Merry Christmas 2025. Here's another yule log.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! Here's another illustration of the gathering of the yule log, following the one I posted earlier this month. I think it's interesting that this one features three women, one of whom is decidedly not helping with the efforts. 

This is an undated trifold Christmas card that has "All kind thoughts and wishes sincere For a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" printed inside. No manufacturer is listed. It just states "MADE IN U.S.A." I'm guessing it's from the 1920s or 1930s.

If you have a hankering to browse a lot of Christmas ephemera today while drinking eggnog and celebrating Yuletide, this is the most up-to-date directory I have of all of Papergreat's ephemera posts.

And here's Nebula with today's card.

One orange cat to beam up, Scotty

Merry Christmas Eve from Bandit, who likes to stand 

right in front of the Christmas laser lights. 

He's not helping with the perception that orange male cats have a few loose bulbs in their string of lights, 

if you know what I mean.

Historic Montoursville church is closing its doors

Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, is the subject of this undated, never-used postcard from my collection that was published by Merrimack Picture Post Card Co., of North Springfield, Vermont.

I'm posting it because I read on Facebook over the weekend that the church is closing its doors on Christmas Eve (tomorrow night).

Our family connection to the church is slight. We attended services there for a very short period in the early 1970s when living on Mulberry Street. But the tiny church on Loyalsock Avenue is iconic, perhaps the most beautiful one in Montoursville. Although it can be hard to spot because it's so small and tucked away on a mostly residential street, it's always been a landmark for me when driving back through town on infrequent visits.

Steve Bagwell, who is Montoursville's mayor but also an avid historian and talented photographer, posted this message on Facebook, along with a number of beautiful photos of the church's interior:

"The Church of Our Saviour has been celebrating Christmas services since 1870. That would make this year the 155th time and it will be the last. The church is a special place, it looks very much like it would have shortly after the Civil War. The last Christmas celebration will be on Christmas eve at 7:00."

According to the Society of Architectural Historians, the church was designed by the Rev. John Henry Hopkins Jr. That website notes: "Boldly articulated framing members and long vertical boards, an elongated bell-cote, and a sharply peaked vestibule give the small church a tall and imposing presence on a crowded residential street. The church's small size dictated its nave plan."

An online PDF from earlier this year states: "RESOLVED, that the dissolution of the parish of Church of Our Saviour, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, as approved by a vote of at least 2/3 of the parish members and as recommended by The Rt. Rev. Audrey C. Scanlan and Canon Chad Linder, Canon for Finance and Operations, and, subject to confirmation by resolution of this 154th Convention, be and is hereby approved."

I'm not sure how it might happen, but we can only hope that the building is preserved and maintained for its great historic value, even if it will no longer serve its function as a church.

UPDATE: Bagwell posted some additional beautiful photos of the church's exterior.