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December 2020 Letter:
Christmas greetings to St. Paul members and friends,
Will We Hear The Bells On Christmas Day?
In the early 1800's there was a young fellow, at the age of 24, who married Mary Potter, the love of his life. They were married in September 1831. In November of 1835, while they were traveling in Europe, Mary suffered a miscarriage and passed away. This left him devastated. He decided to live a life of goodness and purity like hers. He also withdrew from most of his teaching and work that he was doing.
In July 1843 he married Fanny Appleton. Together they had six children 2 boys and 4 girls. In the summer of 1861 Fanny had just trimmed her daughter's hair. She was saving some of the hair in an envelope and sealing it with wax. Suddenly, some wax dropped onto her dress catching it on fire. She left the room to protect her daughters and ran into the room where her husband was. He grabbed a rug and wrapped it around her in order to put out the fire. This rug was to small so he wrapped his body around hers. He succeeded in getting the fire out but both of them were severely burned.
Fanny died the following day. Her husband wasn't well enough to attend her funeral. Her husband's face was badly scarred and other than trimming his beard he never shaved again.
Once again, this loss left him devastated and depressed. He withdrew from his daily tasks and some of his work. He had a hard time functioning on a day to day basis.
That Christmas the sorrow in his life was drowning out the peace that the carols reflected he should feel.
"A merry Christmas say the children, but that is no more for me."
Henry a devout Christian regained hope, although at the moment his world was filled with grief and despair. He realized that God was alive and His power existed on earth.
In March of 1863 his oldest son Charlie, at the age of 18, decided to join the Union Forces and fight in the Civil War. He left home without telling his dad, knowing that his dad would not approve. He later sent his dad a letter explaining he could no longer sit still while his country needed him. Charlie became a Lieutenant in the army.
In December of the same year Charlie was severely wounded. One Doctor didn't expect him to live. Two other Doctors said he would survive but take a long time to recover. His dad left home that December and went to the hospital in Washington DC. In his heart he was unsure if his first son would live or not. Charlie's dad was taking all this very hard and not caring much about the Christmas Season. While sitting and waiting for his son to recover that Christmas he heard the Christmas bells ringing from the Churches in Washington DC. With all this grief and sadness in his life and worried about the health of his son Charlie,
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote:
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their, old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The bel-fries of all Christ-en-dom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth" I said
For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
"God is not dead, nor does He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.
Charlie survived his wounds and was mustered out of the army in 1864.
As we look back through our lives and the uncertainty of this past year, remember that despite your deepest troubles there is always hope to be found. Jesus was born on Christmas Day, God is not dead nor does He sleep.
Yes we will hear the Bells this Christmas Eve!!!
The Elders wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Christmas greetings to St. Paul members and friends,
Will We Hear The Bells On Christmas Day?
In the early 1800's there was a young fellow, at the age of 24, who married Mary Potter, the love of his life. They were married in September 1831. In November of 1835, while they were traveling in Europe, Mary suffered a miscarriage and passed away. This left him devastated. He decided to live a life of goodness and purity like hers. He also withdrew from most of his teaching and work that he was doing.
In July 1843 he married Fanny Appleton. Together they had six children 2 boys and 4 girls. In the summer of 1861 Fanny had just trimmed her daughter's hair. She was saving some of the hair in an envelope and sealing it with wax. Suddenly, some wax dropped onto her dress catching it on fire. She left the room to protect her daughters and ran into the room where her husband was. He grabbed a rug and wrapped it around her in order to put out the fire. This rug was to small so he wrapped his body around hers. He succeeded in getting the fire out but both of them were severely burned.
Fanny died the following day. Her husband wasn't well enough to attend her funeral. Her husband's face was badly scarred and other than trimming his beard he never shaved again.
Once again, this loss left him devastated and depressed. He withdrew from his daily tasks and some of his work. He had a hard time functioning on a day to day basis.
That Christmas the sorrow in his life was drowning out the peace that the carols reflected he should feel.
"A merry Christmas say the children, but that is no more for me."
Henry a devout Christian regained hope, although at the moment his world was filled with grief and despair. He realized that God was alive and His power existed on earth.
In March of 1863 his oldest son Charlie, at the age of 18, decided to join the Union Forces and fight in the Civil War. He left home without telling his dad, knowing that his dad would not approve. He later sent his dad a letter explaining he could no longer sit still while his country needed him. Charlie became a Lieutenant in the army.
In December of the same year Charlie was severely wounded. One Doctor didn't expect him to live. Two other Doctors said he would survive but take a long time to recover. His dad left home that December and went to the hospital in Washington DC. In his heart he was unsure if his first son would live or not. Charlie's dad was taking all this very hard and not caring much about the Christmas Season. While sitting and waiting for his son to recover that Christmas he heard the Christmas bells ringing from the Churches in Washington DC. With all this grief and sadness in his life and worried about the health of his son Charlie,
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote:
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their, old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The bel-fries of all Christ-en-dom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth" I said
For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
"God is not dead, nor does He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.
Charlie survived his wounds and was mustered out of the army in 1864.
As we look back through our lives and the uncertainty of this past year, remember that despite your deepest troubles there is always hope to be found. Jesus was born on Christmas Day, God is not dead nor does He sleep.
Yes we will hear the Bells this Christmas Eve!!!
The Elders wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
