I grew up in Danvers, Massachusetts. This is a photograph of
of Danvers sq. at Christmas time within the 1950’s…
(click on on the picture for a bigger model)
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| Danvers Sq. within the 1950’s |
Round this time of 12 months, Lord, some 65 years in the past,
my sister and I, on a chilly December evening,
would stroll ‘spherical Danvers Sq. and,
with the fortune of some {dollars} in our pockets,
do all our Christmas procuring
for our mother and father, grandparents, aunts and uncles…
These presents I keep in mind:
hairnets and pipe cleaners,
costume jewellery and fancy hankies,
bobby pins and a field of Salada tea luggage:
treasures we purchased and wrapped up good
in white tissue paper, glowing shiny
with curling ribbon and To and From tag…
Small, easy presents from harmless hearts,
delighted to provide, to share with those
whose love was our world…
Small, easy presents, Lord, wrapped with pleasure,
tucked ‘neath the tree, ’til Christmas eve
and the time to provide and obtain…
Assist me discover once more, Lord, a baby’s pure pleasure:
the enjoyment of giving easy presents
to these whose love is now my world
– and to these on the earth who reside in want
of the present of my love and
a share of the various {dollars} I will spend
on those that have already got greater than they want…
My mother and father and grandparents, aunts and uncles
– and so many extra, each household and buddies –
have now gone residence
to open the present each coronary heart wishes:
your therapeutic love and your lasting peace
with pleasure, in your arms, perpetually…
Open extensive my coronary heart, as they did, Lord,
to your phrase, your love and your gospel:
assist me freely give, as a baby does,
easy presents from a pure, easy coronary heart…
Defend me, Lord, whereas I am awake
and watch over me whereas I sleep
that awake, I would preserve watch with you
and asleep, relaxation in your peace…
Amen.
Tonight’s tune is Christmas Reminiscences by Alabama:
not a hymn within the traditional sense
except you imagine (as I do)
that the whole lot sung from the center
is heard as a hymn by God…
Introduction Blessing
composed by Michael Joncas and Alan Hommerding
