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http://www.carols.org.uk/a25-hymn-for-christmas-day.htm

The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol the 'Hymn for Christmas Day' which is also known as 'See Amid The Winter's Snow' were written by Edward Caswall (1814-1878). Caswell was the son of a vicar and attended Oxford University. In 1847 he converted to Catholic faith. He wrote original lyrics to hymns and also translated original Latin texts. The music was composed by John Goss (1800-1880). Goss was an organist at St Paul's Cathedral and a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music. He received a knighthood in 1872. In 1871 Henry Ramsden Bramley (1833-1917) and John Stainer (1840-1901) published the collection of 'Christmas Carols New and Old' in which the 'Hymn for Christmas Day' was featured.


See amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See the tender Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Chorus
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He who throned in height sublime
Sits amid the cherubim.
Chorus

Say, ye holy shepherds, say
What your joyful news today;
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?
Chorus

"As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light; [1]
Angels singing peace on earth
Told us of the Saviour's birth".
Chorus

Sacred infant, all divine,
What a tender love was thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this.
Chorus

Teach, O teach us , Holy Child,
By Thy Face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee,
In Thy Sweet humility!
Chorus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUQdSpJ3k50

Three Kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

Epiphany today; my reason for posting Three Kings.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 - Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.



Luke 12:40 - Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/advent.shtml

Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas (or sometimes from the 1st December to Christmas Day!). Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.

There are three meanings of 'coming' that Christians describe in Advent. The first, and most thought of, happened about 2000 years ago when Jesus came into the world as a baby to live as a man and die for us. The second can happen now as Jesus wants to come into our lives now. And the third will happen in the future when Jesus comes back to the world as King and Judge, not a baby.

Dear Joy and All

Hello

Hope you like this prayer.

It is beautiful reminder of the true meaning of the festive season.


"CHRISTMAS SHOPPING"


Dear Jesus,


Please forgive me for being so grumpy as I trudge through
the never-ending tasks set before me this holiday season...


My to-do list seems to keep growing with shopping, church services,
and family gatherings,


and I'm running short of time!


Restore the joy of Christmas to my heart . . .


and help me to relax each day and make time for


YOU--

my one true Source of Joy.


Take gentle care
Best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all.

Shall we not yield Him, in costly devotion
Odours of Edom and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favour secure.
Richer by far is the heart's adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROpqaec5hIM

Elvis' Christmas (Full Album)1957
:-)

O Holy Night; Ladywell Primary School 2012

On 20 November 2012, a 6yr old boy from Motherwell, Lanarkshire died after a 4 week battle with meningococcal septicaemia (meningitis).

His primary school choir recorded "O Holy Night" in their gym hall.
It reached the top 40 of the UK charts and No18 on itunes download chart.
This single raised £7000 for Meningitis Research

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buYGbafnYxQ

Thank you.

Luke 2
King James Version (KJV)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

1. Christian children, Advent bids you
meet your Lord upon his way;
watch, for now the night is waning,
soon will dawn the endless day.

2. Christian children, Jesus bids you
daily pray "Thy kingdom come;"
watch, and wait for his appearing
till he come to take you home.

3. Christian children, he anoints you
with his Spirit from above;
see then that your lamps be burning
with the fire of faith and love.

4. Christian children, when we think not
we shall hear the aweful cry,
"Go ye forth to meet the Bridegroom;
haste, for Jesus draweth nigh!"

5. Christian children, they shall meet him,
faithful children of the light;
they whose lamps are trimmed and burning,
and their garments pure and white.

6. O how blessed to fall before him!
O how blessed his praise to sing!
Love him, serve him, and adore him,
in the city of our King!

Dear All

Hello


Hope you are enjoying your preparations for Christmas.

I found this prayer:


"THE STARS THAT SHINE AT CHRISTMAS"

"The stars that shine at Christmas

Shine on throughout the year;

Jesus, born long ago,

Still gathers with us here.



We listen to his stories,

We learn to say his prayers,

We follow in his footsteps

And learn to love and share".



Take gentle care
Very best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Dear All

Hello

One of my favourite all time Christmas stories:


There is an old Mexican legend about the connection between Christmas and Poinsettia's.


There was once a poor Mexican girl called Pepita who had no present to give the the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Services.


As Pepita walked to the chapel her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up.
?He told Pepita he was sure that even the smallest gift that is given by someone who loves him will make Jesus Happy.


Pepita didn't know what she could give, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a a small bouquet.


She felt embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As she walked through the chapel to the altar, she remembered what Pedro had said.

She began to feel better, knelt down and put the bouquet at the bottom of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers.

Everyone who saw them were sure they had seen a miracle.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night.


The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are a symbol of the
Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus.

The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ and the white leaves represent his purity.



While this is only a legend, this story does tell us what we give from our heart is what matters. <3


Take gentle care
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Advent candles tell their story
as we watch and pray,
longing for the Day of Glory,
‘Come, Lord, soon,’ we say.
Pain and sorrow, tears and sadness
changed for gladness
on that Day.

Advent 2
Prophet voices loudly crying,
making pathways clear;
glimpsing glory, self-denying,
calling all to hear.
Through their message - challenged, shaken –
hearts awaken:
God is near!

Advent 3
John the Baptist, by his preaching
and by water poured,
brought to those who heard his teaching
news of hope restored:
‘Keep your vision strong and steady,
and be ready
for the Lord.’

Advent 4
Mary’s gift beyond all telling
we recall today:
Son of God within her dwelling,
born to show the way.
Who could guess the final story?
- cross and glory,
Easter day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaqoeCl_jR0

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly - King's College, Cambridge 2008



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p0T5SOAEQQ

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2010 (Carols from King's)

:-)

My favourite childrens carol:

It Was On A Starry Night

It was on a starry night, when the hills were bright
Earth lay sleeping, sleeping calm and still.
Then in a cattle shed, in a manger bed
a boy was born, king of all the world.

Chorus:
And all the angels sang for him,
the bells of heaven rang for him
for a boy was born, king of all the world.
And all the angels sang for him,
the bells of heaven rang for him
for a boy was born, king of all the world.

Soon the shepherds came that way where the baby lay
and were kneeling, kneeling by his side.
And their hearts believed again for the peace of men,
for a boy was born, king of all the world.

Dear All

Hello

Hope you are all okay.

Later on, there is "Carols from Kings" on BBC2 starting on 6-15pm until 7-30pm.

On Christmas Day morning at 10-00am until 11-00am, there will be a live traditional service broadcast from Westminster Abbey.


Take gentle care
Very best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Dear All

Hello

One of the all-time classic songs:


"I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS"


"I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

Underneath the mistletoe last night.

She didn't see me creep

Down the stairs to have a peep;

She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep.



Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus

Underneath his beard so snowy white;

Oh, what a laugh it would have been

If Daddy had only seen

Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night"


Take gentle care
Elizabeth, EOS
xx