SMOKE SIGNAL VOLUME 50, ISSUE 9 Serving the Smoke Rise Community Since 1968 December, 2017 www.smokesignalnews.com The Smoke Signal staff wishes your family a very Merry Christmas! The Christmas Tree and The Hanukkah Bush Look inside for… By Joel Gilbert Breakfast with Santa .....................................pg. 3 Christmas is an annual festival commemo- Tribute to Toastmasters ..............................pg. 7 rating the birth of Jesus Christ observed in the DeKalb Recycling Update ...........................pg. 9 United States on December 25th. Although Dolls, Dolls, and More Dolls! .................... pg. 10 the actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown, and despite scholars pointing out that “sheep in the field” would be more likely a September date, in the fourth century, the Western Christian Church placed Christmas on December 25, a date that was later adopted in the East. Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) on the other hand has no repeating date in our calendar, because it is based on the phase of the moon. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating their victory over A Whole Lot of Christmas a tyrant king and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem more than It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas 2,200 years ago. It is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th everywhere you go! That sentiment is defi- day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time nitely true at 1833 Smokerise Summit. The from late November to late December. Christmas season is in full swing, and Santa The decorations, use of a Christmas tree, and the giving of presents have Claus is preparing for his weekend visits to take murky beginnings. Scholars point to pagan rituals and ideas, which of course photos in his sleigh. As in years past, donations make serious Christians cringe. Being Jewish, I grew up envious of the pretty are being collected for the Georgia Make-A- tree and decorations. Eventually, my parents, like most others we knew, bowed Wish Foundation. Please note that 100% of to the cultural pressures, and we put up a Hanukkah bush … a Christmas tree collected donations go directly to this worthy that we decorated with the Star of David (the six pointed star Jews have always used to symbolize charity. Help us exceed last year’s total, and themselves) on top. As a child, I preferred Hanukkah to Christmas because you got a present every reach our new goal of $5,500. Also, be sure to night of the holiday, not just on one morning. Plus, it was kind of fun lighting a candle each night take a picture in our newest addition. with the family. This ritual celebrates that a one-night supply of oil, lighting the menorah needed to If you have any unwanted outdoor rededicate the Temple, miraculously lasted eight days. Christmas decorations, especially plastic figu- Gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas holiday today have significant economic rines, you may drop them off, and you can be impacts. The big shopping day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday because of so many people sure they will be put to good use! starting their Christmas shopping, and it is the first time in the calendar year that retailers finally make a profit (“are in the black vs. the red ink”). The challenge today is to remember the reasons for the Merry Christmas! season and to not get caught up in the commercialization, as much fun as it might be. Then, we have the age-old questions about Santa Claus and whether we should even talk about HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS this with our kids. For those who have become callous about it, I suggest you read the proof presented Start your holiday season with a in the most read newspaper article of all time: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Interesting, it is Tour of Homes the most reprinted newspaper editorial in the English language. Saturday, December 9 The GFWC Stone Mountain Woman’s Smoke Rise Community Association News Club, a philanthropic organization, will spon- By Michael J. Huerkamp, SRCA President sor a “Homes for the Holidays” Home Tour The entire Board of Directors of the SRCA wishes each of our neighbors the from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on December 9. best of holiday times and good fortune in the New Year. Please make it your resolu- Tickets are $25.00. The tour includes tion at the beginning of 2018 to renew your $35.00 membership or, if you have not two homes in been a member, to join in response to our mailing or at smokerise.org. Although Smoke Rise, one we’ve been the source organization in Smoke Rise, SRCA commitments and projects to promote and Main Street busi- enhance our community have reached the point of exceeding income. Have you used our Facebook ness with antique page or Nextdoor site to find a service or engage in a forum? Have you attended our annual member- cars and the ship meeting, any number of Sears property development presentations, or even any of the town halls Stone Mountain led by our council members? Would you like to