Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-22
NORWICH TOWN

Sunday morning at the First Con gregational church a programme of Christmas music was arranged by Or ganist Herbert L. Warrington. The choir was assisted by members of the Christian Endeavor society and others. As an offertory solo, Miss Ruth l.. Potter the soprano, gave with King" Neidlinger. Most impressive was the Christmas carol-Hark. the Hosts of Heaven, Dykes; given by the choir as it marched in from the recess of the organ. The church was effectively decorated by Miss Martha Taylor and Lawrens Evans assisted by Miss Mildred Amelia Kinney and Miss Ida Beebe. Long streamers of red and green crepe paper were fes- tooned alternately from the chande- Her to the pillars on each side of the church, large Christmas bell being suspended from the center. The pill ars were adorned with laurel and pine:
 The pastor, Rev. Gurdon Francis Bailey, spoke impressiyely to a good sized congregation on Christ the Bur- den Bearer. The text Luke 2:10, Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people," Rev. MT. Bailey said: The Scripture writers all agree that the coming of Christ to the world was an occasion of great joy. Isaiah sang his anthem of praise of One Who Eshould bring liberty and light to peo- 1 pie in darkness. The first Christmas | sermon preached to the shepherds was | a message of good cheer. The first Christmas anthem sung by the angels sounded the note of gladness. Christi mas is meant to be season of joy. of burden lifting. CNrist is a burden
 bearer for us But does Christmas in modern times bring us lighter
 hearts or heavier? Has the Christmas
 season taken on such elaborate pro-
 portions with gifts and festivals that it has become a burden instead of a
 burden litter? When, this season leads us to think more of what we
 shall receive than of good we can do
 1t means a disappointment and a ! hevy heart instead of joy. Mother who tolls through the night to furnish
 her children as many and as rich l gifts as the neighbors' children might receive turns Christmas into burden Though the wise men came with
 costly gifts, the shepherds also came
 empty handed, and had nothing to
 offer to the infant Christ but the
 pended knee and loving heart. If we l want to simplify the complexity of the
 modern Christmas let Us turn t<
 works of charity and helpfulness. The
 best gift we can give is the kiss o love, and the richest offering we car lay at the feet of Christ is a humble
 and loyal heart.
 At the closing of West Towr street school Friday, two very pleas
 ing Christmas programmes were give1
 when Grades l. 2 and united, ant
 Grades 5, 6. T and 8 united. The ex
 ercises held in .ne primary room Christmas Time, Grades l, ?, 3, and 4
 Santa's Tays, Walter Johnson; San
 ta's Sleigh, John Perkowsky; Papa
 Darling, Helen Orch; What I an Making for Christmas. Dorothy Yer
 gason; Christmas Day, John Ira
 nowski; A Christmas Visit. Doris Ja
 cobson; The Christmas Dream, Ken
 meth Hamilton; The Wiser Way Dickinson Mara, John Jukowsl1i; sons Once a Little Baby Lay. Grades 1, : 3 and 4; A Christmas Worry, Juli 1 Sante; Family Troubles, Edna Jud | son; The Christmas Baby, Anna Mara | A Question. Dorothy Beetham; Why
 is Short, Edith Kinney; song, Sant f Land, Grades 1, 2, and 4; Helpin Santa, George Garden; What tn I Christmas Tree Thinks, George Rich $ land; A Wonder, Palmer Rathbun I Before and After, Henry Hansler
 song, Oh Come All Ye Faithfu e Grades 1. 2, 3 and A. Christina I Birds. Roberta Kinney My Christina
 Tree, John Guastimachio;. Christina Q Morning, Winfield Robbins; Christina v Day, Joe Guestinachia; My Stocking : Fife Ladd; motion song, Jolly Sant Slaus, Frank De Bartolo and Doroth - Vergason. The exercises in tf Q senior room opened with a Christina carol by Grades ,, 6, and 8. IT following numbers were by Grades q and s; The Bethlehem Babe, Eel . Perkowsky; Planning for Christina . Helen Cornell; The Christmas Heal o Beulah Rogers; Christmas Greeting ~ Earf Hill; When Christmas Come v Edward Pawlak Christmas in u " Forest, Gladys Cruthers; .Wh, ', Christmas Smiles Across the Worl VI Louis Avery; While Shepherds Wat o Their Flocks, Josephine Hill; Nur Y bers by Grades 2 and 8. were Poe mn m Q Little Town of Bethlehen!s, ar ;n Quotations closing with a Christm io Carol, Silent Night by Grades 5, and 8. The primary and informed .,s ,e ate rooms had Christmas trees. wi .e gifts for the children. Several wis 'A tors were present.
 At the First Methodist church Su