“The Feast of Christmas” John 1:14

The Twelve Days of Christmas an 18th-century England, a memory-and-forfeit game sung by British children

A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Jesus Christ, the cross Two Turtle Doves - The Old and New Testaments Three French Hens - The virtues of Faith, Love, Hope Four Calling Birds - Four gospels Five Golden Rings - First five books of the Old Testament. Pentateuch Six Geese-a-Laying - Six days of creation before God’s rest on the seventh day The Twelve Days of Christmas

Seven Swans-a-Swimming - Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (7 sacraments) Eight Maids-a-Milking - Eight Beatitudes Nine Ladies Dancing - Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit Ten Lords-a-Leaping - Ten Commandments Eleven Pipers Piping - Eleven faithful disciples Twelve Drummers Drumming - Twelve points of the Apostles' Creed The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas

December 26The Feast of Stephen - serving “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 The Twelve Days of Christmas

December 26The Feast of Stephen - serving “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:6-8 The Twelve Days of Christmas

December 26The Feast of Stephen - serving “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:11 The Twelve Days of Christmas

December 26The Feast of Stephen - serving December 27 The Feast of John – worship December 28 The Feast of Innocence – lament “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:3-5 The Twelve Days of Christmas

December 26The Feast of Stephen - serving December 27 The Feast of John – worship December 28 The Feast of Innocence – lament The Twelve Days of Christmas