It’s Christmas time. You can tell this by the lights, the music and the outpouring of generosity.

Volunteers around the community banded together to decorate and light up main street including empty storefronts as part of a Hallmark Christmas in Worland. (You can read and see more about this on A12.)

Since Pioneer Square got lit up on Thanksgiving weekend nearly every night I have noticed groups of people walking through the park and walking downtown enjoying the Christmas décor.

The photos on A12 just do not do it justice so I encourage you to take some time and stroll down main street and enjoy the lights and painted windows before the season is gone.

The efforts of the impromptu committee and all the many volunteers that made this happen are to be commended. The intent was to brighten up the downtown and main street and bring some extra cheer to a pandemic-ridden year.

The Christmas cheer that abounds is a perfect way to end the year. In addition to making Worland a Hallmark Christmas with lights and décor, the community once again went above and beyond for children and seniors in the Worland area to have a merry Christmas.

We fielded several calls from people looking for the angel trees for the Washakie Ministerial Associations Christmas baskets. People have been filled with the giving spirit.

The Northern Wyoming News’ Silver Tree for Seniors was a huge success this year with more than 40 seniors receiving gifts from the community. For the first year I was able to participate in a small part of seeing some of those gifts distributed. The Worland Senior Center delivered some of the gifts Friday afternoon in addition to doing some caroling while delivering.

It really is better to give than to receive. The joy expressed by those receiving the gifts did my heart good so rest assured we will have our tree up and shining again next year.

Also bringing Christmas merriment has been the recent school Christmas concerts in Worland and Ten Sleep. Things were different this year, with limited seating available, different venues but the schools are finding new ways to do the traditional things to bring a semblance of normalcy to this Christmas season.

And then came the Christmas star, with so many people looking heavenward Monday night to see Jupiter and Saturn align to be the brightest star in the low sky. Was this the star the Magi saw so many years ago to signal the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior? Possibly.

But in a year where we have not had many shining moments, Monday was a perfect start to the Christmas week.

Luke 2:12-14 (KJV) “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV), “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Merry Christmas

Karla Pomeroy