Merry Christmas Everyone.Merry Christmas to you!
Posted on 12/04/2004 9:59:56 PM PST by churchillbuff
Bruce Bain doesn't attend church regularly, but nothing was going to keep him from showing up on the corner of 17th Street and Tremont Place on Friday night.
"How can you have the Parade of Lights without the 'light of the world'?" he asked. "Christmas is a religious holiday."
So the 56-year-old Englewood man joined hundreds of Christmas carolers from metro-area churches and sang along the Parade of Lights route. They sang on 15th Street. They sang at Court Place. And they sang at Colfax Avenue and Bannock Street.
What they didn't do was raise hell.
Yes, it was a protest of sorts - if you count that five of the six songs in the 2,500 caroling pamphlets given out heralded the birth of Jesus. See, Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, upon hearing the parade wouldn't allow its religious-themed float this year, decided it would rally carolers and sing along the route beforehand.For its part, the parade started in 1974 as a way to replace Denver's traditional Saturday morning Santa Claus Parade that ended in the 1960s. The Parade Of Lights entry rules evolved during the past decade to reject religious-themed floats in favor of more secular symbols such as snowmen and gingerbread houses.
Pastor George Morrison - whose church has 4,000 members - said he was not even allowed to have a sign that read "Merry Christmas."
Rhoda Schultz, one of the caroling organizers, didn't know what to expect as people began to show up shortly after 6:30 p.m. She urged everyone to be respectful. She asked that they stop singing 10 minutes before the parade started at 8 p.m. so as not to divert attention away from the parade.
"OK, so we're not going to get a float," she said. "So let's get together anyway and carol."
The leader of Faith Bible Chapel's choir then stood on the steps of Republic Plaza and tried to marshal the caroling forces.
"OK, how many are ready to go?" she asked.
A few scattered hands went up. Finally, a group of about 20 were corralled, and with their song sheets, scarves and a few signs, they headed down Tremont Place.As the hour before the parade marched on, more groups of 20 or 30 went forth, singing. By the time Schultz's 10-minute rule arrived, about 500 were singing at various downtown street corners.
Along the parade route, the caroling groups were greeted with some applause. Some watched impassively. Some merchants zipped past them selling light sticks and foam Christmas-tree hats. One person walked by and asked, "Are these the Jesus people?"
Carly MacGill, who was with her 3-year-old daughter, stood on an icy curb as the first group moved slowly by. They were just starting Joy to the World when MacGill yelled, "Merry Christmas! God bless!"
Laura Ranger, who was bundled up in a red jacket and wore a Santa hat, said she wanted to sing because she was simply tired of feeling like Christianity was being excluded from the Parade of Lights.
She wore a sign on her back that read, "Say it loud and proud - Merry Christmas.
"It took me a few seconds to make the sign, but they were important seconds," Ranger, 31, said. "I needed to be out here to show my support."
Mary Beth Brugler, a 53-year-old from Arvada and a member of Faith Bible Chapel, showed her support by brewing 12 gallons of hot chocolate.
Another person brought an additional three gallons.
It was all gone in an hour.
"We pretty much covered everyone," Brugler said, adding that the batch she made consisted of "just the right amount of chocolate."
The Parade of Lights, sponsored by the Downtown Partnership, issued a statement Friday regarding the carolers.
Jim Basey, president of the partnership, said it stands by its policy of not allowing religious or political messages in the parade. He also said that despite last-minute lobbying by City Council members for a compromise, parade organizers said they would wait until next year to evaluate their policies.
But this year, well, rules are rules.
"We have no objections to Pastor (George) Morrison's plan to walk along the parade crowd, pass hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols," the statement said. "Please know that there are no policies for the Parade of Lights prohibiting Christmas songs or parade participants saying 'Merry Christmas,' 'Happy Hanukkah' or other holiday greetings. That is part of the holiday tradition."
Heard downtown
Friday night, carolers organized by Faith Bible Chapel blanketed portions of the Parade of Lights route with traditional Christmas songs including:
• Joy to the World
• Silent Night
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• The First Noel
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• We Wish You A Merry Christmas
• Ten minutes before the parade began, the carolers ended with Silent Night.
Parade of Lights????...What does that title have to do with the spirit of Christmas??...
