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.

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