Maywood News

Loretta Bringer
We are saying good by to 2021 this week and although it has been a trying year for many people, we have so many things to be thankful for. It is wonderful that Christmas never changes, and we always have the blest reason to celebrate it. I do hope everyone had a safe and healthy Christmas.

The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at South Union Baptist is always an inspiration. Luke, Jacob, and Elijah Shepherd recited Chapter Luke 2 for the scripture and Nelson Carter, Rachel Shepherd and the Choir sang the communion music.

Sunday morning worship service at South Union was again celebrating the birth of Jesus and the reason for celebration. Luke Shepherd and his mother, Rachel played a piano duet and then Elijah and Jacob joined them in singing Away in A Manger. The choir sang special music, and it was wonderful to have Edward and Mary Jane Tate back with us as they have been experiencing health problems.

We express sympathy to the Garry Ferguson family on the death of Garry on Thursday, December 23. Gary and Theresa have wonderful knowledge about horses and Garry was always willing to help with his knowledge about training or showing horses. His son, John is in Minot, N. D. and Kim is in LaGrange.
Ann Brink was a visitor in the Marvin Bringer home on Wednesday and brought beautiful flowers.

Larry and Beth Taylor are well known in this area as he is retired as the Associational Missionary of Bethel Association and he and Beth have been helping their daughter, Angie, who has been very ill. She is better and had serious medical problems over Thanksgiving.

Santa Jack and Ms. Pete Claus have been very busy over Christmas in our area and in Highland, Illinois and one evening saw over four hundred children. They are great with young and older folks and went to Highland to spend Christmas day with the grandchildren and their daughter and husband, Katrina, and Jeremy. Other guests were there since Christmas eve and Jeremy’s Mother, Patty Hunerkoch , and brother and sister-in-law, Justin and Juesenda Hunderkoch and their children also shared Christmas with them. They reported a lot of laughs, fellowship and food made for a wonderful Christmas day.

We had such a nice Christmas with our family and our three grandsons are at an age that make it so much fun. They are eight, six, and four.

Unfortunately, there is always sadness for folks at a time of celebration and we were sorry to learn of the death of Troy Harlan. His parents are Larry and Sharon Harlan who have many relatives in this area. His brother Trent lives in Palmyra and Larry worked and retired with Marvin at AT&T.

I had a nice phone call from David Roush this week. David and his family lived in Emerson for many years. David teaches and coaches in Higbee, Mo and he and his wife live there as well.

My daughter, Rachel, has always been an avid reader of C.S. Lewis writings and I like his quote of “There are far better things ahead than ones we leave behind.” Have a safe and healthy New Year and enjoy your blessings!