Greetings

By Ann D. Lutz

These poems are the Christmas Greetings my husband and I shared with friends over the years. He died in 2001, but I have continued the tradition. These poems, in traditional metered and rhymed lines, usually end with a prayer for the New Year, similar to what might be included in a greeting card. Hence the title Greetings! Many friends have expressed appreciation for the poems and my colleagues in Ministry have found them usable and quotable in sermons. Many of the poems can be sung to familiar meters or hymn tunes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 11, 2006
• ISBN: 9781465316479

Ann D. Lutz

ABOUT THE POET Anna Lucinda Deppen Lutz was born near Dalmatia in Northumberland County, Pa. She is a graduate of Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA and of the Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, PA. She was Ordained into the Christian Ministry in June of 1970 in First United Church of Christ, Quakertown, PA, where her husband, the Rev. Dr. Earlin H. Lutz was Senior Pastor. She served First Church as Minister of Christian Education (1970 to 1991) and as Co-Pastor until their retirement in 1994. Ann was an active member and President of the Quakertown Ministerium and was a member of the Pastoral Services Advisory Council for the Penn Foundation for Mental Health in Sellersville, PA. She served as Chairperson of the Christian Education Com- mittee of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ and was a leader of many Church and Church School Workshops. She served as Moderator of the Conference from 1978-80 and later chaired the Conference Division of Church and Ministry. In 1983 the Moravian Theological Seminary awarded her the John Hus Award for Excellence in Ministry. Ann as served on the Board of Trustees of Cedar Crest College, the Board of Govern-ors of Moravian Theological Seminary, the Board of Trustees of Lancaster Theological Seminary and the Board of Managers of the Wyncote Church Home for the Aged. Ann is a published author. Her poems have appeared in Ideals publications; sermons in Pulpit Digest, devotional materials in These Days and The Upper Room Disciplines. In 1995 Ann and husband retired and moved to Willow Valley Retirement in Lancaster, PA, where he died in 2001. They have two children and six grandchildren.

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Copyright © 1996, 2006 by Ann D. Lutz.

Number: TX 4-441-483

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Contents

INTRODUCTION:

CHRISTMAS AND POETRY

A SONG FOR CHRISTMAS

ADVENT

TELL ME THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS

WORSHIP CHRIST, THE NEWBORN KING

SING A SONG OF CHRISTMAS

COME ALONG TO BETHLEHEM

CHRISTMAS WONDERS WE SHARE WITH YOU

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

LISTEN TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING

A MILLENNIUM CHRISTMAS

NOEL!

GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING

FOLLOW THE STAR

A CHRISTMAS PICTURE

A SONG FOR THE CHRISTMAS STAR

INVITATION TO CHRISTMAS ROADS

A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS

IT’S CHRISTMAS! LIGHT A CANDLE!

CHRISTMAS IS . . . .

CHRISTMAS SCENES

CHRISTMAS JOY

UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

BRIGHT AND SHINING CHRISTMAS STAR

A CAROL FOR BETHLEHEM

THE LORD IS COME!

SILENCE CLASPS THE SHADOWED HILLS

GLORIOUS CHRISTMAS STAR

CHRISTMAS NIGHT

STARLIGHT FALLS ON BETHLEHEM

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME!

CHRISTMAS STORY AND PRAYER

CHRISTMAS CONTRASTS

CHRIST, THE EVERLASTING LIGHT

BETHLEHEM

STARLIT HILLS

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME FOR SINGING

THE LITTLE TOWN

WHAT YOU NEED FOR CHRISTMAS

WHAT THE SHEPHERDS LEARNED

HUMBLE THINGS AT CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

WHAT CHRISTMAS BRINGS

TINY CHRIST CHILD

LORD JESUS CHRIST, WE WELCOME THEE

INTRODUCTION:

CHRISTMAS AND POETRY

I love poetry, and Christmas and poetry go hand-in-hand in my heart and mind. Both deal with beauty and the expression of faith: Christmas is the joyful beginning of Christian history and faith, and poetry is the most beautiful way to tell of our experiences and beliefs.

When my husband, Rev. Dr. Earlin H. Lutz, and I approached our first Christmas after our marriage in June of 1950, I wrote a Christmas poem which he liked and wanted to share. We typed a stencil and ran off copies on the mimeograph equipment common in churches at that time. Friends responded with surprise and appreciation, and, a family tradition was born!

These poems are the Christmas Greetings my husband and I shared with friends over the years. He died in 2001, but I have continued the tradition. These poems, in traditional metered and rhymed lines, usually end with a prayer for the New Year, similar to what might be included in a greeting