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Here is our Christmas Countdown Clock! Day Twenty Four activities If you have an Advent Wreath - here is a short reading and ceremony before lighting the Four candles and the white Christ Candle at Midnight. The whole family read the words together: On Christmas Morning as we light the Christ Candle - the Peace candle - we celebrate with Joy, the Incarnation, the coming of God in Jesus Christ. For 'Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given. Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth, Peace and Good will to all.' Prayer: O God our Father, as we remember the birth of Your Son Jesus Christ, we welcome Him with gladness as Saviour, we welcome Him into our hearts, we welcome Him into our homes and family and we pray that there will always be room for Him in our hearts and homes. Amen. It is getting Very Very near to Christmas and here is a picture of Santa's village in Lapland - click on the picture to go to the Norad site where they track Santa on his journey round the world - enjoy!. Here are some things to do tonight - enjoy! Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to see and hear the Christmas story in Classical Art - opens in a new window Visit the Nativity story told simply for children - opens in a new window Christmas Eve is a very special, almost magical time for children and Adults alike, certainly in most of the developed world, but let us think back to the first Christmas: "On coming to the house, [The Wisemen when] they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. The Escape to Egypt When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Matthew Ch2 V11 to 18. NIV. This text will be replaced by the flash music player. Listen to the Carol; Once in Royal David's City. Jesus' birth, known as the nativity, is described in the New Testament. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke give different accounts. It is from them that the nativity story is pieced together. Both accounts tell us that Jesus was born to a woman called Mary who was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. The Gospels state that Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant. In Luke's account Mary was visited by an angel who brought the message that she would give birth to God's son. According to Matthew's account, Joseph was visited by an angel who persuaded him to marry Mary rather than send her away or expose her pregnancy. Matthew tells us about three wise men who followed a star that led them to Jesus' birthplace and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Luke tells how shepherds were led to Bethlehem by an angel. According to tradition, Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem shortly before Jesus' birth. Joseph had been ordered to take part in a census in his home town of Bethlehem. All Jewish people had to be counted so the Roman Emperor could determine how much money to collect from them in tax. Those who had moved away from their family homes, like Joseph, had to return to have their names entered in the Roman records. Joseph and Mary set off on the long, arduous 90-mile journey from Nazareth along the valley of the River Jordan, past Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Mary travelled on a donkey to conserve her energy for the birth. But when they arrived in Bethlehem the local inn was already full with people returning for the census. The innkeeper let them stay in the rock cave below his house which was used as a stable for his animals. It was here, next to the noise and filth of the animals, that Mary gave birth to her son and laid him in a manger. There the shepherds and the Wisemen visited them. Tradition tells us that the Shepherds brought a lamb, while the Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar brought their gifts of Gold, Frankincence and Myrhh. However, the arrival of the wisemen brought great danger, they had visited Herod, he was not happy at the birth of a rival to his throne and wanted to kill the child. This was to force Mary, Joseph and Jesus to flee to Egypt - they were refugees. I wonder of you can contemplate the disaster they left behind when all the infant boys were killed by Herods men, I am sure it is not much different to what is happening in Darfur and in many other countries where it is the Women and children that suffer and millions are refugees this Christmas. Mary and Joseph are effectively on the run with their newborn son, and I am sure that the gift of Gold came in handy as they would need to live while they were in Egypt. They had to wait in Egypt until Herod died a few years later. Try to put your self in the place of Mary and Joseph, what an upheaval they have had in their lives, Mary pregnant, Joseph contemplating the disgrace and a divorce, then the Marriage. A few weeks of settled life and then this horrendous journey to Bethlehem and the birth of their child in the stable and now they find themselves refugess, what a rollercoaster of a few months for them. Just imagine their familes wondering what had happened to them. I suppose they eventually got news back to Nazareth from Egypt, but it certainly wasn't by first class post! Eventually we are told that they were able to return to Nazareth to resume a normal life - or was it with the child Jesus growing up - we are told in Luke Ch2 v52; And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men. But that is another story. Prayer: Loving God our Father as we prepare to celebrate Christmas with our families we bring to you our prayers for our selves and others. Loving God help us to make a new start, through Jesus Christ our Lord, so that as we welcome this Christmas and face a new year, help us to move forward positively with you on our side. Loving God we have so much to give thanks for, our homes and jobs, health and faculties, skills and talents, family and friends, food, heat and light and comfort. For all the wonders of life, we praise you, the almighty creator God, who loves us in spite of what we are and do. So hear us as we pray united as a fellowship in our prayers of intercession for others. Loving God we give thanks for your people throughout the world that constitute your church and we pray for your church that it may handle the message well that you have given it to tell out to the world, your world. Lord we pray for your church, that it may be strong and faithful and out going, bringing the good news to all. We remember our own church, in