Christmas Essay Contest 2017

e t i r o v a F MY

CHRISTMAS CAROL In this issue you will find all 5 of the prize-winning essays plus many more entries from area students!

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2 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

A Note to the Reader:

2017

Those of us who work on the essay contest look forward to this time of year!

We are constantly delighted by our area students and how nuances of their emerging personalities are revealed in the way they take on this challenge. They are leaders of tomorrow, and it is a privilege to know a bit about them.

Please pay consideration to the advertisers in this section and visit their stores when you are shopping this season. The contest, the prize money, the results section ... the advertisers make it all possible.

About Our Judges:

Happy Reading and Merry Christmas!

John Yoder – John is owner of Yoder’s Country Market in New Holland. He is the father of two grown children and grandfather of five. Among his many charitable efforts, he started and maintains an orphanage in Romania.

Ruth Garman – Ruth is a school teacher and has 20 years of retail and bookkeeping experience.

She currently works at her family business, Briar Rose Greenhouse. She is a wife and the mother of six.

Paul Homick – Paul has worked in advertising at Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc. for 17 years.

His customers are in the Southern End of Lancaster County. Paul is a father, a grandfather, and a valued senior employee at EPC with a huge, sentimental heart.

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My Favorite Christmas Carol - Christmas

Essay Contest - December 6, 2017 - 3

$250 Grand Prize Winner

Star of the East Fonda Rohrer, Age 11, New Holland

“Star of the East” is my favorite Christmas song. I like it because it emphasizes the special part the star had in the Christmas story. I love to picture the wise men gather their gifts together, mount their camels, and follow the bright star. Nobody but God could’ve made that star so bright. But even more significant was the fact that the star stopped right over the place where Joseph and Mary and Baby Jesus were. The wise went and worshipped Jesus. They gave him gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. If it hadn’t been for the star, the wise men could not have worshipped the Tiny King. Certainly without the bright Bethlehem star, the Christmas story would not be complete.

$150 2nd Place Winner

We Wish You a Merry Christmas Nolan Sandiford, Age 8, Morgantown

I like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, because it makes me laugh to think of people knocking on someone’s door and saying “now bring me some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer!” it seems like a rude thing to do. Going to a person’s house and demanding them to give you pudding and drinks. I guess it’s nice to wish them a merry Christmas first, but after that things get awkward. It always makes me laugh. And to make matters worse, they threaten not to leave until they get some… “we won’t go until we get some, so bring some out here!”

As if it wasn’t already rude, they get mean. Thats how my family likes to sing the carol.

We smile on the nice part and then act angry when we sing the rude part, its fun! It doesn’t have a special meaning. I just like how my family laughs about the carol, and that’s what makes Christmas and singing carols fun.

4 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

$50 3rd Place Winner

Silent Night Mia Parry, Age 9, New Holland

My favorite Christmas carol is “Silent Night.” This song talks about how Jesus is the Son of God and tells us how He was born. It is a very calming song. It shows that Jesus is the light of the world and reminds me that God is always with me.

When I hear this song, I am reminded that Jesus was born so he could take care of the world and protect all of us. This makes me feel happy and glad. It makes me feel like I want be with Him! “Silent Night” reminds me that Jesus is the light inside of me. He shines in me and helps me share with people. He helps me be kind to others and include others when playing. He helps me play with my sisters, even when I don’t want to. He also helps me show kindness to my mom by doing the dishes and helping her with laundry. These are some ways I show how His light is inside of me!

The song, “Silent Night” reminds me that God is always with me, no matter what! I feel happy and know I can face anything. He comforts me when I feel alone. He makes me feel like I can do ANYTHING! I love the song “Silent Night” and these are the reasons why it is my favorite Christmas carol.

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My Favorite Christmas Carol - Christmas

Essay Contest - December 6, 2017 - 5

$25 Honorable Mention

The Little Drummer Boy Sadie Stubbs, Age 8, Denver

My favorite Christmas carol is “The Little Drummer Boy”.

