MERRY CHRISTMAS

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.  And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

"And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around the, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among men

with whom he is pleased!"

(The Christmas story from the Bible, Luke 2:4-14.)

Photo: The manger scene in the photo above was a wedding gift to Suzanne and Alan Wilson in 1967. (See December 1, 2010 Blog Post,  Happy 43rd Wedding Anniversary Alan and Suzanne.) It has been part of the Wilson family's Christmas display ever since: when they lived in Hollywood, when they lived in Burquitlam, when they lived on Long Beach B.C., when they lived in Duncan, and the 38 years they have lived on Shavington St. in North Vancouver.