THE SUN RULES IN DAYLIGHT HOURS

The Sun rules in daylight hours

Shining light across the shadow

The Moon rules over the tides

In their perpetual ebb and flow

But God rules in the heavens

In benevolence over all below

Uncanny Christmas Tales – (020) A Winter’s Tale

 

It was in sixteenth century Germany, or so the legend has it, in a town called Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt.

That the founder of the protestant church, Martin Luther, was the first to decorate a Christmas tree with lighted candles.

Apparently when he was walking home through the forest one dark and frosty winter’s night, his attention was drawn to the myriad of bright stars that he could see sparkling and twinkling through the branches of the trees.

The beauty of the nights display had a great effect on him, and he proceeded home very excited.

When he arrived home he relayed to his family what he had seen and what had excited him so and almost immediately he set about decorating his Christmas tree with candles and then to his families surprise he lit them.

Goodness only knows what his family thought, possibly that he was possessed, and what of the other people in the town, what did they think of him and his antics?

It probably caused as much consternation than the reformation.

THERE’S NO BETTER TIME THAN CHRISTMAS

 

There’s no better time than Christmas

I’ve always believed it to be so

When we remember Christ the saviour

Born two thousand years ago

 

There’s no better time than Christmas

When we celebrate his birth

In the sanctuary of a candlelit church

We rejoice for all we’re worth

 

There’s no better time than Christmas

To look beneath ageing skin

Of any of the old souls in the season

And still find a child within

 

There’s no better time than Christmas

I’ve always believed it to be so

When we remember Christ the saviour

Born two thousand years ago

CHRISTMAS SKY

 

The winter stage is dressed in tones of white

Everywhere is quiet everywhere is bright

Houses are adorned with lights of every hue

To celebrate the Christmas hullaballoo

And the starry sky on a frost filled night

Is in truth the most wonderful sight

A sky that held the star they had to follow

Over two thousand Christmas skies ago

CHRISTMAS DAY IS ALMOST HERE

 

Christmas day is almost here

The time of year

I hold so dear

 

When to tradition we must adhere

When to every ear

We are sincere

 

A time of goodwill and cheer

A time to care

A time to share

 

Christmas is when we banish fear

Keep close those near

And those dear

 

Christmas day is almost here

The time of year

When we revere

DECEMBER SKY

 

Under the rich December sky

Breath plumed in the frost filled air

The winter sky sparkled with stars

Like diamonds stitched to the curtain of night

The moon was almost full

And from that December moon

The lunar light bathed the landscape

So that light sparkled on the ice crystals

Creating a myriad of twinkling stars

To mimic their celestial cousins

ONE OF THE TWELVE - JOHN BROTHER OF JAMES

 

One of the twelve

John the beloved disciple

Son of Zebedee

Son of Salome

Named by Christ

With his brother James

Sons of thunder

A simple fisherman

Turned to a fisher of men

By Jesus of Galilee

One of the four Evangelists

John was the only disciple

To witness the crucifixion

While dying on the cross,

Jesus instructed him

To take care

Of his mother Mary

Witness of the ascension

Who spread the Gospels

Far and wide

John died at Ephesus

Have lived to an old age

The only un-martyred apostle

 

Feast Day December 27^th

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 26TH OF DECEMBER

 

Remember, Remember the 26^th of December

The feast of Stephen is the day

Celebrated in a very special way

In the UK it’s known as Boxing Day

OH GOD TO YOU WE PRAY

 

Oh God to you we pray

To let peace on earth come our way

Oh God to you we pray

Would that we could have our way

Oh God grant this day

That peace on earth will come our way

Oh God we hear you say

That peace on earth will come our way

If we could from this day

Just live Christmas every day

 

Inspired by Helen Steiner Rice (1900-1981)

THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

 

The Christmas Angel comes each year

To spread around the Christmas cheer

Though the angels seldom appear

They are still there so do not fear

And listening with the keenest ear

You will never ever be able to hear

The Christmas angel standing near

But she will look over those near and dear

As she spreads around the Christmas cheer

Then the heavenly presence we revere

Twill be gone again until next year

 

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT

 

Silent night, holy night

Such a sweet carol

Neither rousing nor stirring

But moving and inspiring

A carol to unite in adoration

A song to touch the soul

Poignant and joyous

Holy music at its most powerful

Simple and unpretentious

TWO THOUSAND YEARS HAVE PASSED

 

