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“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present,
hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow
with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.” – Agnes M. Pharo

“And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you:
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger.” – St. Luke ii. 10-12

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred,
and we are better throughout the year for having,
in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

“Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind;
Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.” – Helen Steiner Rice

“Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day.” – Helen Steiner Rice

“Heap on the wood!-the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.” – Sir Walter Scott

“Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month,
hat the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day;
and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven’s making.” – Leigh Hunt

“Isn’t it funny that at Christmas something in you gets so lonely for –
I don’t know what exactly, but it’s something that you don’t mind
so much not having at other times.” – Kate L. Bosher

Music: ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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“Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world –
stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death –
and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen
hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?
Then you can keep Christmas.”

Quote by: Dr. Henry Van Dyke

Music: ‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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“At Christmas A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season’s here;
Then he’s thinking more of others than he’s thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime…”

Music: ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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“I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day.
We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness
and humanity of the whole year. As for me,
I like to take my Christmas a little at a time,
all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays –
let them overtake me unexpectedly –
waking up some find morning and suddenly saying to myself:
“Why, this is Christmas Day!” ”

David Grayson

Music: ‘white_xmas’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven,
and crowns another year with peace and good will.
Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wisemen.
Close the doors of hate and open the doors of love all over the world?
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
And the Christmas evening bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus? sake.

Amen

Written by: Robert Louis Stevenson

Music: ‘It Came Upon A Midnight Clear’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth . . .
may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us.
As you chose the lowly, the outcasts, and the poor to receive
the greatest news the world had ever known,
so may we worship you in meekness of heart.
May we also remember our brothers and sisters less fortunate
than ourselves in this season of giving.
Amen.

Music: ‘white_xmas’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You’ve done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
“Come, good and faithful servant,”
Your Master says, “Well done.”

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day!

Submitted by: Susan

Music: ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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Somehow, not only for Christmas,
but all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.

John Greenleaf Whittier

How many observe
Christ’s birthday!
How few, his precepts!
O! ’tis easier to keep
Holidays than
Commandments.

Benjamin Franklin

This is Christmas: not the tinsel,
not the giving and receiving,
not even the carols, but the humble heart
that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ.

Frank McKibben

Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love,
a time when the love of God and love of our
fellow men should prevail over all hatred and
bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds
and the spirit of our lives
manifest the presence of God.

George F. McDougall

Music: ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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It’s christmas time once more
let’s praise the king we adore
raise our hands, loudly sing
praise and honour to the King

Jesus Christ is born today
our light, our life, our way!!
step back from the busy crowd
take a breath and say out loud

All praise all honor all glory to you
Saviour Jesus we love you
The greatest gift to give this time
is to share this joy this Glorious time

the most perfect gift to give
is the touch of HIS love, HIS life, you live
more precious than expensive scents and gold
just capture the Christmas Spirit of old

Let the Spirit of Christmas fall all around
Let The name of the KING be the only sound
Let everything Praise HIM so
Jesus “we love you so”

Reach out, touch that lonely hand
let them feel you care, let them know
you can make a difference, spread the glow
of our Savior’s love you show

LORD! fill us with your love, your light!!!
following you, life is so right
Let your Spirit fall on us from above
Let us all spread and spread “Christmas Love”

Singing Alleluia Christ is born
Alleluia it’s Christmas morn
Praise and Glory to the KING

the Angels of Christmas appear
Oh how your Glorious Spirit is so near!!!
Your Precious Spirit spreads Glory from above
And YOUR LOVE, surrounds us, so awesome, such love.

Spread HIS LOVE to everyone
Show HIS LOVE this day
Let them know HE IS THE ONE!!!!!
WE LOVE, WE FOLLOW EVERY DAY!!!
And raise your hands and proudly say
“WE LOVE YOU JESUS” HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

To God be the Glory in Jesus name ….AMEN

May God Bless YOU and keep you in HIS care
love your brother in CHRIST

Submitted by: Stacey

Music: ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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They left their home, the new cradle still swinging from the rafters. Night after night the aroma of fresh-cut wood had filled the room as Joseph had patiently fashioned the tiny cradle, using the same chisel and saw he usually put down at dusk.

Now Joseph wiped the tears from Mary’s cheeks and shut the door behind them. “It’ll be okay,” he told her, as he cinched up their belongings on the donkey.

“Joseph, can’t we wait a few days? The baby could come any time.” She didn’t want to leave home. Not now.

