Saturday, December 25, 2010

One of my fondest and most spiritual memories is participating in the Christmas pageant as a youth while attending the United Congregational Church in Norwich, Connecticut. I played a shepherd and dressed up in a bathrobe with a towel on my head with a rope tied around it. I was one of three shepherds. There were three wise men, angels, Mary and Joseph. There was a manger with a doll in it for Christ, The choir and congregation sang lots of Christmas Carols and even parts of Handel’s Messiah. There really was a beautiful spirit there. This was in the mid 1950’s when the real spirit of Christmas was emphasized vs the commercialization of Santa Claus today. The Pilgrim Fellowship, the teen youth group, went caroling and it also was a spiritual event.

When we were living in Salem, Connecticut I tired to bring that kind of spirit into our home. It was about 1984 or 85 when we put together a living Christmas pageant. The kids dressed up as shepherds and Joseph and Mary and we took pictures. Not all the pictures survived but I do have some of them.

Let us tell the story as found in Luke Chapter 2 with a little literary license.

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

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

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

Joseph took Mary to the donkey yard to pick out their rides.

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

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

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Because there was no room in the inn the inn keeper directed to go around the inn to the little barn in the back yard where they could find room in the straw

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Joseph watched over Mary and the babe in the manger

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

There were three angels who came that night to visit the shepherds.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Mathew Ch 1

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him

And the three wise persons came bearing gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.


16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

The wise ones were amazed at the beauty of Mary and the aura that surrounded the Christ child

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Boys and Snow!!


It is amazing what the inventive mind of two 6 and 9 year old boys can come up with when you have a foot of packable snow! That is a 3 1/2 foot high pile of snow! That is James the 6 year old on top "defending" his "Secret" fort!




That is Andrew immersed into his snow fort.
James, his cousin, yelled at me because it is "Secret"! No pictures!
But do you think I could get them to shovel the truck out?




What and engineering feat! Who can stand in the way of a boy and his building project.


Now Grandma is upset because they are soaked! Women! They just do not get it!