COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION

Public Relations & Communications Ministry

A Live Nativity Thanksgiving

In a few weeks, we will again present our gift to the community, our Live Nativity production. So many members will participate, so many spiritual gifts will create the event. Faith Lutheran thanks you all. Especially, we thank God who gave us His precious gift over 2000 years ago, and for guiding us through our annual Live Nativity.

While we know you welcome our thanks, these words cannot express our appreciative- ness adequately. Someone else said it so much more elegantly. Reprinted below is a poem, with permission of its author, Aletha Hendrickson, entitled “A Live Nativity Thanksgiving” from her book, Tracings of a Pilgrim, copyright 2004, Kakkula Acres Press, Woodbine, Maryland. One more thank you. Thank you, Aletha, for authoring such a lovely tribute to our Live Nativity, and for allowing our Ministry to reprint it here.

A LIVE NATIVITY THANKSGIVING

Lord, how can we thank You

For the unsurpassable gift revealed to us in flesh that first Christmas?

For the inexpressible gift of salvation bestowed on us that Christmas?

For the re-enactments that proclaimed the indescribable Nativity of that Christmas?

- Lord, though we stage an inadequate remembrance, we thank You

For the honor of telling the phenomenal birth,

For glittering angels proclaiming good news on earth.

For shivering shepherds huddled over fire,

For sheep clad in woolen attire.

For innkeepers showing the way to a stable,

For manger (a crib) and hay bale (a table).

For Mary, Joseph, and a stand-in Baby,

For wise men traveling far on a maybe.

For narrators sharing the ancient of stories,

For musicians artfully singing of heavenly glories.

For workers who constructed the set,

For servants who ensured that all needs were met.

For those who prepared and served the food,

For any who contributed to the hallowed mood.

For Pastor inviting everyone and all,

For soup, bread, and chocolate in the church hall.

For writers and typists who created the flyers,

For costumers who sewed cloth colored by dyers.

For hundreds of cookies our youth baked with care,

For those who prayed for the souls that were there.

For pavers and parkers who made room for cars.

Lord, bless all who assisted in telling of your mission,

May we be ever engaged in your Great Commission.