The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1489075
The Press-Dispatch D-1 Wednesday, December 28, 2022 CHURCH Submit church items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Pope Francis predicts the conflict in Ukraine will probably be prolonged because it's a "glob- al war" with too many interests involved in it. Putin has been saying that the US and NATO have waged against Russia the "proxy war." The Christmas of 2022 is eerily like the Christ- mas of 1914 in W WI. W WI divided the world between the allied and axis powers. By the winter of 1914, after early German victories, the front had stabilized. The next four years saw the development of trench warfare. By Christmas 1914, everyone held their breath for the next big offensive. What will Russia and the Ukraine do next? The irony of the First World War is most combatants were Christian nations. France, Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Rus- sia were all God-fearing Christian nations. In the Russian-Ukraine war Russia, the US and most NATO members are Christian. Today, as in 1914, clerics are silent. Pope Francis has urged Russia to stop fighting and withdraw its forces from the Ukraine. He has yet to advance the call to stop fighting and everyone come to the peace table. We can never underestimate the power of peace. You may have heard of the Christmas truce of 1914. Stanley Weintraub, author of 'Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce At Flanders Field' tells us on Christmas Eve 1914, the Germans set trees on trench par- apets and lit candles and began singing carols. Though their language was strange to their enemies, the tunes were not. A fter the British shot at a few of the trees, the British became curious and crawled forward to watch and lis- ten; and after a while, they, too, sang. Weintraub says that signboards arose up and down the trenches with the most frequent- ly employed German message being: 'YOU NO FIGHT, WE NO FIGHT.' Some British units posted improvised 'MER- RY CHRISTMAS' banners and waited for a re- sponse. More placards on both sides popped up. A spontaneous truce resulted. Soldiers left their trenches, meeting in the middle of no-man's-land to shake hands. They exchanged gifts: chocolate cake, cognac, post- cards, newspapers, and tobacco. By Christmas morning, the 'no-man's-land' between the trenches was filled with fraterniz- ing soldiers, sharing rations and gifts, singing and (more solemnly) burying their dead be- tween the lines. Soon they were even playing soccer, mostly with improvised balls. On January 1, 1915, the London Times pub- lished a letter from a major in the Medical Corps reporting that in his sector, the Brit- Good day to you all. Hope you had a great Christmas and have plans for a Happy New Year. I heard the other day on the radio that it might be respectful to say Happy Holidays be- cause all holidays should be Holy. I don't quite know what to say about this because when I say Merry Christmas to someone it is because I am happy to see them and hopefully by say- ing Merry Christmas, it causes them to reflect on our Saviour's birthday. Our Saviour rates all the respect and adoration we can give him. It sure was a shock going from fifty de- gree temperatures all the way down to -30 wind chills. I hope this column finds every- one without problems due to the terrible cold snap. It was so cold the first night of the sub-ze- ro temps that I stayed up most of the night babysitting our house. The wind seemed to bother me more than the temperatures be- cause it not only made it feel colder, it was strong enough we could have lost our electric power. This is a time we should thank God for His protection from this cold front. The last day of school for our grandson was Tuesday the 20th and when he got off the bus he came up the driveway with both hands full of presents from school. Needless to say he was a happy camper. Tuesday was also the day our granddaughter got her second in a series of three COVID shots. At least with two shots in her she should have some protection from the bad germs out there today. She must be a tough little girl because her shots didn't seem to bother her mush if any. Let's go back to the cold front one more time. The older I get the more the weather bothers me in lots of ways. The cold hurts in places that don't hurt when it is a wee bit warmer. But more than that, I can't help it, but when the wind blows like it did for a cou- ple of days I get nervous about it. There doesn't seem to be a way to prepare for sudden wind bursts and they can do lots of damage. Hear- ing about the storm for a week starts panic in many minds and people start doing things to get ready and by the time it gets here you are a nervous wreck. What has caused this shortage of medicines to fight the flu and temperatures of little chil- dren? I know that there are several people sick The church page is made possible by the following firms and businesses: Amber Manor Care Center Petersburg — 812-354-3001 Benner & Co. Heating and Air Petersburg — 812-354-3433 DougGlass DBA Hold Everything Self Storage — 812-354-1110 Four Star Fabricators Petersburg — 812-354-9995 www.fourstarfab.com Harris Funeral Home 7th and Walnut Streets, Petersburg Phone: 812-354-8844 MK Farms Mike and Kay Anson Monroe City, Winslow — 812-890-5012 Play & Learn Preschool Campbelltown — 812-354-3999 CHURCH CHURCH Notes Notes Notes Ramblings of my mind By Lowell Thomas Relating back to WWI Christmas Points to Ponder By Curtis Bond See POINTS on page 2 See R AMBLINGS on page 2 HAPPY New Year GOD bless your 2023 Main Street Presbyterian Church Petersburg • 812-354-6844 245 S. GLEZEN CENTER ST. PETERSBURG • 812-354-9909 SUNDAY MORNING Worship and Children's Church 10:15 a.m. WEDNESDAY Transformed Youth Ministries 6:30-8 p.m. Sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things. Psalm 98:1 (KJV) May God bless and protect you in 2023! Happy New Year May God bless you and yours in this new year. GRACE G.B. CHURCH 1007 E. Union St., Winslow Assembly of God RIVER OF LIFE 342 E. CR 300 N., Petersburg Sunday morning worship 10 a.m.; Sunday evening worship 6 p.m. and Consumed youth group 7 p.m.; Wednesday eve- ning Bible study 7 p.m.; Men's ministry meeting every other Thursday 10 a.m. If you would like a ride, call 812-354-8800. Jim Gidcumb, Pastor WASHINGTON ASSEMBLY OF GOD 320 S. Meridian St., Washington Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; morning worship 10 :30 a.m.; Wednesday evening dinner and Bible study at 6 p.m. Baptist ARTHUR G.B. CHURCH 5670 S. St. Rd. 61, Winslow 812-582-0354 Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; morning worship with chil- dren's church at 10 :30 a.m. Business meeting the third Sunday of the month follow- ing morning worship. Ralph Newkirk, Pastor AYRSHIRE VALLEY G.B. CHURCH 1947 E. Co. Rd. 375 S., Winslow Phone: 812-789 -3968 Sunday school 9:30 a.m.; morning worship 10 :30 a.m.; Sunday evening 6 p.m.; Wednesday evening Bible study 6:30 p.m. Frank A. Coleman, Pastor See NOTES on 2