Ina Hughs: "Christmas isn't for sale"

A friend of mine dropped off a yellowed newspaper clipping from many years ago. I don't know the date of the article, entitled The True Christmas Usually Finds Us, Despite Trappings. Ina Hughs wrote it. Hughs is still a journalist in Knoxville. Here's an excerpt:

"Christmas isn't for sale...

Christmas is a lifetime adventure into a stable and a carpenter's shop. It's sitting on a hillside and listening to stories. It's wandering into the wilderness and sweating out doubts and temptations too deep for songs or symbols.

It's drowning out sobs of grief at the foot of a cross with shouts of life--not heard with the ear, but with the heart and the mind and sometimes even the soul..."

Free (Quality) Christmas Music

All Christmas music is not created equal. Here are 3 links, courtesy of Justin Taylor:

Soverign Grace
Red Mountain Music
Sojourn Music

I also found a great CD for $1 at Dollar Tree last week: Celtic Holiday. It features ullean pipes, bodhran, harp & more. They're a great source for forgotten CDs. I picked up a Tribute to the Carter Family last year and I try to stock up on Italian, Caribbean, Mexican music when I can so we can set the mood during dinner time.

Life is too short to only listen to what's on the radio!

Info Sheet for Florence County Charitable Organization Referrals

This time of year, our church gets several requests a week for assistance with electric bills, food, christmas gifts, and even transportation for folks who've been released from the jail down the road. When we can't help someone directly, it's good to have a quick reference to help put them in touch with those who can. We also support some of these ministries financially and materially. Here's our list for 2009. I keep one by the phone and one in may car, too.

Food

~Angel Food: Savannah Grove Baptist Church.................................843-662-7851

~Angel Food: Highland Park United Methodist..................................843-662-1233

~Angel Food: Mcleod Health.............................................843-777-2141, 777-5641

~Angel Food: Great Commission Ministries (Lake City)............843-389-0998 x106

*Angel food Boxes are $30 and will feed a family of 4 for a week, or a single

Senior for 1 month. Food stamps are accepted. There are no applications or

qualifications necessary to purchase.

~Food Pantry/Lunch: Manna House 450 Jarrott Start........................843-667-6077

~SC Food Stamps Hotline...............................................................1-800-768-5700

Rent, Utilities

~Lighthouse Ministries 201 Elm St. Florence SC...............................843-629-0830

~Pee Dee Community Action...................................................843-678-3400 x. 121

Clothing, Furniture, Housing

~House of Hope of the Pee Dee.........................................................843-661-5155

~HHPD Men 1327 Olanta Highway.....................................................843-661-5377

~HHPD Women 1020 W. Darlington St...............................................843-667-9000

~HHPD Mission Mart (931 S. Irby St./Big Lots Center).......................843-667-9122

Transportation

~PDRTA $1.50 Fare $0.50 Transfer

Route 4 2nd Loop (DSS: 7:35am-5:35pm)

Route 6 South Florence (Green Acres/Brannockburn 7:44am-5:44pm)

*PDRTA also provides “on demand” service with 48 hours notice.

~Lighthouse Ministries 843-629-0830 201 Elm St. Florence SC (Traveler’s Fund)

Other (Medication, Ramps/Lifts, Children’s Books, Diapers, Money Management)

~Lighthouse Ministries 201 Elm St. Florence SC...............................843-629-0830