Everybody had given gifts to the baby king. The drummer boy had nothing to give. He felt sorry that he did not have a gift to give the king. He asked to play for the baby. Mary said yes. He played his best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum. I like this because Jesus doesn’t want your money or gold all he wants is your best. I would give him my best talent. That is why this carol is special to me.

$25 Honorable Mention

Home for the Holidays

Emily Hatcher, Age 10, Morgantown My favorite Christmas carol has always been “Home for the Holidays!” When I hear it I feel so happy that I start to sing, dance and have fun!

Why I like the Christmas carol “Home for the Holidays” is because it reminds me to be home for the holidays. When my dad was traveling one year around Christmas time, I was scared he would not be home for Christmas. He reminded me of the song “Home for the Holidays” and said he would try his best to be home for Christmas.

He was home in time for Christmas and it was the best Christmas ever! We baked and decorated cookies, made ginger bread houses, sang Christmas carols, and watched Christmas movies.

“Home for the Holidays” reminds me of how lucky I am to have a home and family.

This year, I realize that this in no longer a reality for many because of all the hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and violence that we have experienced this year. “Home for the Holidays” is still my favorite Christmas carol, but this year, I feel that I will be singing and praying “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and thinking of and praying for all of those who cannot be “Home for the Holidays.”

6 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

Christmas is Coming

Away in a Manger

“Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat Please put a penny in the old man’s hat If you haven’t got a penny, a half of a penny will do If you haven’t got a half of a penny, then God bless you!”

I like this song because Christmas is a time of giving. It means to be nice to people. You give whatever you can even if it is a penny. It does not mean you have to give a lot.

It will cheer people up if you give them a penny or be nice to them.

“Away in a Manger” is my favorite Christmas carol. I like it because it makes Jesus sound like a nice sweet person.

Also it says “bless all the dear children”. That makes me feel special. Then the song says “stay near to my cradle.”

That means Jesus has always been near to us, even when we were babies, and still is. Thank you, Jesus.

I remember one day my family was Christmas caroling in our neighborhood. Then we drove about two hours to my grandpa’s cabin, and went Christmas caroling there. It was a remote area so there were not many people around. Then we went to someone’s house. I remember being very excited because we were going to sing “Away in a Manger”. The people were very happy we sang for them. That was fun!

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My Favorite Christmas Carol - Christmas

Joy to the World

Essay Contest - December 6, 2017 - 7

Silent Night

Liesl Wenger, Age 8, Denver

Brooke Zimmerman, Age 9, East Earl

One of my favorite Christmas carols is “Joy to the World”.

I like it because we should be joyful because the Lord Jesus is coming. I like to think of letting all hearts prepare room for Him and of letting heaven and nature sing. Let all the things that God has made repeat the sounding joy.

It makes me happy to think that God has come down from heaven just to pay for our sins. God down from heaven to pay for my sins when I was so bad.

Do not let sorrow cause you again to be separated from God, because the curse is gone. He rules the world with truth and grace.

I want the world to think about this song because the Lord has come and we should be only thinking about toys at Christmas. We should think of joy and not so much about gifts.

Christmas is my favorite holiday, not because of toys, but because God came down from heaven to save us from our sins.

My favorite song is “Silent Night” because it is joyful and holy. Also, it is calm. I like when it says “Silent Night, holy night, all is calm, All is bright Round yon’ virgin, Mother and child.” When I sing it, it makes me happy that Jesus was born. And I also can picture the manger scene when I sing it.

I researched when the song was written. Back in 1818, there was a blizzard on the Austrian Mountains. The people of St. Nicholas church found that their organ was broken. And all day and all night they were writing the song.

At midnight, the silent night carol was born. The pure and simple song was still beautiful, even without an organ.

And this simple song is a reminder that Christmas is about family and not gifts. We should spend time with the people we love and worshiping baby Jesus.

