Dec 14 We Three Kings

Dec 14 We Three Kings
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/wethreekings.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Three_Kings_of_Orient_Are
http://poetry.poetryx.com/poets/108/bio/

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Chorus: O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again;
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

“We Three Kings of Orient Are” (also known as “Quest of the Magi”) was composed by the Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Jr. as part of a Christmas pageant. Rev. Hopkins led a varied life, working at various times as a clergyman, author, composer, book illustrator, stained glass window designer, and editor of the Church Journal out of New York.

The three kings were magi, probably Zoroastrians from the area of Persia. They visited Jesus Christ as a small child, not at the manger as often portrayed in nativity scenes. Although they were later assigned the names of Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior, nowhere in the Bible does it say that there were only three magi. The gifts offered to the newborn Jesus have the following significance:

• Gold represents Jesus' heavenly kingship.
• Frankincense represents Jesus' role as priest, serving as the perfect mediator between mankind and God.
• Myrrh is associated with death, and represents Jesus' role as Saviour, in that he sacrificed himself to redeem mankind.

Craft: crown, gifts, star
http://www.origami-club.com/en/ Christmas>Present Box
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/3dstar.htm
http://crafts.kaboose.com/felt-present-ornament.html
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1129