Christmas (Oratorio) Day 2012

Remembering the stable 

where for once in our lives 

Everything became a You

and nothing was an It.

W.H. Auden:  From Christmas Oratorio (1941-2)

Pietro Perugino, Adoration of the Magi, 1504, Santa Maria dei Bianchi Oratory, Città della Pieve

Jesus Christ -- Big Star (From Third) (Link) 

Merry Christmas from Curtis, Caroline, Jane, Rose, Claude, Eddie, Junior, Felix, Bunny, Andy, Edie, Tige, Daisy, Honey, KingKing, Flip, Skip, Rainbow and Captain America!

STRANGER IN TOWN

Me and my baby been on the run,
So very long.
Her folks sent a man to get us,
They say we’ve done wrong.
So we Run,

Yeah we Run, Yeah we Run
From the stranger in town.

Stranger in town, he's out to get me.
Stranger in town, wants me and my baby --
He follows Me --
From town to town,
And if he gets me
He'll bring me down.
So we Run, 

Yeah we Run, Yeah we Run
From the stranger in town.

I'm not afraid of what They'll do to me --
I'm just afraid they'll hurt my baby.
We don't care if We run forever,
Just as long as We're together.

Stranger in town, I think we've lost him.
Stranger in town, Can't let him bring us in --
Another town --
One more mile --
And We'll be free,
For a while.
And we'll Run, 
Yeah we'll Run, Yeah we'll Run
From the stranger in town.

1. Del Shannon -- Stranger In Town (link)

2. Del Shannon -- Stranger In Town (link)


Photography: Jane B. Roberts, Half Unique Studios

Nativity (Geertgen tot Sint Jans)

 

And Jesus when he began was about thirty years old, and was the son, as it was believed, of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Mathat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Matthias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Matthias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Jonan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, the son of Jesus, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Mathat, the son of Levi, the son of Symeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliacim, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Matatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Jobed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nashon, the son of Aminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nachor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Sala, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahahaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

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Luke 3: 23-38. (Richmond Lattimore, trans.)  The Four Gospels and the Revelation, New York, Farrar Straus Giroux, 1979. 

Above:  Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Nativity At Night, 1480-90, National Gallery, London.

Below:  Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Virgin and Child, 1470-90, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. 

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