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8 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

Jingle Bells

Feliz Navidad

Alethea Weaver, Age 9

Paul Colombo Jr., Age 11, Honey Brook

My favorite Christmas Carol is “Jingle Bells”! Because it’s a very cool song. Every time I hear it I just want to get up and dance to it. Sometimes I just feel like singing along.

“Jingle Bells” is just a very cheerful song! Christmas is a cheerful holiday not a sad holiday. It’s all about giving gifts and spending time with your family!! “Jingle Bells” would be the perfect song to listen to when doing that.

If you’re someone who likes to listen to cheerful music a lot then you might want to listen to this song at Christmas time!!! If you like to dance to music, “Jingle Bells” is the perfect song!! Because you can make up lots of lotions to go with this song!!! This is why Jingle Bells is my favorite Christmas Carol!

“Feliz Navidad” is the absolute BEST Christmas song in my opinion. It is very cheerful and gets you in a mood to dance and sing along. Whenever I hear “Feliz Navidad” on the radio, I can’t help but sing.

My first reason “Feliz Navidad” is the BEST Christmas song is it is very upbeat. When Jose Feliciano is just playing his guitar it is gleeful, but when a full orchestra accompanies him in the many times he has played it, it is more buoyant and exciting to listen to.

My second reason is “Feliz Navidad” gets you in a mood to dance and sing along. “Feliz Navidad” is such a good and well composed song that I always seem to dance to it. Now I am no professional dancer, as a matter of fact I’m probably the worst dancer ever, but it seems that I always get in a mood to dance when I hear “Feliz Navidad.” And to accompany my terrible dancing, I can’t help but to sing my heart out.

I think “Feliz Navidad” is the BEST Christmas song because it is so happy and always puts me in the Christmas spirit. I think I’ll go listen to it now! Hopefully you will too!

Feliz Navidad

Silent Night

Kiersten Olivia Espenshade, Age 8, Narvon

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I listen to Christmas music on the radio or on the computer. I listen to it when I’m cleaning and it is close to Christmas. Christmas music reminds me of when Jesus was born. “Silent Night” is my favorite Christmas Carol and I like to hear it played on the piano, violin, or harp.

I like to sing “Silent Night” because the music not too high or too low. Songs that are too high are hard to sing.

“Silent Night” is just perfect.

I like to listen to “Silent Night” because the tune is calming. Some music is hyper and that makes me excited and I want to run around. “Silent Night” is nice and relaxing and it makes me want to sing along while I am drawing.

I like to play “Silent Night” on my violin because it is an easy song and I have it memorized.

I can’t wait to play “Silent Night” on Christmas for my family. I hope they like the calming tune and I hope the words remind them of Jesus birth.

My Favorite Christmas Carol - Christmas

Joy to the World

Essay Contest - December 6, 2017 - 9

Silent Night

Ella Slider, Age 10, Morgantown

Aiden Miranda, Age 9, Morgantown

I think the best Christmas carol of all time is “Joy To The World�. I love this Christmas carol because it is a popular song that mostly everyone knows and loves. Also, I have known this song for as long as I can remember and have memorized it word for word. Even all my little brothers know this song and sing along at home, in the car, or in stores. In addition, I love this song because of the memories it makes.

For example, I can always remember in the Christmas eve service, everybody singing this song together, with all the beautifully lit candles glowing around the church and everyone having a smile on their face. It is a wonderful time.

Equally important, I think the lyrics to this song mean a lot to a many people. Even if things are not going well in their lives, this song brings them joy when they sing it. The song Joy to the World was written in 1719, by a man named Isaac Watts. “Joy To The World� is based on Psalm 98. Did you know Isaac Watts did not write it to be a Christmas carol?

He meant it to be about the second coming of the Lord.

When people sing this carol, they can think both about the birth of Jesus and His second coming, which I think is really neat. I think “Joy To The World� is a beautiful Christmas carol.

