A Sunday Christmas

 

 

Just a mere week away

We’ll be celebrating Christmas Day,

This year will be somewhat different

As it will fall on a Sunday.

 

Sunday carries a more spiritual focus

Than any other day in the week

And compared to Monday thru’ Saturday

There are fewer people on the street.

 

Of course, this is not as pronounced

As it was in years gone by

When stores and shops were closed

And not a soul could buy.

 

When Christmas fell on a Sunday

It was particularly different,

A lot of the activity was scaled down

As this was considered as reverent.

 

Of course, two holidays followed

And people made up for lost time

As throughout the Monday and Tuesday

Celebration was on their mind.

 

This is not likely to happen

This coming Christmas Sunday

For quite a lot has changed over the years

And there is a totally different way.

 

To the party animal

It won’t make the slightest difference

For they will revel in their festivities

Until they are totally spent.

 

Some churches will change a bit

From the early service to a later one

And their services may exceed two hours

Before from church they’re gone.

 

Work will recommence on Wednesday

But not much will be done

For it will take a while to readjust

After three days of fun.

 

 

Such is the fallout

When Christmas Day falls on a Sunday

And given COVID-19’s lessened affect

This year is likely to be a big affair.

 

But in whatever way you celebrate

And in all the things you do,

Spare a thought for the Christ child

Who left heaven for me and for you.

 

Though no longer a babe in a manger

This is what Christ had to become

To save humanity from the curse

Regarding what our fore-parents had done.

 

For having disobeyed God’s directive

They chose to go Satan’s way

And as simplistic as that may seem,

Out of it came the first Christmas Day.

 

For while shepherds kept watch

Over their sheep that night

There came from that heavenly host

An exceeding bright light.

 

 

Angels heralded the Saviour’s birth

To startled shepherds filled with fear

And they hurried to the animal stall

Which must have been quite near.

 

There on that first Christmas Day

Lay the Saviour in a manger of hay

And what a joy it was for the shepherds

That very first Christmas Day.

 

Was it a Sunday Christmas?

Perhaps, it could have been

But far more import than the day

Was the manger scene.

 

For God was with man

And with man had come to dwell

And thus, to both shepherds and kings

The good news did tell.

 

For on to you is born this day

In the city of David

A Saviour,

Who is Christ the Lord!

 

And this should be a sign to all

Even in our time,

That Jesus, the Saviour who came,

Came to pay off Adam’s fine.

 

 

A life we could not live,

A death we could not pay,

My Savior and your Saviour paid

From that first Christmas Day.

 

For ‘tis there the journey began

As he executed the Father’s plan

To bring “so great salvation”

To fallen man.

 

And so, I recall the words

Of that glorious refrain

When Jesus left heaven’s splendor

And to wretched man came.

 

“He came from heaven to earth

To show the way,

From the earth to the cross

My debt to pay.

 

From the cross to the grave,

From the grave to the sky,

Lord,

I lift your name on high!”

 

May we lift the name higher still

Of the one who came that Christmas,

The name by which I was saved!

That name is Jesus!

 

Stewart Russell © December 18, 2022

 

The Birth of Jesus

 

Out on the Judean hills where shepherds watched their sheep,

There came a brilliant light piercing through the darkness deep;

Hosts of angels had descended to tell of the Saviour’s birth,

Good tidings and great salvation and peace to all on earth.

Fear not said the angel for unto you the Savior has come,

None other than Christ the Lord who is God’s eternal Son;

They found the baby Jesus in the stable where he was born,

With Mary, his mother and Joseph that first Christmas morn.

Next there were the wise men that journeyed from afar,

All the way to Herod’s palace while guided by the star;

Herod attempted to fool them and feigned a spirit of worship,

But the wise men warned in a dream had given him the slip.

They gave the baby gifts and worshipped during their stay,

Then returned to their homelands by going another way;

Gold, frankincense and myrrh were the gifts they gave to him,

Each one had a meaning for the one that saves from sin.

The gold was given to the baby to show Jesus as their king,

Frankincense to show his priesthood the one of whom we sing;

Myrrh to anoint his body the death he would die for all,

And salvation bring to many who on his name would call.

  

The wise men never returned thus Herod was hot with rage,

“Kill every child under two and all them that be that age!”

Joseph took them to Egypt after he was warned in a dream,

And only returned to Nazareth after Herod was off the scene.

In accordance with the law they journeyed to Jerusalem,

There they met a devout man whose name was Simeon;

Shown that he would see the Christ before he met his death,

Right in the temple court that day he drew him to his chest.

His eyes had seen God’s salvation prepared for all people,

A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Israel;

A blessing he gave to the parents and also the little child,

In his arms he held our Saviour, so gentle, so meek, so mild.

There was the prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phanuel,

She was eighty years and four and living in the temple;

When she saw the child she rejoiced with exultation,

Giving thanks to God for the redemption of Jerusalem.

An Extract from the Bible in Poetry

Stewart Russell (c) 2016