Christmas Welcome

In Pampanga Province in Luzon, Philippines, you'll find San Fernando. The historic city hosts the Giant Lantern Festival featuring the quintessential Filipino Christmas tradition-parols. With simple bamboo, colored paper, and candles, gifted artists create breathtaking star0shaped lanterns to celebrate the birth of Christ.
     Filipinos around the world have taken this Christmas tradition with them into suburban neighborhoods, main street buisnesses, and high-rise condos. You'll even find parols flickering in the humblest stilt houses in the most remote barangays (villages) in the Philippines. The settings differ dramatically, but the Christmas joy remains the same.
     Long ago on a rural hillside, shepherds " staying in the fields" received a startling apperance. " Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased' " ( Luke 2:13-14).
     The parol signifies the star of Bethlehem that pointed gift bearing wise men to the Light of the world. The wealthy magi and homeless shepherds were equally welcome. As the prophet had foretold, " For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine" ( Isaiah 8:2). This Light is for everyone.
     The light Christ brings will illuminate even our darkest day.
Luke 2:13-20
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God and saying, to those with whom God is pleased." When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, " Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manager. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.