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December 2014 - The Christmas Story

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December 2014 - The Christmas Story
November 2014 - Feature Campfire - Live a Healthy Life! Food, Nutrition and Exercise.
October 2014 - Feature Campfire - Halloween
June 2014 - Feature Campfire - Pioneers
May 2014 - Feature Campfire - Garden of Life
April 2014 - Feature Campfire - Fairy Tales ... Dreams Really Do Come True!
March 2014 - Feature Campfire - Irish and Everything Green!
February 2014 - Feature - A Thinking Day Celebration - Together We Change the World
January 2014 - Feature Campfire - Sing, Sing A Song!
December 2013 - Feature Campfire - My Favorite Holiday Friends
November 2013 - Feature Campfire - Lest We Forget
October 2013 - Feature Campfire - I'm Thankful
September 2013 - Feature Campfire - Getting to Know You
June 2013 - Feature Campfire - Summer Fun!
May 2013 - Feature Campfire - As We Hike Along
April 2013 - Feature Campfire - Earth Day
March 2013 - Feature Campfire - We Can Make a Difference - Celebrating International Women's Day
February 2013 - Feature Campfire - The Klondike Gold Rush
January 2013 - Three Cheers for 100 Years - Happy Birthday Alberta Girl Guides
December 2012 - Feature Campfire - My Christmas Wish
November 2012 - Feature Campfire - Let There Be Peace On Earth
October 2012 - Feature Campfire - Autumn Is My Favorite Season
September 2012 - Feature Campfire - Make New Friends
SURPRISE! June 2012 Feature Campfire - The Olympics, One World, One Dream
May 2012 - Feature Campfire - Camping Adventures
April 2012 - Feature Campfire - April Showers Bring May Flowers
March 2012 - Feature Campfire - Soar Like An Eagle - Celebrating Native Culture!
February 2012 - Feature Campfire - A Garden of Friendship and Love
January 2012 - Feature Campfire - A Winter Night's Dream!
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November 23, 2014

 

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost here!  I love this time of year!  Preparing the music for Midnight Mass, caroling at the Senior’s homes and around the neighborhood …..spreading the good news that our Savior, Jesus Christ is near.

Being a Christian, Christmas has always been about the birth of Jesus and the great gift of God’s love.  I refuse to be politically correct and wish people “Happy Holidays” at this time of year.  It will always be “Merry Christmas.”

          “I’ll shout it from the mountain tops,

I want the world to know,

          The Lord of love, has come to me,

I want to pass it on!”

 

As I was preparing for this month’s feature, I found this great article “How to Put Christ back into Christmas.”  Some great suggestions.

http://www.wikihow.com/Put-Christ-Back-in-Christmas

 

This month I have taken “The Christmas Story” and added some reflective Christmas Carol’s throughout the story.  You can read and sing, or you can read and watch videos.  Either way, it is a great way to celebrate and reflect on Christmas with your units, groups and classes.

 

May peace be your gift for this Christmas

and the blessing of God be with you

and the world to help us make this world a better place.

Let us all work together to make it Christmas Day each and every day of the year.

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

See you in the New Year.

 

Love Guider Dusk (Dawn)

 

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The Christmas Story

(The Christmas Story (Story with Songs) or a Christmas Reflection (Story with Videos)

By Guider Dusk

Christmas 2014

 

All great stories start with Once Upon a Time or A Long Time Ago….

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bffNLsCb4y0

Mary’s Boy Child – First Verse

 

Mary’s Boy Child, Jesus Christ

Was born on Christmas Day

And man will live forever more

Because of Christmas Day

 

Long time ago in Bethlehem

So the Holy Bible said.

Mary’s Boy Child, Jesus Christ,

Was born on Christmas Day

 

Mary and the Angel

 

About two thousand years ago, in the town of Nazareth, there lived a young woman named Mary.  She was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter.  One day an angel appeared before her and told her she had been chosen to have a special baby.  The baby would be God’s son and she must call him Jesus.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TEL_7TS5FE

Holy Is His Name - John Michael Talbot

 

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

And my spirit exalts in God my Savior

For He has looked with mercy on my lowliness

And my name will be forever exalted

For the mighty God has done great things for me

An His mercy will reach from age to age

 

And holy, holy, holy is His name

 

Journey to Bethlehem

Soon after the angel’s visit, Mary and Joseph were married.  Mary was due to have her baby when they were told they had to go on a long journey to Bethlehem, which was where Joseph came from.  This was because they had to pay a special tax.  Mary had to ride on a donkey for a few days over the hills of Galilee.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag4ie6RtI2U

Breath of Heaven – Amy Grant

 

I have traveled many moonless nights,

Cold and weary with a babe inside,

And I wonder what I've done.