Two thousand years have passed

Since you died on that cross of pain

Dying for our salvation

Which began your holy reign

 

Two thousand years have passed

And when Christmas comes again

We will celebrate the day of you birth

Which began your holy reign

ONE OF THE TWELVE - DOUBTING THOMAS

 

One of the twelve

Doubting Thomas

Sometimes called

Didymus the Twin

Or the Apostle of India

Was a carpenter by trade

Witness of the ascension

Who was gently rebuked

After the resurrection

For his scepticism by Christ

Before exclaiming

“My Lord and My God,”

Thomas was the only witness

Of the Assumption

Of Mary into heaven

He then spread the Gospels

Far and wide

But was stabbed to death

With a spear

While in India

At a place called Calamine

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 21ST OF DECEMBER

Remember, Remember the 21^st of December

St Thomas the apostle is about

Because that is the special day

When St Thomas is without a doubt

DECEMBER

 

December’s wind is bitter

December's moon is cold

December's gem is turquoise

December’s year is old

 

December’s sun is cool

December’s water is ice

December’s number is twelve

December smells of spice

 

December’s season is winter

December’s green is holly

December’s season is festive

December people are jolly

 

December’s shops are full

December’s shows are on

December’s drink is eggnog

December smells of cinnamon

 

December’s days are short

December’s nights are long

December’s tone is joy

December sings a Christmas song

HE SLEEPS A KINGLY SLEEP

 

Oh prince of peace

Humbly lain on hay

Born to the world

On this special day

 

Shepherds, beasts

And kings of earth

Pay homage

At the saviours birth

 

While the Christ child

With angelic face

Sleeps a kingly sleep

In this humble place

CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS

 

Christmas, Christmas,

A time of peace and joy

When God gave us his son

Jesus the holy infant boy

But kids don’t think of Jesus

They just want the latest toy

 

Christmas, Christmas,

When God gave us a saviour

A redeemer for all the world

Now it is the season of plethora

When the rich can feel richer

And the poor just feel the poorer

 

Christmas, Christmas,

God was your sacrifice in vain

When you gave the world your son

Only to see his body slain

If only we had not lost our way

Will we be better when he comes again?

SILVER STRANDS

 

It sparkles there for all to see

Threaded round the Christmas tree

Silver tinsel shinning bright

Silver strands of Christian light

It shines and sparkles as a symbol

Of the love Christ has for us all

A strand of love, looped and curled

Threaded all around the world

And when you look at a Christmas tree

Silver strands of love you’ll see

ALL THE CHRISTMAS SAINTS AND ANGELS

 

All the Christmas Saints and Angels

Work behind the scenes

To orchestrate the season

Like precision built machines

 

They make the tinsel sparkle

They make the music play

They fill out hearts with love

As we wait for the saviours day

 

All the Christmas Saints and Angels

Pulling the strings unseen

Their purpose is a simple one

To fulfil all our Christmas dreams

SAVIOUR, AT YOUR BIRTH

 

Saviour, at your birth

The angels softly sang

Heralding your arrival

To save the fate of man

 

Now your birthday is near

We hear the church bells rang

Calling your children hither

To sing the thanks of man

MELCHIOR, CASPAR AND BALTHAZAR

Three kings from the east

Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar

Enlightened kings of wisdom

On their great quest travelled far

Three wise men from the east

Who followed a bright star

Three kings bearing gifts

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh

Three kings from the east

Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar

Three kings of great wealth

Bowed low before the saviour 

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 13TH OF DECEMBER

 

Remember, Remember the 13th of December

And put your lighted candles out

Because that is the very special day

And light is what St Lucy is all about

DO YOU BELIEVE IN SANTA?

 

Do you believe in Santa?

It’s a yes or no answer

Have you never seen him?

He is there none the less

He is in the smiling faces

Or people that you meet

And in the children’s laughter

As they rush along the street

He is in the hearty handshakes

And the heart felt hellos

He is at the happy reunions

And the tearful farewells

He is in the choirs voices

Singing praise to the lord

And in the hearts of volunteers

Who feed the homeless

He is the presence of good

He is the Christmas spirit

CHRIST IS IN CHRISTMAS

 

I Remember in December

That the reason for the season

Is that Christ is in Christmas

And he is there for all of us

And I remember the son God gave

To the world he would save

When love was born

On that first Christmas morn

THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL

 

