"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his nam

Beloved of God, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! We celebrate the consummation of God’s love for wayward mankind in the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

The birth of the Incarnate Christ is a mystery too great to understand but essential to believe, by faith, to ascertain eternal life. The babe born in the manger was all man and – yet and still – all God. Here are some wonderful Christmas musings.

What can I give him, Oh! the million Christmas mornings

Poor as I am? When you’d lie, a babe again,

If I were a shepherd, Beneath a million million trees

I would bring a lamb; And hear the countless tongues

If I were a wise man, chanting your name.

I would do my part; Ah . . . will they remember crimson

Yet what I can give him - Dripping from the iron nails

Give my heart. And will they pray, and will they know

Christina Georgina Rossetti A whiter white than snow?

Keith Patman

“Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children; to remember the weaknesses and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and to ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open? Are you willing to do these things for a day? Then you are ready to keep Christmas!”

Henry Van Dyke (1852–1933)