Serve Our Lord...

The Words of Jeremiah:

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD , that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:5–6; cf. 33:14–15)

Carol: “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains”

Far, far away on Judea’s plains,

Shepherds of old heard the joyous strains:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

Sweet are these strains of redeeming love,

Message of mercy from heav’n above:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

Lord, with the angels we too would rejoice;

Help us to sing with the heart and voice:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

Hasten the time when, from ev’ry clime,

Men shall unite in the strains sublime:

Glory to God, Glory to God,

Glory to God in the highest;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men;

Peace on earth, goodwill to men!

Keeping Baby Warm

by Lynda H. Laughlin

It was an inexpensive dime-store Nativity set, and he was only three years old. His back was toward me, but I could see that his chubby hands were busily working on something at the old table.

“What are you doing?” I asked him impatiently, annoyed at him for touching the decorations when he had been told not to.

As I started toward the scene of his latest mischief, he turned toward me with wide blue eyes filling and a single tear starting down his cherubic cheek. Then I saw it. A carefully folded tissue had been tenderly placed over the small ceramic infant.

“Baby Jesus was cold, Mommy,” he whispered.

Ten years have passed, and the tiny Nativity set has been replaced by a much larger one. But this year, as every year, I found a carefully folded tissue covering the baby Jesus. I think I know who did it, and I hope that he never stops.

A Christmas Prayer

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father,

Help us remember the birth of Jesus,

that we may share in the song of the angels,

the gladness of the shepherds,

and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate

and open the door 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

which Christ brings,

and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning

make us happy to be thy children,

and Christmas evening bring us to our beds

with grateful thoughts,

forgiving and forgiven,

for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.