“We’ve waited for the baby as long as we dare.” He was ready to get on the road. “We have to leave today or I’ll be arrested for not appearing in Bethlehem for the census.”

“At least bring the cradle, Joseph,” she pleaded. “I want the baby to have something nice.”

“No, it’ll have to stay behind. The baby will be rocking in it soon enough.”

Joseph tugged hard at the donkey’s halter. No luck. “Come on, animal,” he shouted, whacking it on the rear end to get it moving. Grudgingly the donkey responded. With one hand Joseph led the donkey, with the other he steadied Mary on the steep incline, slowly enough to accommodate her ungainly progress down the winding road which led from Nazareth’s height. In the house above, the cradle hung still.

Five days and ninety bone-weary miles later, Joseph searched the small stable where they were staying on the outskirts of crowded Bethlehem. Mary’s time would be soon now. He was careful to keep his lamp from igniting the old straw. He finally settled on an ancient stone manger for the baby’s bed, cut from the wall of the limestone cave which housed the animals. He reached in to scoop the last gritty bits of straw from the manger’s dank bottom. “That’ll have to do,” he muttered. He filled the trough with an armful of fresh fodder, which he covered with a folded blanket to keep the animals away.

It was well past midnight by the time Mary finished washing and wrapping her new baby. Now she lifted him gently into his new bed. Joseph put his arm around her shoulders as they gazed at the sleeping infant.

Mary touched the tiny fingers. “That cradle you spent so much time on would be real nice right now, Joseph.” She looked up at the cave’s low ceiling. “You could hang it somewhere. No baby I know has a cradle like that. It’s fit for a king.”

Joseph grinned. “Not every boy has a carpenter for a dad,” he said. But he wondered. Why couldn’t little Jesus be home in that cradle? Why does this special child the angel told Mary and him about have to be born in this smelly stable? A hill-country carpenter’s home is bad enough. Why here? Why Bethlehem?

The answer wasn’t long in coming. An older boy poked his head in the door, startling the couple from their quiet moment. “Is there a baby in here?” he mumbled apologetically. Then he saw the tiny child. Mary picked her baby up to shield the infant from his eyes. The face disappeared.

Mary’s eyes mirrored Joseph’s concern. He strode to the cave’s opening. He could hear a distant call, “Over here, Jake found him!” In the darkness, Joseph could make out a handful of forms coming toward him. He gripped his stout wooden staff and stood resolutely at the door.

As they approached the stable he could see they were shepherds. Joseph’s grip on the staff tightened. The oldest one spoke hesitantly. “Can we come in? We have … ah … come to see the Christ-child.”

Joseph glanced at Mary. He could feel a tingle move down his spine. This was more than an accident. The whole fantastic course of events was far more than an accident. He nodded and stepped back into the stable. “Yes, come in. You are welcome.”

The shepherds shuffled into the cramped cave. The youngest pushed in alongside the donkey to get a better view. They knelt. “God be praised!” The old shepherd spoke with deepest reverence.

“It’s just like the angel told us,” another whispered in awe. “‘Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,’ the angel said.”

“Imagine! An angel . . . talking to us!” the old man interjected with rising excitement. “None of the uppity-ups in this town would lower themselves to talk to us shepherds,” he added. “But an angel did . . . And the child is right here in a stable so we can come and see him.” Rivulets of tears were inching down the shepherd’s weathered face.

Joseph stared at the old man. “How did you find us?” he finally asked.

The boy who had first peeked in answered. “The angel said, ‘Unto you is born ….’”

“Yes, to us!” The beaming old man couldn’t contain himself.

The boy spoke deliberately, as if to remember the exact words: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior …”

“That’s here–Bethlehem–David’s birthplace,” the littlest boy interrupted. He thrust out his chest proudly. “King David was a shepherd, too, you know.”

The older boy continued. ” . . . a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

“The Christ, the Messiah . . . He’s the one!” The old man pointed to the baby.

“The angel was very specific,” the young man went on. “‘And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’” He grinned. “How could we miss? We just ran into town and checked every stable until we found you . . . found him.” The boy paused. “How many newborns in Bethlehem do you know with a cattle manger for a cradle?”

Joseph chuckled. So that was it. The heavenly Father Himself had provided a bed for His child. A special cradle. A sign to these crude shepherds that God cared for them too.

Joseph squeezed Mary’s hand very tightly.

By: Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Written By: Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Music: ‘white_xmas’ © Yuko Ohigashi

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