“silent night” and the christmas truce · silent night: the 200th anniversary of a beloved...

Some may know this story very well, to

others this may be totally new, but the

message remains the same. During World

War I, on Christmas Day 1914, the first year

of the war, the sounds of rifles firing and

shells exploding ceased in numerous places

along the Western Front.

At the first light of dawn on Christmas

Day, some German soldiers emerged from

their trenches and approached the Allied lines

across no-man’s-land, calling out “Merry

Christmas” in their enemies’ native tongues.

At first the Allied soldiers feared it was a

trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they

climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men

exchanged presents and sang carols together.

There was even a documented case of

soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-

natured game of soccer. Some soldiers used this

short-lived ceasefire for a more somber task: the

retrieval of the bodies of fellow combatants who had

fallen within the no-man’s land between the lines.

Notably, on Christmas Eve, many German and

British troops sang the Christmas carol “Silent Night”

together, in a chorus of an all too temporary and holy

gift of peace.

The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came

only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe

and was one of the last examples of the outdated

notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare. It was

never repeated—future attempts at holiday ceasefires

were quashed by officers’ threats of disciplinary

action—but it served as heartening proof, however

brief, that beneath the brutality of war the soldiers’

essential humanity endured; even a world war could

not destroy the spirit of Christmas.

This is a story to be remembered this year at the

100th anniversary of the ending of the war that was

to end all wars as well as the 200th anniversary of the

writing of “Silent Night’, by Joseph Mohr, in

Oberndorf, Austria. Is there a ‘magic in the message’

of “Silent Night”? Perhaps. Is it possible that this

hymn may help to bring calm and bright to our own

corners of this world? Would that it could be so.

Throughout December we will be sharing our

hope of peace in our preparation of the arrival of the

Christ Child. “Calm & Bright, Join Us for a

Silent Night” is our theme. It is my fervent hope

that the peace God brings us in Jesus can reside with

us and be spread to all the world in ways more

lasting than just one night. But we first need to

receive the light to begin. Come and join us for

worship and more this December. And may the

peace God brings us in Christ be with you and yours.

With you, in Christ’s ministry, together…

“Silent Night” and the Christmas Truce

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THE CHURCH TOWER · A NEWSLETTER OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BALTIMORE

Session Highlights November 22, 2018 Moderator Rev. Dr. Thomas Blair called the Stated Meeting of Session

of Second Presbyterian to order on November 22 with a reading from

Gospel of John, chapter 14. This reading is one of Jesus’s farewell

addresses. Rev. Blair shared a question that arose while he was

participating in a recent Islamic Society interfaith breakfast, “What does

peace look like to you?” What is it that makes for peace? Jesus doesn’t

tell us definitively. We have to look for it and be receptive to it. Rev.

Blair reminded elders of the upcoming Words & Music of Three Faiths

event that Second Presbyterian will be hosting on Thursday, February 28,

2019.

Julie Evans, our Communications Coordinator, continues to update

the church’s website to convey our new “Seek Share Serve” tagline. Elder

Heather Warnack, who has been doing an exemplary job of developing

our new tagline, explained that it will be important for our web page to

reflect “Seek Share Serve” when we initiate our advertising on-line

campaign for Christmas. Elders suggested that a short video, which will

include our music on our website and homepage, would be very effective.

Stay tuned.

Rev. Blair and Rev. Carlson shared concerns about those who are

looking for work, will be traveling over Christmas, and those who may be reminded of a loss this Christmas season. It will be important for us to

reach out to them, even at the December 12th Healing and Wholeness

service, to show that Second Presbyterian is a place where we care for

each other. Rev. Blair closed the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer.

~Scott Silverwood for the Session

Christmas Memorial Flowers Donations for Christmas memorial flowers

are being accepted until Sunday,

December 16. The donors’ names, along

with the names of the person(s) remembered

or honored, will be included in the Christmas worship bulletins. The pointsettias will be

distributed to our shut-ins by the Deacons

after Christmas, To participate, contact Joyce

Zimmerman at 410.467.4210, e-mail at

[email protected], or simply

send a note. Contributions may be made to Second Presbyterian Church,

notated for “Chancel Guild”, and directed to Joyce at the church.

mailto:[email protected]

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A Service of Healing & Wholeness

Wednesday, December 12 7 pm in the Chapel

One of the great gifts of our community is knowing that whatever life brings, we do not journey alone, for we are surrounded by a light found in the presence of Love. As the world prepares to welcome the light of Christ on Christmas Day, there are those among us who are walking a path of lament and grief. In our

service of healing and wholeness we will pause to hold one another in prayer.

