Quote for the day:

The finest Christmas gift is not the one that costs the most money but the one that carries the most love.

~Henry Van Dyke

BELLS OF CHRISTMAS

Why do the bells

Of Christmas ring?

Why do little children sing?

Once a lovely, shining star,

Seen by shepherds from afar,

Gently moved until its light

Made a manger’s cradle bright.

There a darling baby lay,

Pillowed soft upon the hay;

And its mother sung

And smiled,

“This is Christ, the holy child!”

Therefore bells for

Christmas ring,

Therefore little children sing.

      Eugene Field

Christ’s Birth

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called his name JESUS.

 Matthew 1:18-24