* v 45 Herald & Lantern t9 December '84 ; :

A Christmas Reverie To Add to Your Joy

By CLARE CAMPBELL My editor phoned me. He asked me to write a Christmas piece for - our paper. I was pleased. I said, "VES!" immediately. This, though, must be special — first, because he trusts me, and second, and especially important, I must not let our readers down. So a Christmas piece about the usual tinsel and cookies won't do.

In fact, NOTHING will really do, but to be invited to write about Christ's birthday is a precious request and must be approached with tenderness and joy. So come and walk with me down a printed path that may (or may not) be new to you. Let us hold hands in friendship and let us repeat together, "Lo, I am with you always." How many times during the year do we forget that holy promise? That's what

Christmas is all about, isn't it? The lights that we see on our trees and doorways in December are just lights unless we are convinced that they are there to reflect our faith and hope. The Christmas carols are just rhymes and jingles unless we say in our heart's core: "0, Holy Night." The delightful aromas emanating from our kitchens are just "cookin' odors" unless we think about the frank in cense and myrrh. The Shepherds are just shabby fellows minding a bunch of dull-witted sheep unless we remember that they were uniquely honored to stand there under 'Hit Star. Oh, what can I write to stare with you our deepdown love of Christmas? Ah! I know! Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Christmas Canticle" will bring us all together in quiet reverence. We'll read some 'of her nc u icdu suiiic ui uci

lovely lines that say it all: THE ANGEL: "Thou sinful soul, how wilt thou feel"' On Christmas Eve when the oxen kneel? For all thy vows to Christ so dear Which thou didst break in this bad year?" AND EACH OF US ANSWERS: "Full of fear, oh, full of fear. I will fall on my knees in the yellow straw, I will clasp my hands in terror and awe, I will lift my tears and to

Mary appeal On Christmas Eve when the oxen kneel. She will cool my brow. She will cleanse and heal On Christmas Eve when the oxen kneel." ANGEL: "And what wilt thou do for Mary then, In daylight out in the world of men?" ANSWER: "I will try hard not to be bad again." ANGEL: "And when thou art tempted wilt thou go wrong?" ANSWER: "Jesus will help me and make me strong. And see that by me no evil is done." ANGEL: "Then Hail Marv and her LITTLE SON." IN UNISON: "Then Hail Marv and her LITTLE SON." Thinking of these things has added to my Christmas joy. It is my wish that reading it will add to your own. (ED. NOTE: Feature writer and poet Campbell resides in Ocean View.)

tree be filled with garlands of love, bells of hope, tinsels of charity and wreaths of wonder . Happy Christmas. From MONTGOMERY WARD John & Lorraine Mersch 10 Delsea Drive Rio Grande 886-2044

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Medals For Cape Students MAYS LANDING - Three Cape May County residents were .among students who received medals for their accomplishments at the seventh awards ceremony of the Academy of Culinary Arts at Atlantic Community College recently. All of Ocean City, they are: Robert Bradley, who received a gold medal, Robert P. Morganstern and Michael Wiedmayer, who each received a silver medal. Two 'other Cape May County students, Melissa Rogowski, North Wildwood, and J. Will Nagy, Sea Isle City, were part of a prize-winning team which took part in the recent Societe Culinaire Philanthropique/New York Hotel Show.

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May all good things come your way as you revel in the festivities of this special holiday. Thanks for your valued Kathleen S. Cooper Manager North Cape May Branch ^ , And All the Employees of Anchor \ Sowings 8c Loan - ANCHOR SAVMGS & LQAN [W f LjHM