If you seek a special gift

The greatest gift of all

Don’t look beneath your tree

It was never there at all

The greatest Christmas gift

Was given to us all

The Christ child in a manger

In a lowly cattle stall

CHRISTMAS ALPHABET

 

Angels from on high

Behold we bring news

Christ is coming

Do not be afraid

Emmanuel is coming

Follow yonder star

Go to Bethlehem

Hosanna God be praised

 

In the town of Bethlehem

Jesus was born

Kneeling shepherds before him

Lowing beasts in attendance

Magi from the east

Noel, noel, noel

 

On the first morning

Peace came to the world

Quelling fear and pain

Rekindling the light

Saviour son of God

The prince of peace was born

Uniting the world

 

Verily the most

Wondrous of times

Xmas festival of love

Yule tide of good will

Zion brought to earth

A TIME TO REMEMBER

 

It was an unforgettable morning

After the winter sun reluctantly rose

And the new dawn broke gently

To light the frosted landscape

And heralding the holy morn

Bathing cosy homes with light

Awaking children from their repose

As grown-ups wipe sleep away

Or tiredly yield to a yawn

And so the day has begun

Joyful yells and screams ensue

As gifts are opened frantically

Wrappings scattered here and there

It was an unforgettable morning

Though soon enough it became forgot

And as the day progresses

The latest must haves cast aside

Attention turns to the Christmas feast

When eyes are bigger than bellies

And indigestion comes on all

How different to the first morn

When in a strange and distant land

Lit by a star of brightest hue

And sheltered in a humble stable

God lay in human baby form

Watched over by lowly beasts

And shepherds stood in reverent pose

Three travellers from the east

Offered gifts to God made man

So as you enjoy your seasonal repast

Take time and spare a thought

Raise your hearts and a grateful glass

And remember the saviour’s birth

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

 

Now once more

The year has turned

The advent candle

Long since burned

Hearts darken

As we count the cost

And the season’s spirit

Is all now lost

But it need not

All be dark and gloom

Light can again

Illuminate the room

So here is a philosophy

For all of us

God is for life

Not just for Christmas

A SAINT IS FOR LIFE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

 

Often the true meaning of Christmas passes us by

The night the holy star appeared bright in the sky

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ the savior

But others are also remembered at this time of year

St Lucia’s day is on the thirteenth day of December

In fourth century Sicily Lucia was a virgin martyr

Lucia means “light” very apt for a Christmas saint

She is also called upon to cure any eye complaint

St Thomas’s day is on the twenty first of December

The shortest and darkest day in our modern calendar

Traditionally the poor would all go out “thomasing”

For wheat flour and other Christmas “goodening”

Not the first saint you’d associate with Christmas

He is perhaps better known as “doubting Thomas”

Because he at first questioned Christ’s resurrection

He is patron saint of the carpenter and stone mason

On the twenty-six of the month St Stephens day falls

Boxing Day or the feast of Stephen in hallowed halls

Chosen by the disciples to help spread Christianity

He was put to death by the zealots for his profanity

The most famous Christmas time saint of all must be

St Nicholas the Bishop of Myra now a part of Turkey

He was a very shy man and the kindest man to know

When he threw coins through a poor family’s window

They landed in a stocking hanging over the fire to dry

So that’s where it all began if you ever wondered why

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE SIXTH OF DECEMBER

 

Remember, remember the sixth of December

And put your red boots out

Because that is the very special day

When St Nicholas is about

OH JESUS SON OF MARY

 

Its time to celebrate

Our saviour’s birth

Its time to mark

The day he came to earth

 

Its Christmas again

Its time to rejoice

Its time to sing

And to our praise give voice

 

So praise the Prince of peace

Our majesty of mercy

Hallelujah Son of God

Oh Jesus Son of Mary

THE HOLY INFANT

 

In the presence of the lowly beasts

The prince of peace was born

And to his earthy joyous cries

They bowed low head and horn

The Shepherds stood in wonder

As the child they stood before

The child the angel told of

Lay before them in the straw

Countless miles the Magi came

Having traveled from the east

In lavish robes they knelt before him

And bowed lowly like the beasts

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

Were lain reverently before his stall

Precious gifts brought from afar

For the holy infant born for us all

HIS GIFT

 

For the lowly beast in the stable chill

And the humble shepherd on the hill

Wise and wealthy Magi from the east

The purpose of every Christmas feast

Is to rejoice and feel your spirits lift

Exchanging love when exchanging gift

For when Jesus lay in that stable stall

He gave us his love, the greatest gift of all