HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 2, 2016 – Nearly 800 community members rang in the Christmas season today with a celebration at High Point University’s Annual Prayer Breakfast.
Now in its 46th year, the complimentary event has become a tradition for many local residents to officially kick off Christmas and fellowship with neighbors.
“What a special time this is at the beginning of the Advent season to come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,” Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU president, said in his introduction. “Here at HPU, we shout from the mountaintop that this is a God, family and country school. The more we say it and the more we live it, the more God blesses this institution.”
The university fed the community as the HPU Chapel Choir and Dr. Marc Foster, chair of the department of music, serenaded the audience with Christmas music. Qubein welcomed the attendees, and Dr. George B. Wirth, pastor emeritus at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, delivered the keynote address. Rev. Paul Milton, pastor at Memorial United Methodist Church and president of the Ministers Conference of High Point and Vicinity, delivered the invocation, while Sister Lucy Hennessy, mission leader at Pennybyrn at Maryfield, provided the benediction.
Qubein honored Dr. Richard Vert for his service as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Jack Finch, who was recently appointed chairman, and Dr. Bob Brown, vice chairman, presented a portrait of Vert for his service.
“On behalf of our board, I thank you for your dedication and service,” Qubein said to Vert during the presentation. “We are thrilled you are here today and that you will continue to serve as a lifetime member on our board.”
Wirth’s message focused on Christmas pageants and the excitement built around them each year. He encouraged the audience not to forget the most important Christmas pageant in history and lessons learned from the people in it.
“Christmas is coming in 23 days, and no doubt many of us will attend a pageant as we head toward Dec. 25,” Wirth said. “What I hope is that you will anticipate the magic and joy of it all. I also hope you’ll rejoice in the greatest Christmas pageant that ever happened. It happened a long time ago in a place called Bethlehem on a star-filled, glorious night… All of us have a part to play in the ongoing drama as believers in and witnesses to and advocates for the birth, the life, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Wirth also took note of lessons learned from the people of the Christmas story, like the shepherds who reinforce the importance of treating “the least of these” who struggle to make ends meet with kindness and generosity. He also took note of the angels’ words to the shepherds.
“It could be that the future of the 21st Century will depend in part on all of the world’s religions learn to live together on this planet in peace,” Wirth told the audience. “Our barrier is fear.
“The Christmas angel said to those shepherds on that starry night, ‘Fear not, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’ And those words echoed down the centuries of time to us today. Remember them – do not be afraid.”