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 fir 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 that he was possessed possibly.

And what of the other people in the town what did they think of him and his antics.

It probably caused more consternation than the reformation.

THE FIRST NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Bethlehem,

Joseph was searching for a room for them

He searched and he searched all-round the town

But nowhere to stay for them could be found

So, they went to a stable and in a bed made of hay

The Christ child was born on the first Christmas Day

SING IN PRAISE

We stand around the Christmas tree

And sing to the Christmas melodies

We thank the lord for what we are

Standing beneath the Christmas star

To celebrate the Christ child's birth

When he came to us to save the earth 

ALL BOWED BEFORE THE NEWBORN

 

All bowed before the new-born

In that stable forlorn

Shepherds and their beasts

And the magi from the east

The noble men of wealth

Concerned about his heath

Gave gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold

Gifts his tiny hands could not hold

And at the centre of this scene

Slept the young King serene

THEY STOOD IN BREATHLESS WONDER

 

They stood in breathless wonder

At the babe so meek and mild

And with their gifts they knelt

At the feet of the holy child

CAROL OF THE BELLS

Pulled with violence

To break the silence

Choring, drawing

 

Mechanism priming

Ready for chiming

Banging, clanging

 

Momentum gaining

Timbers straining

Creaking, speaking

 

Mechanical timing

With rhythm climbing

Swaying, obeying

 

The peel resounding

A sound astounding

Ringing, singing

 

The call goes out

Around and about

Voicing, rejoicing

 

Come says the calling

Come one and all in

Morning, morning

 

Christ born this day

The Christmas bells say

Rejoicing, rejoicing 

JOSHUA, JOSHUA

 

“God with us,” or Emmanuel

“A savior” 

In Hebrew called Joshua

In Greek the name was Jesus

“The chosen one”

In Hebrew called Messiah

In Greek named Christ

Jesus Christ

The Son of God

A Jew Born in the Roman Empire

Given by God to the world

For two thousand years

Not known by a Latin name

But known by all by his name in Greek