Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

December 22, 2007

Today’s Announcement

I am back in Hell Carol! My only Son (Remember he had kidney transplant?) They have just diagnosed Bladder tumour! Thankfully it isnt in Prostate as they firt thought! But Carol I have no words dear. I am choked. .. Your prayers would be gratefully received Bless you. Merry Christmas  to you all, Violet

*** Important notice, the two poems presented yesterday in the contest do not have an author.  Would the author please step up so that I can enter you in the contest.***

The Christmas Contest is under way, everyday I will add stories and poems that were published so far, if your work has not yet been published it will not show on this page under it does.

Christmas is just around the corner and most of you have already started to think about Christmas gifts for this season.  Why not help out Storytime Tapestry with its ongoing commitment to provide you with free wonderful stories and poems daily by purchasing the publisher’s newest book for someone special on your holiday gift giving list this year.  Angels Watching Over Me can be published through lulu press in both hard copy and e-book.  Just click on the link:  Angels Watching Over Me

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Christmas Stories

~**~**~

 Oh Mary, Did You Know?
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com


It is written in Luke for sure, yes Mary knew. An angel came and told her. The Angel was Gabriel, none other. One of the three angels named somewhere in the book of books, the Holy Bible.Luke chapter one, verse 28. Now read on a few verses. You will
find good reason to know Mary knew.

We are told other things about this birth. And people are trying to figure what is not written. Did it come about on December the 25th? I don't think so myself. I think if one reads what is written, and does some thinking about other known facts, December the 25th is the wrong day. December is a cold winter month in that part of the world. We read about the shepherds with the sheep. The flocks are still in the fields, it is in the fall  of the year. It also may have been in the spring time, it is not winter time for sure. There is another thing.

The decree for people to travel to be taxed. I don't think this would have been done in the dead of winter. Even the Romans did have a little heart.

Now I have read, and I believe it to be true. The pagans had a feast time in the dead of winter. They did much praying to their pagan gods for the return of the sun. It is real cold and we need the sun to warm us. The Christians just used that day, as the day of Jesus birth over time.

Now back to did Mary know? She had to know this son of hers was something very special, not only to her but the whole world, and above all to God. Read Matthew chapter 2, verse 13. Here we read of an angel coming to tell them to high tail it to Egypt. Harod was out to kill the baby. Then later we read an angel came and told them it was safe to return to the home land. that is verse 19.

The date, is not the important thing. The important thing is it happened. One should live every day like it was Christmas. Hope, Love and by the Grace of God we had a savior born to take away our sins.

Now we can pin point many things, if we use Roman history. We know of this Harod, it is written in Roman history. We know he was a flunky for the Romans. We also know of this Pilate from Roman history. We know Harod ordered the deaths of all male children from the age of two down.

That is also written in Roman history. So if that is the case, yes there was a king born that put fear in that man's small mind. If one reads what is written, both in the Bible, and also history of different peoples, yes there was a child born some dark night in a stable back of the Holiday Inn. The date is not important, if it would have been important the Bible would have told us so. The important thing is it happened. And yes Mary knew, because she was told so by Gabriel.

I have read where the smart minds have the Star figured out, all seem to think it was a couple of the planets getting close together. I think God sent an angel to light the way, and then stand over the stable. Did He not do so for Moses, when the Jewish people walked out on Pharaoh?

Just a thought, who was the first to come to see the baby born that night? Simple people, the shepherds tending their flocks. Also there were horses, a cow or two, some sheep, and if there was such, there would have been a dog and a cat. The animals were so overjoyed to have been there. A savior is born.

Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

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Christmas Poetry Corner

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Joseph's Example
Carol Meeks

The angel explained
Mary’s conception
by the Holy Spirit.
He told Joseph
to take Mary as his wife
when Joseph didn’t want to hear it.
 
They went to Bethlehem
to pay taxes that were due.
The Lamb of God was taxed
but His Worth no one knew.
 
The angel told him
go to Egypt and flee,
go away from Herod
so Jesus would remain free.
 
In a dream God told Joseph
back to Israel he could go.
It was safe now,
and Joseph knew it was so.
 
When Joseph was commanded
to change each of his plans,
he obeyed without question.
He knew he was in God’s hands.
 
Joseph obeyed
without argument or fuss.
His obedience was immediate.
What an example to us!
 
Joseph communicated
with God.
God guided Joseph
in each place Joseph trod.
 
The same can be
for me and for you
if we have Joseph’s faithfulness
and follow his example through.
 
The father of our Savior
was wise beyond years.
His son was born on Christmas Day,
and He wipes away our tears.
 
© Carol Dee Meeks
http://home.comcast.net/~pkmeeks/
2007 New Mexico Senior Poet Laureate
 
 

~**~**~

Stable Born King

Carol Meeks
 
Tonight the shepherds bow and pray
beneath heaven’s ‘lectric skies,
they know a king lies on the hay
in Bethlehem-plebeian guys;
 
and though the shepherds’ rank is low
in calm of still amidst the night,
which draws them nigh amid His foes
where angels sing and stars shine bright.
 
The Babe’s matured. In strength, He roams
the lands-three hundred miles around
His country side. He enters homes,
and men, in awe, deem Him quite sound.
 
From poverty they watched Him peak,
in riches from the words He’d speak.
 
A stable birth, a bed of hay
to high esteem, again today.
 
© Carol Dee Meeks
CHRISTMAS PASTORAL
http://home.comcast.net/~pkmeeks/
2007 New Mexico Senior Poet Laureate
 
 

Readers Feedback

~**~**~

 This is a response to Joyce's article.  I worked at Macys for three
years in Tallahassee, Florida.  I was never told that I could not wish
the customers "Merry Christmas".  Maybe this is part of the Bible belt
and management knew it would not stop us in saying Merry Christmas.  I
left Macys in March 2006.  Last Christmas I went to Macys.  On the
entrance door, there was a small sign which read--Merry Christmas,
Feliz Navidad,  Happy Hanukkah and Kwansi.   All four of those were
listed. 
I am now employed at T J Maxx.  Last Christmas management gave us a pin
that had "Merry Christmas" on it.  This year the button reads "Merry
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad and Kwanzi.  I told the store
manager that I personally could not wear it.  I proudly wore last years'
button which read "Merry Christmas" 

I have not been to the mall to see if there are  signs on the doors.

Tennie

~**~**~

Here are the Published Christmas entries to Date.  If you want to review the stories or poems before voting which will come only at the end of this contest, just go to the archives:  http://archives.zinester.com/98907

Stories

Name                    Story                                                 Date

Williams, Cheryl           Christmas: Look forward to it ….         December 20,

Haley, Ellie Braun         A Christmas Story                                December 20,

Bryant, Sharon I Walked The Halls                               December 21

Bryant, Sharon Believing                                               December 21

Lock, Joyce                 Abbreviated Christmas             December 21

Smith, Michael  Memory Tree                                       December 22

Walker, Bill                  Mary Did You Know?              December 22

Poems

Name                    Poem                                                 Date

Cardinal, Conrad          Make a Wish Come True                                 December 20,

Cardinal, Conrad          Why?                                                               December 20,

                                    A Gift Of Love                                     December 21

                                    God’s Decorating                                             December 21

Meeks, Carol               Joseph’s Example                                             December 22

Meeks, Carol               Stable Born King                                              December 22

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller