Every year, I tenderly take out of bubble wrap this Nativity set that I purchased the first Christmas of our marriage, 51 years ago! The three angels on the right in the stable wind up over a music box and play the song "Silent Night."
The month of December is a whirlwind! Between shopping, decorating, holiday plans, buying and wrapping presents, attending grandchildren's events at school, and holiday get-togethers and parties, it seems as if the month goes by so quickly! But what really matters this month as Christians is that we remember the "Reason for the Season," which is that December's Christmas Day is a celebration of the birth of Jesus.
A few years ago, my husband and I went with a few friends to a concert at the Lakewood Cultural Center in Lakewood, Colorado, to attend the annual Timothy P Irvin and the Rocky Mountain Stocking Stuffers Concert. All the musicians and singers were very talented, as they sang a combination of Western country and bluegrass Christmas songs. One very remarkable rendition of Silent Night was sung by Jon Chandler. He told us that when he was growing up, his grandparents and great-grandmother lived with his family. His great-grandmother told him as a child that her great-grandfather was Franz Gruber, the composer who wrote the guitar music to the song Silent Night. He then went on to perform the song so beautifully!
I found the video above, on YouTube, of him telling the story and singing the song at a different venue. Click here to go to YouTube if you can not see the video. There are so many beautiful renditions of Silent Night, but I think you will also enjoy hearing Jon sing it in English and native German.
Some of the Nativity Christmas ornaments that decorate my Christmas tree.
See my entire Christmas tree in this post
Year after year, the Denver City and County Building is beautifully lit for the Christmas season, and it features a Nativity scene in a display in front.
The beautiful, life-size Nativity set that I loved to see every year in my church when I lived in Brooklyn, New York.
Some of the many other Nativity sets I've admired over the years.
"At this Christmas, when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others
with God's own love and concern."
~ Mother Teresa
A beautiful sunset this week over our neighborhood.
"The Blessings of Peace,
The beauty of Hope,
The Spirit of Love,
The Comfort of Faith.
May these be your gifts
this Christmas Season!"
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2026!
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Hello Pat,
ReplyDeleteYour nativity scene is beautiful, lovely photos.
Gorgeous sunset. I wish you peace, hope and love this Christmas season. Take care, have a great day and happy week ahead.
I really enjoyed this post. The life sized nativity is gorgeous in your picture so it must really be amazing in real life. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy seeing nativity sets from all over the states and world. It is amazing to ponder how God protected Jesus in His infancy and the life he lived on earth being fully God and fully man. All the prophecies fulfilled. So much to take in about Jesus and how we can have peace with God because of what he fulfilled for us.
ReplyDeleteReally lovely song. I love Christmas songs
ReplyDeleteIt's so important for us to remember that this was a holy season long before we secularized it and turned it into a shopping extravaganza! Thank you for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2025/12/bopping-around-philadelphia-getting.html
ReplyDeleteYour nativity scene is so lovely! Made even more beautiful by it's age, Merry Christmas should I not get back again before the 25th. Visiting from #MMBC
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful nativity set!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have such a busy December but filled with all of the good things.
Your very last photo in this post, the one of your neighborhood with the white mansion on the horizon. I am pretty sure I've been inside there, years ago, of course.
ReplyDeleteAt the time they were renovating it and I think it's used as an event center?
We drove through your neighborhood from time to time when my [late] husband worked for Lockheed Martin, just south of you. That may have been even before you came out west from New York. You live in a beautiful area.
Your collection of Nativity sets is absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour certainly are having a wonderfully busy Christmas season. We try to have all our Christmas decorations up by Thanksgiving, so we can enjoy them both holidays. Love the nativity scenes. May your Christmas be all you wish it to be. I know it is already filled with love.
ReplyDeletePat - thank you for this post - I have been trying to "catch" the Christmas spirit - I think because I was gone from home for a month and just returned on Sunday, some of my normal traditions have not taken place. My Nativity is not set up; our tree is partially decorated; you get the picture. And then I take a deep breath and remember the Reason for the Season! So your post was just what I needed! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteThat Nativity is precious!
ReplyDeleteI can tell your December is busy, but overflowing with blessings and joy.
I remember busy holiday seasons of the past. Not so much anymore and with the kids living where they do driving over the Appalachian mountains in the winter time, it’s not something you want to do more than once. It was terrifying.. I know that you’ll have a wonderful holiday season
ReplyDeleteI love your nativity and I especially love that you bought it during the first year of your marriage and it has been with you all these years. That is just so special! I hear you on a busy holiday season. It's fun -- and exhausting. But so joyful, you want to do everything! I'm glad you shared the video of Jon Chandler. That's a beautiful rendition of Silent Night. I loved seeing your ornaments and wonderful nativities, too. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas week and all that leads into it!
ReplyDeleteI love the season mood now in December too... it's magic.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing at MosaicMonday ☃️ Greetings by Heidrun
Your nativity looks just like the one my mom has; her has a music box built into it and we were just talking this weekend about when and where she bought it.
ReplyDeleteYour nativity set is beautiful and I love that you have had it for so long! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Thanks for joining in on Home Matters Linky Party! I will be featuring your post this week! #HomeMattersParty xx
ReplyDeleteMy nativity is made of cardboard and it's at least 50-60 years old, because I don't remember a Christmas without it. And it's in great shape. Happy holidays, food, baking, reading, traveling, and cooking in 2026!
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