The Story of Christmas

Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

  Long lay the world in sin and error shining, 'til he appeared and the soul felt his birth. 

 A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.....

FALL ON YOUR KNEES... oh hear the angels calling..

 OH NIGHT!!! OH NIGHT!!!! SO DEVINE....Oh Night so Devine...

The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to Mary of Nazareth. Mary was pure in heart and body and the angel said, "Hail Mary, full of Grace. Fear not! You have been specially chosen by God and will conceive and bring forth a child whose name will be Jesus. He will be the living son of God and His Kingdom will have no end. The Holy Spirit will descend upon you and the child will be called holy being born of the will of God, not of man".

Before the angel departed, he promised Mary that her cousin Elizabeth would have a child and he too, would be a messenger of the Lord.

Mary married Joseph of the family of David and, as the Emperor Caesar Augustus had decreed that all people should be counted, they had to travel to Bethlehem, the city of David.

The city was crowded and at every inn they called to they were turned away. But there was one innkeeper who felt sorry for them and showed they a stable where they could find shelter for the night. And so it came to pass that the baby Jesus was born to Mary in a stable.

Nearby, angels appeared to shepherds watching their sheep and said, "we bring you good tidings of great joy for there is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is the Christ".

The shepherds hurried to this blessed child, and the heavenly host sang, praising God, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men".

The Three Wise Men

Three wise men were following a bright new star from the East that was leading them to the birthplace of Jesus. Stopping at King Herod’s palace, they asked the King where the Prince of Peace would be born. Herod said he didn’t know and sent them on their way, but, filled with anger and fear, he questioned his priests who told him that, according to the prophets, the Saviour of the people would be born in Bethlehem.

The star led the wise men to the baby Jesus. They presented him with gifts of God, the symbol of a king; Frankincense, the symbol of a spiritual leader; Myrrh, a sign of the terrible death Jesus would suffer.

Late at night, an angel came to Joseph in a dream, warning him that King Herod, fearing the newborn King, planned to kill the infant Jesus. Joseph woke Mary and they fled to Egypt. The following day, Herod sent out an army to kill every boy child up to the age of two years, so fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah;

"A voice was heard in Ramah sobbing and loudly lamenting. It was Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they were no more."

Later, in Egypt, another angel appeared to Joseph, telling him of the death of the wicked King and that they should return to Nazareth.

A prayer for this Millennium

Today we celebrate two thousand years of Christ.
And I pray,
Two thousand years
of Christ
enfold all creation,
encircle the earth.
Two thousand graces
of Christ
flow in the veins
of all living things.
O Christ
of the two thousand years
bring peace to all nations,
embrace every heart!
May Christ
of the two thousand years
bless you and yours today,
and all through the coming year!


 

Silent Night

Silent Night, Holy Night

All is calm, All is bright

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Silent Night, Holy Night

Shepherds quake at the sight

Glory streams from Heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia

Christ the Savior is born

Christ the Savior is born.

Little  Donkey

Little Donkey , Little Donkey on the dusty road

Got to keep on plodding onwards wit your precious load

Been a longtime little donkey through the winters night

Don't give up now little donkey, Bethlehem's in sight.

Ring out those bells tonight, Bethlehem, Bethlehem

Follow that star tonight. Bethlehem, Bethlehem

Little donkey, little Donkey had a heavy day

Little donkey carry Mary safely on her way.

Mary's Boy Child

Long time ago in Bethlehem so the Holy Bible say

Mary's Boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day

Hark now hear the Angels sing, A new king born today

And man shall live forever more because of Christmas Day

Trumpets sound and Angels sing, Listen to what they say

That man shall wife for ever more because of Christmas Day

While shepherds watched their flocks by night

They see a bright new shining star. They hear a choir of

angels sing. The music seems to come from afar

Now Joseph and his wife Mary came to Bethlehem that night

They find no place to born the child not a single room was in sight.

Trumpets sound and Angels sing, Listen to what they say

That man shall live forever more because of Christmas Day.

Lest in our fast moving times we ever forget the true meaning of our celebrations in the coming weeks, pause and take a few moments to read the poem.

Bethlehem of Judea


A little child,
A shining star.
A stable rude,
The door ajar.

Yet in that place,
So crude, forlorn,
The Hope of all
The world was born.

Author Unknown

THE PRESENT

The poor little boy was as sad as could be.
He had no little present for under the tree.
"Oh my Mum and my Daddy work so hard for me.
I have nothing to give them to thank them you see"

But later, alone, on his small little bed,
He took bright colored paper and long bits of thread,
And he tied up a parcel with nothing inside,
And he crept down the stairs when the parcel was tied.

When he awoke the next day, he went down to the tree,
He saw Mummy and Daddy, as glad as can be,
"We got perfume, a tie, and a clock for the shelf,
But your present was special - you made it yourself,
And your bright little parcel, all tied up and small,
Was filled up with love, the best present of all".


Christy Kenneally.