On Sunday 20 December Eileen enjoyed "Music & the Spoken Word" followed by the Book of Mormon discussion in 3rd Nephi of Christ's teachings as we got ready for church.
This blog entry is without pictures which I will add later.
Opening hymn was #204 "Silent Night" text by Joseph Mohr (1792-1848) trans. by John F. Young (1820-1885) and music by Franz Gruber (1787-1863).
Sacrament hymn was #174 "While of These Emblems" text by John Nicholson (1839-1909) and music by Alexander Schreiner (1901-1987). The tune is named "Aeolian."
We sang the first verse of each carol.
Carol was #207 "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" text by Edmund H. Sears (1810-1876) and music by Richard S. Willis (1819-1900).
Prophecies of Christ’s Birth
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Isaiah 9:6; 7:14
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Brother Ben Bailey
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The New Star
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Helaman 14:1-8
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Brother John Cribb
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Carol was #213 "The First Noel" text and music were a traditional English carol, ca. 17th century.
Prophecies Fulfilled
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3 Nephi 1:4-9
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Brother Rey Hawkins
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A Day and a Night and a Day
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3 Nephi 1:14-21
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Sister Eileen Bailey
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Special Music
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Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus
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Primary Children
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Mary
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Luke 1:26-35; 37-38
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Sister Debbie Gerbers
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Carol was #206 "Away in a Manger" text was anonymous ca. 1883 in Philadelphia and music by William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921).
Joseph
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Matthew 1:18-25
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Brother Terry Dorsey
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Special Music
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The Nativity Song
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Choir, Primary, and Young Women
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Bethlehem
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Luke 2:1-5
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Brother Marvin Knight
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Shepherds
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Luke 2:8-12, 15-20
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Brother Jay Hanks
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Angels
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Luke 2:13-14
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Sister Bailey Hanks
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Carol was #203 "Angels We Have Heard on High" text from a French carol ca. 1862 and music from a French carol.
Wise Men
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Matthew 2:1-12
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Brother Don Bivens
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Carol was #210 "With Wondering Awe" text and music from Anonymous, Laudis Corona, Boston 1885.
President Stanley presented his message. He spoke of how aware Heavenly Father is of the goings on in the world today. He spoke of the Savior being willing to come to the earth as our savior and redeemer. It did not begin with His birth. He resisted sin and we are striving to resist sin. We are learning of Him and becoming more like Him. Do not allow Satan to cause dissension and contention in our ranks. We must forgive one another and seek the Lord's help in doing so. When he was called as branch president he felt confident but did not realize the benefit to himself of being so close to the Spirit. Jesus Christ is in control of this latter-day work.
Closing hymn was #212 "Far Far Away on Judea's Plains" text and music by John Menzies Macfarlane (1833-1892). It was originally written for an 1869 Christmas program in St. George, Utah, when he desired a new song for his choir. It was first published in the Juvenile Instructor on December 15, 1889. The hymn has since become one of the few Mormon hymns to become accepted in the broader Christian community. The accompanying melody is called "Chatterley."
Eileen and I filled in during the second hour for Dori LeVan in her Primary class with the 8-year olds. Eileen, of course, taught the lesson about the Savior's birth and Second Coming.
The hymn in priesthood was #209 "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" text by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and music by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847).
The priesthood lesson was #24 from "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson" entitled "A Christ-Centered Life".
“The best measure of true greatness is how Christlike we are.”
I read the last portion of the lesson:
"We remember Alma’s counsel: 'Let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings' (Alma 37:36–37).
“'Remember, remember,' said Helaman, 'that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, … that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, … [they] shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery' (Helaman 5:12).
"Nephi said, the Lord 'hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh' (2 Nephi 4:21). Those who are consumed in Christ 'are made alive in Christ' (2 Nephi 25:25). They 'suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ' (Alma 31:38). They are 'clasped in the arms of Jesus' (Mormon 5:11). Nephi said, 'I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul' (2 Nephi 33:6). Lehi said, 'I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love' (2 Nephi 1:15). …
"… That great soul Mormon [wrote a] letter to his beloved son, Moroni, with these words: 'My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
“'And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever' (Moroni 9:25–26).
"My prayer for each of us is that we too will follow that inspired counsel: 'Be faithful in Christ.' Then He will lift us up and His grace will be and abide with us forever."
It was "taught" by Brother David Ashworth. Eileen said that Deb Fisher did a good job teaching the same lesson in Relief Society.
In the afternoon we visited Bill and Kimberley Kazy and their daughter Jessica, taking the Christmas card, and candy sleigh and two potholders that Eileen made.
At home we had supper and Eileen prepared a plate of goodies for Elder and Sister Rumsey.
The Rumsey's came by about 7 pm and we gave them a tour of our home's Christmas decorations. They sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" (the first verse) and Sister Rumsey read the Christmas story to us from Luke. We gave them their plate of goodies and little gift which they'll open on Christmas Day. They said that they would be our home teachers.
When we hit the hay I finished the talk from the Sunday morning session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by President Thomas S. Monson entitled "Be An Example and a Light."
On Monday 21 December I finished the 4 October issue of the Church News. I enjoyed reading more about Elder Richard G. Scott, 'A man of God for all seasons' and "A beloved leader in Latin America." Other articles were "Reflections of an apostle" about President Russell M. Nelson, "Behind the scenes of conference," "Apostle speaks at World Meeting" about Elder D. Todd Christofferson, and "'The family is of God' Home is workshop to teach and train" by Sister Mary R. Durham of the Primary general presidency. A new stake was created in Liberia from a district, but I wondered if it was the same one as the previous week.
Josh from Arrow Exterminators called and said he couldn't be here until noon. We called Ralph and Holly and found that Ralph had a rough night, so we aren't getting with them for lunch. We're going to get together on Christmas Day. I sent Ralph and Holly the photo I took of us at Dan's Grill last Friday. I also sent the photo of Elder David Medina to Dan Pool at the Pickens Progress newspaper.
I called Dr. Raisig's office and Nicole is checking on our mission paperwork that Dr. Raisig said he'd do last Friday.
Josh arrived about 11:10 and found no flying squirrels in the traps. Someone will return to check again next Tuesday.
We went by the bank and I dropped off my suit at the dry cleaners. Then we drove to the quilt shop in Jasper for Eileen to pick up something she found that she needed.
Back in Ellijay we shopped for Christmas at Walmart. We dropped by Peggy Espersen's and gave her the cute candy sleigh and Christmas card. Then we visited Sabrina Bayless and her daughter Michelle who happened to be there as well as Sabrina's husband and Michelle's boyfriend who got there just as we were leaving. Michelle got the cute candy sleigh and Christmas card while Sabrina got the gift-wrapped potholders that Eileen made.
We FaceTimed with Colleen and sang "happy birthday" to Spencer who turned 12 today. We watched as he opened two gifts from us (Colleen bought them with money we had sent). He will receive the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained a deacon on Sunday!
After supper Eileen worked on her quilt and we watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Muppets on PBS.
As Eileen continued with the quilt, I continued sending Christmas emails to many folks.
We chatted with Allen and Lynda White, then I called and chatted with Susan Mack who also lives in California. Like the Whites, she was also part of our missionary group on our mission. Her birthday was yesterday.
When we hit the hay I finished the talk from the Saturday morning session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by Sister Neill F. Marriott entitled "Yielding Our Hearts to God." It is the lesson next Sunday in priesthood and Relief Society.
On Tuesday 22 December we were up early and headed for the temple. We filled up at Walmart for $1.849. Our odometer reached the next palindrome of 122221 at the temple. We did numerous sealings of couples and children to their parents.
On the way north we stopped at the clock repair service on Sandy Plains Road in the Antique Mall and the fellow fixed the windup device for our grandfather clock at no charge.
In Jasper we visited the quilt shop and Eileen met with them about taking what she had done so far and making the quilt. They will have it ready by 18 February.
We visited Dr. Raisig's office and picked up the missionary forms!
In the evening Eileen worked on runners in the front room. I recorded the temple work that we did today, organized the family file cards that I got at the temple, and selected 30 female and 60 male cards for baptisms for Colleen. Spencer is 12 and should be ordained a deacon this Sunday. Colleen, Sean, and Spencer hope to go to the Gilbert Temple next week to do baptisms. I had a lot of family file cards on hand as our branch's youth temple trip in November fell through and got lots more today with my five FORs. I listed all 90 cards in a note on my iPhone.
I worked some more on Christmas cards and Christmas emails.
