Christmas

Within a manger cold and bare,

No lighted candles anywhere.

The Virgin Mary meek and mild

In silence knelt beside her child.

Yet over the manger bed that night

Appeared a ray of wondrous light.

The gentle cows and woolly sheep

Looked too upon the Babe asleep.

Suddenly upon the air,

An angel chorus sweet and fair,

Came singing, "Peace, goodwill on earth,"

To glorify the Saviour's birth.

The shepherd watching in the night

With joy, beheld the wondrous sight

Of angels with their wings unfurled,

Move in delight above the world,

And heard them sing the sweet refrain.

"Peace on earth. Goodwill to everyone" again.

Give us, oh Lord, a season blessed

With quiet joys for your domain.

Let kindness calm the earth's unrest,

And bring a peace to rough terrain.

Dispose of monetary powers

On land prolific with your seeds.

Bestow within the yuletide hours

A unity of man-made creeds.

Like rain that permeates and soothes,

Dry plains, saturate the nations.

Return the world to simple truths

Taught wisely by God's Son.

We hunger for you in our strife,

Welcome again the Bread of Life.

A blessed Christmas to all!

Lily Carreck Milljour