If you have an Advent calendar, today you can open window number 13! What’s behind it? A toy? A piece of candy? Or maybe a character from the Christmas story? Christmas is just twelve days away!

We are all on our way to Bethlehem! I want to share with you an ABC map of how to get there. A book by Isabel Wilmer: “B Is for Bethlehem.” Let me read it to you!

“A’s for Augustus, emperor of Rome, who decreed, ‘To be counted, let each man go home.'”

“B is for Bethlehem where Joseph must go. There he takes Mary a long way and slow.“

“C is Crowds growing larger each day with more people, more animals filling the way.“

“D is for Donkey, plodding uphill and down to carry young Mary to Bethlehem town.“

“E is for Evening, when darkness fills shallow valleys and covers low hills.“

“F is for Flocks — the guarded sheep huddled together fast asleep.“

“G is for Glory, so splendid, so near. It shines round the shepherds and fills them with fear.“

“H is for Heavenly Host, who sing ‘Hosanna! Hosanna! Born is the King.'”

“I is for Inn where the innkeeper said there was not any. room, not even a bed.“

“J is for Jesus, Immanuel holy cradled in straw in a stable so lowly.“

“K is for King who was promised of old. Israel’s ruler, by prophets foretold.“

“L is for Lullaby Mary would sing to her baby, her lamb, the Messiah, the King.“

“M is for Manger. There Jesus lay when awed shepherds found him asleep in the hay.“

“N is for Night, so quiet, so still. Peace in the stable. Peace on the hill.“

“O is for Oxen that stand near the manger guarding and watching the new baby stranger.“

“P is for Presents three kings place before him with praise and with love as they kneel to adore him.“

“Q is for Quest that brought them so far over desert and mountain, led by a star.“

“R is for Radiance, God’s glorious light. It brightens the stable. It lightens the night.“

“S is for Stable and Star, and for Story of animals, angels, manger, and glory.“

“T is the Tidings the big bells chime, over and over time after time.“

“U is for Us. On that Christmas morn unto us all a child was born.“

“V is for Venite, the summons, O come. Come praise him with harp and with trumpet and drum.“

“W‘s for Worship. O come and adore. In starlight, in candlelight, glad carols soar.“

“X is for EXcelsis, the song angels sing. “Gloria in excelcis!” their clear voices ring.”

“Y is for You, for all, everywhere, who send those words ringing again through the air.“

“Z is for Zealand and Zurlich and Zanzibar. You’ll be lighting the candles wherever you are.“

P.S. Here is how to get a copy of your own!

Spirituality The Episcopal Church Advent Children's Homily Podcast The Rev. Joan L. Peacock