‘Twas the Advent of Christmas

This was shared by Brenda Bolton during the Hanging of the Greens service on December 3, 2017:

‘Twas the advent of Christmas, when all through God’s house

Some ladies were stirring, the decorations to rouse.

The crèche was nestled all snug in its box.

Mary, Joseph, manger and babe

Some shepherds, wise men…  And curious potato shaped rocks.

When in the fellowship hall, there arose such a clatter,

Anna, Emily, Julie, and Ruby dropped their ornaments to see what was the matter.

Up the steps, past the altar they flew like a flash

Past the kitchen and cookies without batting an eye lash.

Through the door they could see shadows on the new fallen snow,

Swaying and moving atop a creature below.

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,

A sleigh laden with tree from our forest so near.

With men pulling strong and a host of children,

They knew in a moment, it must be Dean, Ed and Ben.

More rapid than Mom Wesley, the children they came

And Belinda whistled and shouted and called them by name.

Now Aila, Annabelle, Ava, Cameron and Ellen   

Come Katie Rose, Cyrus, Hazen, and Elwyn.

On Palmer, Kalie, Luke, Mitch, Bob and Rollie,

Now Josh, Hannah, Ryder, Chevy, and Ollie

As dry leaves that before the wind fly,

They carried that tree from the night darkened sky,

To a perch in the sanctuary as high as birds flew,

With oohs, ahhs and the star of the east atop it too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the or—gan,

The prancing and pawing of each little hand.

Hazel was playing, a beautiful sound

Carols of midnight, shepherds, and Bethlehem town.

The choir came in dressed in robes head to foot

Checking their music and caroling book.

To share the Nativity story, Julie and Paul were able,

With children placing each piece in the humble stable.

Anna, Emily, Julie and Ruby’s eyes how they twinkled; their dimples how merry

Their cheeks were like roses, their hearts filled with charity.

They invited the children from every pew and row

To hang an ornament in the spirit of the Jesus you know.

Betty and Lorraine watched with smiles full of teeth,

While Doris, Sharon, and Cleo encircled friends with arms like a wreath.

Lynn and Gail graciously welcomed every Fran, Chuck, and Cunningham,

And Arlene waited on visitors with jars full of jam.

Ginny was humming with a twinkle in her eye

To the podium with a prayer, pranced Pastor Charles so spry

As notes of Silent Night chimed overhead

The Stevensville United Methodist family was NOT ready for bed!

This family of God went straight to their work

Sharing fellowship and joy: never their duty to shirk

They cared for each other in loving ways

And spread that love beyond our sanctuary place.

Jesus sprang into this world without drum, horn or whistle.

He won’t fly away like the down of a thistle.

He exclaims in us all, in our word, action and heart,

Blessed Christmas to all, God’s work of art.