Photo on the top of this page was taken from the World Food Programme Website
The Joy Of Giving
By John Greenleaf Whittier
Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you;
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to make you glad.
Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me, Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born king to see, Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the king, Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum, Rum pum pum pum
So to honor him, Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come
Little baby, Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our king, Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum, Rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you, Pa rum pum pum pum
Pa rum pum pum, Pum pum pum pum
Mary nodded, Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for him, Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for him, Pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum, Rum pum pum pum
Then he smiled at me, Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Come they told me, Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born king to see, Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
Rum pum pum pum
7 Prayers for the Advent
By Reverend Henry Keys
SATURDAY
Lord we pray for our churches at this Advent time
As we welcome Your coming into the worl.
May our churches be places of welcome, friendly, warm and nonjudgmental.
We thank You for clergy and lay people who work tirelessly at this time
Renew them with Your Spirit as they pastor to those who are facing death, those who mourn loved-ones, those who face surgery or are fearful of test results , those who face loneliness this Christmas.
We pray for those who may only come to church at Christmas.
May they have a real encounter with You as they hear the message of Your coming in love for Your world.
Help us all to work together to show Your love.
May Your peace and compassion be in all our words and actions. Amen
“Bravery is the choice to show up and listen to another person,
be it a loved one or perceived foe,
even when it is uncomfortable, painful,
or the last thing you want to do.”
Alaric Hutchinson
