "Love Comes On Angels Wings."

Love to all of you and Merry Christmas. — Bobby  Nancy McMath Young and Frederick