I love “Silent Night� because it’s so peaceful. When I first heard it, I knew I loved it. The music was so nice and calm. I mean, if you have the piano music to go with the lyrics like I do, it’s even nicer. I’ll write the song for you just because I love it so much. Here we go: “Si-lent night, ho-ly night, All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Vir-gin Moth-er and child; Ho-ly in-fant so ten-der and mild. Sleep in heav-en-ly peace, Sleep in heav-en-ly peace!�

Now make that so quiet and picture it. When I think about Christmas, I think of God and how many miracles he did.

The night Jesus was born, might not have been very silent.

But the peacefulness of this song is like the peace Jesus gives.

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Matlyn Rhoades, Age 8, Bowmansville My favorite Christmas carol is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town�. I like it because it reminds me to not be bad. Let me tell you I am not always doing my best. So Henry the elf is always spying on me from Thanksgiving to Christmas. So every time I hear the song come on the radio or I sing it to myself I am constantly reminded to be more like Jesus and good things will be coming my way soon. On the day Jesus was born December 25th.

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Joy to the World My Favorite Christmas Carol is “Joy To The World�. I like it because it brings out the true meaning of Christmas. We need to make room in our heart for Jesus. Jesus is love.

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10 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

Thank You for the Gift of your confidence in us!

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

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Hi there, my name is Janessa. Do you like Christmas?

Well, I do. One of my favorite things about Christmas is the Christmas carol “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer”. I like that song because it has a good message about bullying.

In the song, Rudolf is bullied by his reindeer friends.

However, they end up needing his help. Even though he was bullied, in the end, he was kind enough to help them because Rudolf was nice and not mean. I felt upset that Rudolf was bullied because that just feels really bad.

The moral is you should never bully people because you never know whose help you will need. It is not nice to bully people just because they are different or can’t do something. That is why I have never bullied someone. It is not nice or kind. I want to be a kind person. I think that is the real spirit of Christmas. Christmas is supposed to be about being kind.

Merry Christmas!!

Joy to the World

Ladell Scott Zimmerman, Age 11, Narvon What Christmas Carol I like best I believe is “Joy To The World”. Why I like Joy to the World is I like the message in the third verse He rules the world with truth and grace. Also you can sing it with enthusiasm. The song makes people think about what it is talking about. So now I hope this gives you an idea why I like the song “Joy To The World”.

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“Away in a Manger” is my favorite Christmas carol. It makes me think of little Lord Jesus. How he came down on earth. And there was no place inside so they had to go out in the stable where the cattle were. It makes me think of the big star which showed them where he lay. And that was how he came down on earth. He came down on earth and died on the cross. He paid our debt, so we could go to heaven. I just like the tone. It just seems so real. It explains so clearly how it really was.

My Favorite Christmas Carol - Christmas

Essay Contest - December 6, 2017 - 11

Entertaining Made Easy!

The Little Drummer Boy Kristel Stoltzfus, Age 11, Honey Brook My favorite Christmas carol is “The Little Drummer Boy”

by Pentatonix*. The lyrics are powerful and sung beautifully.

This song speaks to me because it shows Jesus’ humility, and it is empowering.

The first reason why I think this song is the best carol is because it shows Jesus’ humility. The lyrics talk about how the magi are bringing gifts to the newborn king. However, the boy says, “I have no gift to bring, that’s fit to give our king.” The only thing the boy has is his drum, so he plays for the baby. I think this shows that Jesus came down to earth for us, not for his own glory. This not only represents Jesus’s love, but also his humility.

The second reason this is my favorite Christmas carol is because it is empowering. Even though the little boy is poor, he still gets to play for the baby. The lyrics say, “Then He smiled at me.” The fact that a king smiled at a little, poor boy, who wasn’t giving any expensive gifts, but playing his little drum, is incredible. This makes me feel like even though I’m young, I can do my small part in this world to serve others.

In my opinion, The Little Drummer Boy is the best carol, because it represents Jesus’s humility, and it is empowering. If you look deeper into this song, you might be surprised to find it’s much more than just a Christmas carol. *Editor’s Note: Pentatonix is an a cappella group who released their arrangement of “The Little Drummer Boy” in 2013.