Please come if you are entering into this season in a place of brokenness, or if you are one who wants to extend love and prayers to another. Come, if you are carrying a burden that is heavy, or if you want to be the one who helps another to carry their burdens. Come if you are seeking a place of Sanctuary, or if you want to be a Sanctuary for another. However you come, come knowing that the light of Christ dwells within you and together we can share the light of Christ in

the darkness.

5 PM Family Service (Children’s preludes at 4:45 PM)

8 pm Candlelight Service

11 pm Service of Christmas, Candlelight & Communion

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Standing in the pews at the end of a Christmas Eve

service, faces aglow in the darkened church from only

the light of slender wax candles, and singing the quiet,

simple, yet sublime Silent Night, is the moment, I suspect

for many, when the birth of the Savior becomes real and

with it all the hope and joy which that event represents.

Somehow, Christmas would not be Christmas without

Silent Night.

This Christmas Eve marks the 200th anniversary

since "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht" was first performed by

its creators at the Christmas Eve mass in 1818 at the St.

Nicolas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria, a village

near Salzburg. Joseph Mohr, the assistant parish priest,

sang tenor and played the guitar while Franz Gruber,

church organist and teacher, sang bass. The choir

repeated the last two lines of each of the six verses in

four-part harmony.

The facts behind the inspiration for Silent Night are

not entirely known. One story is that a roving band of

actors performing re-enactments of the birth of Christ in

towns throughout the Austrian Alps arrived in

Oberndorf on December 23rd. They intended to

perform in the church, but the organ was in need of

repair from a hungry mouse nibbling holes in the bellows

or rust. Instead, the performance went on in a private

home. Pondering the Christmas play he had just seen

while walking home through the peaceful, snow-covered

village, the new parish assistant Joseph Mohr

remembered a poem that he had written two years

before. He decided that those words might make for a

good carol for his congregation to sing the following

evening at their Christmas Eve service.

The true story may be a bit less idyllic. The

historical era in which Silent Night was created was one

of conflict and economic uncertainty. The Napoleonic

wars (1792-1815) had recently ended in that part of

Europe, and new political borders were drawn. Oberdorf

had been a suburb of the Bavarian town of Laufern, The

Salzach River that separates the two became the new

border effectively cutting off Oberndorf from its town

center and economic connections. Additionally, the

transport of salt along the river that had provided the

basis for the local economy for centuries, declined during

the Napoleonic wars. The salt trade was never to fully

recover.

In 1816 when Mohr wrote the poem that became

Silent Night, he a young priest living in the town of

Mariapfarr in central Austria. The town had suffered

greatly when Bavarian occupation troops withdrew in

1816 and 1817. The text of Silent Night takes on special

meaning as an expression of longing for peace in a time

of war. Truth be told, Mohr’s inspiration for writing the

poem is not known. It does seem fitting that German and

British soldiers chose this carol to sing during the

Christmas Eve truce in World War I.

Certain facts of the story of Silent Night are clear.

According to the “Authentic Account of the Origin of

the Christmas Carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night!” written

in 1854 decades after its 1818 debut, by Franz Xaver

Gruber, Joseph Mohr handed over a poem to him on the

morning of Christmas Eve requesting him to write “a

fitting melody for two solo voices together with choir

and for accompaniment by guitar.” Gruber composed the

tune the same day and the two performed the new carol

at the Christmas Mass that evening where it was met

with “general approval by all” in attendance (mostly

shipping laborers, boat builders and their families).

Silent Night’s spread was gradual. Karl Mauracher, a

master organ builder and repairman who traveled to

work on the organ in Oberdorf several times in

subsequent years, obtained a copy of the composition

and shared it as a “Tyrolean Folk Song.”

It was two families of traveling folksingers (19th

century versions of the Sound of Music’s von Trapp

family) that took the song to the courts of Europe and

the United States. According to the German newspaper

Leipziger Tageblatt, the Strasser sisters sang the song in a

concert in Leipzig in 1832. On another occasion the

Rainer Family sang it before an audience which included

Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz I and Russian Tsar

Alexander I. In 1839, they performed “Stille Nacht” for

the first time in the United States at the Alexander

Hamilton Monument outside Trinity Church in New

York City. It was during this era that several notes were

changed, and the tune evolved to the one we are familiar

(Continued on page 11)

Silent Night: The 200th Anniversary of a Beloved Christmas Carol By Julie Evans

Oldest known copy of Silent Night from lyrics writer

Joseph Mohr. Original music from Franz Gruber has

been lost, but subsequent copies that he made still exist.

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2006: “The Light of Christmas” by Richard Paul Evans High in the mountains lies the

town of Noel, surrounded by

beautiful white walls and a great

silver gate. Every year Alexander

and his mother walk the long

distance to Noel to watch the

lighting of the village Christmas

tree. This year Alexander learns

that the Keeper of the Flame will

choose the person who has given

the truest gift of Christmas to light

the Flame. (Amazon)

2007: “The Legend of the Candy Cane” by Lori Walburg and Rick Osborne One dark November night a

stranger rides into a small prairie

town. Who is he? Why has he

come? The townspeople wish he

were a doctor, a dressmaker, or a

trader. But the children have the

greatest wish of all, a deep, quiet

wish. Then a young girl named

Lucy befriends the newcomer. When he reveals his

identity and shares with her the legend of the candy cane,

she discovers the fulfillment of her wishes and the answer

to the town's dreams. Now will she share what she has

learned? Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

(ChristianBook.com)

2008: “Twas the Night Before” by Rachel Olson A Christmas picture book for

children, using a rhyming style

similar to Clement Moore's

famous poem to tell the Nativity

story. Mary and Joseph, angels,

shepherds and the wise men are

all included. The richly colored

illustrations convey the story to non-readers. (Amazon)

2009: Humphrey’s First Christmas by Carol Heyer Grumpy Humphrey is hungry, tired,

and cold because his favorite

blanket is missing. These men are

supposed to be wise; so why are

they traveling so far to bring gifts to

a baby they don't know? Engaging

text and lush, whimsical artwork

present the nativity story from a

camel's perspective! Ages 4 to 8.

(ChristianBook.com)

2010: The Little Shepherd Girl: A Christmas Story by Julian Henry Young Sarah wants to be a

shepherd, even though usually only

boys are allowed to tend the sheep.

But with a family full of girls, what's

a father to do? Sarah goes to the

fields with the flock and her

cousins, and on her first night is

astounded by the sight of angels

announcing the birth of a Savior.

Although her cousins—all boys—

disappear, Sarah is mindful of her

responsibility, and she and all the sheep make their way

back to Bethlehem where she encounters a baby in a

manger. (Amazon)

2011: Listen to the Silent Night by Dandi Daley Mackall It was not such a silent night when

Baby Jesus was born. From the baa,

baa, baa of sheep to the flut-flut-

flutter of angel wings, it was actually

quite noisy! Here, from CBA

bestseller Dandi Daley Mackall, is

the story of the first Christmas,

using the sounds of that miraculous night to really bring

the story to life. (Amazon)

(Continued on page 6)

Christmas Eve Stories at Second Presbyterian Each year as part of the Christmas Eve family service at 5 pm, the pastor shares the message of the Christmas story to

our children through a carefully-selected illustrated children’s book. Any of these books from the past 12 years would

make a lovely gift for a child in your life. Some are currently out of print, but can still be found online.

6


2012: The Last Straw by Fredrick H. Thury The story of Hoshmakaka, a proud

old camel who has to carry the wise

men's gift's to the new baby king in

Bethlehem. On his way he meets

many people with gifts for the king

which are added to his load.

Hoshmakaka fears his burden will

become too great, but when he

reaches Bethlehem he finally learns

the meaning behind his task.

(Amazon)

2013: They Followed a Bright Star by Ulises Wensell This adaption of a German nativity

story offers readers a brightly

illustrated picture book about the

shepherds and kings who were

summoned to a Bethlehem stable to

prepare for and witness the birth of

Jesus Christ. (Amazon)

2014: The Little Shepherd’s Christmas by Carol Heyer A young shepherd tending sheep for

the first time in the fields outside of

Bethlehem is blessed to witness the

birth of Jesus. (Amazon)

2015 - Room for A Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell and Jason Cockcroft In the stable next to an inn, Kind Ox

is just settling in for the night when

Old Dog comes into the stable. Kind

Ox makes room for Old Dog, who in

turn makes room for Stray Cat, who

then makes room for Small Mouse--

and each time, the larger animal says

to the small, "There's always room for

a little one here." Finally, Tired

Donkey comes by, carrying Joseph and Mary, who asks

"Where will my child be born?" Kind Ox replies, "There is

always room for a little one here." And so, Jesus is born in

the stable with the animals all around Him. Recommended

for ages 3 to 7. (ChristianBook.com)

2016- Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones This book explores the joy and

excitement and celebration in all of

creation at the coming of Jesus.

