Christmas 2009

Hard to believe but it's Christmas again. The years seem to go by so fast. Didn't we just celebrate last Christmas like, yesterday?

One thing you'll always find aplenty is Christmas art. Stylized scenes of mangers and wise men and bright stars, shepherds in the fields, angels proclaiming the good news that the Savior was born in Bethlehem. In a cave, laid in a manger.



Truth is, no one really knows for sure when Jesus was born and it doesn't really matter. Not knowing the specific date doesn't take away the importance of the historical fact of Jesus birth or its significance. The important thing is that once a year the event is remembered, commemorated and celebrated. And that chosen date is today, December 25^th. It is, and always will remain, one of the two most important holidays on the calendar that make up the core of Christian belief.

Merry Christmas everyone.

For your information and mine, here is an article that addresses the issue better than I could, with other helpful links included.

Lyrics for two of the most notable Christmas songs are given below.

"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
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel