The Mystery
Of Holy Night
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Xmas in Prison
BONHOEFFER:
(Talking to audience)
For decades you have given us such incomparably beautiful Christmases that my grateful memory of them is strong enough to outshine even this rather dark one I am now spending in a prison cell.
I Heard
The Bells
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow tells of writing "I Heard The Bells."
(LONGFELLOW is seated at desk and first appears to be writing. He looks up, as if someone has come into the room, picks up what looks like a poem, stands, and goes around desk. Leans back against it facing audience, and says loudly:)
LONGFELLOW:
Of all the days, Christmas.
Devotion
1 Samuel from the Old Testament in an easy-to-read format.
According to Hanna’s faith, the vow she made before God meant that her first born son, should God grant her one, was to be a Temple Priest. The priest at the door, Eli, observed Hanna’s sobbing and her lips were trembling, but he could not hear her voice. He had perhaps never seen such devotion and heartfelt need before.