10 Texts for Christmas Day

It is my pattern to preach a text on Christmas Day at our special morning service. Since 2007 I have done this ten times. Two of these Christmas Days were Sundays so there was no special service and once I preached in Aberystwyth and someone else was here. I preached Luke 2:19 on two occasions. These are the ten

1. Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
2. John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
3. Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
4. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
5. 1 John 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - his we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
6. Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
7. Job 42:11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
8. Hebrews 1:1-4 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
9. Philippians 2:6, 7 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
10. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(Before 2007, I also preached Titus 3:4, Luke 2:30, Hebrews 2:10-18 and Luke 2:14)

10 Ingredients and more in a Christmas fruitcake as told by Truman Capote

In Truman Capote's short story Buddy makes fruitcakes with his cousin and best friend. He likes the buying part best and lists the ingredients.

1. Cherries
2. and citron
3. ginger
4. and vanilla
5. and canned Hawaiian pine-apple
6. rinds
7. and raisins
8. and walnuts*
9. and whiskey
10. and oh, so much flour, butter, so many eggs, spices, flavourings: why, we'll need a pony to pull the buggy home.

*This looks like a slip as they spend time hunting for pecans earlier on.

Jesus Christ - Christmas song by The Monkees

Originally done by Big Star this one is on the final Monkees album Christmas Party (2018)

Snow Scene in the South of France Joséphine Bowes, c.1867

 

Breton Village in the Snow Gaugin 1894

 

10 Things Buddy's cousin did according to him (& Truman Capote)

In the Truman Capote short story "A Christmas memory" Buddy says of his older cousin and friend
"Here are a few things she has done, does do:

1. killed with a hoe the biggest rattlesnake ever seen in this county (sixteen rattles),
2. dip snuff (secretly),
3. tame hummingbirds (just try it) till they balance on her finger,
4. tell ghost stories (we both believe in ghosts) so tingling they chill you in July,
5. talk to herself,
6. take walks in the rain,
7. grow the prettiest japonicas in town,
8. know the recipe for every sort of old time Indian cure, including a magical wart remover." We know too
9. she always spends thirteenths in bed and
10. puts whisky in her cakes

10 Things Buddy's cousin did not do according to him (& Truman Capote)

1. In addition to never having seen a movie,
2. she has never: eaten in a restaurant,
3. travelled more than five miles from home,
4. received or sent a telegram,
5. read anything except funny papers and the Bible,
6. worn cosmetics,
7. cursed,
8. wished someone harm,
9. told a lie on purpose,
10. let a hungry dog go hungry.

Seasonal Quiz 06 (Pantos) Oh yes it is

1. Which word is from a Greek word meaning ‘we can act anything’?
A. Panettone B. Viscum album C. Pantomime

2. What is odd about the principal boy and the dame in a pantomime?

A. There are traditionally age limits for both partsB. The principal boy is a female actor and the dame is a male actor
C. The principal boy and the dame must always wear red

3. In the Pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, Jack receives beans in exchange for what?
A. Working in a field B. A golden goose C. His Mother’s Cow

4. Which Pantomime features the character Maid Marion?
A. Babes in the Wood B. Mother goose C. Puss in boots

5. In the pantomime Aladdin what is the name of Aladdin’s brother?
A. Wishee Washee B. Jafar C. The genie

6. In traditional pantomime, who is the sweetheart of Harlequin?
A. Pierrot B. Columbine C. Pulcinella

7. In which Christmas pantomime does Buttons appear?
A. Aladdin B. Beauty and the beast C. Cinderella

8. Which pantomime character marries Alice Fitzwarren?
A. The beast B. Ali Baba C. Dick Whittington

9. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Sinbad The Sailor and Aladdin all derive from which collection of Middle East tales?
A. The Golden Bough B. The Arabian Nights C. Palgrave's Golden Treasury

10. The character "Mother Goose" first appeared in panto in 1806-07. It starred a famous clown. His surname is the same as that of the royal family of Monaco. Who was he?
A. Francesco Caroli B. Joseph Grimaldi C. Robert Armin

11. What is the name of the father of Cinderella and The Ugly Sisters?
A. Archduke Tremaine B. Baron Hardup C. Count Uppe

12. Fe Fi Fo Fum I smell the blood of an Englishman is a classic line from which pantomime?
A. Puss in boots B. Jack and the Beanstalk C. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

13. Which traditional pantomime features a character called Dandini?
A. Aladdin B. Babes in the wood C. Cinderella

14. What name is given to the lead male role in a pantomime, usually played by a woman?
A. Lead person B. Principal girl C. Principal Boy

