Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives. (BCP)

The Christmas season was a busy time in our household. Both Mom and Dad worked long hours in the post office, and Christmas Day was truly a day of rest.

However, we always had a “Parkhill” family Christmas party sometime during the holiday. Roads were often closed with drifted snow, much to our glee, as this meant a sleigh ride into the farmyard. One year – at my young age of 8 or 9, my father suggested we walk thru the woods, rather than trying to struggle thru snow drifts. A big full moon, which seemed to light our path, guided us from tree to tree – and an old owl, watched from a distance, making his presence known.

I often think of the Christmas story and visualize the wise men – seeing a star, in the horizon with the message of His birth.

Mary Holden

Mary currently resides at Calvert Manor. Please remember her in your Advent prayers.

Like so many in the St Mary Anne’s community, this Christmas season will be a little different for our family. In February we lost a pillar of strength in my family, March brought us a global pandemic and unrest in our nation, but in June we welcomed our beautiful baby girl into this world. With all of these strange circumstances and invitations to lose sight of our blessings, we need to take time to focus and reflect on the gifts that God has given us.

This Advent season we will be focusing on our own little miracle and seeing the wonderment of Christmas through the eyes of a child. She has brought so much joy and light to our family and we thank God every day for her. Nearing the end of such a tumultuous year, we should all count our blessings, focus on the gifts God has given us, laugh a little louder, and hug our loved ones a little longer.

Alexis Cannestro Bazzoli

A Christmas tradition that always kicks off the Swoboda Advent season is the transformation of our mantle with our nativity display. Our first Christmas after we were married, I asked for the start of a nativity set that we could add on to in consecutive years. That first year Pat gave me the Crèche and Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Pat and my parents continued to gift me pieces of the nativity and now that complete scene is set up the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Each piece is carefully unwrapped, its significance named, and placed on the mantel.

As I sit on my couch every evening, it is a constant reminder that this should be our focus and reason for anticipation during the Advent season. It constantly reminds me to slow down and to remember the greatest gift of all.

Jennifer Swoboda

I love Christmas music, all kinds of Christmas music. I always have and I always will. I am one of those people who play Christmas songs the whole year through. There is just something about them that never gets old. They always lift my spirits!

I remember growing up listening to the TIME/LIFE three-album set of Christmas favorites. Some of these were traditional carols sung by popular artists in new and different ways. A few were tunes that I had never heard of. I would like to share one that speaks so beautifully of the Incarnation. You can find many versions of this song on You Tube. My favorite is sung by Harry Belafonte. Here are the lyrics.

MARY’S BOY CHILD

Long time ago in Bethlehem

So the Holy Bible say

Mary’s boy child, Jesus Christ

Was born on Christmas Day

CHORUS:

Hark, now hear the angels sing

A new King born today

And man will live forever more

Because of Christmas Day

While shepherds watched their flock by night

And see a bright new shining star

And hear a choir sing

The music seem to come from afar

Now Joseph and his wife Mary

Come to Bethlehem that night

And find no place to borne she child

Not a single room was in sight

CHORUS

By and by they find a little nook

In a stable all forlorn

And in a manger cold and dark

Mary’s little boy was born

CHORUS

The last two lines of the chorus are what grab me when I hear this song: “And man will live forever more because of Christmas Day”. The only way we can “live forever more” is to have God come live with us, to have God move into our neighborhood. I do not know how God does this. The incarnation is a mystery to me. My job is to live it every day. To live as if God is with me…because of Christmas Day.

John Stemen