Holy Father you have come,

And chosen me now to carry your son.

 

I am waiting in a silent prayer.

I am frightened by the load I bear.

In a world as cold as stone,

Must I walk this path alone?

Be with me now.

Be with me now.

 

Breath of heaven,

Hold me together,

Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

Breath of heaven.

 

Do you wonder as you watch my face,

If a wiser one should have had my place,

But I offer all I am

For the mercy of your plan.

Help me be strong.

Help me be.

Help me.

 

Breath of heaven,

Hold me together,

Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

 

Breath of heaven,

Hold me together,

Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness,

Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven.

 

 

No Room at the Inn

 

At last Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem.  It was crowded with other people who needed to pay their taxes.  Mary was very tired and needed a place to stay.  At the inn, the story was the same.  There was no room for them.  Eventually, one kind innkeeper said he had a stable where he kept his animals.  They were welcome to stay there.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q8JOeAVCtI

The Friendly Beasts - Traditional

 

Jesus our brother, kind and good,

Was humbly born in a stable rude,

And the friendly breast around Him stood,

Jesus our brother, kind and good.

 

“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,

“I carried His mother up hill and down;

I carried her safely to Bethlehem town.”

“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

 

“I,” said the cow, all white and red,

“I,” gave Him my manger for a bed;

I gave Him my hay to pillow His head.”

“I,” said the cow, all white and red.

 

 

Jesus is Born

 

And so it was that a few hours later, Mary gave birth to her son in that stable.  She wrapped Jesus in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manager full of hay.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19w0IHPL4X0

 

Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing – Charles Wesley & Felix Mendelssohn

 

Hark!  The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new born King,

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark!  The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new born King!"

 

Christ, by highest heaven adored;

Christ, the everlasting Lord;

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of a virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the' incarnate Deity,

Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark!  The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new born King!"

 

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

Born that we no more may die,

Born to raise us from the earth,

Born to give us second birth.

Hark!  The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new born King!"

 

 

Shepherds hear the News

 

At the same time, on a hillside overlooking Bethlehem, some shepherds were watching over their sheep.  A bright light appeared in the sky.  They were very afraid.  It was an angel sent by God.  The angel told them not be afraid, because he has some good news.  He said the Son of God had been born and they would find Him in Bethlehem.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_kw8Aem_8Q

Angels We Have Heard On High - Traditional

 

Angels we have heard on high,
Singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tiding did you hear?

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

 

Shepherds visit Jesus

 

The shepherds wanted to go and see the baby.  When they arrived at the stable, they were filled with joy at seeing Jesus lying in the manager.  They knelt down and worshipped Him.  They told Mary and Joseph how the angel had appeared in the sky and told them that Jesus was to be the Saviour of the world.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnxZ-YU4f0A

The Huron Christmas Carol – J.E. Middleton

 

'Twas in the moon of winter-time
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunter heard the hymn:


"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria."

Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender Babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapp'd His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high

 

"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria."

O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.

 

"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria."

 

 

A New Star Appears

 

Far away in the East, Wise Men saw a new star shining high in the sky.  These men studied the stars and they knew this was a very special star.  They studied their scrolls where it said that whenever a bright new star appeared it meant that a great ruler had been born.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlR_1gIGqAs

Beautiful Star of Bethlehem – Miklos Rozsa

 

Oh, beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Shining afar through shadows dim
Giving a light for those who long have gone (have gone);

And guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay,
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem shine on (shine on).

 

 

Following the Star

 

The Wise Men decided to find this new ruler.  They went to Jerusalem to see King Herod, as they thought the baby would be in the palace.  They asked to see the child that would be King of the Jews.  The king was troubled.  He thought this new king may take away his throne.  He told them to return when they had found he baby so that he could worship the child himself.

 

 

Wise Men Give Gifts

 

The Wise Men set off to find the baby.  They were guided by the star to the stable in Bethlehem.  Here they knelt down and worshipped Jesus.  They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  That night, the men had the same dream where an angel warned them that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus and told them not to go back to his palace. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIsGiDLg09M

We Three Kings – Johnny Henry Hopkins

 

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

 

Chorus:

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

 

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

 

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshiping God on high.

 

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorr’wing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

 

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

 

Jesus is Safe

 

The Wise Men went back to their own country without calling to see Herod.  Soon after Joseph had a dream where an angel told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt as King Herod had ordered that Jesus be killed.  They left Bethlehem right away.  When the wise men did not return, Herod ordered that baby boys in Bethlehem be killed.  They did not find Jesus as he was safe.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpgaWm2pnNs

Joy to the World – Isaac Watts & Lowell Mason

 

Joy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the world

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

Joy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the world

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing

 

Jesus is the reason for the season!