The First Noel for the month of May

Story carols are the most fun to sing because some of them just go on and on and on. Take the English carol, "The First Noel," for instance. In my hymnal it has six verses each followed by the refrain, "Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the King of Israel!" Even little children can join in the refrain after the first couple of times.

Actually the first five verses in this carol tell the story. The sixth verse gives us a chance to respond to what we've sung (or read, as the case may be).

Here is the story:

The first noel the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

They loooked up and saw a star

Shining in the east, beyond them far;

And to the earth it gave great light,

And so it continued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star,

Three wise men came from country far;

To seek for a king was their intent,

And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest,

Over Bethlehem it took its rest;

And there it did both stop and stay,

Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three,

Full reverently upon their knee,

And offered there, in His presence,

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

That hath made heaven and earth of naught,

And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Noel, noel! Noel, noel!

Born is the King of Israel!

Merry Christmas,

Paulita

I Like Trumpets

May is fleeting fast. It always does as things like school, concerts and special programs, end of the year recitals, etc. all seem to happen in May. BUT Christmas endures on my CD's.

I've been listening to some Baroque Christmas music and it occurred to me that a couple of the selections should have been used to announce Jesus' birth. Oh, I know they hadn't been written yet, but wouldn't it have been awesome if the angels had decended from heaven with the baby Jesus in their arms to the brass accompaniment of Purcell's "Tumpet Tune and Air," and laid him in a soft bed in a magnificent palace?

God didn't choose that plan. Instead he gave an ordinary young Jewish couple a baby whom they laid in a manger behind an inn in Bethlehem because there wasn't a room available to them.

One other selection on my Baroque Christmas CD is Handel's "Tochter Zion." It is a short trumpet fanfare (actually part of "Judas Maccabeus" by George Freidrich Handel). It is in my hymnal under the title, "Thine is the Glory" and is located in the Easter section. The words speak of Jesus as the risen, conquering Son. So it occurred to me that perhaps when Jesus comes back to rule over earth, the trumpets will play this song. Scripture does say, "The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (I Corinthians 15:52)

While we wait, Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Precious Gifts

My, how time flies. This month is almost half over and already more than a third of the year has passed. Only 225 days left until Christmas!

I was actually reminded of Christmas when I received a Mother's Day flyer from a charitable organization we support. It showed gifts I could purchase in honor of my (or someone else's mother) which would benefit a child or family in a third world country. I could buy a goat for $75. I could feed a mother and her children for $50. I could purchase two chickens for $25. (Imagine!) I could provide hope for exploited girls for $35, or enroll a girl in school for $35.

All are worthy gifts to give in someone's honor. All of these, since it was Mother's Day, had to do mainly with females. I personally liked the two chickens, a source of fresh eggs and the ability to increase a family's income for only $25. I love chickens!

Anyway this reminded me that I receive a similar flyer every year about a month or so before Christmas. It has been my habit to pass the flyer around to our granddaughters (We haven't included our grandson, but we will this year.) and let them choose something for $15 or less (There are a lot of items to choose from). Last year two of them put their gift money together and provided help for exploited girls. The other chose an animal gift because she is very interested in animals (ROP animal husbandry class at high school). Each child gets a thank you card from the organization acknowledging her gift.

Often I feel that this is my most rewarding gift giving.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita

April Christmas presents

No, I really didn't forget to buy a Christmas present for April, I just had to wait until May 1st to have the money. You know how that goes. Well, I bought three presents. Our church had a 50th anniversary a week ago and one of the momentos of the occasion was the creation of a church cookbook. They are the best kind! So I bought four (one for me). Since our church is from a Swedish background, we included a few Swedish recipes. There was also a whole menu for a Swedish smorgasbord usually served at Christmas. I intend to attend a Christmas smorgasbord this November at a nearby church, or if I get brave, I'll try to make some of the dishes.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita