This little Santa ornament is celebrating his 39th Christmas as a part of our family. My wife took a ceramics class at church and in 1981 she purchased several ornaments for our tree. She did all of the work on the ornaments and we still have them. I love Santa’s rosy cheeks. Since ceramics are delicate, this Santa has retired from hanging on the tree, but he can be found on display in the house with the others in the collection.

Angels played a special role in the birth of Christ. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and Elizabeth to inform them that they would become the parents of John the Baptist, the one who came before Christ and proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. Six months later Gabriel informed Mary that she was to be blessed above all by being chosen to give birth to the Savior of mankind. Soon after, Gabriel visited Joseph and informed him that he would be entrusted with the responsibility of being the earthly father to our Lord. On the night of Jesus’ birth, an angel appeared to shepherds in nearby fields to give them the good news. We can assume it was Gabriel only because he seems to be the primary messenger. After his announcement, the angel is joined by a multitude of heavenly hosts singing praises to God. The number is not specific, but most scholars tell us that a multitude is in excess of one thousand. Wow!!! Now that’s a choir.