In the beginning was the

Word, and the Word was with

God,

and the Word was God. In

this was life; and this life

was the light of the world.

And the Word was made

flesh, and dwelt among us,

full of grace and truth.

Emmanuel, God with us.

MAY CHRISTMAS BE …

a state of mind

and

a place

and time

a habit of the heart and soul

… a story writ

and drawn

and told

and told again ...

Just this ...

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream.

"Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS."

It was the winter wild,

while the Heaven-born

child,

All meanly wrapt

in the rude manger

lies.

From Nancy Lee and Wayne

Nancy Lee Jose is Rector of St. Thomas’ Parish at Dupont Circle in Washington, DCWayne Whitson Floyd is Education Program Manager, The Alban Institute, Herndon, VA

Text by Ralph Vaughn WilliamsFrom “Hodie – A Christmas Cantata”