UPS delivered the glass bowl for Eileen's Kitchen-Aid mixer. She had ordered it from Williams-Sonoma and it took a long time before it was even shipped.
I finished the talk from the Saturday morning session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy entitled "The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life."
I read the testimony to Eileen from the Sunday morning session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by new apostle Elder Ronald A. Rasband entitled "I Stand All Amazed."
On Wednesday 23 December we volunteered at the food pantry and only about 50 families were helped.
We dropped off recyclables and trash at the dump, mailed family file cards to Colleen at the post office, and shopped at Walmart and Ingles.
We stopped into R&A Orchards afterwards to get the Times-Courier.
We met President Stanley at church at 5 pm. First I helped Richard Callahan with a question about FamilySearch. President Stanley discussed our upcoming mission with us and I printed out the forms from lds.org in the clerk's office for him. He will be meeting with the stake president (President Nicholls) in a couple of weeks and then we will get together with President Nicholls. We then helped President Stanley with a FamilyTree question on his laptop.
Back in the Family History Center Eileen worked on 43 S's, 19 T's, 4 U's, 64 of 68 W's (Wells St Thomas, West Coker, and West Quantoxhead had no info boxes. Wells Cathedral St Andrew had no PLU. West Quantoxhead,Somerset's page has been deleted (observe no space after the comma) and its redirect to West Quantoxhead, Somerset (with a space after the comma) is suppressed), and 4 Y's. Somerset is done.
I helped Marvin Knight with some errors in his tree in FamilyTree. We left about 8:45 pm.
At home I continued working on our Christmas emails and Eileen made three loaves of banana bread from the recipe that Peter Leaming from the food pantry sent us and a bag of bananas from the pantry.
UPS delivered a second glass bowl for Eileen's Kitchen-Aid mixer! She suspects it had something to do with how long it took to be shipped and her calling them to inquire about its whereabouts.
I read the talk from the Saturday morning session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by Elder Francisco J. Viñas of the Seventy entitled "The Pleasing Word of God."
I read the testimony to Eileen from the Sunday morning session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by new apostle Elder Gary E. Stevenson entitled "Plain and Precious Truths."
On Thursday 24 December we heard rain and saw lightning all night and into the morning with flash flood warnings constantly. Phone service was down. The signal strength from AT&T was very weak so my phone couldn't access the Internet at all. Later all was well.
I wrapped two gifts for Eileen and one for me from Santa.
I did 11 T’s, 4 U’s, 37 W’s, 2 Y's, and 1 Z in Wiltshire. Wiltshire is done.
I installed Kindle on Eileen's laptop and downloaded the book from Colleen for Christmas.
After supper I put together the "Christmas 2015" photo stream in iCloud for about 10 family members to look at. It shows all of our Christmas decorations.
I finished adding pictures to my 14 June blog entry and published it again.
Fortunately I remembered the Frosty Friends 2015 item from Hallmark in the basement! I brought it upstairs and wrapped it for Eileen.
I updated the Kindle app on Eileen's iPad and saw that it has Colleen's book on the iPad. It's on my iPhone, too.
I finished reading "Star Trek Voyager Presents Captain Proton Defender of the Earth" which I began on 17 December.
We watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
I read the talk from the Saturday afternoon session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by Elder Bradley D. Foster of the Seventy entitled "It's Never Too Early and It's Never Too Late."
I read the testimony to Eileen from the Sunday morning session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by new apostle Elder Dale G. Renlund entitled "Through God's Eyes."
I began and finished reading "The Shadow on the Glass A Harley Quin Short Story" by Agatha Christie.
On Friday 25 December we enjoyed our Christmas morning, opening gifts and Eileen cooking for our visit later to Ralph and Holly's.
I received these books from Eileen: "The America Ground" by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, "Silent Legacy" by Diana Church, "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin, "The Path Between the Seas" by David McCullough, and "The Great Bridge" by David McCullough.
Colleen sent me "The Struggle Within" by Christopher L. Bennett, a Typhon Pact Star Trek novel, on Kindle and two Typhon Pact Star Trek novels "Paths of Disharmony" by Dayton Ward and "Raise the Dawn" by David R. George III in paperback.
Eileen got the Frosty Friends 2015 item, "The Turnip" by Jan Brett, and "Come Rain or Come Shine" by Jan Karon. Of course, we say that her $4000 sewing machine is her Christmas present, too.
I finished the 18 October issue of the Church News. I enjoyed reading about the new Presiding Bishopric ("Presiding Bishopric announced"), "President Nelson honored as a 'pioneer' of heart surgery," "'Housewife in a foreign war zone'," "Vietnam delegation visits Utah," "Emma Smith's Book of Mormon," "New Apostle benefits from many mentors" about Elder Rasband, "Attending general conference," "Norman Rockwell exhibition," and "Elder Sitati addresses race, self-reliance and Church growth in Africa."
Somehow during our visit the subject of fried chicken came up. We said we had never had this as we grew up in the North. Ralph was amazed and couldn't believe that we ate chicken baked or roasted, but never fried. Of course, Southerners fry almost everything! A quote seen at Cracker Barrel is "It ain't food if it ain't fried." Fried chicken is definitely associated with the South and the African-American population. I emailed information from Wikipedia about fried chicken to Eileen, Ralph, and Holly.
We left about 4 pm. We left them most of the food that we brought and took some home for us as well as some of their turkey. We filled up at Race Way for $1.739. Back in Ellijay the bridge over the Cartecay River was closed. We went down Industrial Blvd. and through town to the other side of the bridge and along GA 52 toward home. Eileen took lots of pictures with her iPhone of the flooding, though the river wasn't over the banks as it was a couple of days ago.
At home we FaceTimed with Colleen and then Heather. We said "hi" to Tanner and then Liam, Tom, and his parents.
Afterwards I put together the "Flooding in Ellijay" photo stream in iCloud for family and friends to look at. It shows many of Eileen's pictures as we returned home today.
At 7 pm we watched "Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir" in Trondheim's Nidaros Cathedral. The St. Olaf Choir appears with the Nidaros Cathedral Girl's Choir.
"Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir is the 10th in a popular series of PBS holiday concerts featuring the St. Olaf Choir that have aired on public television over the past 25 years. This year’s concert celebrates the centennial of the choir’s first concert tour to Norway in 1913, under the direction of its first conductor F. Melius Christiansen, a Norwegian immigrant and founder of the college’s now-famous music program. In 2005 the St. Olaf Choir, under the direction of Anton Armstrong, performed another Christmas concert, A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway, for PBS from Nidaros Cathedral." pbs.org
Right at the end of the choirs, we FaceTimed with Colleen and the boys.
On Saturday 26 December we got moving in a leisurely fashion and drove to Walmart and Ingles for some shopping.
Eileen continued working in the front room on runners for Heather, which is now done, and for Erin. We got the material today for Colleen's.
As we near the end of 2015, Eileen and I wanted to accelerate our reading. The course of study in Gospel Doctrine next year is the Book of Mormon. We read it every night at bedtime and have reached the book of Moroni. We read the first six chapters this afternoon and have four to go to finish the entire book. We have been reading the New Testament this year for our Gospel Doctrine lessons.
We also want to accelerate reading the general conference talks by the prophets and apostles in the November Ensign. That will still leave the December issue as we start the new year. I finished the talk from the Sunday morning session of October's General Conference by President Russell M. Nelson entitled "A Plea to My Sisters."
Lastly we are nearing the end of "An Irish Country Christmas" by Patrick Taylor which we began on 2 August. Eileen is eager to finish so we can begin the next Mitford book, "Come Rain or Come Shine" by Jan Karon. So I read a chapter of "An Irish Country Christmas."
When Eileen went back to her sewing machine, I read the talk from the Saturday afternoon session of October's General Conference in the November Ensign by Elder Hugo Montoya of the Seventy entitled "Tested and Tempted - but Helped."
After supper we watched an episode of "America's Test Kitchen" that I had recorded earlier today. Then Eileen finished the runner for Erin.
I finished reading STNG "Do Comets Dream?" by S. P. Somtow that I began yesterday. It was difficult to put down! Extremely imaginative!
We watched "It's Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown" which I previously recorded. There were a number of celebrities in it whom we have never heard of (except, of course, President and Michelle Obama).
Then we watched "Georgia Outdoors" with Sharon Collins about raptors and "The Kitchen" with Emeril Lagasse making a guest appearance.
In the evening FedEx delivered a new kitchen thermometer called ChefAlarm from Thermoworks that Eileen had ordered online.
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