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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

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...

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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

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  1. 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

  2. Christmas is... anticipating ‘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))

  3. Christmas is... For welcoming 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 there That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small, Could get in the inn there no lodging at all English traditional;

  4. The time draws near 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)

  5. Christmas is... for giving and receiving 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) 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) ... 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

  6. Christmas is... for giving and receiving 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 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

  7. Open the boxlift out the tissue-clad olive wood figuresunwrap themplace them gently in the palm of your hand Feast again on their beautythe grain of the woodcurving and interweavinggold and chestnut brown, Mary, Joseph and baby in a manger Feel their smoothnessbreath in the scent of the old gnarled treesweigh the figures gently in your handsandthink of the wood carvers of Bethlehem who crafted them Remember their sorrow imprisonedin the grey concrete box of Bethlehem todayand remember too their joyBethlehemitescradling the Christ childhis arms reaching out to the world God, how do we pick him up? Barbara Calvert. Christmas is... for miracles Open Bethlehem 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 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

  8. “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) The bus shelter nativity painting, by the artist Andrew Gadd, used with permission of churchads.net Visit their website www.churchads.net

  9. Christmas starts with Christ 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 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

  10. 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 My 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) Christmas is... for everyone 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)

  11. 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

  12. Peace on Earth 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)) When the song of the angels is still, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flocks The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken. To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among the people, To make music in the heart Thurman, Howard. “The Work of Christmas”, in The Mood of Christmas& Other Celebrations, Friends United Press, 2001. www.fum.org/shop

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