From Hamlet Drive: A Hymn For Holy Night

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Dearest family and friends,

It's been quite a year of blessings and losses, all of which, in God's grace, have become intertwined.

Harvey's beloved oldest sister Lovina passed away early this year, and a special grandnephew, Kendall Yoder, died in a car accident in April. This past spring Harvey, with Alma Jean's blessing, visited Costa Rica (with son Brad) to be with his oldest brother Sanford and wife Martha as guests at their family reunion. Alma Jean's LMH class of 1956 celebrated its 60th anniversary this fall, and she continues her ministry of love and care for numerous distressed people in our community.

We feel blessed beyond measure that we are still mostly well most of the time. And we thank God and offer daily prayers for our siblings, and for our three children and six grandchildren. We so celebrate and enjoy them all!

On this night of all nights we again share our favorite carol, one composed by French poet Placide Cappeau, who wrote it as "Cantique de Noël". In 1885 it was translated and set to music as "O Holy Night" by John Sullivan Dwight.

Here's our favorite part:

Truly he taught us to love one another,

His law is love and his gospel is peace.

Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name!

Fall on you knees, O hear the angel voices,

O night divine, O night, O night divine!

This is a message we want to live by in 2017 and in the short remaining years of our life.

Blessings to you all!

Harvey and Alma Jean

P.S. Click here to enjoy "O Holy Night" as sung by the Indianapolis Children and Youth Choirs.