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We remember the Christmases of yesteryears, the

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ones so long ago, and we smile as the reflections

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set our hearts aglow. As Christmas bustle and

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hustle surrounds you, stop for just a minute

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or two, and recall the joy of years gone by,

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and it will warm you. through and through. And

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then, when you take up your tasks again, your

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joy will be twofold, for you'll have the pleasure

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of the new and the treasure of the old. The first

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Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds

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in fields as they lay. Dear God, after this glorious

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Christmas season, give to us the simple faith

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that little children know. The faith to look

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for miracles upon this earth below. Give us the

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faith to recognize the goodness in each heart.

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Give us the faith to... Build again when hopes

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are torn apart. Heavenly Father, Christmas now

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surrounds us. Give to us the simple faith that

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little children find, the faith to hope, the

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faith to see that clouds are silver -lined. And

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give us a faith to dream bright dreams upon the

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darkest day. And most of all, give us the faith

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to clasp our hands and pray. For if we pray as

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children do, we who have journeyed far may find

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the warm reflection of a glowing, splendid star.

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And if we wear this simple faith wrapped like

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a cloak around us, we will be blessed as children

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are and feel that peace has found us. Christmas

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is holly and gay mistletoe. Christmas is tinsel

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and the soft candle glow. Christmas is cookies

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and candy cane treats. It's the warm, cheery

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greeting for friends that we meet. Our Christmas

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is children with faces that glow. It's Santa.

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and reindeer and new -fallen snow. It's tinsel

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and seals and bright -colored string. It's greeting

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cards and presents and the carols we sing. Yes,

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Christmas is this, but oh, my friend, it's much

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more than tinsel and trees. and gifts in store.

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Christmas is angels drawing nigh to the earth

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to tell the good news of the dear Savior's birth.

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Christmas is God's Son sent down from above.

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The real meaning of Christmas can Only mean love.

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Watch their flocks by night, all seated on the

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ground. The angel of the Lord came down and glory

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showed. and cease their troubled mind. The tidings

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of great joy I bring to you. wish you a Merry

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Christmas, a glittering tree on a snowy night,

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and a soulless searching prayer by candlelight.

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For a much deeper faith on which to lean, we

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wish for you a sweet Bethlehem scene. Oh, may

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there Hang high on your Christmas tree a gift

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of wisdom from the wise men three. We wish you

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glad tidings that wars shall cease. We wish you

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a stake in keeping the peace. We wish you a Merry

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Christmas. We wish you green thumbs and brotherhood

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seed. The grace not to question color or creed.

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We wish you sleigh bells, a caroler's song. We

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wish you a country that's united and strong.

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And today, as the bell in the steeple chimes,

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we ponder. these turbulent changing times and

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wish you the strength of the shepherd's rod and

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a closer, much closer walk with God. Christmas

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is a star to steer by. It is the enduring, the

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eternal, a symbol of the known rising above the

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unknown. Christmas is the awareness of self and

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others, and the ongoing struggle man must make.

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to meet his human needs. Christmas is forgiveness,

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the foundation of newness of life for fresh beginnings

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which, oft times, are born of failure. Christmas

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is creative adventuring into a world where there's

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conflict and misery, greed and despair are commonplace.

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Christmas is the leaven, the yeast that lifts

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man's spirit, enabling him to free himself from

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defense, offense, behavior as hate, hostility,

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and fear. Christmas bore us new hope. new opportunity

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to renew our own commitment to serve the Christ

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and to recognize the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood

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of man. Christmas is here and now for each of

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us and for everyone who is able and willing.

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to receive the true meaning of Christmas. to

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stay. Sing merrily, we all can sing, Jesus has

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come, the newborn King. Joy, joy, sing hallelujah,

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for Christ is born today. Joy, joy, sing hallelujah,

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for Christ is born today. Sing merrily, we all

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can sing. Jesus has come, the newborn King. Joy,

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joy, sing hallelujah, for Christ is born today.

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Joy, joy, sing hallelujah. is now complete for

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Satan's is bethlehem in christendom today above

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each one the golden gem looks down to show the

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way to guide the wise across the years with perfect

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rays of light and solemnly to steal their fears

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before the holy sight yes every town contains

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an inn where bustling throngs abide too occupied

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with dross and din to know that just outside

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and to the back around the slope a stable's standing

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still the symbol of immortal hope for those who

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seek God's will. The skies are opened once again

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that shepherds see their fill. And the words

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of peace, goodwill to men, become the echoes

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still. Go search your skies. you'll find the

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star has halted just above so that it may shine

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where doors ajar receive the sun of love