THE NATIVITY - THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORY IN THE WORLD

"The Nativity": Tatiana Maslany and Andrew Buchan as Mary and Joseph in the BBC drama of Christ's birth.

From the Telegraph:

There have been countless retellings of the story of the nativity over the past 2,000 years and they divide roughly into two categories – those that stick faithfully to the traditional gospel account of a virgin birth, and those that reject it in favour of something more biological.

Given that this year's big BBC One Christmas offering, "The Nativity", comes from the pen of Tony Jordan, the award-winning scriptwriter best known for the gritty, down-to-earth world of "EastEnders", it should, logically, fall into the second category. But think again, for the making of "The Nativity" has been something of a personal Road to Damascus for Jordan.

Although Tony Jordan was not a believer when he began to do research for writing the script, he was caught up in what he calls "the most beautiful story in the history of the world".

The nativity is a lovely, lovely story, isn't it?

Jordan continues:

I know that people from my sort of background have always discounted the story of the nativity and I certainly didn't believe it when I started on it three years ago. But now I do."

Jordan spoke powerful words that made me nod in agreement and say to myself, "Oh, yes!"

The only thing I know for sure is that the words I read as coming from Jesus Christ are the most truthful thing I have ever heard. As a blueprint for mankind, it is so smart that it couldn't even have come from a clever philosopher. Who would have been smart enough to say 'He who is without sin cast the first stone'? Wow! That's pretty cool."

I have no doubt that the way that Jesus teaches and lives in the Gospel is the one true way to live one's life, truly "a blueprint for mankind(sic)". And, although I've heard and read the story countless times, each time I encounter the Gospel tale of the woman caught in adultery, my anticipation quickens as I await Jesus' question that confounds the crowd who was ready to stone her.

Was he ever tempted, writing the script in the wooden shed at the end of his garden, to dispense with the virgin birth?

"If you accept that Jesus is Son of God, why could you not believe that Mary was a virgin, and that God must have had some hand in the impregnation...."

Exactly! If you can believe one, why not the other? I find it hard to understand why people can believe that God came down and became incarnate as one of us but yet have difficulty believing in the virgin birth. I think of when Jesus asked which is easier, healing the body or forgiving sin. Which is easier to believe? The Incarnation or the virgin birth?

Jordan's story of coming to faith is, in itself, quite lovely.

Is Jordan now a church-goer? Well, no. Read Peter Stanford's entire account of the interview to find out what Jordan says about churches.

I hope "The Nativity" makes it way over to the US. If not, the series surely will be available on DVD.

H/T to Torey Lightcap at The Lead.

UPDATE: Bishop Alan posted the YouTube video of the interview with Tony Jordan.

IT'S STILL CHRISTMAS

The Nativity set made by my mother a good many years ago in a ceramics class

Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

(Luke 2:10, 11)

Merry Christmas in:

French: Joyeux Noel
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Spanish: Feliz Navidad (Come on, you knew this one)
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce
Norwegian: Gledelig Jul
Polish: Wesołych Świąt
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Greek: Καλά Χριστούγεννα (Kalá Christoúgenna)
Swedish: God Jul
Hebrew: חג מולד שמח
Simplified Chinese: 圣诞节快乐 )Shèngdàn jié kuàilè)
Canada: Merry Christmas, eh?

From Now Public.

MATT SLOAN - A BIG GUY WITH A BIG HEART

From NOLA.com:

The last time Matt Sloan saw Sylvia Blanchard’s house — the house he and his Episcopal volunteer crews reclaimed from a stinking post-Katrina wreck — the Blanchards were back in and it was neat, tight, clean and smelling new. But it was raw, too, in the way of new construction. No greenery, no shade from the June sun, no landscaping to soften the hard angles of its little lot a few blocks off Franklin Avenue in Gentilly.

Two things have changed since: The little front yard is sodded. Gardens are planted. There’s a small fountain out back. Young palms and crape myrtles hold the promise of grace and shade

Or, if his family and friends can make it happen, the beginning of his legacy, which is to build a small organization that will continue to landscape the homes of New Orleans flood victims — “to feed the souls” of families whose every penny went into hard construction costs, leaving their rebuilt homes barren outside.

And at 29, Sloan has died.

The plantings are his legacy.

That “feed the souls” line was his, the way he described what he wanted to continue doing in New Orleans, said his mother, Judy, from Sloan’s native North Carolina.

Matt’s Trees, an organization formed in his memory, is raising money to continue residential plantings around New Orleans the way he had planned, his mother said.
Like thousands of others, Sloan was a Katrina volunteer so moved by his first trips into the flood zone that it changed his life.

