04 Broadcaster Press December 24, 2013 www.broadcasteronline.com Pulpit Reflections “A Christmas Doat?” By Rev. Rick Pittenger As Christmas approaches our minds are filled with Christmas memories. It is through the eyes of children that we see our understanding of the world turned upside down. Here is just one example, for there are many! Following worship one Sunday morning, I was stopped in the hallway in front of my office. It was a grandmother. This time the story began… “Pastor Rick, have I got a story for you!” Pastors usually cringe when we hear that expression. Many times it is a story; a shade off color… one I’ve usually heard a couple dozen times in every church I’ve served over the last 29 years, it’s usually one people wouldn’t necessarily have the nerve to share in the sanctuary, but in the hallway in front of the office they can safely tell the story. This time though, the story was different, it was an “out of the mouths of babes” kind of story. Apparently her granddaughter, who recently turned 4 had been bugging her mother and grandmother about getting her her very own Nativity. Or in her words, “A Jesus House” that she could play with. My mind started to drift as the story continued, back to when our children were at that age. A Lutheran clergy friend’s spouse (Barb Stadie) in the first community I served out of seminary, Arlington, SD, made us a crocheted Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus. It was the kind your children could play with and you wouldn’t worry about it breaking. We thought it to be a wonderful idea in the midst of the hands-off crystal and/or porcelain breakable versions most people have. Our children spent hours playing with Baby Jesus in the hand soap sized manger under our Christmas tree at home. But, back to the grandmother’s story, the grandmother had been out doing some Christmas shopping and picked up a “Jesus house” for her granddaughter as an early Christmas present. When she brought it in for the first time, the granddaughter “shook and trembled” with excitement. Sure enough, her very own Nativity, complete with all the people and animals of that first Christmas nativity; complete with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, wise men, shepherds, sheep, an ox, a donkey… “But Grandma, where’s the DOAT?” said the little girl. “The what?” said the grandmother. “THE DOAT, the Christmas DOAT Grandma?” “Tell me about the Christmas Doat,” said the wise grandma. “You know, the ‘doat’ was the one that guarded the baby Jesus and breathed on the baby Jesus’s head and kept him warm through the night. (Apparently the child’s mother was asked how the baby Jesus stayed warm when it was so cold on that first Christmas night and that was her mother’s way of answering a child’s question). It was then, the grandmother realized that the “Christmas Goat” was what her grand daughter was talking about. Sure enough she’s been searching ever since for that Christmas Doat! It was surprising to me that the child understood it to be the Christmas Goat rather than the Christmas Lamb. You remember the other biblical story, where people were separated: (Mt 25:33) the sheep are on the left and the goats are on the right? How I hope I’m a sheep and not a goat I’ve often thought! I’m afraid though, that many times I become the Christmas Goat of Billy Goat Gruff fame. It’s nice to know someone has a different image of those “scapegoats” that take away the sins of the world, banished to the desert wilderness with the sins of the early church. But a Christmas “Doat”? This Christmas Goat has a nice ring to it. Sounds like an animal legends are written about. All that talk from our childhood about not judging a book by its cover comes into clearer focus this Christmas. My hope and prayer is that you’ll each have your own Christmas Doat in your “Jesus house” and you’ll love him or her anyway. Yes, children turn our understanding of the world upside down. That’s why Jesus came in the first place wasn’t it? To turn the world upside down, and to bring joy to those who knew no joy prior to his coming. During Christmas programs through the eyes and mouths of babes, we witness once again a portion of that Joy made manifest on the earth that first Christmas. Wide eyed, shepherds and angels sing out ”Joy to the world, the lord is come. Let earth receive her king.” Isaiah reminds us “and a little child shall lead them.” Joy to the world and Merry Christmas to all, even the Christmas “Doats” in our midst! Rev. Rick Pittenger, is the pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Vermillion and the Gayville/Volin UMC. USD prof says winter in SD is ‘for the birds’ David Swanson, Ph.D., University of South Dakota professor of biology and contributing author of “Birds of South Dakota,” has spent more than 25 years studying birds. He recently has been publicized for his knowledge and work with bird adaptation to climate change in Audubon, a conservation magazine based in New York. Birds go through physical, physiological and behavioral changes to prepare for the cold winters. Swanson is especially interested in these physiological changes. “One major contribution to the birds’ physiological adjustments during the winter is their bigger muscles, which we’ve been noticing more over the last few years,” Swanson said. While many larger birds are able to add more insulation from feathers, the smaller birds use their muscles to shiver explains Swanson. This produces heat for them. According to Swanson, the birds that are in South Dakota year round include the Black-capped Chickadee, Whitebreasted Nuthatch, House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, House Finch