On the Dawning of a New Year's Day

Once upon a time, the welcoming of a new year was thus:


To Cara,

On the Dawning of a New Year's Day

When midnight came to close the year,
We sighed to think it thus should take
The hours it gave us--hours as dear
As sympathy and love could make
Their blessed moments,--every sun
Saw us, my love, more closely one.

But, Cara, when the dawn was nigh
Which came a new year's light to shed,
That smile we caught from eye to eye
Told us, those moments were not fled:
Oh, no,--we felt, some future sun
Should see us still more closely one.

Thus may we ever, side by side,
From happy years to happier glide;
And still thus may the passing sigh
We give to hours, that vanish o'er us,
Be followed by the smiling eye,
That Hope shall shed on scenes before us!

--Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

Merry Christmas, One and All

This MP3 Selection Expired on 01-27-2010
Richard Stoltzman, clarinet (1996) - Dona Nobis Pacem

From An Old Christmas Song

To be a child of man

Down to the earth God came,

He came to make anew the life.

And death he came to conquer-

For this sang all creation

And earth and heaven rejoiced.

Then in all lands are loosened

The chains and bonds of evil,

Then breaketh every spell.

Light cometh into darkness,

The old rule then is shattered,

In glory comes His Kingdom.

The Purpose of Advent

You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 
-- I John 3:5 (NASB)