Christmas Poem by Patrick Dennis

As we gather, you and I
take up wings and let us fly
to the little town of Bethlehem
and beside the shepherds kneel with them
and join their praises as we sing
to Jesus Christ our newborn King
who has come on earth to reign
in our hearts to clean all stain
of word and deed, and free all strife
that we may have eternal life.

With those shepherds let us pray
Jesus be our light today.
Mary, mother, guide our feet
to walk beside your little Child
kind to every creature that we meet
the low, the humble, the poor, the wild.
Help us to be good and happy too
and bear our burdens with a smile.
Keep us always close to You
and help us shun whatever's vile.

We know it's as it's planned to be
your family numbers only three,
and each so holy and so good:
and so should we, we know we should.
But now, oh -
We don't want to harp and whine
but as you know our family's nine
and sometimes it's a jolly test
to really truly be our best.
When we want to be at ease
and someone else just wants to tease
help us not to kick and punch
and shout blue murder to get square.
We know Jesus is beside us there
and sees our deeds and knows our heart
and beckons us to make a start
at spreading peace in work and play
here in our home this Christmas Day.

Glory be to God in the highest
and peace to men of goodwill.