Wednesday, November 23, 2016

It’s a Small Town

It was a small village, but it soon became a big story one night. The little town of Bethlehem is now a Palestinian city that is located around the central part of the West Bank in Palestine. It has around 25,000 people living there, and of course, the economy is tourist driven.

However, one night, a couple thousand plus years ago, it was the scene of a birth that would rock the world. It started its humble journey into history as a small, yet fortified, city ruled by Rehoboam, who was an Israeli king from biblical times. Bethlehem was the home of David, and then, Jesus. Over time, the city has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times.

In the early 1800s, Phillips Brooks, then an Episcopalian priest in Philadelphia took a visit to the city of Bethlehem, and after that visit, he was so inspired by the city and overwhelmed by being in the town of Jesus’ birth that he sat down and wrote a poem.

He took his poem to the organist at his church, who applied a tune as the accompaniment.  He explains that he was so busy thinking about an upcoming lesson that he was teaching that the tune was hastily thrown together for a one evening performance and nothing more. He was at a loss as to the tune and said that divine intervention by an angel gave him the tune.

Later the tune did live on and was published as a leaflet and it was published in the book titled The Church Porch, and the editor gave it the name St. Louis. For the life of me, I cannot make the connection as to why or what he was thinking to give it that name.

In Britain, they use another tune for the song called The Ploughboys’ Dream.

None the less, it is another Christmas carol that we can attribute to the United States.

Here is a purely American rendition of this favorite tune.

Now that you are all warm and cozy, and possibly even snuggled up next to a roaring fire, let’s go shopping.

Here are some things that caught my attention this week, maybe you would like to add them to your gift basket, as well.

Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle Embroidered Towel

Simple Embroidery Sew 

Victorian Style Bracelet Wedding Bracelet

Treasures of Jewels 

OOAK Wire Wrapped Quartz Crystal Earrings

SolanaKaiDesigns 

Owl In Flight Necklace

Wyvern Designs 

Tiny Lavender and White Star Stud Earrings

Resetar Glass Art 

Christmas Polar Bear Lampwork Bead Necklace

Blue Morning Expressions 

 

Baby Elephant Stickers in Blue and Stripes

AdorebyNat 

Macro Photography Barrel Cactus in Black and White Nature Photograph Desert Life Spiral Zen

Butterfly in the Attic 

Pendant of a Million Stars Dichroic Glass Argentium Silver Wire Wrapped Cabochon

Umeboshi 

 

Large Swarovski Teardrop Links with Crystal AB Bead Chandelier Earrings

KatsAllThat

Angel Earrings

Linorstore

Handmade Multi-layer 3D Crochet with Silver Accents

RSS Designs in Fiber 

Om Earrings

Pretty Gonzo 

Black Cat Coin Purse

SewAmazin 

Real Pearl Earrings

Blonde Peach Jewelry 

Sterling Silver Full Persian Chainmaille Bracelet

CraftingMemories1 

Handmade Lampwork Bead Silvered Ivory

Covergirl Beads 

Pewter Spiral Handmade Earrings

Shadow Dog Designs 

Sterling Silver Sixteenth 16th Music Note Cut Out Charm Necklace

The Singing Beader 

Netherland Antillean Guilder 10 Cent Coin Pendant

Beadsouk

 

 

Here are some more showcases for you to enjoy:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10

Silent Night, Holy Night
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
White Christmas
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Go Tell it on the Mountain
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Away in the Manger
O’ Tannenbaum
We Three Kings

 

Hurry because handmade sells out fast, and when they are gone, they are gone! Buy now.
Enjoy!
Julie