The time draws near the birth of Christ

The moon is hid – the night is still;

The Christmas bells from hill to hill

Answer each other in the mist.

Four voices of four hamlets round,

From far and near, on mead and moor,

Swell out and fail, as if a door

Were shut between me and the sound.

Each voice four changes on the wind,

That now dilate and now decrease,

Peace and good-will, good-will and peace,

Peace and good-will to all mankind.

Rise, happy morn! Rise, holy morn!

Draw forth the cheerful day from night;

O Father! Touch the east, and light

The light that shone when hope was born!

I hope my children look back on today

and see a mother who had time to play.

There will be years for cleaning and cooking,

but children grow up when we are not looking.

Dusting and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

for babies grow fast, we learn to our sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,

I’m rocking my baby – and babies don’t keep.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

You are my Lord and with me from ill

You are the light, the truth, the way

You are my Saviour this very day.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Alone with none but Thee, my God, I journey on my way,

What need I fear when Thou art near,

O King of night and day?

More safe am I within thy hand

Than if a host did round me stand.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

You are the peace of all things calm

You are the place to hide from harm

You are the light that shines in dark

You are the heart’s eternal spark

You are the door that’s open wide

You are the guest who waits inside

You are the stranger at the door

You are the calling of the poor

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

Do not believe in miracles: rely on them.

"I wish we could put some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month." (Harlan Miller)

The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so he/she can tell when they’re REALLY in trouble!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Those who know you, but don’t know God, should come to know God because they know you.

When a Church Council asked for a report on how the Harvest Supper had gone, the Church Secretary succinctly replied,

"More was prepared than was served, more was served than was eaten and more was eaten than was necessary!"