They've been waiting with eager

longing for the coming of God's long

promised son, and when at last he

arrives, the whole earth holds its

breath: their Creator, Jesus, Emmanuel has come to the

world that he made. Mountains, trees, seas, skies, stars,

animals---the rumor spreads that at last the time has

come. It's time! He's here! Recommended for ages 4 to 8

years. (ChristianBook.com)

2017 - Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson Mortimer the mouse lives in a hole

under the stairs. Everyday he creeps

about looking for good things to eat.

One time, he sees something new--a

house that's just his size! But there are

statues in this house, so he lugs them

out. Each day, he finds that the statues

have been put back in his new house, and each time he

pulls them all out again. One evening he overhears the

humans read a story, and realizes the significance of the

little statues--especially the little baby! Recommended for

ages 2 to 6. (ChristianBook.com)

Handel Choir of Baltimore

Handel Messiah

Saturday, December 15 7:30 pm

Grace United Methodist Church, 5407 N. Charles Street, Baltimore 21212

Sunday, December 16 3:00 pm

Saint Mark Catholic Church, 30 Melvin Avenue, Catonsville 21228

The baroque master’s beloved oratorio – our 84th

year! Handel Choir and Handel Period Instrument

Orchestra

$47/$37/$10 student with ID Reduced ticket price available with a season

subscription. Tickets available at www.handelchoir.org

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On January 21st, the community of churches along

N. Charles St. are coming together to serve our

community. This is a great way for us learn about local

mission programs, meet new people, and be the presence

of Christ in someone else's life.

Please note that some details may change and

additional activities added. Please check the sign up page

in January for complete information:

www.secondpresby.org/signups.

Manna House 435 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218

8 AM-10:30AM

Manna House, a ministry located in Charles Village,

provides breakfast to impoverished and homeless men,

women and children 365 days a year. Volunteers will

have the opportunity to serve breakfast and to help

organize the clothing closet located on the premises.

WoodBerry Crossing Family Friendly 925 Stablersville Road, Parkton, MD 21120

9 AM - 1 PM

www.woodberrycrossing.org

Contact: Bob Horner, 410-788-8152

Come enjoy the morning in the country while you work

on some building projects indoors. If you have tools bring

them, but supplies and tools will be provided. Lunch will

be served and there will be plenty of time to get out and

see the animals. All projects will help enhance the

grounds for the summer camp and make the winter more

enjoyable for the animals.

Project PLASE 1814 Maryland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201

www.projectplase.org

Time: TBA

Mission Book Group Almost Everything: Notes on Hope

by Anne Lamont Wednesday, January16, 7 pm,

Westcott Room

The Mission book group is not meeting

in December. Our January selection is

Almost Everything by Anne Lamont.

“In this profound and funny book,

Lamott calls for each of us to rediscover

the nuggets of hope and wisdom that

are buried within us that can make life

sweeter than we ever imagined. Divided

into short chapters that explore life's

essential truths, Almost Everything

pinpoints these moments of insight as it shines an

encouraging light forward.” Amazon

ANGEL TREE: Christmas Gifts for Glenwood Life Bring Gifts to Church by December 13

The Mission Council is collecting

gifts this year for Glenwood Life

Counseling Center. The clients

will be able to “purchase” the

gifts for their family and friends

using the tokens they earn for

attending wellness and counseling

groups. In the middle of

November, the clients of

Glenwood Life were surveyed

about gifts and items they would

like to “purchase” for their loved

ones. Please select an angel from the Christmas Tree in

the Rotunda or off the bulletin board by the Mission

corner, purchase the gift, and bring the unwrapped

present to the church by Thursday, December 13th.

Called as Partners in Christ’s Service: December/January Mission Outreach

MLK Day of Service 2019

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Contact: James Woods, [email protected], 443-717

-4226

Project Plase provides housing and supportive services to

Baltimore's homeless population. More details to come

on the specific project for this organization.