and the Northern Cardinal. Certain birds, including the Dark-eyed Junco and the American Tree Sparrow, fly from Canada to nest in South Dakota for the winter. These birds are true of the eastern side of South Dakota. The western side of the state closely compares to all the northern states west of the Dakotas, though Swanson notes that Dark-eyed Juncos do live in the Black Hills year round, even though they are natives of Canada. It is because of the forests in that region that attract them, said Swanson. Swanson also notes that although an extremely harsh or extremely mild winter does not really throw these birds off, the biggest problem is when there is a vast change in a short period of time. The preparation the birds go through before a winter takes at least a week. Swanson teaches several biology courses at USD, including Ornithology, which is the study of birds. He is currently the secretary of the South Dakota Ornithologist’s Union. VHS oral interpretation team wraps up winning season CHAMBER CHAT Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce & Development Company 116 Market Street, Suite 103 Vermillion, SD 57069 (605) 624-5571 vcdc@vermillioncham ber.com www.vermillionchamb er.com Chamber Business: Business After Hours: Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your business and network with your peers? Sign up to host a Business After Hours event. These events generally run from 5-7 p.m. on a weeknight and the hosting business provides hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. If interested, please contact Ann at annb@vermillionchamber.c om or at 624-5571. Announcements: Veteran’s Holiday Homeless Relief Drive through Jan. 15: Please join the Department of South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) and Miss Siouxland in providing a comfortable Holiday Season and New Year’s to our Veterans and military families. Your contributions of an ALA “Buddy Basket” filled with household relief items or donation of any single household or hygiene item, or shopping gift cards are needed. You can drop-off relief items through Jan. 15 at The Broadcaster/Plain Talk, 201 W. Cherry Street, Vermillion or Berakhah House, 400 N. Western Avenue, Sioux Falls. If you are wishing to support The American Legion Post 15 Veterans Build – South Dakota Homeless Housing Fund, please mail your contribution to American Legion Post 15, 1701 Legion Drive Sioux Falls, SD 57106. The school systems or youth organizations raising the most in relief items will receive a telescoping flagpole and USA Flag. For further information, e-mail Autumn.Simunek@gmail. com. The Downtown merchants are joining together to collect dollars for the local food pantry – each dollar donation gives you a chance at winning the downtown gift basket (over $800 value). The Drawing will be held at noon, Friday, Dec. 20. One hundred percent of proceeds go to the food pantry The Department of Labor and Regulation will be hosting a Job Search Assistance Program (JSAP) at 1024 W. Cherry St., Vermillion, Friday, Dec. 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The JSAP is a free workshop for people recovering from job loss or enhancing their job search skills. Trained instructors speak on modern-day techniques used to successfully find employment. Topics covered are: resume and cover letter writing, interviewing etiquette, networking effectively, using social media and much more. Parties interested in attending should register by calling (605) 677-6900 before 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 18. Members of the 2013 VHS oral interpretation team are (bottom row) Austin Olson, Dustin Fischer, Brian Clift; (middle row) Morgan Fuller, Libby Sykes, Katie Zimmerman, Savannah Kirsch, Natalie Swanson, Kate Struckman-Johnson; (top row) Wyatt Hansen, William Brouillette, Jacob Ford, Owen Mechling, Rob McFall, Erica Moen and Genevieve Carey. Not pictured: Kalista Wells and Paige McManigal. (Photo by Morgan Fuller) Vermillion High School students with a flair for the dramatic have been showcasing their skills and winning awards as members of the VHS oral interpretation team. Starting in September, 18 students began selected favorite literary pieces and practicing their oral presentations under the director of head coach Mary Begley and assistant coach Joe Geis. The team traveled to three competitions in October, four in November and concluded with the Runner-Up and South Dakota High School Activity Association’s State Festival in December. VHS won team trophies in the A division from the State Festival, region tournament, and the Washington Warrior Invitational. Top scoring members include Katie Zimmerman, who won a superior medal at the State Festival in both the humorous and poetry divisions, and brought home a total of four first place awards in tournaments leading up to State. The duet team of Savannah Kirsch and Natalie Swanson earned state superior medals and captured first place in three tournaments during the season. Kirsch also won awards for her solo dramatic performance, including a State superior and one first place at the Lewis and Clark tournament. The reader’s theatre group comprised of Erika Moen, Dustin Fischer, Rob McFall, Owen Mechling, Genevieve Carey and Wyatt Hansen brought home a State superior and captured first at the Brookings Invitational. Two members of the reader’s theatre ensemble, Hansen and Fischer, also earned first-place awards in individual events at contests in October and November. Other VHS team members who captured first place finishes during the season include Jacob Ford, Morgan Fuller and Austin Olson. 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