Hey guy's I just want to point out I am in no way religious. But I just thought it would make a nice change in the story make it more fun and I am a sucker for Christmas Carols during Christmas time.
I have tried to make it look like the people are joining in and make the songs sang match the part of the story the Vicar is reading It probably sucks but this is my first time that I have used it such a way.
That being said I hope you enjoy the chapter, Christmas soon :)
Hermione jumped out of the car, and helped the kids out taking each hand in her own as she waited for Harry and her parents, once they were ready they began walking towards the church she opened it up and it was all lit up and she was right it was quite cold in the place.
Harry leaned over ''It's cold in here, you would think they would put the heating on or something.''
Hermione chuckled ''I used to think that when I was little and would be singing in the choir.''
Hermione and Harry continued talking between them when she spotted movement in the corner of her eye and noticed that it was indeed Father Phillips walking towards them in his ceremony robes with a smile she noticed that he had more grey hair now and more wrinkles.
''Argh Dr and Dr Ganger I'm glad you could make It this year, i was surprised when you didn't' turn up the year before''
Helen smiled ''Yes we had to go away for a while family problems but where back now.''
Father Phillips smiled ''And where are the Grandchildren''
''With there Mother and Godfather''
Hermione took that as her cue and approached ''It's nice to see you again Father Phillips'' she said bowing slightly ''I trust you are well, i was surprised to hear you still continued doing this from my children.''
Father Phillips beamed ''Goodness me Hermione, it's been a long time, what eight or nine years''
Hermione smiled ''The last time I was here I was ten,''
''Indeed, and what have you been doing with yourself besides having two wonderful children, you can imagine my surprise when they told me that you were there mother.''
Hermione smiled ''I went away to a Private boarding School in Scotland, they offered a better education than the school I attended, so I used to only come home on the holidays, until I stayed with friends and stuff'' Hermione smiled.
''So what have you been doing since your finished School''
''Well I graduated my school with the highest exam scores ever recorded, i then went on to University to study, Chemistry and I have only just Graduated with my Masters Yesterday, so yes I have been working hard, i haven't had much time to myself but I wanted to be able to provide for my kids.''
''Congratulations, I always knew you would go on to do great things''
Hermione smiled ''Yes well now I am home, I thought I would tag along again, oh and this is my best friend Harry Potter he is more like my brother and he is the Matthew and Lyra's Godfather.''
''It's nice to meet you Harry, I am pleased that you came along.''
Harry shook his hand with a small smile ''Well my aunt and Uncle didn't take me to Church they weren't the best of people they would never step foot in one.''
Father Phillips nodded and looked at Hermione ''So where is your Husband or partner is he coming to the service''
Hermione felt herself blush a little ''I'm not married the children's father didn't want anything to do with us, he left and we have not heard from him, so I am a single mother.''
Father Phillips wasn't to pleased with that, it went against what he believed in but he knew that things like this happened all the time, he just hoped she would find someone to love her ''Bless you child, i am sorry things did not work out for you, and I am sure God will guide you.''
Hermione had to stop herself from scowling at him or hexing him she knew what he was hinting at, she knew that he was very religious and believed in the whole you shouldn't' have Sex before Marriage thing but she had been raped so it didn't' count, and it as non of his business but it didn't' make it any easier to not put him in his place by telling him what happened so she just nodded
''Well, it was lovely to see you again Hermione, and it's nice to meet you Harry, may God continue to bless you and watch over you'' before he walked off towards the front of the church to get the choir ready.
Helen looked at her daughter and saw that she was pissed ''Come on love don't' let him get to you come sit down''
Hermione sighed and followed behind her parents she had the kids sitting in between herself and Harry ''I know but it is so hard, may God forgive me'' Hermione said as she snorted.
Richard shot his daughter an amused look
Hermione saw her father smirking at her and smiled back at him before facing the front waiting for the service to start.
''Good evening, to start this service I am going to tell you the story behind our Saviours birth''
''Mary, a Virgin, was living in Galilee of Nazareth and was engaged to be married to Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. One night an angel visited her and explained to her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. And that she would carry and then give birth to this child and she would name him Jesus.
At first Mary was afraid and troubled by the angel's words. Being a virgin, Mary questioned the angel, ''How will this be?'' The angel explained that the child would be God's own Son and told her ''Nothing is impossible with God.'' Humbled and in awe Mary believed the angel of the lord and rejoiced in God her saviour.
When Mary told Joseph of the Angels visit and that she was with child Joseph wasn't happy he felt disgraced as he had the right to be. He knew the child was not his own, and Mary's apparent unfaithfulness carried a grave social stigma.
If Joseph wanted he could divorce her had they been married and even have her stoned to death. Although his reaction was to end the engagement, like any man deserved to do, he treated Mary with kindness.
He did not want to cause her further shame, so he decided to act quietly. But god sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to verify the truth behind Mary's pregnancy and to reassure him that his marriage was God's will. The angel explained that the child within Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and that his name would be Jesus.
Of course Joseph woke from his dream and did what God wanted him to do, since he believed Mary, and took Mary home to be his wife, in spite of the public humiliation he would face. Perhaps this noble quality was one of the reasons God chose him to be the Messiah's earthly father.'' Father Phillips quickly interrupted before continuing ''At the time, Ceaser Augustus decreed that a census be taken, and every person in the entire Roman world had to go to his own town to register. Joseph, being in the line of David, was required to go to Bethlehem to register with Mary while in Bethlehem, gave birth to Jesus. Probably due to the Census, the inn was too crowded even as they asked for a room to spare, therefore making Mary give birth in a stable. She wrapped the baby in cloths and placed him in a manger.''
Just then the choir began to sing of the birth of Jesus.
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The little cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.
Father Phillips stepped up again and continued on with the story ''Out in the fields, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds who were tending their flocks of sheep by night. The angel announced that the Saviour had been born in the town of David. Suddenly a great host of heavenly beings appeared with the angels and began singing praises to God. As the angelic beings departed, the shepherds decided to travel to Bethlehem and see the Christ-child.
There they found Mary, Joseph and the baby, in the stable. After their visit, they began to spread the word about this amazing child and everything the angel had said about him. They went on their way still praising and glorifying God. But Mary kept quiet, treasuring their words and pondering them in her heart. It must have been beyond her ability to grasp, that sleeping in her arms—the tender child she had just borne—was the Saviour of the world.''
Harry, Hermione, Richard, Helen and the Twins began to sing the next carol as they had with the last one Harry luckily knew the words so far from in school when they would sing Christmas carols.
Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
For he is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
once that was done he sat back down again with the others and continued to listen to the story, so far he was enjoying himself.
''After Jesus' birth, Herod was king of Judea. At this time wise men (Magi) from the east saw a star, they came in search, knowing the star signified the birth of the king of the Jews. The wise men came to the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem and asked where the Christ was to be born. The rulers explained, "In Bethlehem in Judea,''
Herod secretly met with the Magi and asked them to report back after they had found the child. Herod told then told the Magi that he too wanted to go and worship the babe. But secretly Herod was plotting to kill the child.
So the wise men continued to follow the star in search of the new born king and found Jesus with his mother in Bethlehem. They bowed and worshipped him, offering treasures of gold, incense, and myrrh. When they left, they did not return to Herod. They had been warned in a dream of his plot to destroy the child.''
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
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.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Myrrh is mine: it's bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light