Abbottston Elementary/Middle 1300 Gorsuch Ave, Baltimore, MD 21218

Time: 10 AM—11 AM

Contact: Cathleen Miles, Principal, 443-984-2685

Reading is important at Abbottston. The school works

hard at making sure kids have access to books on their

level. Help is needed to organize the books by level.

Your help is greatly appreciated by the kids and teachers

who utilize these resources.

Gallons of Love Bags Family Friendly

First English Lutheran Church

3807 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218

11:30 AM-1:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall (lunch provided)

First English Lutheran will be hosting the making of

Gallons of Love bags to pass out to people in our

neighborhoods out on the streets asking for help. These

bags will contain hand warmers, water, food, band-aids,

shampoo and other necessities that can provide a

compassionate gesture to those in very difficult situations

this winter.

We will also be running other projects that are kid

and adult friendly, including baking cookies for the

Seafarers Ministry in our kitchen, preparing bagged

lunches for Manna House and quilting for Lutheran World

Relief.

Baltimore Station and Project PLASE

Cooking Family Friendly Second Presbyterian Church

4200 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21218

1PM-4PM in the Church Kitchen (enter through Charles St

entrance)

Contact: Jenn DiFrancesco,

[email protected]

Come help prepare a warming and nourishing meal for

those in need! Bring yourself and join other members and

volunteers from the Churches of Charles to prepare a

hearty meal for Baltimore Station and for Project PLASE.

A meal for 40 will be brought to feed the hungry at

Baltimore Station, where additional volunteers will serve

our brothers and sisters. Children, youth and adults are

welcome.

Bingo at Stadium Place Family Friendly

1030 E 33rd St, Baltimore, MD 21218

2 PM-3 PM

Contact: Georgia Smith, [email protected]

Come enjoy some competitive play with older adults!

Games like Bingo help stimulate the brain and provide

fellowship for those who often find themselves alone in

their apartments on cold afternoons. Meet a few new

faces at Stadium Place while enjoying refreshments and a

few rounds of Bingo. This is a great first mission

experience for elementary aged children.

Baltimore Station Serving Dinner Family Friendly

1611 Baker St., Baltimore, MD 21217

http://www.baltimorestation.org/

5 PM-7 PM

Contact: Tom Harrington, [email protected]

We will be serving what the afternoon cooking group

made for Baltimore Station. Children, youth, and adults

are welcome to come share in the serving and sharing

over a homemade meal with men transitioning to self-

sufficiency. Please note, we are serving dinner at their

West Baltimore City location.

Greeting Card Making for GEDCO's CARES Second Presbyterian Church

4200 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21218

7 PM-9 PM in the Westcott Room

Contact: Jenn DiFrancesco, [email protected]

You don't need to be an expert or even all that artsy to

help this worthy cause. A volunteer will be present with

all the supplies needed, giving directions, suggestions, and

help when needed. We will be meeting in the Westcott

Room at Second Presbyterian Church (enter through the

white door on Charles St.) to make greeting cards to

benefit the CARES food pantry.

Have questions? Want more details? Please contact Rev.

Jenn DiFrancesco at 410-467-4210 or

[email protected].

DONATIONS NEEDED:

All donations are being collected at the five churches

located along N. Charles Street in North Central

Baltimore City: Sts. Philip and James Catholic Church,

University Baptist, The Episcopal Cathedral of the

Incarnation, First English Lutheran Church and Second

Presbyterian Church. Items are being collected until

Sunday, January 14th unless otherwise noted.

Bingo prizes for seniors

Scrapbooking supplies: paper & embellishments

Gallons of Love Supplies Needed

• travel sized shampoo/conditioner

• travel sized deodorant

• 8 oz bottles of water

• food: granola bars/individually packaged snacks

(peanut butter crackers, etc.)

• wet wipes

• bandaids



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SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

9 Sunday School—9 AM Adult Seminar— 9 AM 10 AM Worship– Sanctuary Confirmation 4 pm

10 Stephen Ministry Training 11 am AA 8 PM

11 Tuesdays at 10 Bible Study Trustees 7 PM

12 Staff Meeting 9:30 AM Service of Healing & Wholeness 7 PM Bells@Second Rehearsal 7 PM

13 Bible Guys 7 AM Choir Rehearsal 7:30 PM

14 TAPAS, TALK & THEOLOGY 7 PM

15

16 Sunday School—9 AM 10 AM Worship– Sanctuary– Special Music Sunday Youth Group Christmas Party—Afternoon (Details soon)


