Dear Friends,

Today's Bible reading schedule includes these words from the 2nd chapter of Luke, beginning with verse 7:

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. . . . "

In Elisabeth Elliot's book, _The Mark of A Man_ (Fleming Revell, 1981), she introduces Richard Crashaw's poem with these comments --

"The humiliation of the Lord of the Universe restricting Himself to the womb of a peasant girl in the village of Nazareth, then His coming into the world, into a stable, as a helpless infant is described in these words of Richard Crawshaw:

That the Great Angel-binding lght should shrink
His blaze, to shine in a poor shepherd's eye;
That the unmeasur'd God so low should sinke,
As Pris'ner in a few poor rags to lye,
That from His Mother's Breast He milke should drinke,
Who feeds with Nectar Heaven's faire family,
That a vile Manger His low Bed should prove,
Who in a Throne of stars Thunders above;
That He whom the Sun serves, should faintly peepe
Through clouds of Infant Flesh! That He, the old
Eternall World should be a child, and weepe;
That He who made the fire, should feare the cold,
That Heaven's high Majesty His Court should keepe
In a clay cottage, by each blast control'd;
That Glories' self should serve our Griefs and fears,
And free Eternity submit to years,
Let our overwhelming wonder be!

As we move into a season of celebration of the birth of Christ, let us all solemnly consider the events of that time in history, and the purpose for the birth. Essentially, He came to die, to be the "death of death" for His people. And He did. He was buried, affter which--on the third day--He "rose from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty."

From that position, His invitation and promise to His people, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest ..." bears the weight of the promise.

We now sing, "I serve a Risen Saviour ... ".

The Apostle's Creed states (after the statement that He sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty), that "From thence He shall come . . . "

Season's greetings and blessings to all . . .

In Him who came,. and who comes, and who will come again,

Elaine