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