Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-06
HIDE NOT CHRIST
AMONG THE STUFF
Rev. C. N. Swihart Warns Against
Overlooking Real Christ Dur
ing Yuietide.
TELLS CT SECOND COMING

Tent the rcal Cr etrros m thia twcl.
ticth ccntary uc'a. hidden IN. eraeI .
he unreal Cn".7tmrs"
Don't we eiso norc q tna;ln Oh a
need to IN The cCfoct o'd l~-s than we
cught to the cause o, Chr'e mas?
In the plctgurc-sp r.srt "a issc Tot
giving gltts to orr trlendo and loved
ones and the poor. arcnt we apt 20 for
get the grcot size which tho holiday Gee.
bratcs and corln'rtn 'r'cA the gft Of
God to man, the sa,ior?''
These were uucst..us at,od yesterday
morning by Rev c. n Nwihart pnstos
Of Grace Lutheran church, Twcnty-sixth
street, south OF Popplctca avenue
Tho minister IN his sermon did no
dccrv Tho great popular celebration OF III.
peoples greatest holi NY. Il, stood ( r
"A run aud whoio-hcartcd and Joyous
Christmas season. But he warned against
tho danger that Christ might be mid
among the stuff" that Santa Claus, a
comparatively modern figure, might
eclipse the Babe in tho manager Of
Bethlehem whose birth the day com
memorates.
BIrth &c TIE savior.
I'm the JOY OF giving IN the Joy OF
sacrifice, Ia the JOY OF helping the poor
and helpless AT this blessed season." ne
said. let us not forget tho most i'm
portant fact that this day marks thc
birth OF Him who taught us 60 give 10
sacrifice, to help. who laid the foundation
for all that IL good In the world, whose
church has, through the centuries, done
moro TO raise humanity TO higher plane
than any other agency In the worlds
history. Gods gift - us OF salvation
through His son Is the greatest gift the
world has ever known"
Rev. Mr. Swlharts text was taken
from the gospel lesson assigned for tho
day, the second Sunday In Advent. II was
the account OF ChriEt's second advent 10
the world and the minister remarked upon
the oddtty of ha wing this lesson assigned
for n Sunday so near 10 Christmas
This lesson has to do with Christ's
second coming. though we are not yet
arrived at this years celebration OF the
time OF his first coming. his birth" nc
said. But the suitahleness OF the les
son Is apparent on clossr thought. At
this time when we are ioyously con-
templAting the coming of Christ to die
for our sins. II Ia fitting TO remember
that mercy. pardon, peace and promise
are blessings to hesErasped now. There
fore. the second coming OF Christ is
good and wholesome lesson to come to
the peoples attention IN the Christmas
season.
Bern in q Manager.
Contrast. too. his second coming with
the first. At his first coming he was
the, humbleat among the humble, So
poor that there was no room for Joseph
ana Mary at the inn. Born In q stable.
in a Manager, surrounded by the cattle
and other dumb brutes.
And his second coming win be an
nounced by the voice of the archangel
and the trump OF God. And He will be
surrounded by great glory. such as the
world has never dreamed of.
Let US watch and pray, therefore, and
guard the purity of our lives and do ali
the good we can while we are In the
world. Let us remember that we must
give an accounting of the gifts OF God.
Let us enjoy the blessed season Of Christ
mas. Let us enjoy all seasons but enjoy
them as gifts from God and with thank
full and Hppreciative hearts to God"
Read Them Every Day. II VIII Payi