TH É K I N G ’ S BUS I N E S S December, 1942 Home I t Christmas {A Pantomime) By HELEN FRAZEE-BOWER and MILDRED M. COOK
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INTRODUCTION: (To be read by pastor or leader). Homes have come to be more prominent in our thoughts this year than ever before. The pres ervation of the Christian home is one of the issues for which thousands of men are fighting today. To many of us, mothers and families have sud denly become more' precious than ever they were before. Would you like to share, for a little while, the heart thoughts of a Christian mother, in a Christian home, this Christmas, 1942? ★ ' SCENE I. A living room. Christmas tree or other Christmas deco ration in evidence. A large American flag waving (by | L v means of electric fan). Music: An unseen choir, or soloist, singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Reader: ' ONE NEED NOT GO TO BETHLEHEM Of old the shepherds watched . their a flocks, Of old the angels sang; With echoes of their "peace on earth” H The courts‘of heaven rang. Tonight remembered carols thrill /The hearts that utter them, And all the roads of all the world Converge in Bethlehem. Yet, whoso went to Bethlehem This night would be denied All earthly peace, for at its edge There rolls a crimson tide;
As closer, ever closerv-moVes The sound of battle din, And throngs still turn the Christ away With—“no robm in the inn.” I will not go to Bethlehem— One need not go—for still There is a place where men can bow And worship Him at will: There is a country where His Word Is yet accorded place, And where the "Peace of God” still rules In glad hearts—by His grace. Tonight a million hearts will bleed, And ours,will bleed with them, And yet, we have the “Peace of God” That fell on Bethlehem; And we can move, undaunted, through The swiftly coming night, Because America still keeps Her altar flames alight. Music: "God Bless America.” ★ SCENE II. Same scene.'Flag removed, and perhaps a Bible open on the table. Music: "Faith of our fathers, living still In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,” etc. Reader: The Christmas story as told in Luke 2, ★ SCENE III. Same room. Enter Mother. She is seated at the table and prepares to write letters. She writes. Musie: As the Mother enters, an in
Ward
Julia
Reader: (A woman, concealed- from view, reads the Mother’s let ters as the Mother writes to the different children.) LETTER TO JULIA Dear Julia: Bring the baby home this year, And let her hang her stocking where you hung Your tiny one so long ago. How near Those golden moments seem to night! I’ve clung To dreams of every Christmas that We had Together through the years — the face of you Alight with joy and wonder. Make me glad By giving me some dreams of your child too. I want to hold her in my arms, the way That Mary held the little Christ, and smiled; I want to teach her infant lips to pray The prayer I taught you as a little child. O, Julia, in a shaken world, let’s make This Christmas something precious for His sake. MOTHER.
strumental r e n d i t i o n of "Home, Sweet Home” is heard. While she is seated, writing, an unseen choir, or soloist, renders a number of Christmas carols.
JLALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED c ov e r i ng the reprinting of "Home at Christmas" in any form; but it is hoped that the program will be used in many churches and other gatherings for the centering of Christmas thought in the Lord Jesus Christ, for whose praise alone it is sent forth. -A- Th# poems on these pages are the work of Helen Frazee-Bower, written especially for this magazine. Because she is a mother with unusual sen sitivity to the needs of her own husband and family of five sons and daugh ters, she has found background for a broad teaching and writing ministry. Particularly penetrating verse has appeared from her pen in "Good House keeping." "Harper's," "The Forum." "New York Times," and "Saturday Eve ning Post," as well as many religious publications; It will be noted that the accompanying "letters" are in the form of sonnets, a medium of expression which Mrs. Bower employs with beauty and finesse.—EDITOR.
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