Georgetown at Christmas
Taken from a tour bus window, Washington DC.
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To: 
The image, Georgetown, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s 
.
Santa and the Kids
“Have you kids been good this year?”
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, Santa and the Kids, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
The Cheerful Giver
God Loveth a Cheerful Giver
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2nd Corinthians 9:7; KJV)
Stained Glass Window at Saint Ann’s Church By The Sea, Kennebunkport. From “My Picasa Albums”.
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, God Loveth a Cheerful Giver, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
Southwest Virginia Creche
Made from corn husks. Displayed at the National Cathedral, Washington, DC, December 2005.
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, Creche at Washington Cathedral, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
The Nativity
Creche at Washington Cathedral
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, Creche at Washington Cathedral, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
Creche at Washington Cathedral
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, Creche at Washington Cathedral, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
The Holy Family
Jesus “grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.” ~~Luke 2:40 The image was made at the Cathedral of Saint Bavon, Ghent, Belgium, 2006.
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, The Holy Family, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
Creche
“I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet,
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote those words in a poem on Christmas Day of 1864, four months before the War Between the States was finally ended, with victory by the United States. The poem was “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”.
Listen at “An American Carol”
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, Creche, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
Saint Francis and the Creche
In the year 1223, Francis of Assisi, a deacon, was visiting the mountainous town of Grecio to celebrate Christmas. When Francis realized that the chapel of the Franciscan hermitage would not accommodate the congregation for Midnight Mass, he found a niche in the nearby rock and set up the altar. Saint Francis made this Midnight Mass unlike any other held before and its legacy has lived on. Saint Bonaventure (died 1274) wrote the story in his recordings about the life of Saint Francis of Assisi.
It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem. A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvellously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles. (from Father William Saunders)
The creches and nativity scenes which now decorate our Christmases and remind us of that night when our Savior was born, started long, long ago when Francis of Assisi was preaching the gospel of Christ to those mountain folk.
Visit Neddy’s Store
Save To:
The image, Saint Francis, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Neddy’s .
Neddy's Wondrous World 