~ JOURNEY TO B ;'

Short winter ' s day was drawing to close as two weary travellers from north finally arrived in Bethlehem. Not been easy travelling - espec­ially true of Mary. But Rome had demanded she go. Caesar must be obeyed.

l'he way had been long. Three days on road at least . But Mary ' s heart is ha py. Her child is to be born in Bethlehem - city of her fathers. Ancient prophecy is to be fulfilled . And Joseph sighs with relief - had been worried. At last there is the inn. But there is no room for such as they. They are but peasants from Galilee!

"The inn was full of folks. His honor, Eur­cus Lucius and his scribes who made the census. Honorable men from farthest Galilee come to be enrolled. High ladies and their lords. The rich, the r bbis - such a noble throng as Bethlehem had never seen and may not see again. The inn was like hive at swarming-tim~ and I was fair­ly crazed among them n.

"How was I to know they were so importtmt? Just the two of them - no servants. Just a work­mdn sort of man leading a donkey - and his wife thereon drooping and pale. Mark you, I saw them not myself. Uy servants must have driven them away. But had I seen them - now how was I to know? They say there was a heavely light res­plendent. But really, I hctd no time for stars. They say there was a song of angels out on the hills. But how was I to hear amid the thousand clamors of an inn?"

That night, in quietness Jnd solitude of a stable, with oxen standing by, the Christ-Child was born.

Shepherds J ourneyed Scene shifts to hills near Bethlehem. Stillness and starlight lies oven hills.

Shepherds vatching flocks. Not particularly in ­terested in poetic beauty of the night. A living has to be earned. r·ight is chilly. Beasts of prey hctve to be driven away. dan dering sheep have to be watched; to be brought back to fold nd to safety - sheep can be so silly.

-2-

But underneath all their labor is undertone of joyous expectancy and hope. here was always the coming springtime with its fresh pastures and newborn lambs. But these shepherds had felt impact of greater hope. Hoping for fulfillment of Messianic hope - hope of better world - world of goodwill and peace. And because these herders of sheep were men of hope they heard the heralds of God. They heard song of angels and celestial light fell ~cross the darkness.

It was all so heavenly ; so incomprehensible; so beautiful. Then came the darkness and the silence. But they do not hesitate. They have a conviction God has been speaking. They say one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem''. And to Bethlehem they came - making a journey that ended at a stable and a manger and a Child.

Others were also on the way. Fol­lowing a Star that grew greater in its intensity as it led them

on. They had journeyed far. From land o~ river ~uphrates. Over mountains, plains, valleys -across leagues of desert sand. Following a star and bearing gifts.

These wise men who came to Bethlehem were a s~rmbol of all the learning and wisdom of the past . But they search for a new wisdom - they look for a new nswer. Were looking for One who could give them the ans er to the persistent "WHY" of their journeying upon this earth.

They found their answer in the stable. They worshipped; they gave their gifts of gold and fr nkincense and myrrh. Their search was ended - they had found truth incarnate in human flesh.

oldiers Murched But others were journeying too towards Bethlehem. The hope of poor shepherds and

the search for wisdom of wise men were not only motives bringing men to Bethlehem. Soldiers of Herod also came. ·~ ~ i th march of cruelty. Ordered to slay all male children in Bethlehem. Herod

'"* J..(L. ('yaY Ai'~c..L---. <! £t:J-4-- a.." ~~ AJ-~r ~~· .'~~A-6e., ~ ~<fh'~ _,/~~

C/le..A!- e::v ~A--CJe./' 7~/~· 4;-e:t.-6,-c!J~d- .i2'4.,_t.. ~It;; ~~A-~~ !(?~u -d) /t~.lf-c.....- .

-3-

hoped to put an end to Christ-Child. Seeking to destroy the only hope that could lead men away from hatred , cruelty, war, slaughter. So, the tread of marching soldiers echo through Bethlehem that Christmas of long ago. Soldiers march to the command of hatred, greed and fear.

The joy of the singing of the angels soon gives place to the voice of m ny a Rachel weep­ing for her children. The joy of motherhood gives place to inconsolate grief . The be uty of angelic songs, the mother's deep prayer and the baby ' s low cry, are shut out by the tramp , tramp, tramp, of agony and what appears to be politic~l necessity.

Of course, Herod ' s task was a hopeless one. Herod did his worst. But there was something there in Bethlehem calculated to outlast all evil. Herod could not destroy that which was of God. Herod could never wholly exterminate the spirit of love and incarn~te goodwill. ~

~illonymous Trctvellers Other people made journey to Bethlehem. Shepherds with hope; wise men with

learning tilld searching hearts; soldiers with their pain - but there were others. There must have been others. Anonymous travellers. Down for the census. Inn full of them. That ' s all we know of them. They filled the inns of Beth­lehem.

Probably decent people. Paid taxes to Rome. Prudent neople. ook Cti .re of themselves. ~.:ade no pretense of wisdom. Saw no pattern of the ages which had sent wise men on long journey. It is true they had no hatreds or political bit­ions to serve 1 ike Herod. l>.ll we know is they crowded the inn. They celebrated. Decree of Caesar ugustus gave them Boman holiday. Gaiety inside - coldness outsi~e . nd ~ Jew~sh girl sweating in the cold. .5/r-'Tt.J~ A-4 .-fiH/ ~:,'.

Inside was crowd of revellers - outside the Glory of God passed by. rrThe star rains its !'ire and the beautiful sing - and the anger of Beth­lehem cradles a King". Yes, all the world went

to Bethlem that first Christmas. and this Christm~s the world will once more make its pilgrimage. But how shall we journey? Shall we hear the angelic message of "Peace on earth among men of goodwill"?. Shall we see in Him the hope of all the years?; shall we see in Him the wisdom of the ges impearled? shall we go to Bethlehem to worship and adore?

