McHenry County Blog

Today’s message of the day is a continuation of a Christmas and Easter tradition of Hobby Lobby.

I saw a black and white version in Elgin’s Courier News.

Then, while at my brother and sister-in-laws’ home for Christmas morning, I found this color version in the Daily Herald.

The owners of Hobby Lobby put their Christian beliefs in practice by closing their stores on Sundays and by playing Christian hymns other stores don’t.

This year's ad shows the shadow of a cross on a manger. It's the top half of the ad, but the part with the message.

Labels: Christmas, Cross, Hobby Lobby, Manger

It seems I had a lot more time last year to write Christmas stories than I did this year. This year we had a family birthday party for all the missed fall birthdays the night of our church's children's Christmas program. But last year's was so good, I repeat it below.
Ever attend a Kids Christmas Pageant and think that you read an article about its theme before.

No, I’m not talking about some magazine article in which the liberal national news magazines do their best to shake the faithful with a “Was Jesus Really Born in Jerusalem?” or, worse yet, a "Was Jesus Ever Born?" piece or something like that.

This is one that could have been on that New York lawyer's show "Law and Order."

So, here’s the story line.

Kids put together their annual Christmas pageant, which has always been held in the town square for their Christmas pageant.

The mayor—a politically correct woman—is up for re-election.

The mayor decides she doesn’t want to offend anyone, so she tells the kids they can’t use the town square.

The kids decide to go door to door to ask people to call the mayor and urge her to change her mind.

First they go to a blasé rich people’s house. They attract them outside by singing carols.

The urbane husband asks the wife what the kids want, money?

“Here, give them $5.”

The kids say they don’t want money, they want the man and woman to call the mayor to allow them to put on their presentation in the town square.

The couple give no indication of following through.

They go to a second home and find two aging hippies.

These folks celebrate every holiday.

Their belief system consists of “Whatever.”

One of the youngsters observes that if one believes in everything, one really believes in nothing.

Finally, they find a mother with children asleep inside.

Her husband is the Armed Forces and she is horrified that the mayor has banned the play. She promises to call.

The next scene I remember is the mayor coming to tell children that she has changed her mind. She says has been getting phone calls all day, including one from her daughter.

The mayor's daughter is the mother with the sleeping kids and husband serving in the Armed Forces overseas.

The mayor has undergone an epiphany.

She doesn’t care if she loses votes.

It’s on with the show.

Not only can the show be put on at the town square, but the mayor wants to be in it next year.

So, it's on with the Christmas pageant, complete with Nativity scene.

= = = = =
I don't know all the names, so my apologies to those I leave out or misidentify.

In the top picture the children are shown "practicing" the show they are going to perform in the town square.

Part of the show included a chorus line. On the right is Gina Daleo. The other girl is Johanna Sveden.

The mayor was Megan Heidenreich.

The urbane couple were played by Julie Noack and Andrew Swlatly.

The hippies were Felicia Hornback and David Deemer.

The mayor's daughter was Jennifer Peterson.

Protraying Mary was Gabby Schweizer. Joseph was Brian Madigan. The shepherd was Sidney Schroepfer. Sarah Ripple was the angel.

Before the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake presentation the kids were in the community room practicing. For the finale, they couldn't remember the second verse. They certainly remembered during the show.

The photo under the Nativity scene and above this paragraph is of the rehearsal.

But, as someone mentioned at the reception (bottom right picture) after the show, there were no problems on the stage.

The title of the show?

"Miracle on Main Street" by Celeste Clydesdale, arranged by David Clydesdale, script by Mark Davis & Celeste Clydesdale.

Renee Schultz was the drama director. Jeannie Patterson did the choreography. Lisa Bishoff was children’s director. Katrina Jackson was the music director.

Lessons in practical politics in church.

Lessons on so many levels.

Who would have imagined that?

Labels: Christmas, First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake

Congress recently affirmed the importance of Christmas. 8^th congressional district Democratic Party primary challenger Randi Scheurer uses passage of the resolution to craft a message.

Here is her press release:

Congress Votes To End War (On Christmas)

Ever since the “Old Man Potters” of the world at RKO pictures stole back the copyright to the holiday classic film It’s A Wonderful Life – leaving our cold TV sets with nothing left but the boring “Yule Log” to warm our long winter nights – Christmas has never been the same.

Now, Congress has joined with Potter, Scrooge, Frank Costanza, the Grinch, and a host of other fictional characters, to complete the theft of our harmless, childlike, Christmas cheer.

With nothing left sacred from their politicization of everything in life, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a Declaration (H. Res. 847) to the world that Christmas, Christ, and Christianity are good things. Duh!? How will we explain this to the kids, when they ask, “Mommy, is Congress real?”

The brainchild of Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) – not the horror writer, but someone just as scary – this resolution was a reaction to an October proclamation (H. Res. 635) recognizing the Muslim holiday of Ramadan and trying to build some small measure of solidarity with the Muslim world. You know, Muslims – the people we kind of blame for the whole “War on Terror” thing – kinda, sorta?

Of course, that wondrous work of our statesmanlike legislators was loaded with insulting language. And, 59 of them still couldn’t bring themselves to vote for it, not even with the innuendos and disclaimers.

“Insulting?” You may ask. “How was it insulting?”

Well, let’s just fully synch up the mirrored “legislation” – if we can call it that – and add the parts from the Ramadan resolution (with translation), that were missing from the Christmas resolution:

“Whereas some extremists have attempted to use selective interpretations of Islam(Christianity) to justify and encourage hatred, persecution, oppression, violence and terrorism against (enemies of) the United States, the West, Israel, other Muslims(Christians), and non-Muslims(Christians);

“Whereas some Muslims(Christians) in the United States and abroad have courageously spoken out in rejection of interpretations of Islam(Christianity) that justify and encourage hatred, violence, and terror, and in support of interpretations of and movements within Islam(Christianity) that justify and encourage democracy, tolerance and full civil and political rights for Muslims(Christians) and those of all faiths;

“… commends Muslims(Christians) in the United States and across the globe who have privately and publicly rejected interpretations and movements of Islam(Christianity) that justify and encourage hatred, violence, and terror.”

So, are you basking in the glow of that Holiday cheer? Not yet? I can’t imagine why.

Christmas is a time for the faithful, for families, for kids, for anyone who wants – to celebrate, to give gifts, to share a warm room on a cold winter night – to hope for peace on earth, good will to men.

The Randi Scheurer for Congress and FreeTheDemocrats.com campaign wish all of our Christian friends and neighbors a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Labels: 8th Congressional District, Christmas, Randi Scheurer

Note today's date is March 7th.

This was taken last night from across the street from our home.

Looks like the bedroom candles have already been unplugged.

Labels: Christmas, Crystal Lake, March