"OK, so we're not going to get a float," she said.
"So let's get together anyway and carol."bump!
Christians need to officially proclaim themselves as an ethnic group. Then the right to do anything they want will be unending.
There was one group allowed to participate in the parade, they called themselves "two spirits". Gay and Lesbo Indians who worship a kindred spirit of sorts. Go figure, their message was allowed, but not Merry Christmas.
At OUR Christmas parade, there were plenty of Christmas floats and everyone was yelling Merry Christmas. I love small town America.
Finally, the backlash has begun against all of this insane, facist, politcal correctness.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
You say Jesus won't return. When one looks at how much of the Bible's prophecy has been fulfilled, it would be tough to bet against it. I hope you will examine the Bible closely and change you mind before he does return.
Amen Sunday morning bump!!
EVERY KNEE SHAL BOW,
EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS THE CHRIST IS LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS . . .
otherwise, silence will be the best they can offer or dare offer.
It's also a federal holiday...
Sorry kids, he ain't returning ever
It wouldn't hurt to be ready just in case aHE drops by for
a visit.
You know a lot of Jewish Hickenloopers do you?
*grin*
See you in front of the Judgement throne, big shot. Jesus promised He will return to judge the living and the dead, and He will.
That "Denver Mayor" info is from Free Republic threads, but I imagine you are aware of that.
I did not "cut & paste" the FR posted excerpted article - I "paraphrased" it from memory and my posted comments are in line with the facts as written by the print source and the thread posting FReeper's "cut & paste" execept I had one silly spelling error and could not exactly recall the spelling of the Denver Mayor's surname, but I was close and noted I thought I speeded his name wrong, but that his name was not the important part of the article, FR thread, or my commentary.
My Jewish Uncle Leon and his son (my) cousin Phil are both gone from us unfortunately, but neither ever exhibited the Denver (or that ? Island town in FL in a FR thread) banning of Christmas and Christians.
Leon and Phil both had better senses of humor than I do but their practical jokes often went over the top.
I did not name that Denver Mayor and my surname is probably harder to recall, pronounce, spell for most people but I would never change it.
I could not correctly recall the spelling of the Denver Mayors name and so inserted my (splg? who cares) as I focus and do not waste time on trivia or wish to become a spelling secret police FReeper.
If I see a spelling or grammar error or mistake on a FR thread post I just read on thru and look for the content - I note many who post on FR and are obsessed with spelling errors often are much lacking in any meaningful comments or contributions - I suggest they could make good use of their critical eyes at the NYT or at Simon & Shyster as editors for big bucks.
I also do not attempt to play Mz. Cleo and try to analyze every word or sentence or thought in every thread post here at FR.
I post nothing on my FR Profile Page about my religious background or beliefs but do not get bent sideways with any who do of any race, creed, or color or other hyphenated-label they wish to use or advertise.
I am, however, part native American Indian (as a greatmany Americans are) with no hyphens and no claims of a "Cherokee Princess" grandma (but some hyphens in some names they used for their own names on a genweb site) or "special rights".
You seem to be fishing, baiting, or reading minds for some strange reason.
My comments were open, honest, and from "the media" and a FR thread topic.
I am not obsessed with spelling - I do spot people who demand special "rights" yet deny common traditional decency, speech, practices of others.
I have no idea what your "odd" posted reply question to me below meant/means, do you? :
"You know a lot of Jewish Hickenloopers do you?"
P.S.
No reply is really necessary.
I might try to read some secret code or message or terrible agenda into it.
Some evolve -
Some devolve -
It must be a terrible burden to know everything - even more than God.
My sympathies. (not) and, oh, yeah, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This nation has survived by none other than the faith, courage, and diligence of God-fearing men and women who know and understand the reality that without God's favor and mercy America would never have been born. Neither can it survive without Him.
Merry Christmas Everyone. Pray for our nation. Pray for our President. Pray for our troops in Iraq far away and removed from their loved ones this Christmas.
Oh, in addition - fortunately, "Christ" doesn't require your belief in order to 'Be" - He "IS" - believe it or not.
For example: I don't believe in you - do you still exist? Merry CHRISTmas
Merry Christmas Everyone.Merry Christmas to you!
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