On a cold winter’s night a week before Christmas, thousands of faithful came to Good Shepherd Parish in Camp Hill to ponder and gaze upon a Living Nativity display.
With roles played in large part by youth of the parish, and featuring live animals used in productions at the Sight and Sound Theater, the drive-through event brought to life five scenes leading to the first Christmas.
With Christmas just five days away, staff at A Woman’s Concern Pregnancy and Parenting Resource Center in Lancaster put their Santa hats on Dec. 21 to give gifts to families in need.
The center turned their Hope House, where families normally pick up strollers and Chicco car seats, into a drive-through toy land.
Reaching a height of nearly 100 feet, the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square this year is adorned with handcrafted wooden ornaments made by the homeless, as well as children and other adults.
Before the Christmas tree lighting ceremony Dec. 11, Pope Francis said that he wanted the Christmas tree and nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square to be “a sign of hope” in a year marked by the coronavirus pandemic.
The “Great Conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 21 – dubbed the “Christmas Star” – was a pretty sight, but it is impossible to know for sure if it had any connection to the Star of Bethlehem, a Vatican astronomer said.
On Dec. 21, the planets Jupiter and Saturn appeared a tenth of a degree apart in the night sky, something called a “Great Conjunction.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Many Christmas Carols have fascinating backstories. The beloved Carol, Joy to the World, has one such interesting history. Isaac Watts, born in England in 1674, was reflecting one day on Psalm 98 and he was greatly moved by the fourth verse, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Watts took pen in hand and wrote a four stanza poem which he entitled, Joy to the World. The words fit the tunes of several hymn melodies of the day. However, many refused to sing the hymn because Watts dared to change the wording of the Psalm to suit his poem.
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