The holidays are coming! The 12th annual Strasburg Holiday Tour sponsored by the Strasburg Heritage Society will be held rain, shine, or snow on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This tour features 7 lovely homes in charming, historic Strasburg. The homes vary in age and style but all will be beautifully decorated for the season. At tour central (First Presbyterian Church on S. Decatur Street) tour tickets, lunch, greens, craft vendors, and a silent auction will be available. Purchase $20 tickets in advance from Nov. 4th until Dec. 1st from Main Street Antiques (2 W. Main) or Speckled Hen Restaurant (144 E. Main). Tickets can also be purchased on line at strasburgheritagesociety.org. Tickets are $25 the day of the tour at First Presbyterian Church. This is a great day when local folks as well as out-of-towners stroll the streets and enjoy the lovely town as well as the homes. This year there will be a special event on Friday, Dec. 1st with a tree lighting, carol singing, brass band, bagpiper, and Santa @ 6:30 pm on the Strasburg Borough Lawn on Precision Avenue. Refreshments will follow. This event is hosted by the Strasburg Heritage Society, the Lampeter Strasburg Women’s Club and supported by Strasburg Borough. Come to Strasburg and get in the holiday spirit!

This is our major fundraiser and goes toward the education of local residents to the advantages and wisdom of preserving elements of the past and the development of a deeper appreciation of the area’s rich cultural inheritance.

JOHN SHIRK – From Matthew 7:24 and 25.

Jesus wrapped up the Sermon On the Mount by saying, “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

The words of Jesus are so dependable that we can build our life on them. He gives us a firm foundation that provides stability for our lives when the storms of life test our strength.

Jesus said we would have times of trouble in this world. He did not hide that fact from us. At the same time, He also assured us of His presence to be with us, and His grace to help us in our times of need.

There is another side of the story that Jesus also brings to our attention. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who build his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  In both cases, it was the storm that revealed the strength of the foundation.

Hearing Jesus’ words and putting them into practice is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com