Jack’s Winning Words 12/26/17
“Therefore, Christian men, be sure  Wealth or rank possessing  Ye who now will bless the poor  Shall yourselves find blessing.”  (Good King Wenceslas)  Legends can be true.  Wen-ces-las was a real person, a Czech king who actually did go out in harsh winter weather to bring help  to needy people.  There are many Christmas songs that I like, but John Mason Neale’s story-carol is one of my favorites.  It’s appropriate to read or to sing or to listen to today.    ;-)  Jack

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  i like that one, too====JACK:  The lyrics mention the Feast of Stephen, which falls on this day, Dec 26.  Stephen was the follower of Jesus who was stoned to death because he would not renounce his faith.  (Acts 6 & 7)

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Each year St John’s Lutheran Church re-enacts King Wenceslas’ Boars head Festival.  Alyssa and Melanie have played the Sprite who carry the light into the story and back out to the world.  It’s a wonderful true story of a caring King who takes care of the poor!   May we all be so caring and giving in the New Year!====JACK:  The story of King Wenceslas is similar to the story of Saint Nicholas, but I like it better, because it has not been taken over by Santa Claus. ====JUDY:  Have you read anything about him?  I’d like to do some research about his life. ====JACK:  For questions like yours, God created Google.

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  song of the day!  i will have to refer to the red hymnal for the words to this one.  only recall the first verse.  age perhaps?  merry christmas time and happy new year. ====JACK:  GKW is sort of like opera...The story is told to music, and the music is so easy.  There's a lilt to it.

FROM LBP:  I don’t know that I’ve ever read the full lyric of that song. Or at least I’d not thought on the story it contains. Nice====JACK:  YouTube has a great version by a traditional Choir, complete with words.  Maybe you and your children can sing it together.