play in the dirt or simply relax in our community Manor. Lunch is included and will be served garden as it is rejuvenated? Do you want to get involved in the vision for development and use of the at the Stone Mountain First United Methodist three city park tracts located within Smoke Rise? Have you perused our Little Libraries or appreciated Church. Vendors will be at the church for you the sign toppers that distinguish our neighborhood? Have you ever wondered if we could do something to do some Christmas shopping. Gather your with more panache at the Rosser Rd. stack and with a little more pop at other chimneys? If you have, please be inspired to lend crucial support to SRCA by paying your 2018 dues. Every dollar received neighbors and enjoy a fun day. Tickets are by the SRCA is invested back into our community by our all-volunteer board and is thus returned to available from any club member, or call Kim you. Send check to: SRCA, P.O. Box 870793, Stone Mountain, GA 30087 or go to the SRCA website Sekulow (770) 616-5362 or Elizabeth Wells at: http://www.smokerise.org. (404) 630-9925. December, 2017 Candlelight Smoke Rise Baptist Church Smoke Signal Christmas Eve Service P.O.P.O. Box 763, 763, Tucker, Tucker, GA GA 30085 30084 Dr. Chris George, Senior Pastor A non-profit service organization devoted to furthering December 24, 6:00 p.m. Bart McNiel, Associate Pastor neighborhood cooperation with the aid of good neighborhood Tim Adcox, Minister of Missions communication. Mount Carmel Kathy Dobbins, Minister of Spiritual Formation Editorial Committee… Jan Mahoney .......................(770) 621-0155 Christian Church Danny Vancil, Minister of Music & Worship Becky Caswell-Speight, Minister to Families with Children Cheri Schneider ...................(770) 717-9914 6015 Old Stone Mountain Rd. Jeremy Colliver, Minister to Families with Youth *AvivA Hoffmann .... [email protected] Stone Mountain * This Issue’s Editor-in-Chief Amanda Coe Burton, Director of Nursery Ministries Recording Secretary .....Susan Gilbert [email protected] Service will include Valerie Coe Lowder, Director of the Weekday School Corresponding Secretary ..Barbara Bruschi ....................(770) 934-4644 special music, communion Telephone: (770) 469-5856 Treasurer ......................Harry Strack ........................(770) 365-9381 SmokeRiseBaptist.org and a short film. Sundays: Classified Ads ...............Barb Hess .............................(404) 229-0742 9:00 a.m. Worship in the Chapel Display Ads ..................Barb Hess [email protected] 9:45 a.m. Sunday school Church News ...............Susan Gilbert [email protected] 11:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary Features: .......................Barbara Bruschi ....................(770) 934-4644 Communion: Second Sunday of each month Cedric Ross ..........................(678) 983-4046 1st Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. Prime Time Cheri Schneider, M.D. ........(770) 717-9914 Wednesdays: Flyer Inserts .................Barbara Luton ......................(770) 491-6711 5:00-5:45 Fellowship Dinner Hodge Podge ...............Jenny Hall ............................(404) 200-4227 6:00-7:00 Programs for children, youth and adults Pet Lost & Found ........Kay McKenzie ................ (770) 491-6784 7:00-8:30 Sanctuary choir Social Media ...............Pat Soltys .............................(770) 573-9715 Nursery provided News You Can Use ......AvivA Hoffmann ..... [email protected] Staff Writers .................Susan Gilbert .......................(404) 312-8328 Eastminster Presbyterian Church Frank Luton.................................................. Pastor: Rev. J. Caleb Clarke III Joyce Ray .............................(770) 491-9015 Director of Mission & Youth: Mark Sauls Pat Soltys .............................(770) 573-9715 Director of Music Ministries: Andrew Meade Guest Writers ...............Jenny Hall ............................(404) 200-4227 Director of Preschool: Stacey Moura Reneé Hopf .........................(770) 921-5540 Director of School Age Program: Celeste Sears Distribution .................Connie [email protected] Director of Christian Education: Mardee Rightmyer Pastor of Senior Adult Ministries: Rev. Jeanne Simpson Delivery .......................Chris Taylor and Jack Smith Anthony Clark Blackburn, Telephone (770) 469-4881 Views and/or opinions expressed in articles, stories or letters published www.eastminster.us in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the Smoke Signal or its Jr. of Smoke Rise, graduat- Respite Care Center Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tues.-Thurs. staff. The information contained in it is believed to be accurate, but not ed Basic Military Training Sundays: warranted in any way. It is the policy of the Smoke Signal to publish 9:15 a.m. Sunday School for all ages signed letters to the Editor. We will not publish unsigned letters, but for The Air Force on 10:30 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary - nursery provided will withhold the writer’s name upon request. All content may be edited. October 27, 2017.