18 Tuesdays at 10 Bible Study Session 7 PM

19 Bells@Second Rehearsal 7 PM

20 Choir Rehearsal 7:30 PM

21

22

23 10 AM Worship– Sanctuary

24 CHRISTMAS EVE

CANDLELIGHT SERVICES 5 PM Family Service 8 PM Service 11 PM Service

25 CHRISTMAS DAY

Church Office Closed

26 Church Office Closed

27

28

29

30 10 AM Worship– Smith Hall

31 NEW YEAR’S EVE

AA 8 PM

January 1 NEW YEAR’S DAY

Church Office Closed

2 Bells@Second Rehearsal 7 PM


4

5

6 10 AM Worship– Sanctuary 12th Day of Christmas Lunch—11 AM JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP 4 PM SENIOR YOUTH GROUP 5 PM


8 Tuesdays at 10 Bible Study Trustees 7 PM

9 Staff Meeting 9:30 AM Bells@Second Rehearsal 7 PM


11

12

13 9 AM Worship—Chapel Sunday School 10 AM Adult Seminar 10 AM 11 AM Worship—Sanctuary Confirmation 4 PM

14 15

Tuesdays at 10 Bible Study Session 7 PM

16 Mission Book Group 7 PM Personnel Committee 7 PM Bells@Second Rehearsal 7 PM


18 19

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Church Family News

We welcomed these new members:

Mrs. Donna Coates- on November 11, 2018

Scott Anderson and Diane Mella-Anderson- on November 18, 2018

We celebrated the birth of:

Robert Anthony Mayer who was born November 11,

2018. Robert is the son of Jeff and Rachel Mayer and

grandson of Jim and Susan Mayer.

We celebrated the wedding of :

Meghan Smith and Joseph Lawson on November 10,

2018. Meghan is the daughter of Bob and Terri Smith.

We extend our Christian love and sympathy to:

Eloise Bensberg whose former husband, Randy

Woodfield, died November 5, 2018.

2nd Jim Risser Jesse Tischler 3rd Allison West 4th Amy Carlson 5th Rebecca Dineen 7th Peggy Widman 9th Grace Follmer 12th Mark Felder 13th Jean Coates Katie Duncan Tom Gilliss 14th Lynne Agress Debby Graf Jim Mayer Anne Riley Christy Wyskiel 15th John Miller 16th Charles Herndon 17th Charlie Barton Eloise Bensberg Terri Smith

18th Karen Ruppert 20th Clay Furtaw Bernie Levy 21st Eric Suan Susan Walkup 23rd Gretchen Martin Andrew Paulk Anne Perry 24th Mary Dell Harlan 25th Carol Fitzpatrick 28th Meb Turner Steve Boesel 29th Roy Agyingi Grace Serafini 30th Nicole Risser Sheri Slezak Cameron Troxel 31st Eric Strain Teddy Martin Liz Milbourn Eric Strain Auditions for Churches of Charles

Production of “Joseph” Monday, January 21, 3 PM

First English Lutheran Church

The intergenerational show is open

to all youth, 3rd grade and above,

and adults who have a passion for

the stage. The show will take place

on April 13 & 14. We know that

schedules get busy - please do not

let that prevent you from

auditioning! we will do all that we

can to make our rehearsals available

to all! Contact Rev. Amy Carlson with your questions.

Children & Youth News

Children’s Christmas Eve Preludes Celebrating God’s Gift to Us and Offering Our Gifts

to the Christ Child

Children who play an instrument or sing are invited to

contribute their musical gifts during the 5 PM family Christmas

Eve Service. Children are encouraged to select music that

celebrates the birth of our Savior. Please register online at

www.secondpresby.org/worship/preludes by Sunday,

December 16th.

The children should arrive in the sanctuary at 4 PM. The

preludes will begin at 4:45 PM. Questions? Contact Amy

Carlson at [email protected].

Annual Youth Ski Trip to Massanetta Springs Friday, February 15 - Sunday, February 17 The traditional Presidents’ Day

weekend youth ski trip returns this

year. Friends are welcome. (Details

on cost and times will be shared

soon. )

Please RSVP as soon as

possible to Amy, but absolutely by January 15th.

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with today. By the 1840s the carol was

well known in much of modern day

Germany. It became the favorite

Christmas carol of King Frederick

William IV of Prussia who had it

performed for him every year at

Christmas.

Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber

were forgotten over time. Silent Night

was sometimes attributed to Haydn,

Mozart or Beethoven. Born into poverty,

Father Mohr died penniless in the tiny

Alpine village of Wagrain where he had

been assigned as pastor. He had donated

all his earnings to be used for eldercare

and the education of the children in the

area. Franz Gruber produced a number

of orchestral arrangements of his original

composition. His original guitar

arrangement is missing, but five other

Gruber manuscripts of the carol exist.

Later in life he moved to Hallein, Austria

where the Franz Xaver Gruber Museum

now exists.

Silent Night wasn’t translated into

English until 1863. The verses so familiar

to us are not exact translations of the

original German. Usually only three or

four of the original six verses are sung in

English and the verse order is slightly

different from the German. Silent Night

didn’t become popular until after World

War I when Austrian-American Singer

Ernestine Schumann-Heink began singing

it on the radio at Christmas time for a

number of years. In 1941, Franklin D.

Roosevelt and Winston Churchhill sang

Silent Night together in the White House

garden. Versions sung by Bing Crosby

and Gene Autry were hugely popular.

In 2011, UNESCO (United Nations

Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization) recognized Silent Night as

part of Austria’s “intangible cultural

heritage.” The official designation noted

the song’s universality: “For many, ’Silent

Night’ is the mother of all Christmas

carols.” The Christmas carol written 200

years ago by a humble parish priest and a

musician unknown outside of a few

surrounding villages, has now been

published in more than 300 languages

around the world.

(Silent Night: Continued from page 4)

2018 Pledging (As December 1, 2018)

Number of Pledges - 110

Total Pledged - $506,974

Total Pledged Amount Received - $437,638.68

Total Non-Pledged Gifts Received - $58,125.27

Total Gifts Received - $495,754.23

Annual Church Budget - $738,706 (gifts received YTD = 60.34% of our budget). As always, we appreciate the generosity of all of our contributing

members. ~ Chuck Harlan, Stewardship Chair

Stewardship Update

A Spirituality of Sharing—Part Two By Mark Felder, Stewardship Council One of the most famous passages about generosity in the Gospel is also one that can be rather unsettling. It is the story of the rich young man (in

Matthew 19) who asks Jesus what deed he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells the young man to “go, sell what you possess, and give to the poor, and

you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” What does the rich young man do? He walks away “sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Who hasn’t read this story and thought, “Oh no-- I have to get rid of all my possessions to get into heaven!”

But when considered in the context of all our Lord’s teaching about possessions and giving, it becomes clear that Jesus is not telling us to get rid of

all our stuff. God does not want us to be poor and miserable. Rather, Jesus is teaching us about priorities and Christian living.

John Piper has written about a Reader’s Digest article some years ago about how to retire early. In it, a couple retires in their 50’s. They move to

Florida, boat, play golf, and collect shells. While the article is a kind of “how-to” piece about retirement, Piper calls it a tragedy. He imagines the couple

standing before Christ on Judgment Day saying, “Look, Lord. See my shells!” What’s clearly missing in this recipe for happiness is sharing. After we meet our needs, the Bible teaches that we should be good stewards and share

what we do not need. This is not altruism, and it is not philanthropy—it is Christ-inspired spiritual sharing.

Philanthropy has a somewhat different motivation. Noted consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow recently wrote the following about how people

decide about their philanthropic activities. She wrote, “It’s what you feel like you can afford, how much a particular cause or charity means to you, how

deeply affected you are by something and how much you want to help, and what you feel your responsibility to a community is. It’s just a very personal

equation that everybody works out for themselves.” So we might say that while philanthropy is something you very personally

work out for yourself, spiritual sharing is something we work out between ourselves and the Holy Spirit. And the joy that such sharing brings far eclipses

any feelings of responsibility or personal equations.

“Brand New” Electronic Means of Giving! After much time in evaluating a number of providers, we will be “rolling out” very shortly a number of electronic giving options. We are in the process of putting together a communications campaign on our new electronic giving

platform – more to come very shortly! The following is the second of a two part reflection by Stewardship

Council member, Mark Felder, entitled “A Spirituality of Sharing”.

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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 2571 BALTIMORE, MD

Sunday, January 6

11 AM in Smith Hall (following 10 AM single service)

More details to come.

“silent night” and the christmas truce · silent night: the 200th anniversary of a beloved...

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