ADVENT COMINGS INCLUDE NICHOLAS OF MYRA............

My 4th Grade teacher at Woodbine School in South Sacramento, was a native Dutch woman who became a naturalized American citizen, Mrs. Drewry.  Although in a public school in 1965, on this date December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, she brought her wooden shoes to class and told us about them and about the story of St. Nicholas,  As American 9 year olds we were as fascinated by her wooden shoes and intrigued with the thoughts of candy filling them as she described the significance of this day, as we were the story of Nicholas.  We marveled at how she happily described how Dutch children set a pair of wooden shoes in front of the fireplace or stove in their homes the night before St. Nicholas Day, and when they awoke if they were good girls and boys found pieces of candy in the shoes.  But bad children found a lump of coal awaiting them.  This image and story of St. Nick, is the origins of Santa Claus, Father Christmas, and other benevolent manifestations of the spirit of generosity and giving at Christmas.   This Nicholas, was a fourtb century Christian from Asia Minor, in what now is now day Turkey, where he became the Bishop of Myra, also known as Symrna.  He was a caring and charitable pastor of souls, with great consideration for children and the affection and memory of him is so immense that it has emerged through the centuries of Christianity in the World, as cheerful, joy bringing, gift bringing, Santa of Christmas, the economic and secular society, as well as spiritual and religious believers, have come to know and celebrate.  As Advent People of Faith, and Fellowship, take some time today to enjoyand share, a treat,  sweets, or perhaps a cup of hot chocolate, to recall and realize the spirit of generosity and charitable self giving St. Nick and God, are calling you and I to exercise on this St. Nicholas Day and in our daily lives............Fr.  Troy