First Night York may have been officially canceled, but one city church plans to hold a celebration anyway.
Heidelberg United Church of Christ, 47 W. Philadelphia St., will be opening the HeidelBean (coffeehouse) space from 6 to 9 p.m. for music, entertainment and dancing and hors d’oeuvres.
If you might be interested, email the church office at heidelbergucc@aol.com so they can plan accordingly.
York won’t be having its annual New Year’s Eve in Continental Square this year because of a lack of funds, according to Kevin Schreiber, director of economic development for the city.
It was announced in last year’s budget meetings that without donated funds, which pay for all of the city’s events, there could be a cut in events – including the New Year’s Eve’s celebration, previously known as First Night, Schreiber said.
Jim Gross, director of public works, said the event costs about $35,000 to put on and the city has taken a financial loss the past 10 years.
Thanksgiving just passed and Christmas is just around the corner, and stress takes over a lot of people’s lives. When we find it hard to manage the stress in our lives, why not have someone help to manage the stress for us.
Some are worried how they can find time to buy this, or that, for a loved ones. Others worry about not having anything to give. We worry about how to cook the big meals, others, about finding enough to eat. Some worry about enough room for visiting friends or
family, others about the lost of a loved one, or pet that meant so much.
When you go to a store and not getting the help you need, you go to the manager and hopefully he or she will listen to your problem and maybe help you. You come out of the store knowing at least that someone took the time to listen to you. Problem solved, maybe, lesson learn who knows.
I believe we have stress because we really do not know what to do, or lack the courage to wait. We can pray, and ask God to give us courage, strength, and the wisdom to see what is really important.
I think we make a mistake if we look at Him as Mr. Fixit, but surely He can do that. Rather, when we pray, if we pray for wisdom, strength, and courage, I believe He will give that to us.
He will help manage our stress, so we see the real gifts at Christmas time, and all year long for that matter, are those you can not buy at a store. These gifts are a helping hand, a smile, or just listening to those who need comfort in their trying time.
All of us, and that includes me, need to be reminded from time to time, to ask Him to help manage our stress. In the end, was it really stress, or did we need Him to remind us to have the courage to step out of our comfort zone.
The miracle of Christmas, is the gift of ourselves that we give those around us, just like the gift God gave to the world, in Christ, the “Manager” in the “Manger”. Merry Christmas.