One Pharmacist’s View
Tis the Season
The Christmas season is shifting into high gear as schedules come out detailing School Christmas Concerts, assemblies at school promoting the season and extolling the talents of students. It’s a great time of the year and a good time to pay attention to your “Allen Advocate” for schedules of church, community and school events. There’s no better way to enjoy this time of year than attending and participating in Christmas celebrations right here in Allen.
One large group of Allen folks weren’t taking any chances last Sunday morning. It may have been nippy outside but inside the worship center in the First Baptist Church of Allen congregants put on their 31st annual “Hanging of the Green.” This service includes decorating the church festively as the congregation celebrates the birth of Jesus. The church was beautiful as the program was celebrated. There were lots of children there and they (and as did everyone else) received Christmas gifts. Special Christmas music was presented by the Choir and the entire program was pointed toward the birth of Christ in this well attended service.
Participants were all invited to the Church’s Fellowship Hall for a sumptuous Christmas dinner. Our kitchen ladies reported they had served over 100 people who stayed for the meal. Stay tuned to your newspaper for events in all the churches here in Allen. Lots of great music and fun in your church too. Nothing better to help you get in the Christmas Spirit.
When we think of the “Spirit of Christmas” our thoughts go toward the birth of Jesus. Well, they should anyway. We owe whatever hope mankind has to the promise of life everlasting and well, I’m not a preacher but you get my drift. Children usually think of the gifts they want. Toys to give them a thrill or two. Sometimes we as a group like to let our minds slip back to some Christmas in our past. Probably back in our childhood. Thoughts of loved ones in Christmas’s Past and wanting to be with them now come to mind. When I was in the Navy that old song “I’ll be home for Christmas” was a popular sentimental song played over speakers frequently to make guys like me wish for home.
American animal rights activist can celebrate lots of victories this Christmas. One of them is the creation of a place off the coast of Liberia called Monkey Island. The NYBC (New York Blood Center) was picketed and sued and harassed over having a large number of Apes in their custody as test animals in their pursuit of the cure of diseases and vaccines for use on humans. So they gave in and found this island. The apes were transported to the “Jungle” island and just left there. A group of locals on the close by mainland were hired to haul the apes fresh water and food. Every day.
Monkeys (and apes) don’t swim which was a factor in the choice of this place as a sanctuary or a prison. But they have to be taken food every day. Only the people bringing food and water are allowed to set foot on this place. This is enforced by the apes who are very aggressive toward humans. Natives say that some humans who have dared go to the Island have been killed and eaten raw. (Well, I didn’t expect they had mastered cooking). All of the animals have diseases such as hepatitis and so people like to leave them alone.
There are no Christmas celebrations over at Monkey Island and I understand the apes are good with that. However, I again encourage Allenites to support and attend your church and especially its Christmas programs. It’ll get you in the spirit. Which is more than I can say about certain apes.
Wayne Bullard, DPh