A Light in the ‘midwinter bleakness’

Once, a member asked me if I allowed the congregation to sing Christmas hymns before Christmas. Not sure what field I was stepping in, I said, “Sure, I have no problem with that.

Christmas in the 1950s

When I was a small child, Christmas was far different than now – especially in the amount and prices of gifts. I usually got one or two toy-type gifts and some clothing. I didn’t feel deprived, and was happy and satisfied with what I had received.

Helpfulness is in the eye of the helped

Biden’s Education Secretary Miguel Cardona recently said, “I think it was President Reagan who said, ‘We’re from the government. We’re here to help.’” Anyone who is familiar with Reagan’s remark knows Cardona got some words of the quote right, but conveyed the polar opposite idea behind the quip.

The Milltown Era

Local resident Martha James Orr recently requested that a column about the Milltown area of Graham County be written. The small community of Milltown is located along Snowbird Road (N.C. 143 West), from Long Creek Road to Claude Rogers Road.

Life of St. Olga

As this year’s Native American Heritage Month comes to a close, we have exciting news from the Orthodox Church of America. Olga (Arrsamquq) Michael (1916-79), of the Yup’ik tribe of Alaska, became the 14th North American Orthodox Christian saint – and the only woman honored.

Decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving

On the Sunday after Halloween, my kids counted eight houses with Christmas lights on the way to church – on Nov. 5! It seems that decorating for Christmas comes earlier every year, even before Thanksgiving now. Is this a good thing?

Civil War reached remote areas

Even as far removed from national events as present-day Graham County was during the time of the Civil War, one would have thought it could have escaped an event that claimed 620,000 lives -- or almost as many Americans dead as in all the other wars the United States has fought in combined.

Autumn life

Autumn life is beautiful, many colors to behold. We watch with great expectancy for each color to unfold. We stand in awe of its beauty and linger while we can, And thank our Heavenly Father for his goodness toward man.

Amazing Grace!

Have you ever heard of the hymn, “Faith’s Review and Expectation?” You may know it by its first two words, “Amazing Grace!” The timeless hymnal celebrated its 250th anniversary earlier this year.

You can’t fix getting old

Sometimes, aging leads to grief, anxiety – even despair. Others fight the aging process with everything they’ve got. With another perspective, stuntwoman Kitty O’Neil said, “Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.