Shady Grove Baptist Church will host a Christmas Eve service on Sat., Dec. 24, at 8 p.m. The candlelight service will feature the singing of Christmas carols and communion. Everyone is invited.

The following letter was written by Shady Grove Baptist Church Pastor Tom Campbell and shared with His congregation in the church’s December newsletter:

“In 1864 the Civil War had ravaged most of the nation. There were few families in the north and southeast that had been spared the horror of that dreadful time.

As he walked the snow-covered streets of his town, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was struck by the sounds of the church bells heralding the arrival of the Prince of Peace and the joy of Christmas. As Wadsworth pondered that message in light of the present and seemingly endless context of war, he sank in desperation and doubted that there was any peace to be found on this miserable planet.

With the advent of the communication media that has shrunk our world to the size of a mere “click to upload” we have a far deeper and more graphic picture of human suffering than ever imagined in Wadsworth’s day. We have more reason to join his conclusion that brought peace to his day and still more than adequate to quiet our fears and settle our doubts. It is found in his poem but is sourced in the scriptures: The prophecies of Christ’s coming, His sacrificial love and the proof of His power as seen in the resurrection. With that in mind we can confidently sing of a day when there will be peace on earth and goodwill toward all mankind.

‘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 belfries of all Christiandom

had rolled along the unbroken song

of peace and earth and 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 goodwill to men,

Then peeled the bells more loud and deep,

God is not dead nor doth he sleep,

The wrong shall fall, the right prevail,

with peace on earth, good will to men.

I wish all Hartselle Enquirer readers a merry Christmas and a happy new year, and a safe holiday vacation for all of our students.

McKendree United Methodist Church in Massey sends out prayers to the following: (military) Derek Barbee, David Barnett, Justin Blanchard, Trevor Bremmer, Evan Burgess, Jessie Calvert, Cody Clay, Brad Cobb, Scott Coffey, Amanda Cooner, Torey Cottingham, Justin Demastes, Robbie Edge, Shane Edge, Chris England, Jonathan Gandy, Jose Garner, Brandon Henson, Thomas Hill, Wesley Hollis, Gray Keenum, Jeremy Kilgore, Jeremy Kubler, J.J. Lauderdale;

Steven Lauderdale, Logan Lemmond, Jon Lindsey, Heath McDonald, Jonathan McNatt, Jeremy McVay, Frankie Millious, Logan Murphy, Corey Nixon, Craig Poole, Christopher Posey, Luke Reeder, Dustin Reeves, Harley Reid, Alisha Rogers, Tony Russell, Cody Simpson, Clint Stidham, Tony Truffa, Andrew Wilhite and Andrew Young.

Prayer concerns were also expressed for the following: Teresa Abercrombie, Parker Alexander, Mary Arnold, Beth Brazier, Erlene Bellew, Donna Berchum. Joanne Black, Jerry Boyd, Ray Brown, Vanessa Brown, Lorene Bryant, Linda Buchanan, Jimmy and Walda Clark, Robbie Gayle Coffee, Sandy Coot, Chase Dutton, Jonathon Edmonds, James Estes, Howard Hampton, Mark Hampton, Randy and Julie Haynes, Jerry Helms, Bonnie Holmes, Albany Holmes, Nell Howell, Kerry Johnson;

Steve Lavender, Bill Lewis, Sadie Long, Elliot Malone, Annette Mann, Alita Miller, Earline Morris, Dorothy Parker, Florence Parker, Bill Partridge, Pat and Dee Patterson, Rufus Penn, Ruth Perry, Robert Pope, Beth Powell, Sue Roan, Andy and Cindy Roberts, Greg Sams, Cecil Segler, Lynn Slaton, Kimberly Smith, Selby Spinks, Jonathon Spruell Sadie St John, Jason Steele, John Stephens, Tammy Stover, Phillip Summerford, Canitha Thomas, Derrill Tomlin, Cheryl Vaughn, Bob Woodruff, , Mike Wiggins, Buckley Williams and Joy Davis Williams.

Special prayers also go out this week for assisted living and nursing home residents as follows: Madeline Burns, Louie Dutton, Hattie Mae Harden, Jean Lawrence, Edna Lee, David Parker, Lois Penn, Andy Roper, Robert Sandlin, Marie Saint, Jean Stisher, Vertie Townsend, Lou Annie Watts.

I enjoyed attending the “The Experience –The Story of Jesus” nativity at Hartselle First United Methodist Church last week. Featured were a live nativity scene with a live camel and a petting zoo. There was also a wonderful program of music and song.