God forbid we should be among those who close the door to the Christ-child because of unconcern ~nd indifference. and it would be unthinkable that we should be among those who make the journey impelled by evil and fear.

In the ancient day there was a decree that compelled men to make that journey. Today there is a moral imperative and a spiritual necessity why men should make their journeying back to Bethlehem. There is the only hope, believe me.

"I o t ion in Conference"

e are too early here, gentlemen; at this mahogany table shining with a h· ·rd light Th t cannot hold the encroaching darkness off, From men arrogant or afraid; Men speaking out of pride or danger.

The birth of one world, gentlemen, (wise; You will remember, in an earlier year was other­There was a different shining; a pin-point in

the Palestinian night, ... olding the darkness at bay; In ~ stable; from a manger.

There is a journeying to be made, gentlemen. vv e are too early here; it is dark here. Ve have come by the wrong road; taken the wrong

turning; Unwise men, bringing the wrong gifts -Deep in the wrong learning.

I move you a recess. Under the night sky· Under a neglected star, there is a journey to

be made. Dcivid •.. or t on

The Song of mary My soul doth magnify the Lord.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden :

for, behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me

blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and

holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation

to generation .

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered

the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted

them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich

he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his

mercy;

And he spake to our fathers , to Abraham, and to his seed

forever.

ST. LuKE 1 :46-5 5

A. P. H . ~ o. 812 1 l itho in U.S .. "-.

Sing Unto the £01rd

FREMONT STREET N1ETE0f'IST CHURCH Gloversvill e , Ne·~v York

December 12, 1948

ORDER OF MORNING WORSHIP This service is being broadcast over station VffiNT

ORGAN - "Good News from Heaven Angels BrJng" Paohelbel "Behold, a Rose is Blooming" Brahms

CALL TO V[QRSHIP - The minister HY1ViN 89 - "Joy to the world" Antioch

Minister: The Lord be with you. People: And with thy spirit.

Minister: Lift up your hearts. ~~1~: We lift them up unto the Lord.

Minister: Let us give thc.nks unto the Lord. People: It is meet n.nd right so to do.

DOXOLOGY - To be sung by all

* RESPONSIVE RF.b.DING - 50th Sunday - pfl.ge 618 GLORL', P:-:..TRI :: APOSTLES' CREED SCRIPTURE LESSON- Luke 2:7-15; 1Tatthcvr 2:1-12, 16 SOLO - Recit: "Thus saith the Lord" Handel

J....ir: "But who mn.y abide" Norman Pugh, bass

PJ.STOP...t1. L P&SER :: 10RD•S PPJ~.YER

OFFERTORY ANTHEM - "Fear not, 0 Isrn.e1" Spieker Ma rilyn Olson, Jean Wemple, Norron Pugh, soloists

PRESENTLTION OF TITHES .i1.ND OFFERINGS HYMN 108 - "Hearken all t What holy singing" SERMON - "THERE ll b. JOTTR.T\in:Y TO M ~.A"ADE 11

HYMN 97 - "The first No el 11

BENEDIC '~' ION :: CHORJ..L i.MEN ORGL.N - "Marohe Rorrnine"

Rev. Fred Clarke, Minister Miss Gloria Incone, Minister of Music

Mrs. Harvey Connor, Minister's l~ssistant Mrs. Keith Gifford, Church Secretary

Mr . Lewis Cunn-i.!1g, Sexton

Gloria

Noel DE.:. nish Go '!.mod

CALENDAR FOR TODAY

10:30 10;30 11:45

Morning Worship - Third Sunday in Advent. Children's Division of the Church School.

3:00 5:30

Youth and Adult Divisions of the Church School. Rehearsal of the Fremont Choir. The r.Iethodist Youth Fellowship will meet at the church to go to Mayfield for a sub-district meeting. ~f.ake resenration with Mrs. Connor. Union Evening service n.t First Methodist Church with the Rev. A. P. Manwell pren.ching.

Alta r flowers are given in memory of Hr. and Mrs. James Thompson by the family; and in memor:{. of Mrs. Elizabeth Evans by her daughter, Irene Evans Allen.

.MQll. .6..i..Q.Q 7:00 7:30

TUES. 6:30 6:30 7:45 8:00

V'v'ED. ~ THURS. 6:30

6:30 7:30

FRI. "3:45 7:00

S.i1. '1'. 9:15 3:00

THROUGH THE WEEK hT FREMONT

Council of Churches dinnor-meeting • Couples Club decorate the sanctuary. Boy Scouts meet at the church. E.F.W. Christmas Banquet at Johnstown. Werner Worker Christmas Banquet at church. Muddlo Class Christrons Pn.rty. Anna Mosher Class, 28 Fremont Street. Mid-w~ek Service; N~. Clarke leading. Laurel Band Christmas Banquet at church. Cordit>l Class-Triangle Club Banquet ut "Y". Fremont Choir broadcn.sts over WENT. Youth Choir rehearsal. Junior Department Christmn.s Pn. rty. Children's Choir r ehearsa l. Kindergarten a.:nd Primary Christmas Party~­Santa Claus will pay a visit.

CHRISTMAS SUNDAY WILL BE OBSERVED l~T FREMONT NEXT SUN­Di~.Y. C.i.ROL SERVIC8, "CHRIST!\.~·....s ;.,DORJ .. TION" AT 7:15P.M.

Forward-looking Methodists rend Tho Christian Advocate . Evory church offic er and l oader should. Mrs. Cennor is now receiving r enewal and new subscriptions.