97% agree in POLL this is a Christmas tree!

The concensus of the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, not to promote the event as a "faith based event" slipped in the censorship of the word "Christmas" from their first annual "Holiday Tree Lighting" event coming up December 1st in a Pasco County Park. Upon speaking to two members of the chamber, I was shocked to experience such unfriendly and condescending speech. My inquiry was appropriate, in that the event was discovered just last Friday when I read my Membership Chamber E-mail Newsletter which insulted me with this quote, "Remember this event is all about giving back to the community and we look forward to having many of you participate and join us for such a historic moment!

Truly, this is historic, ignoring all history, even the birth of Christ in the name of the tree!

So, being that we are a member of the chamber, I extended the duty of a call to inquire about that decision. One member stated it was the rule of the park to abstain from any reference of religion. The other member stated it was the decision of the Chamber Board to be "politically correct." I asked this member if he were to take a poll as to whether it would offend the majority of the demographic population if the tree was called a Holiday Tree versus a Christmas Tree, what he thought the outcome would be? He stated, "This is a conservative Republican community, so I already know what they think." Interesting. How can it be "giving back" anything to a community that has its tree censored by a minority? If anything, it has been ripped off by this event.

I was shocked to think that this event, which desired to serve the community, would rather be used as an event to agitate the majority in a community at one of the more sacred events of our Christmas Heritage. Christmas without a Christmas Tree is as absurd as a Santa Claus on a jet ski. This event, we celebrate in America, is under attack by an elite few from the Wesley Chapter Chamber of Commerce. I seek to find out why and am currently working on the facts of the official Chamber's position. I am presently working to be heard by the Chamber to refresh their memory about a 2004 case (read below) and to refresh their memory that they are not a governmental organization, but one that serves its membership and the community, presently, at great offense to the majority.

Some are numb enough not care. We keep Christmas in our heart, right? No matter how it gets bumped, dumped, censored or defamed. But, it must stop here for me, a Chamber member representing a Community Church.

It would seem that this symbol, so ordinary and secular as a "Christmas Tree" would find itself censored from the expression in a town that was named after John Wesley. It seems no one really knew about Rev. Wesley enough to understand the town's memorial name it is named after and what he stood for.

The Christmas Tree removal and censorship issue was addressed by the American Center for Law and Justice back in 2004 in Pasco County Courts and won the case returning Christmas Trees to the parks. The case addressed that the tree was not a religious symbol anyway and was more secular than religious symbolism.

SO, this year the offense again rises up against the name of the tree itself... CHRISTmas.

I would not be affended by the Menorah, for Hanukah, but, I would not call it a lamp so as to not affend some religious group just to be politically correct. The Cross is my Christmas symbol for religious reference.

Political Correctness would allow for the greater offense of the majority, so as to not offend any other RELIGIOUS entities. Well, the Christmas Tree is not my religious symbol to die for, the Cross is. This issue of this tree is one to educate with. To educate that America was founded upon Christian symbols, Biblical reference and moral integrity. Would you stand for the founders? or, agree with the select few of the Wesley Chamber of Commerce in all ignorance to; freedom of speech, religious freedom, democratic rule, and historical truth.

We remain one nation under God, being edited as we speak.

But, I believe there are voices, educators, business owners, lawyers, and citizens on the Board that would consider the question and reflect upon this action to censor Christmas out of the tree that we have known as such since our European Fathers brought it here from the Continent. I am sure it affended the Indians when we killed off their gods and stole their land. But that wasn't the age of Political Correctness now was it.

Wesley Chapel Church of the Nazarene is also a member of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, who has no problem with the title Christmas Tree.

"God Bless us everyone"... I agree even with Tiny Tim on this one. Thanks Mr. Dickens.

If you would like to find out more about the history of the Christmas Tree, check out this link:

http://www.christmasarchives.com/trees.html

Please listen to this link-the pictures are misleading but listen to the song "It's Christmas with a Capital C"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ

Click below - This is what it is all about

http://www.andiesisle.com/thefirstchristmasgift.hs.html

It should be noted, that since this issue has run its course, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber wanted to clarify, correct, adjust their statements made to me directly, and made this statement to the Ministerium President (who will soon become the Zephyrhills Chamber President in the new term, Tim Mitchell) that serves Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

You will note however the title remains the same.

Please share your comments, we would love to share that with the communities where we live in Pasco County.

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Attention Seniors ... November 28th, at 11am there will be a new stop for seniors in town. Wesley Chapel Church of the Nazarene presents BENEFIT BRUNCH, a bi-weekly event where seniors may come for presentations on topics that pertain to senior living, FREE FOOD, beverages, and an opportunity to meet new friends. Our first event will be sponsored by SkyMed, and the SkyMed Travel Club (you can find out more about SkyMed from the link below on our website). If you would like to RSVP, you may do so on our contact page. SEE YOU THERE!

You may have seen us at the Harvest Festival, the booth was right across from the Sheriff group taking finger prints for child protection files. Needless to say, we felt very safe! Curtis and Pastor Paul were tossing the fish and urchins with the kids into the blue bowls. The dust was flying! We handed out over 150 promotional cards about Wesley's REEF and cards about Friday Night in the Light starting in January. You will find the sign out front of the church should you be driving by... yes, we are that church across from the Pasco New River Library... come and see us at the REEF on Sunday!