He moved from North Carolina to New Orleans in January and worked for six months for the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana as a construction crew chief, supervising volunteers being cycled in and out of the city. Mostly he supervised the rebuilding of Blanchard’s home for herself and her bedridden husband, Anthony.

By March, his mother said, Sloan had decided to remain in New Orleans and seek grants for low-cost, last-stage landscaping that might put the final aesthetic touches on someone’s long journey home.

By many accounts, including Sylvia Blanchard’s, who grew close to him, Sloan was an exceptional spirit. A big guy: gregarious, alive, welcoming, passionate, with a continuously expanding circle of friends.

“Big heart,” said Blanchard.

“At his death at 29, he had more friends than most people make in a lifetime,” said Judy Sloan.

Sloan died of heatstroke June 13 at the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tenn.

As I read the story and wrote the post, I had tears in my eyes. Matt felt the pull of New Orleans, and decided to move there, as have a surprising number volunteers who worked in the city after Katrina and the federal flood. It's the same strong pull that I feel after over 50 years of living away from my beloved home town.

Matt's was a good life cut off too soon, but he passed away surrounded by the music he loved. He will live long in memory for for the good he accomplished during his all-too-brief time on this earth.

Goals

Landscape 100 renovated homes with native trees and plants.

Restore 30 city blocks of "streetscape" by installing native trees.

Recruit and educate 600 volunteers from church and school groups.

Establish a presence in New Orleans for continuation of this effort.

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and Hike for KaTREEna will partner with Matt's Trees in the project.

I asked you, my readers, to vote for Jericho Road, a community organization sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana in the contest to win fruit trees for planting in community gardens in vacant lots in New Orleans, and you did, and you helped Jericho Road to win.

Now, once again, I ask you to vote for Matt's Trees in a contest to win $50,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Project. As of now, Matt's Trees is far behind in the vote, but we can help them catch up and move ahead. The voting ends on December 31, so please vote today and once a day, every day, until the vote ends. We did it once; let's do it again!

Donate to Matt's Trees here.

STORY OF THE DAY - SEASON OF JOY

She asked me when the season of joy
was supposed to end & I said I didn't
really think there was an exact date, so
we left the tree up till June that year.

From StoryPeople.

PLEASE PRAY FOR LAWRENCE AND DORA

Dear Mimi,
After a few moments of hope, my dad Lawrence, collapsed again and was rushed to hospital. The doctor said his pressure is good but now the problem is that his veins are now so conscripted and they is nothing that can be done for him except to make him comfortable. I am in London and trying to find flights to Zimbabwe from London to Zimbabwe and it is proving difficult. Please pray that I can get flights in time to see my dad alive and alert. And also that he remains comfortable. I have not completely recovered from my mother's death in 2004 who died as I left my house for the airport. I want to see my dad alive but only if waiting form is not prolonging pain. Thanks for the prayers.
Dora (Rudo)

PS. Got tickets and it seems my dad is already giving his final will and testament. My flight is for 30th and I hope he can wait for us to get there

Lawrence, may God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel, especially Dora; surround her with your loving care; protect her from every danger; and bring her in safety to her journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

Dora, may the God of all grace fill your heart and mind with the peace that passes understanding as you await the journey to be with your father, Lawrence.

UPDATE: From Dora (Rudo):

Thanks for the prayers and the words. I am not at all discouraged. It is good to know that there is a community praying for my dad and my family. The waiting is a bit tough. I have seen and talked to him on skype and he seems comfortable. I hope whatever happens I will be able to accept.

Thanks for checking in, Dora. We will continue our prayers for your father and for you and your brother to get to Zimbabwe in time.

"...JESUS CHRIST IS BORN!"

A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

"FOR A CHILD HAS BEEN BORN FOR US...."

Caravaggio - "Adoration of the Shepherds" - 1609 - Museo Nazionale, Messina

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS TODAY...

...those in our community and beyond who will spend this Christmas in pain and/or alone and/or unemployed and/or exiled from their church.

From MadPriest at Of Course, I Could Be Wrong.

"O HOLY NIGHT" (NAVAHO)

A Christmas Card with Jana Mashonee's rendition of "O Holy Night" in Navajo. It is accompanied by appropriate winter scenery on Navajo land featuring original artwork by Daniel Tate.

H/T to Ann at What the Tide Brings In.

INTELLECTUALS AT THE NUDIST COLONY

Two intellectuals were at a nudist colony. They were talking, and one asked the other, "Have you read Marx?"

And the other replies, "Yes, it's the wicker chairs."

Don't blame me. Blame Bruce (aka Canon Itchy).