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Snippet

John Boy [Narrator]: Christmas is the season where he give tokens of love. In that house we received not tokens but love itself. I became the writer I promised my father I would be and my destiny led me far from Walton's Mountain. My mother lives there still. Alone now for we lost my father in 1969. My brothers and sisters, grown with children of their own, live not far away. We are still a close family and see each other when we can. And like Miss Maime Baldwin's fourth cousins, we're apt to sample the recipe and then gather around the piano and hug each other while we sing the old songs. For no matter the time or distance, we are united in the memory of that Christmas eve. More than 30 years and 3,000 miles away, I can still hear those sweet voices.

Scripture

Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home. Proverbs 27:8 NIV

Song

Please Come Home For Christmas by Eagles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1AaMe1KbwE

Bells will be ringing this sad sad news

Oh what a Christmas to have the blues

My baby's gone I have no friends

To wish me greetings once again

Choirs will be singing Silent Night

Christmas carols by candle light

Please come home for Christmas

Please come home for Christmas

If not for Christmas by New Years night

Friends and relations

Send salutations

Sure as the stars shine above

But this is Christmas

Yeah, it's Christmas my dear

It's the time of year to be with the one you love

So won't you tell me

You'll never more roam

Christmas and New Year

Will find you home

There be no more sorrow

No grief and pain

And I'll be happy, happy, once again

Ooo, there be no more sorrow

No grief and pain

And I'll be happy, Christmas, once again

Sentence Prayer

Lord

In you we always

Have a nest

A home

A friend.

HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS

Snippet

Yet as I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be tilted toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog.” ― Philip Yancey

Scripture

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion Philippians 2:5-8 Message

Song

Dolly Parton Hard Candy Christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pttkAyWvAhU

Hey, maybe I'll dye my hair

Maybe I'll move somewhere

Maybe I'll get a car

Maybe I'll drive so far

They'll all lose track

Me, I'll bounce right back

Maybe I'll sleep real late

Maybe I'll lose some weight

Maybe I'll clear my junk

Maybe I'll just get drunk on apple wine

Me, I'll be just

Fine and dandy

Lord it's like a hard candy christmas

Im barely getting through tomorrow

But still I wont let

Sorrow bring me way down

Ill be fine and dandy

Lord it's like a hard candy christmas

Im barely getting through tomorrow

But still I wont let

Sorrow get me way down

Hey, maybe I'll learn to sew

Maybe I'll just lie low

Maybe I'll hit the bars

Maybe I'll count the stars until dawn

Me, I will go on

Maybe I'll settle down

Maybe I'll just leave town

Maybe I'll have some fun

Maybe I'll meet someone

And make him mine

Me, I'll be just

Fine and dandy

Lord it's like a hard candy christmas

Im barely getting throung tomorrow

But still I wont let

Sorrow bring me way down

Ill be fine and dandy

Lord it's like a hard candy christmas

Im barely getting through tomorrow

But still I wont let

Sorrow bring me way down

Ill be fine and dandy

Lord it's like a hard candy christmas

Im barely getting through tomorrow

But still I wont let

Sorrow bring me way down

Cause I'll be fine

(Ill be fine)

Oh, I'll be fine

Sentence Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the signs that confirm you are indeed sovereign and your kingdom will always prevail.  May these signs encourage us to persevere in working toward justice for all who have reason to Christian it’s possibility  in this world.  Amen

GOLD AND GREEN

Snippet

By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet. Thomas Merton

Scripture

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. Psalms 52:8 NKJV

Song

"Gold And Green" Sugarland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK4ofpABrBo

Christmas trees and window panes

Shimmering where tinsel hangs

And the butter light of candlesticks

Chases snowflakes off the bricks

The postman is shivering

With packages he's delivering

Ribbons pulled and try to hide

Wishes waiting warm inside

And everything looks better in gold and green

The lights on the trees shining all through the city

Are the prettiest I've ever seen

And the world decides to sleep safe tonight

The carolers they sing noel

Silent night and silver bells

And all around you snow will fall

Like confetti stars and paper dolls

And everything looks better in gold and green

The lights on the trees in the eyes of our children

Are the prettiest I've ever seen

And the world decides to sleep safe tonight

The first noel

The angels did say

Was to certain poor shepherds

In fields where they lay

Everything looks better in gold and green

Everything looks better in gold and green

Everything looks better in gold and green

Everything looks better in gold and green

Everything looks better

Everything looks better

Sentence Prayer

Jesus:

Remind me this time of year

The Magi laid down their gold

To receive the green of eternal life

From your grace.  Amen

THANK GOD IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Snippet

And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasure of their house.....Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest.  Everywhere they are wisest.  They are the Magi.  The Gift of the Magi O Henry

Scripture

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh Matthew 2:11 NKJV

Song

Thank God It's Christmas Queen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMpg8vNRZHg

Oh my love we've had our share of tears

Oh my friend we've had our hopes and fears

Oh my friends it's been a long hard year

But now it's Christmas

Yes it's Christmas

Thank God it's Christmas

The moon and stars seem awful cold and bright

Let's hope the snow will make this Christmas right

My friend the world will share this special night

Because it's Christmas

Yes it's Christmas

Thank God it's Christmas

For one night

Thank God it's Christmas yeah

Thank God it's Christmas

Thank God it's Christmas

Can it be Christmas?

Let it be Christmas

Ev'ry day

Oh my love we've lived in troubled days

Oh my friend we have the strangest ways

All my friends on this one day of days

Thank God it's Christmas

Yes it's Christmas

Thank God it's Christmas

For one day

Thank God it's Christmas

Yes it's Christmas

Thank God it's Christmas

Oooh yeah

Thank God it's Christmas

Yes yes yes yes it's Christmas

Thank God it's Christmas

For one day

A very merry Christmas to you all

Sentence Prayer

Lord, help us not to despair when you seem far away or when our walk with you proves treacherous.  Give us grace to trust your presence even when we feel your absence.  Amen

( Common Prayer A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals Pg 49)

RUDOLPH

Snippet

As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same." - Donald E. Westlake, crime fiction writer

Scripture

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Psalms 9:2 NLT

Song

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ara3-hDH6I

You know Dasher and Dancer

And Prancer and Vixen,

Comet and Cupid

And Donner and Blitzen.

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say

Rudolph with your nose so bright

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight

Then all the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

You'll go down in history

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say

Rudolph with your nose so bright

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight

Then all the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

You'll go down in hi-sto-ry

Sentence Prayer

Almighty God of Laughter;

Teach us to sing praises with a twinkle in our eye

And acceptance of your abundant grace in our heart

A skip in our step as we go and share your love with others.

Amen

DYSFUNCTIONAL

Snippet

Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.— Victor Borge

Scripture

Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. Genesis 9:20-24 NASB

Song

Merry Christmas from the family Montgomery Gentry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cXd9Yxw9rM

Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk

At our Christmas party

We were drinkin' champagne punch

And homemade eggnog

Little sister brought her new boyfriend

He was a Mexican

We didn't know what to think of him

Til he sang Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad

Brother Ken brought his kids with him

The three from his first wife Lynn

And the two identical twins

From his second wife Mary Nell

Of course he brought his new wife Kaye

Who talks all about AA

Chain smokin' while the stereo plays

Noel, Noel, The first Noel

Carve the turkey turn the ball game on

Mix Margaritas when the eggnog's gone

Send somebody to the Quik-Pak store

We need some ice and an extension cord

A can of bean dip and some Diet Rite

A box of pampers , some Marlboro Lights

Hallelujah everybody say cheese

Merry Christmas from the family

Fran and Rita drove from Harlingen

I can't remember how I'm kin to them

But when they tried to plug their motor home in

They blew our christmas lights

Cousin David knew just what went wrong

So we all waited on our front lawn

He threw the breaker and the lights came on

And we sang Silent Night

Oh Silent Night o' holy night

Carve the turkey turn the ballgame on

Mix Bloody Marys cause we all want one

Send somebody to the Stop 'n Go

We need some celery and a can of fake snow

A bag of lemons and some Diet Sprite

A box of midol, some Salem Lights

Hallelujah everybody say cheese

Merry Christmas from the family

Sentence Prayer

Father

May we cry the gospel from the rooftops: both with our words and with our lives.  Amen

( Common Prayer A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals Pg 49)

STAR (RIP NELSON MANDELA)

Snippet

God sent a star to light the night for

The Way, The Truth, The Life--His Son.

He sent the Light of Life to prove His heart

so we would invite His Son into our own.

God has given us all the light we'll ever

need to find peace on earth,

goodwill to men.

-Pamela F.Dowd

Scripture

After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  Matthew 2:9,10 NASB

Song 

Stars David Crowder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhayBSnG7Xk

You should see the stars tonight

How they shimmer shine so bright

Against the black they look so white

Comin down from such a height

To reach me now, reach me now

You should see the moon in the flight

Cuttin cross the misty night

Softly dancin in sunshine

Reflections of this light

Reach me now, you reach me now

And how could such a thing

Shine its light on me

And make everything beautiful again

And you should feel the sun in the spring

Comin out after a rain

Suddenly all is green

Sunshine on everything

I can feel it now, i feel you now

And how could such a thing

Shine its light on me

And make everything beautiful

And you should hear the angels sing

All gathered round their king

More beautiful than you could dream

I've been quietly listening

You can hear 'em now, i hear em now

And how could such a king

Shine His light on me

And make everything beautiful

And i wanna shine

I wanna be light

I wanna tell you it'll be alright

And i wanna shine and i wanna fly

Just to tell you now

It'll be alright, it'll be alright

It'll be alright.

Cus i got nothing of my own to give to you

But this light that shines on me shines on you

And makes everything beautiful, again.

It'll be alright, it'll be alright.

Sentence Prayer

We Thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.  We are in nature but we live above nature. Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate. Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.  We thank thee for they Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.  Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through eternity.  Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together; pray together; sing together; and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our Lord and of our God, we pray.  Amen  Martin Luther King Jr. The Pocket book of Prayers Jim Palmer pg 376,377 W. Publishing group 2005