A SONG TO DAVID (EXTRACT)

The cheerful holly, pensive yew,

 And holy thorn, their trim renew;

The squirrel hoards his nuts;

All creatures batten o’er their stores,

And careful nature all her doors

For adoration shuts.

Christopher Smart

(1722-1770)

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THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE

The best and sweetest things in life are the things you cannot buy.

The music of the birds at dawn, the rainbows in the sky.

The dazzling magic of the star, the miracle of light,

The precious gift of health and strength, of hearing, speech and sight.

The peace of mind that crowns a life of work well done.

A faith in God that deepens as you face the setting sun.

The pearl of love, the gems of friendship as the years go by;

You’ll find the greatest blessings are the things you cannot buy.

Patience Strong

IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME

It’s Christmas time at our house, and we’re putting up the tree.

I wish I could find some simple way to remember God’s gift to me.

Some little sign or symbol to show friends stopping by.

The little babe was born one day but He really came to die.

Some symbol of His nail-pierced hands, the blood He shed for me.

What if I hung a nail on my shining Christmas Tree?

I know it was His love for us that held Him to a tree,

But when I see this simple nail I’ll know He died for me.

It may seem strange at Christmas time to think of nails and wood,

But both were used in Jesus’ life to bring us something good.

From manger bed, to crown of thorns, to death on Calvary,

God used the wood and nails of men to set all people free.

 

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BUGLE CALLS

 

The bugles have sounded, a silence descends;

Eyes closed, heads bowed, in reverence people stand

Mindful of sons and brothers, fathers and friends,

Lying on battlefields in some foreign land.

The bugles have called.

 

Last Post is the Army’s final call of the day,

Which signals an end to all their endeavour.

It also recalls those who remain where they lay,

Their names held sacred for ever and ever.

The bugles have called.

 

Long years of life that are wasted and gone;

Long years for creating and love of teaching and learning.

Lives taken from them when they wished to go on;

Nought left of God-given but eternal yearning.

The bugles have called.

 

God gave us our lives in which chances abound;

He surely grieves to see them squandered in mayhem.

But there will never be any second time round:

God gave us our lives; that demands good use of them.

The bugles have called.

Brian Sumner

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Seen on a church noticeboard:-

When you were born, your parents brought you here.

When you were married, your partner brought you here.

When you die, your family will bring you here.

Why not try coming on your own sometime?!

 

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Bearing Christmas in mind, remember that Stressed is simply Desserts spelt backwards.

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  • A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.

  • Earth has enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed.

  • Minds are like parachutes: they only work when they’re open.

  • The grass may look greener next door, but it’s just as hard to cut.

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A youngster went to visit Father Christmas at the local garden centre grotto. He smiled and asked what the child would like for Christmas. "Didn’t you get my email", the child gasped!

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Santa Claus has the right idea: visit people only once a year.        Victor Borge