Scotland and locally and we ask for your blessing on the ministers, elders and members and all who serve within the church, grant that your word may go out in power and accomplish great things and extend your kingdom, releasing captives and bringing peace to many souls, that your spirit will be upon all in the community of those privileged to serve in Christ's name. We pray for our country and all who serve the interests of the nation, for our Queen, her family and government. We ask that they may be given wisdom and understanding and compassion, for the needs of their people. Loving God in the midst of the fun, frenzy, and excess of Christmas, may our thoughts be turned to all who have little or nothing of this worlds essentials, never mind the enjoyment of luxury that we have, loving Father there are so many starving, so many dying of disease that could be prevented, so many with no where to lay their heads, or shelter, and we are reminded of your own words and situation. Loving God we feel so impotent at times at how little we can do, but let us not stop doing what we can, in Christ's name, for he told us that even a cup of water given in His name is worth doing. Lord you know everything and we do not even begin to understand, and so we turn to you as our God asking that your perfect will and purposes be achieved in every situation. And now we commend our families and our extended church family to you. Loving God be near all who are lonely today, be near all who are in hospital, For all who are fearful, give to them peace. For all struggling to come to terms with bereavement, give to them assurance of your love and care for them. For those facing surgery, for all unable to get about as they used to, for all who depend on others whether family or friends or social services, we pray for them and all who care for them, that they may draw strength from your love. Loving God we think of the world situation, for the countries where there are wars, and in the middle east where there are rumours and threats of war, loving God bring about peace talks, that bloodshed may be avoided and innocent people may be spared the ordeal of war. Hear our sincere prayers too for all who are still held hostage, we remember them and their families at this time, loving Christ come to them and give them your peace in adversity. Father we give thanks for all who served in the past and are in glory with you, give us encouragement to face the future based on their faith and example so that one day we too may be with you. So we present these our prayers and petitions in Jesus name. Amen. A story for the children Why the Evergreen Trees Never Lose Their Leaves By Florence Holbrook Winter was coming, and the birds had flown far to the south, where the air was warm and they could find berries to eat. One little bird had broken its wing and could not fly with the others. It was alone in the cold world of frost and snow. The forest looked warm, and it made its way to the trees as well as it could, to ask for help. First it came to a birch tree. "Beautiful birch tree," it said, "my wing is broken, and my friends have flown away. May I live among your branches till they come back to me?" "No, indeed," answered the birch tree, drawing her fair green leaves away. "We of the great forest have our own birds to help. I can do nothing for you." "The birch is not very strong," said the little bird to itself, "and it might be that she could not hold me easily. I will ask the oak." So the bird said: "Great oak tree, you are so strong, will you not let me live on your boughs till my friends come back in the springtime?" "In the springtime!" cried the oak. "That is a long way off. How do I know what you might do in all that time? Birds are always looking for something to eat, and you might even eat up some of my acorns." "It may be that the willow will be kind to me," thought the bird, and it said: "Gentle willow, my wing is broken, and I could not fly to the south with the other birds. May I live on your branches till the springtime?" The willow did not look gentle then, for she drew herself up proudly and said: "Indeed, I do not know you, and we willows never talk to people whom we do not know. Very likely there are trees somewhere that will take in strange birds. Leave me at once." The poor little bird did not know what to do. Its wing was not yet strong, but it began to fly away as well as it could. Before it had gone far a voice was heard. "Little bird," it said, "where are you going?" "Indeed, I do not know," answered the bird sadly. "I am very cold." "Come right here, then," said the friendly spruce tree, for it was her voice that had called. "You shall live on my warmest branch all winter if you choose." "Will you really let me?" asked the little bird eagerly. "Indeed, I will," answered the kind-hearted spruce tree. "If your friends have flown away, it is time for the trees to help you. Here is the branch where my leaves are thickest and softest." "My branches are not very thick," said the friendly pine tree, "but I am big and strong, and I can keep the North Wind from you and the spruce." "I can help, too," said a little juniper tree. "I can give you berries all winter long, and every bird knows that juniper berries are good." So the spruce gave the lonely little bird a home; the pine kept the cold North Wind away from it; and the juniper gave it berries to eat. The other trees looked on and talked together wisely. "I would not have strange birds on my boughs," said the birch. "I shall not give my acorns away for any one," said the oak. "I never have anything to do with strangers," said the willow, and the three trees drew their leaves closely about them. In the morning all those shining, green leaves lay on the ground, for a cold North Wind had come in the night, and every leaf that it touched fell from the tree. "May I touch every leaf in the forest?" asked the wind in its frolic. "No," said the Frost King. "The trees that have been kind to the little bird with the broken wing may keep their leaves." This is why the leaves of the spruce, the pine, and the juniper are always green. Something to do today: Click on the picture to go to our page with the Story of the Night before Christmas with the original artwork, courtesy of the Gutenberg Project. The Night before Christmas is in the public domain - enjoy!. Here is a picture of Santa and his sack for you to colour in - right click to download the picture and colour it in using your Paint Programme.