Angels Appear to the Shepherds


There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them.
They were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy.
It is for all the people. 
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.
Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth.
You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God.
They said, "May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!" 
The angels left and went into heaven.
Then the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger.
After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child.
All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Thawing?

Last night, from the various sounds coming from the roof, it would seem we are in for a thaw. The weather forecasts have been very accurate so far so it is with a heavy heart I read that we are due for another dose of snow next week.

We live just off the A171 Whitby coast road and it has certainly been in the news this week, in particular on Tuesday. Jon and I had to go to Guisborough and as we set out it started to snow - nothing drastic - just a steady even fluttering.

We weren't long in Guisborough and coming home the snow started to lay thicker and heavier. Now the A171 is an unforgiving road with many blind bends and hidden summits. It is important not to brake unecessarlily as this can lead to skidding and there are many ditches along the side.

One of the dangers on the moor road is drifting snow. One minute you are looking at white fields on either side of the road - the next the wind carries the snow across the road which suddenly is not visible and you are surrounded by a vast whiteness - yet you know the ditches are there!

As we use the road daily we are aware of the many blackspots - so as we left Birk Brow and headed down the sloping road the car in front was indicating left. The car began to turn left, then changed its mind and reversed back onto the main road, straight into our path. Now this junction is a notorious black spot - indeed it claimed the life of our neighbour some years ago and I always think of Peter everytime I pass.
Jon was driving and by his quick thinking swerved round the car and carried on. Fortunately nothing was coming toward us!

The snow was pelting down by this time and as cars in front of us drove cautiously towards Whitby we eventually turned left towards our village. The road was barely visible but we managed to get to Jon's workshop and on the way home came across a vehicle which could not get over the brow of a slight hill in the road. It was still snowing heavily but Jon stopped and towed the car over the brow and onto a part of the road where the driver could carry on. Would you believe we knew the driver? His dad was our best man! lol!

Shortly afterwards the roads were closed. Mayhem! There had been various accidents and incidents. If we had been any later we too would have been stranded for a few hours.
Our location leaves us with two routes - the moor road and the coast road. The coast road involves saltburn bank - to give you an idea of the adverse conditions we have had to dope with here is a video of Saltburn Bank taken last week. The coach driver now has his own following!