Christmas Message— 

St. Paul’s Catholic Church

Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today I would like to write to you all about the gift.  Not just any gift.  This is the greatest gift that mankind has ever known.  This gift was destined to be the rise and downfall of many.  This gift was destined to be our one and only hope for salvation.  This gift was born to be the perfect sacrifice that would be pleasing to the Father for the forgiveness of our sins.  This gift knew before he was even born that the salvation of mankind depended on his accomplishing this awesome task.  In our secular world of today it almost seems like a distant lost story.  In today's world we seek to shelter everyone from the truth and instead make a man dressed in red and white with a long beard the focus of Christmas.  Well, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the one and only reason for the celebration of Christmas is the gift.  When we do an act of kindness in this world.  When we love our fellow man or woman.  When we give our lives to a greater good.  We are following not only the teachings but the actions of this incredible gift.  For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son.  My Prayer for each of you this Christmas is to show kindness, love your fellow man, and give your lives to the greater good.  We never know when we will be called home to stand before our Savior.  His gift to us I pray will be the center of each and everyone of our Christmases.  Life is too short.  Let us put aside all hatred for whatever reason, let us put aside any prejudice that we may have, let us put aside any thoughts of arrogance, pride, and jealousy.  Christ our Savior has come into the world.  Let us rejoice and be glad!

Deacon Art Martinez

St. Paul's Catholic Church

Christmas Celebration 2023, Victory Baptist Church

The birth of Jesus Christ was the most important day in the whole world's history! The events that are given us in the Bible tell of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night, when an Angel comes to them to tell them about a savior that was born in Bethlehem and where they could find Him. Jesus Christ was the most important person this world will know, He was and is the savior, Redeemer, Atonement for our sins, the Lamb of God!

The Bible tells us there is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved!  There is no other way to get to the Father but by Jesus. There is no other road we can take but Jesus Christ because He is the Way the Life the Truth and the only way. He is the light of the world and in John 1:5 The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The Angel told the shepherds where the child could be found, so they went to see for themselves and told everyone they meet about what they had seen. The world did not believe as a lot of people don't but it was clear that this person was God in the flesh. In John 1:1 the bible tells us In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 tells us The same was in the beginning with God. And in John 1:14 it tells us And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,( and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and Truth.

We are going to celebrate the birth off the most important person we can know Yet the world still wants to stop the light. We have ideas that are not God’s will, but we hold them close and believe them, but they are not Truth but real good lies. God went to the trouble to  send a Redeemer to die for our sins but we think that He is not enough that we in ourselves have the power to get to God some other way! We think that we can be good enough when we can’t, and that is truth. 

The world rejected Jesus Christ and anyone who followed Him.  We live in a time where most people do not see the future that is coming, but the Bible tells us not to be taken as thief in the night. Most people don't see the patterns the Bible tells us about and probably don't want to see. The spirit of the Antichrist is alive and working in our world.

The birth life death and resurrection of Jesus tells us He will come back and deal with the fallen world a sinful world! In Revelation 3:20 tells us Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me. The truth that is Jesus is that He requires a personal relationship with His believers. Jesus offers us a relationship we have to let Him in. I hope that you will seek out Jesus and hear His voice and invite Him in. I hope you let the light of the world in to your darkness.

Pastor Jack Harwell,

Victory Baptist Church Malad Idaho.

A Christmas Message from First Presbyterian Church 

By Marlys Evans

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the world was not the way God had intended it.  Into this moral and spiritual darkness Jesus came, bringing life and light to all (John 1:4).  Even though the world didn’t recognize Him, “to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).  

Reverend Martin Niemoller, a German pastor, spent nearly eight month in Nazi concentration camps because he openly opposed Hitler.  On Christmas Eve 1944, Niemoller spoke these words of hope to his fellow prisoners in Dachau: “My dear friends, on this Christmas, let us seek, in the Babe of Bethlehem, the One who came to us in order to bear with us everything that weighs heavily upon us; God himself has built a bridge from himself to us!  A dawn from on high has visited us!”