15. What does Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother turn into a coach?
A. Pumpkin B. Marrow C. Squash

16. What told Dick Whittington to ‘turn again’?
A. The clock in the crocodile B. The Bells of London C. The River Thames

17. What is the occupation of the Seven Dwarves who befriend Snow White?
A. Carpenters B. Farmers C. Miners

18. In which pantomime would you meet a ticking crocodile?
A. Dick Whittington B. Peter Pan C. Mother goose

19. In which year was the word pantomime first used for a stage performance in Britain?
A. 1717 B. 1817 C. 1917

20. What is the name of Aladdin's mother?
A. Jasmine Agrabah B. Morgiana Ali C. Widow Twankey

Key; CBCAABCCBB

BBCCABCBAC

Seasonal Quiz 05

1. The Little match girl is the sad story of a destitute barefoot girl selling matches on a cold New Year's eve. She lights the matches to warm herself and sees visions, including a luxurious holiday feast and an amazing Christmas tree. Who wrote it?

A. The Brothers Grimm B. Hans Christian Anderson C. Charles Dickens

2. "I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play." Who wrote the poem Christmas bells?

A. Charles Dickens B. Clement C Moore C. William Wadsworth Longfellow

3. Who died on December 25, 1977?

A. The singer Dean Martin B. The actor Charlie Chaplin C. The singer Johnny Ace

4. Who said "The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart."

A. Charles Dickens B. Stevie Wonder C. Helen Keller

5. In what year was Rudolf the red nosed reindeer invented (by Robert L May)?

A. 1939 B. 1946 C. 1955

6. In the song on the first day of Christmas how many geese a laying did my true love send to me?

A. Six B. Seven C. Eight

7. What does Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh mean?

A. Late in time he comes B. Sleep in heavenly peace C. He hath opened the heavenly door

8. Who said "I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph."

A. Shirley Temple B. Oprah Winfrey C. Elizabeth Taylor

9. What was Scrooge's first name?

A. Ezekiel B. Everard C. Ebenezer

10. What happened for the last time in England on a Christmas Day in 1960?

A. TV closed down for the day B. There was a full postal service C. Professional football teams played

Answers: BCBCAABACC

The Dawn of Grace by Sixpence None The Richer

The Dawn of Grace is a Christmas album by alternative rock and indie pop band Sixpence None the Richer. It was released on October 14, 2008.

Produced by Steve Hindalong, it consists of eight traditional Christmas songs, including "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Silent Night", featuring guest vocalist Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay, and two original Sixpence Christmas tunes called "The Last Christmas" and "Christmas for Two".

The subtitle on the cover reads: A Collection of Original and Traditional Christmas Songs.

No singles were released from the album but two animated music videos were released for "Angels We Have Heard on High" (see below) and "Silent Night (https://youtu.be/N6ml_YbgJsQ).

The album reached No. 47 on the US Christian Album Chart. After spending four years apart, the band reunited for this album.

Track listing

"Angels We Have Heard on High" — 4:15

"The Last Christmas" (Matt Slocum, Steve Hindalong) — 3:12

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" — 3:06

"Silent Night" (featuring Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay) — 4:28

"Riu Riu Chiu" — 3:06

"Carol of the Bells" — 2:24

"Christmas Island" (Lyle Moraine) — 2:33

"River" (Joni Mitchell) — 3:57

"Christmas for Two" (Leigh Nash, Kate York) — 3:09

"Some Children See Him" (Alfred Burt) — 4:14

10 Ways to say Happy Christmas

1. Nadolig Llawen - Welsh
2. Feliz Navidad – Spanish
3. Feliz Natal – Portuguese
4. Joyeux Noël – French
5. Buon Natale – Italian
6. Frohe Weihnachten – German
7. Prettige Kerstdagen – Dutch
8. God Jul - Swedish/Norwegian
9. Krismasi Njema - Swahili
10. Mele Kalikimaka - Hawaiian

Even More Christmas Jokes

Why does Santa have three gardens?

So he can ’ho ho ho’!

What’s the first thing Santa’s little helpers learn in school?

The elf-abet

Bob Phillips speaks of the three stages of man at Christmas:

1. You believe in Father Christmas

2. You don't believe in Father Christmas

3. You are Father Christmas

Christmas really is a magical time of year. We just watched all our money magically disappear.

What did the ewe say to her lambs for Christmas?

Fleece Navidad!

What do dogs say for Christmas?

Fleas Navidad.

What’s the difference between knights and reindeer?

You see knights slaying dragons and you see reindeer draggin sleighs.