Terry Headlight News

The 2023 Christmas season has finally arrived! The season of Advent, which ended on Sunday, has been quite a journey of spiritual exploration that has hopefully prepared us to the joy that the birth of Jesus brought to His mother, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi and the stable animals who were witnesses to the small baby that had just been born. In much of the same way, our lives are all journeys.

To affirm the quotation from Ralph Waldo Emerson (“Life is a destination, not a journey.”), the journeys in our lives help us to grow into the people we will become.

In our Christian walks, we need to be striving to include Jesus in every aspect of our journeys of life. The Bible tells us we are only pilgrims on this earth. C.S. Lewis often spoke about how we as humans are only pilgrims passing through on our way to be with the Lord. We often are not able to understand these journeys, and that is when our own faith and trust are called upon, and it is so important that we include Jesus in every aspect of life.

The season of Christmas is actually not just the first day (Christmas Day) but is a twelve-day celebration of our Savior’s birth. This Sunday will be the seventh day of this year’s glorious observance. The final day of Christmas is always on January 5. It is very acceptable to enjoy Christmas music and to have Christmas decorations in sight until the final day of Christmastide.

Most churches which follow the Liturgical readings utilize these scriptural readings: Genesis 15:1-6 and 21:1-3 (God fulfills His promise to Abraham, and Sarah gives birth to a son), Psalm 1051-6, 8-9 (a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness to His covenant), Hebrews 11:8-11,12-17, 17-19 (Paul examines Abraham’s example of faith) and Luke 2:22-40 (Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the Temple in accordance with the Law of Moses).

On Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. The Gospel for today is taken from the Gospel according to Luke and is part of Luke’s Infancy Narrative. This day’s Gospel describes the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple and shows Joseph and Mary as devout Jews, following the prescriptions of the Law of Moses.

The Gospel alludes to several aspects of the Law of Moses: circumcision, the dedication of the firstborn son to the Lord, and the purification of a woman who has given childbirth.

Last week, we experienced the longest night of the year, and official beginning of winter came. We had a warm Christmas (which I love), but I understand that it is going to be colder beginning on Thursday. That the longest night comes each year a few days prior to Christmas makes me wonder about the long nights of December and the star of Bethlehem that the wise ones from the Orient East saw from afar and followed to the manger in order to worship the newly born king and to present to Him their gifts. This is recorded in the book of Matthew, although the number of these wise kings is not specified in this first of the gospels. Here are some birthdays which have recently been celebrated: Dec. 25-Sheila Hailey, Crystal Wise Martin, Nathan Allday; Dec. 26-Jamie Franks, Michael Sumrall, Mike Witherington; Dec. 27-Rep. Gregory Holloway, Sr.; Dec. 28-Patty Patterson, Ricky Walker; Dec. 29-Jelani Barr; Dec. 30-Lynda Moss Brister, Rex McCord.

Celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary this past week were Stephanie Stringer Champion and Jeff Champion.

I was honored to visit briefly on Saturday afternoon with Butch and Rachel Patterson. Each year, Butch’s crop of turnip greens is always a welcomed sight!

Added names to prayer lists should include Maxcine Brunson, the Duncan family, Ina Pearl Grace Housley, Tommy Lunsford and the Walden family.

The (Episcopal) Church of the Good Shepherd on Claiborn Street enjoyed a really fun Holiday party last Saturday evening at the home of Katherine Ford.

The soccer team from Terry High School has a busy schedule in January with matches with Murrah High School (Hinds County) on Jan. 9th, Picayune High School (Pearl River County) on Jan. 12th, Pearl River Central High School (also in Pearl River County) on Jan. 16th, Hattiesburg High School (Forrest County) on Jan. 18th, West Lincoln High School (Lincoln County) on Jan. 22nd, Pelahatchie High School (Rankin County) on Jan. 23rd and Crystal Springs High School (Copiah County) on Jan. 25th. Every match is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm.

The following news was sent to me by Beverly Bridgers Rodriguez and should have appeared in last week’s column. (However, I forgot to include this.)

“Cadet Bailey Barnes was selected by the Terry High School JROTC Military Science Instructor SFC Terrell E. Burnett from 6 candidates meeting the requirements for the DAR JROTC Outstanding Cadet Medal. He reported, “We have six candidates this year that meet the DAR requirements. The one that stands out the most is Bailey Barnes.” The requirements for the Outstanding Cadet are loyalty, patriotism, dependability, good character, adherence to military discipline, leadership ability, military achievement,scholastic achievement of upper 25% of all classes JROTC and academic, and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of JROTC training.

“Prior to the presentation ceremony, the two Military Science Instructors, LTC Donald O. Young and SFC Burrell accompanied the cadets from the main campus to the JROTC Building classrooms. Cadet Bailey Barnes is a junior level student and the Company Commander of sophomore level cadets. Barnes called the company formation to attention and led an impressive recitation of the JROTC Cadet Creed and the Preamble of the Constitution. The cadets were ordered to parade rest during the presentation of the DAR Outstanding JROTC Medal and certificate. Barnes dismissed the cadets to the classroom.”

In thinking of the birth of our Lord, that He grew in wisdom and stature and His being in the Synagogue at the age of twelve, this hymn was written in 1913 for the Primary Teachers’ Manual by an unknown author. It reminds us that even the life of children, their journeys when they are young and that so much of what they learn about faith and trust in Jesus will determine these lives.

“Sweet Savior, once again this year Brings to the happy earth The season held forever dear On which we hail Thy birth! “We think of Thee as once a child Who sought a mother’s face, An infant innocent and mild, Who grew in years and grace. “Our wills and tempers, Lord, control, And give us eyes to see, The tender heart, and loving soul, The mind that was in Thee.”

You have been reading the best newspaper in Hinds County, the Gazette. Your readership each week is greatly appreciated! The writers of this newspaper all welcome comments, corrections, or submitted news. This writer may be reached by electronic mail (terryj1@bellsouth) or telephone (601-878-5714). (Quoting a favorite Christmas song: “Pray for PEACE, people everywhere”.)