At Christmas we embrace the food news that God, in Christ, has bridged the gap between us.  He invades out prison of darkness with His light and lifts the load of sorrow, guilt, or loneliness that weighs us down.  The prophet Isaiah prophetically said, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).  This light that Isaiah spoke of was not for a few people, but for all.  “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16).

World news bombards us from the Internet, television, radio, and mobile devices.  The majority seems to describe what’s wrong—crime, terrorism, war and economic problems.  But on that first Christmas the best news, the good news came from an angel, sent by God to shepherds.  “Do not be afraid I bring you good news, that will cause great joy for all people” (Luke 2:10-11).  The very best news ever spoken—Christ the Savior is born!

When life is not the way it ought to be we are deeply saddened, when families break up, when children go hungry and the world wages war, God promises us that through faith in Chirst anyone can move in a new direction.  So, no matter where today finds us, Jesus has penetrated our dark world with his joy and light!  In this season of giving, the most important gift we can ever give is to give Jesus our heart.

This Christmas season reminds us that Jesus, the Savior, gives life and light to everyone who will receive and follow Him (John 8:12).  This Christmas, why not share the good news with others that Christ, “the light of the world” has come (John 8:12) and will come again to receive to Himself all who believe in Him.

The Malad Presbyterian Church wishes all our brothers and sisters in Christ a Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Message from the Malad Idaho Stake

The Christmas season is truly a wonderful time of the year.

 All of us have memories of celebrating Christmas when we were young. I have always been intrigued by the innocence of toddlers and young children when it comes to Christmas. It is my observation that most young children are drawn to figurines of the nativity sets, especially the figurine of the “Christ child”. Many have observed the “Christ child” being removed and being carried around or the pieces of the nativity arranged differently. When asked why the figurines have been rearranged the child suggests they wanted to put Him in the middle so everyone can see the Christ child. 

Little children can teach us much regarding Christmas.

 Years ago as Krishele and I were having a family home evening we ask our young daughter what song she wanted to sing. She said “The little Lord Jesus”. Both Krishele and I were not aware of such a song by this title. It wasn’t until later that evening that we realized she wanted to sing “Away in a Manger”. She seemed to understand the true focus of Christmas—the little Lord Jesus. 

On that first Christmas night… As Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem they found no room in the inn for Mary to bring forth her firstborn son. Everywhere around them was full and no one seemed willing to help them They didn’t try to make room. Do we turn Him away because we have no room in our lives. Do we make room in our lives for the Savior? What can we do as families and individuals to make room for Jesus? 

 Shepherds left their flocks by night and came with haste to seek the Christ Child. The shepherds came seeking the Good Shepherd. Our lives are filled with many good things that keep us busy; keep us from seeking the Good Shepherd. What can we leave behind to seek this Jesus. We have responsibilities and duties, but what can we do to simplify our life and to seek this Jesus? 

Wise men from the east also came seeking the Christ Child. Following the star in the heavens brought them to the true light of the world. Each of them had a gift that they desired to give to the Christ Child. What gifts can we offer to our Savior? Each of us have been given gifts and talents from our Heavenly Father. Could we give some of our time to our Savior? At this Christmas time and throughout the year, may we be mindful of the gift of the Christ Child to us from our Heavenly Father, for His life, and His atoning sacrifice. May we not only remember the gift that was given to us but may we remember the Giver of the Gift. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”( John 3:16 )  

Our Savior invites us to come. He will meet us where we are. Come unto Jesus. Come as you are, come and see, come and adore him, come and behold, come and abide and come follow Me. 

 “And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen.” (Ether 12:41) 

I testify that “The little Lord Jesus” is indeed the Savior of the World, the Living Christ, the Prince of Peace. At this Christmas time may we become more like a little child. May we be a little more kind, more loving, more forgiving and more Christlike. May this be a joyous Christmas for us all and may we see the goodness of God in our lives. Thanks be to God for his priceless gift of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

President David R Jensen,

Malad Idaho Stake, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints