Monday, December 16th, brought a highly anticipated event: our community Christmas concert. The younger five in our family poured countless hours into practice over the last few weeks. Walk Through Bethlehem proved to be a great warm up for the real thing.
At two, we loaded all our equipment and other things we would need and headed for our local community center. The community center is Leavenworth’s former train depot, so as you walk in, there’s a men’s waiting room on one side and a ladies’ waiting room on the other. Both are beautiful rooms with wood floors and tall ceilings. We rented one of the rooms for our concert.
Time flew by with practice and setting up. Anna Marie, Melanie, and Anna had baked cookies so we could bless those attending with Christmas treats. Mary, with her creative flair, set up the refreshment tables.
By seven, the room was filled with friends and neighbors. Song after song gave Christmas joy and reflected Christ’s love. Interspersed between songs, we each gave a short testimony of something the Lord had laid on our hearts. Before Silent Night, Nathan, Melanie, Abigail, and Bethany recited Luke 2:1-16, each saying a verse until they had completed the first sixteen verses. Even Christina could say a few words on one verse.
Listening to my brothers and sisters sing filled my heart with joy. God is good, and may we each be faithful to follow Him in whatever way He leads us.
After the concert, people mingled to fellowship and enjoy Christmas cookies. We had a wonderful time talking with our friends.
Merry Christmas!
Serving Jesus,
Sarah
“For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation.”
Luke 1:49-50
Your concert looked lovely. So wish I could have attended. The decorations looked precious.
Merry Christmas Maxwells
love K
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Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, Maxwell family! What a lovely tradition. How does Mary get her hair to look like that? It’s lovely.
In Christ,
Christina E.
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Merry Christmas! On occasion she uses a wave “curler.”
Pictures are great!! Everyone looks great, especially the kids! They’ve grown up so quickly!
How is Anna Marie’s pregnancy going? She’s due in Feb, right? Hope she’s doing fine, especially since she has Joshua (what a cutie!) to chase around. 🙂
Merry Christmas, y’all!
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She is doing great! Yes baby in February. Merry Christmas!
The pictures look great! Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas- Buon Natale!
Not sure if you’ve ever heard this, but it is a beautiful Italian Christmas song called “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle” (You Came Down from the Stars). It was written by a Neapolitan priest named Alphonsus de Liguari in 1732. This song was originally titled “Little Song to Child Jesus”. Hopefully, you will get the chance to listen to this beautiful song.
Tu scendi dalle stelle,
O Re del Cielo,
e vieni in una grotta,
al freddo al gelo.
(From starry skies descending,
Thou comest, glorious King,
A manger low Thy bed,
In winter’s icy sting)
O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato
Ahi, quanto ti costò
l’avermi amato!
(O my dearest Child most holy,
Shudd’ring, trembling in the cold!
Great God, Thou lovest me!
What suff’ring Thou didst bear,
That I near Thee might be!)
A te, che sei del mondo
il Creatore,
mancano panni e fuoco;
O mio Signore!
(Thou art the world’s Creator,
God’s own and true Word,
Yet here no robe, no fire
For Thee, Divine Lord.)
Caro eletto Pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà
più mi innamora!
Giacché ti fece amor
povero ancora!
(Dearest, fairest, sweetest Infant,
Dire this state of poverty.
The more I care for Thee,
Since Thou, o Love Divine,
Will’st now so poor to be.)
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Merry Christmas! Thank you.
Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas