The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man...
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Transcript of The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man...
The angel Gabriel was sent by God
to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin engaged to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of
David. The virgin’s name was Mary...
The angel said to her “Do not be
afraid, Mary, for you have found
favour with God. And now, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a
son, and you will name him Jesus.”
Luke 1: 26-27, 30-31 (NRSV)
God, our hope and our desire,
We wait for your coming
As a woman longs for the birth,
The exile for her home,
The lover for the touch of his beloved,
And the humble poor for justice
Janet Morley and Christian Aid
‘Twas the night before
Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by
the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas
soon would be there
Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863))
Christmas is... anticipating
In those days a decree went out from
Emperor Augustus that all the world
should be registered... All went to their
own towns to be registered. Joseph also
went from the town of Nazareth in
Galilee to Judea, to the city of David
called Bethlehem, because he was
descended from the house and family of
David. He went to be registered with
Mary, to whom he was engaged and
who was expecting a child.
Luke 2:1, 305 NRSV
But when they has entered the city so fair,The number of people so mighty was thereThat Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,Could get in the inn there no lodging at all
English traditional;
Christmas is... For welcoming
The time draws near the birth of Christ:
The moon is hid; the night is still;
The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the mist.
In Memoriam, Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
How many observe Christ’s birthday!How few, his precepts!
O! ‘tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
The time draws near
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we travel afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
John H Hopkins Jr. (1820-1891)
... They saw the child with Mary his
mother; and they knelt down and pad
him homage. Then, opening their
treasure chests; they offered him gifts
of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11 NRSV
Christmas is... for giving and receiving
It is Christmas every time you let God
love others through you ... yes, it is
Christmas every time you smile at your
brother and offer him your hand.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
Christmas is... for giving and receiving
But the many gifts he gives
Are all poured out from one:
Come receive the greatest gift,
The gift of God’s own son.
Graham Kendrick Copyright 1988
Make Way Music www.grahamkendrick.co.uk
Behind the tinsel
Within the tinsel shimmering, gift-wrapped sentimentality a dim light catches my eye.
I follow a light to a messy shelter, a simple coarse place where animals eat.
The stench of the beast rises like a sour incense, blending with the sounds of struggle.
Here behind the cheery cards and artificial snow is the hard, flesh-bound reality of love.
Here is the greatness of the small, God’s risk-taking life-giving love.
In the weakness of a new-born child is hope in the face of despair.
Here is the very essence of Christmas, Christ – holy, God with us, Emmanuel.
Micky Youngson
The time came for her to
deliver her child. And she gave
birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in bands of cloth,
and laid him in a manger
Luke 2:6-7 NRSV
Open the box
lift out the tissue-clad olive wood figures
unwrap them
place them gently in the palm of your hand
Feast again on their beauty
the grain of the wood
curving and interweaving
gold and chestnut brown,
Mary, Joseph and baby in a manger
Feel their smoothness
breath in the scent of the old gnarled trees
weigh the figures gently in your hands
and
think of the wood carvers of Bethlehem who crafted
them
Remember their sorrow imprisoned
in the grey concrete box of Bethlehem today
and remember too their joy
Bethlehemites
cradling the Christ child
his arms reaching out to the world
God, how do we pick him up?
Barbara Calvert.
Christmas is... for miracles
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay
Anon
Open Bethlehem
The bus shelter nativity painting,
by the artist Andrew Gadd, used
with permission of churchads.net
Visit their website
www.churchads.net
“Hope, like the gleaming taper’s light, adorns and cheers our way; and still,
as darker grows the night, emits a brighter ray. “Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774)
Born in the night,
Mary’s child,
A long way from your
home:
Coming in need,
Mary’s child
Born in a borrowed room
Geoffrey Ainger
Reproduced by permissions of Stainer 7 Bell
23 Gruniesen Road, London N3 1DZ
www.stainer.co.uk
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority
rests on his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6NRSV
Christmas starts with Christ
Christmas is... for everyoneMy idea of Christmas,
whether old-fashioned or
modern, is very simple:
loving others. Come to
think of it, why do we have
to wait for Christmas to do
that?
Bob Hope (1903-2003)
While shepherds watched their
flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
Nahum Tate (1652-1715)
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid; for see –
I am bringing you good
news of great joy for all the
people: to you is born this
day in the city of David a
Saviour, who is the
Messiah, the Lord...”
And suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest
heaven, and on earth
peace among those whom
he favours!”
Luke 2:10-11, 13-14 NRSV
Christmas is... for the world
Vasel Koleda
Glaedelig jul
Vrolijk kerstfest
Joyeux Noel
Froliche Weinachten
Kala christougena
Krismas ki subhkamma
Happy Christmas
Nollaig shona dhuit
Buon Natale
Meri Kirihmete
Wesolych Swiat
Nollaig chridheil
Feliz Navidad
Nadolig Llawen
Happy Christmas
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To
cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to
have the real spirit of Christmas
John Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933))
Peace on Earth