This month, this blog has featured a nine-part series retelling the Christmas story through ceramic figures.  Here they are combined in an animated gif.

Part 9 had two photos and an embedded Youtube video.  If you follow this blog by e-mail, you did not see the Bethlehem star video.  Follow the link to the Secondary Rds blog and check it out.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas.  Sylvia joins me in wishing you a happy and healthy 2018.

The shepherds returned to their flocks.  Following his natal star, magi from the east sought the Christ child.  Their journey would take some time.

We usually portray them as arriving at the manger, but the Scripture reports that the family was living in a house.  Being limited by the figures, I’ll show them at the manger.

While we celebrate the arrival of the magi on January 6 (Epiphany or three kings day), they may have actually arrived on December 25.  (How great is that?)  That story is told in the video clip that follows.  A longer version can be found on Youtube.

Sylvia joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

Outside our windows the world is white and the snow continues to fall.  It feels very “Christmasy” to us.

As the shepherds were at the stable, another group was preparing to make their journey to visit the young child.  These were magi from the east.  They came from the land where, nearly 600 years earlier, Daniel had been the chief of wise men.  Would they have learned prophecies and wisdom handed down from him?

Angels told shepherds, most humble of folk, of the birth of the Christ child.  They hurried to the stable to visit the babe.

In the stable’s silence, a child is born.  Prophets had foretold this, but little did they realize how humble his arrival would be.

An angel appeared (look on wreath) to shepherds, who were tending their flocks.  Thus the news was first announced to the lowliest of people.

The kindly innkeeper provided room for the weary travelers in the stable.  This was probably in a cave or grotto (there are many in that area).  The couple were away from the crowds in the inn.  The stable was protection from the elements and the animals kept it warm.

The Galilean couple inquires about a room at an Inn.  Once again they are told that there is no room, and “No, we don’t know where you can find a room.”  Bethlehem is filled with descendants of David who have come here to register for the Roman census.

Again the innkeeper speaks, “Your wife looks very pregnant and very tired.  Perhaps we can find a little space . . .”

The couple approaches Bethlehem.  Will they find an Inn?  The little town is very crowded with pilgrims coming to register for the census.

The contented cow waits in the manger, chewing her cud.  She had no idea what was coming her way.

Joseph and Mary are on their way to Bethlehem.  It about here I’d like to have action figures so that Mary could ride on the donkey.  Joseph could also lead the way.  Alas, their poses are immutable–one of the joys of ceramic.

Sorry, this is a day late.

Recently, my friend, Lin, asked me to post pix of my dynamic manger scene display.  I promised to do that.  It seems only fair as many of her friends wait eagerly to see her Christmas display and where will the pope and the hooker be this year.

Using figures that Sylvia’s mother made for us, I set up the scene as it might have been and follow the story as it may have developed.

This year, the story begins with the engaged couple, Joseph and Mary at home.  This was before the Roman the census that required men to return to their ancestral homes to register for that census.

Thus we see the pair before their journey.

The contented cow awaits at the manger, which will become the focus of the story.

Subsequent posts will follow Joseph and Mary on their journey.