Fired Ceramics - From PeruThis Post May Load Slowly Because of Size - Please Be Patient
Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Family,
I hope you get the chance to attend some sort of Christmas nativity pageant tonight, even if it is only to drive through an outside re-enactment.
As a family, we are scattered this holiday. Matt is here in
Of course, Christmas is always a bit difficult because we miss Judy even after 8 years. These essays are created in her memory. Our nativity collection was Judy’s project. My D
My brother and his family are in
Again, thanks for your support this Advent. I will leave you with two poems and a series of photographs taken by my son, Matthew using some of the crèches from our family collection.
Cut Wood - From North Carolina, USASome Children See Him
Alfred Burt
Some children see Him lily white
the infant Jesus born this night
Some children see Him lily white
with tresses soft and fair
Ceramics - From France
Molded Stone - Celtic Design - Ireland
Some children see Him bronzed and brown
the Lord of heav'n to earth come down
Some children see Him bronzed and brown
with dark and heavy hair (with dark and heavy hair!)
Fired Clay - From Peru
Fired Ceramics - From Peru
Painted Wood - From El Salvadore
Steel - From Haiti
Cut Tin - From Mexico
Some children see Him almond-eyed
This Saviour whom we kneel beside
Some children see Him almond-eyed
With skin of yellow hue!
Carved Wood - From Taiwan
Some children see Him dark as they
Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray
Some children see Him dark as they
And, ah! they love Him so!
Carved Wood - From Tanzania
Hay and Tied Reeds - From Uganda
Carved Wood - UR Congo
The children in each different place
Will see the Baby Jesus' face
Like theirs but bright with heav'nly grace
And filled with holy light!
Finger Puppets - USA
Alphabet Blocks - USA
Papier Mache - From India
O lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering
Come worship now the infant King
'tis love that's born tonight!
Cut Wood - From India
Ceramics - From India
'tis love that's born tonight!
Miniature Stones - From Palestinian Teritories
Again, we wish you all a merry Christmas leaving you with the thoughts of Howard Thurman (1900-1981)
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken
To feed the hungry
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations
To bring peace among brothers
To make music in the heart.
Recycled Glass Bottles - From Guatemala
See also:
The Three Nativities, Pt 1 - Introduction
The Three Nativities, Pt 2 - Lineage
The Three Nativities, Pt 3 - Matthew and Gospel
The Three Nativities, Pt 4 - Matthew and Illegitimacy
The Three Nativities, Pt 5 – Like and the Shepherds
The Three Nativities, Pt 6 - Light Incarnate
The Three Nativities, Pt. 7 - The Nativity in a New Key
These essays are written in memory of Judy Sparks Montgomery
(c) John C. Montgomery 2007
Photos by Matthew Montgomery
1 comment:
Oh, John and Matthew, this is breathtaking! Thank you so much for sharing the creations of artists through the ages and across cultures as diverse as the human family. The depictions of the Nativity narrative are lovingly rendered in materials available locally around the globe. I wonder whether you have ever exhibited the collection, lovingly culled over the years, at venues such as your church or other appropriate place around town? Another tribute to the memory of your late beloved wife and mother.
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