This Christmas 2023 Roger and I are in the USA. It’s become our second home now. A big thank you to our new and special friends here!
And a big thank you to all our dear friends and family at home in the UK, too.
We are blessed to have you all.
As we would have difficulty sending cards this year, we decided to make a video together. It started with me writing a poem. For us it had to be about the true meaning of Christmas, even though this season is largely a secular holiday now.
Many Christians believe that Jesus was probably not born in the month of December….more likely in September or October.
Christmas in December was a replacement for a pagan winter festival and it seems to be returning to its roots.
However, there are many who still say that “Jesus is the reason for the season!”
Here is the link to the video we have made to celebrate this season and to send our Christmas love and blessings to you all. The words following the video are the script, based on selected Gospel accounts and my poem.
May 2024 bring new blessings to us all.
The Christmas Story
The Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.
Matthew 2:1-2
The Shepherds
And there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
Luke 2: 8-16
A Christmas Poem
As I reflect this Christmas and worship who You are
I think about the Magi and that bright shining star
Wise men set out to follow and make a journey long
The sky was dark and full of stars, but one star sang Your song
Then, in some fields, near Bethlehem,great singing filled the air
The brilliance of angels - God’s host had gathered there
Where shepherds heard amazing things, as music to their ears
And left their sheep to journey, in spite of all their fears
So, to both wise and simple, God’s signs were in His sky
By sight and sound for all to know His glory coming nigh
And, in a darkened stable, God’s Word had come to earth
His Light and Love were shining forth the glory of His birth
A birth of great redemption, to free the hearts of men
From all their darkened thinking, so they could live again
As if in Eden’s garden, where once with God man dwelt
Their God had come again to earth - and so the humble knelt
They knelt in adoration - yet he was so, so small
A weak and helpless baby - one born to save us all
How could this gentle Mary, with Joseph at her side
Know in her heart that He was God, while in her arms He cried
She nursed our world’s Redeemer and called You by Your Name
Jesus, Jesus, she loved You - she couldn’t be the same
Once she had looked into Your eyes and tried to understand
What majesty she’d brought to birth by God’s Almighty Hand
Oh Father, perfect Father, we thank You for Your Son
Your Word who spoke this world to life, before it had begun
The Magi recognised Him, the shepherds bowed the knee
Your Word made Flesh in Jesus for all the world to see
And so we, too, adore Him and open up our hearts
That we might still receive the Life that He alone imparts
Oh Jesus - please forgive us, for we have gone astray
Come once again Lord Jesus - come to our world today.
Jesus – God’s Living Word
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-5, 14
The Bakery 