The people of Petrey have gone from a slow pace to full-speed-ahead this week, as Christmas is fast approaching.

This is typical for most communities during this time of the year. Parties, church programs, and family visits characterize the season.

Lillian French from San Francisco, Calif. visited her parents, Elwood and Liz Farris, on Dec. 8 for four days. She enjoyed spending time with her great niece and nephew, Savannah and Woody, children of Sandy and Michelle Smith.

Curtis and Nancy Petrey attended the American Family Association's annual Christmas Banquet in Tupelo, Miss. on Dec. 13.

Curtis is a board member of AFA and he attended the board meeting that afternoon. The next day on their return trip home, the Petreys stopped by to visit Frank and Esther Troskey in Columbus, Miss.

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Welcome to the newest residents of Petrey:

Rona Green and her daughter Paige moved into Roy and Amy Mills' house on Dec. 13.

Rona operates Rona's Country Corner, a store in Patsburg. Glad to have you here!

Congratulations to Bert Petrey and Senorah Stahl who were married on Dec. 13 in Montgomery. Bert is the youngest son of Curtis and Nancy Petrey. Bert works at Sam Goody's and Senorah works at Cracker Barrel.

May God bless them in their new life together.

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Most of the news is good this week, but, unfortunately, sickness and death are a part of the mix. Ricky Holly's mother passed away, and was buried in Brewton on Sunday.

We extend our sympathy to Ricky.

Kay Petrey entered Crenshaw Community Hospital on Dec. 15. On the same day, Janice Taylor's niece was born in Montgomery with a collapsed lung and suffers from pneumonia. Janice's father was hospitalized with pneumonia, but is home now. Her sister-in-law had heart surgery and suffered pneumonia afterward.

Sue Beasley fell while shopping in Montgomery last Saturday. She broke bones in her right hand and had a cast put on it on Monday.

All these people need our prayers.

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Laura Elliott attended a Christmas Breakfast at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Opp on Dec. 17.

Janice Taylor and Terry Hayslip hosted a family Christmas party on Dec. 18.

Those attending included, Darren and Julie Taylor and son Sawyer from Petrey, Derek Taylor from Montgomery, Dusty and Peyton Taylor from Goshen, and Patricia and Wendell Wells from Lowndesboro.

Peggy and Don Hermeling attended a Christmas party on Sunday night at Peggy's place of employment, Payless Shoe Store, in Troy.

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Petrey United Methodist Church had a Christmas program last Sunday morning with Curtis Petrey preaching and Nancy Petrey presenting the special music. A special White Christmas offering was taken for the Methodist Children's Home. Dinner followed the service in the fellowship hall.

Petrey Church of Christ had a special day Sunday with worship service, dinner, a Christmas game and a Christmas program about the birth of Jesus.

Patsburg Baptist church presented a Christmas program Sunday night, directed by the new music ministers, Tim and Kathy Dowdy, who own the Camellia House Bed and Breakfast in Luverne.

The adult choir did a fantastic job on "Color It Christmas."

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Sherry Beasley and her boyfriend, Justin Hamilton of Troy, left on Dec. 20 to visit Justin's grandparents in Lufkin, Texas for a week.

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Nancy Petrey will be teaching a continuing education class for Lurleen B. Wallace Community College at the Luverne High School junior high building from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 13 and continuing for eight weeks on Thursday nights. The course is Exodus, the second course in a series on the Old Testament.

One of the highlights of the course is a Passover meal, reenacting the original Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and showing the prophesied passion of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

Registration is at Luverne High School from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. or the night of the first class at 6 p.m.

For more information contact Nancy at 335-6700.

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May everyone have a Christ-filled Christmas this year, as we remember the reason for the season.

Happy birthday, Jesus!

You may want to consider baking a birthday cake, gathering your family around you, singing "Happy birthday, Jesus," and recounting the Christmas story as told in the first two chapters of both Matthew and Luke.

Think about the Light of the World as you look at your Christmas tree, and ponder the greatest gift of all (John 3:16) as you unwrap your own presents and watch others receive theirs.

Make an intentional effort to honor the Christ of Christmas.

God bless you all!

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If you have any comments, suggestions or information you would like to submit to this

column, call Mrs. Petrey at

335-6700.