Christmas services well attended

The Christmas Eve Communion service was well attended this week at the Arcadia Open Door Mission. Pastor Roy Widmar led the singing of Christmas songs and prayer time.

He then spoke of the true meaning of Christmas after Linda Bridgewater sang a solo. Two couples then held the bread and Communion trays, and the congregation went forward to partake at the same time. All were invited to attend Christmas Sunday morning services in Arcadia Christian Church.

A good number of regular members and guests were present in the Christmas morning services in Arcadia Christian Church led by Pastor Charles Cable, assisted at prayer time by Dave Bridgewater. Clay Carrington led the singing with Cable at the piano.

Carol Bridgewater read the "Christmas Story" from the book of Luke. Guest Landon Younge sang a special song accompanying himself on his guitar. Linda Bridgewater favored us with a solo "What Child is This?"

Christie Parrish read the Christmas Story from the book of Matthew. Vera Parrish read an original Christmas poem written by John Parrish. They were pleased to have as their guests their daughter, Janet and Mark Van Leeuwen from St. Paul, Kan., and their daughter Tara Van Leeuwen, a beautician from Florida.

Wayne and Christie Parrish gave Christmas wrapped gifts to the ladies. Among other guests present were Charles Corporon and Rose Campbell from Pittsburg and Larry and Vicki Shead, Garland. It was announced the usual first Sunday dinner, Jan. 1, 2012, will be held on Jan. 5, due to the holiday.

We are sorry to read of the death of a former Arcadian, Weymouth Jones Filkins, who was born and raised in Arcadia. A 1940 graduate of Arcadia High School, she and Mel Filkins built the large beautiful home on Haller Hill just west of Arcadia.

In later years they moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. After three month illness, at age 89 she died on Dec. 14. Burial will be later in Pittsburg, Kan. Condolences to the family.

Keith and Glen Twombly of Pittsburg took Walter Foulk to Independence, Mo., to visit his niece Fanny Mae Christinson. She has been ill but improving and glad for the visit.

The JOY Sunday School class gives thanks to all who help save 1,000 Best Choice UPCs. This is one of the ways the class earns the funds they use to help people. Please keep saving for the send-in next December.

After a business trip to Fort Scott, Charles Corporon and sister Mary V. Shead traveled to Frontenac to deliver JOY Christmas cookies to Bill Dobbins at Sunset Manor.

There she met a friend from college days at Pittsburg State University, Janet Dalton, who was a freshman roommate of another AHS graduate, Velma Eggen Jewell. The visit was short but sweet.

On to Pittsburg, they visited Rose Campbell and the next stop was in the cafe in Asbury, Mo. They enjoyed a fine lunch, then on to Joplin for a visit with Mary V's high school classmate and her husband, Juanita and Owen McWilliams.

The ladies graduated from Arcadia High School in 1936. The same year, Juanita was chosen yearbook queen. She showed her picture to Charles. This led to talk of good old school days.

Nelson and Eloise Corporon live nearby, so the travelers spent a delightful afternoon visiting their brother and sister.

Ruth Holland, former Arcadian, more recently of Liberal, Mo., died Dec. 22, in a Kansas City hospital. The funeral was held Tuesday, Dec. 27, in Liberal Christian Church. Her sons are Don Holland of Lamar, Mo., and Howard and Louise Holland, Liberal, Mo.

Larry and Vickie Shead spend Wednesday and Thursday last week, Dec. 21 and 22, in Tulsa visiting their family members, Marie and Clayton Whitson and Mitzi and Joel Ray and three little ones, Cademon, Atalie and Ryan.

Back home on Christmas Day, they served dinner to Larry's mother, Mary V. Shead, his uncle Charles Corporon and their friend Rose Campbell after attending church that morning.