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When Christ Was Born James Lynn Nolt, Age 9, New Holland

I like the song “When Christ Was Born” because that was when Jesus was born in Bethlehem’s manger. And shepherds were coming with gifts and bowed on there knees while angels sang from above.

Silent Night

Angela Nolt, Age 9, East Earl “Silent Night” is my favorite Christmas Carol. I like when it goes Silent Night! Holy Night! It tells us how Christ the Savior, is born! It tells us how the Shepherds quake at the sight!

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12 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle Bell Rock

Kayla Mae Poland, Age 8, Honey Brook

Klowe Mae Poland, Age 8, Honey Brook

My favorite Christmas carol is “Jingle Bell Rock”.

Because we gallop around the island and mom says we have to go bare footed.

We sometimes scare the cat. I like the part when they say “giddie up Jingle horse pick up your feet.” We race, I am mostly in the front p.s. there is no back or front because we gallop in a circle. we also Sing and dance when its over often the last part we take a bow. Then we put on our socks and we ski to our rooms. Some times we say play it again and the music turns back on again.

I like “Jingle Bell Rock”. Me my sister and Mom dance around the kitchen island and sing. It is so much fun. I enjoy it. Most of the time my sister things its a race. We sometimes have to sit down and take our socks off so we dont fall down. The cat gets scared, but we dont. We scream play it again when its done until were hot and tired.

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Nathan Espenshade, Age 10, Narvon Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, my mom would play Christmas carols on the radio and every year she played them, I liked the song “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” more and more so that’s how it became my favorite Christmas carol.

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” is my favorite Christmas carol is because it’s sang with excitement. It is exciting to think about Jesus birth so the songs we sing should be exciting.

My favorite verse is the first verse because I know the words the best. This song doesn’t have a chorus which makes it unique.

The tune is easy to play on the piano and that also is what made it my favorite Christmas carol.

I am excited to play “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” this year. The words and tune remind me how joyful we should be as we celebrate Jesus birth.

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My favorite song is “When Christ Was Born” being it is the story that tells of when Christ was born in Bethlehem in a lowly manger. It also tells of the Shepherds who came and bowed to baby Jesus while the angels were watching from above singing “Glory to God on High”! There were three wise men from the East brought packages, one with gold, one with myrrh, one with frankincense.

My Favorite Christmas Carol - Christmas

Arlan James Stoltzfus, Age 11, Narvon Our teacher taught us the song for our Christmas program. I like he tune very well. I also like the chorus. The words are inspiring. I like singing this song because it reminds me what Christmas is about.

Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye, who sang creations story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth; (I can imagine the angles flying low over the earth and singing.)

Shepherds in the field abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light.

(In my mind I can see shepherds keeping watch over their sheep.)

Chorus: Come and worship.

Come and worship.

Worship Christ the new-born King.

Keep Jesus in your hearts forever.

Hark the Herald

Joy to the World Gavin Reimers, Age 11

My favorite Christmas carol is “Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts, Hoyt Axton, and George Handel. They based it on Psalm 98, 96:11-12 and Genesis 3:17-18. This Christmas carol is about how there is Joy to the World because Jesus was born it is also about how people are singing joyfully that the Savior was born.

This is my favorite Christmas carol because I love to praise God by singing songs for him and “Joy to the World” is one of those songs that praises God and that I like to sing.

Another reason I like this Christmas carol is because it is very happy and it makes you feel very joyful. I also like the song because it reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus came to earth for us.

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays because we are reminded of the greatest gift ever given, Jesus. “Joy to the world” is a great reminder of his great gift. This is why “Joy to the world” is my favorite Christmas carol.

Away in a Manger Trinity Shober, Age 8, Reading

My favorite christmas carol is “Away in a Manger”. It is gentle and beautiful. I like the pattern of the song’s words. I like to picture the words in my head. It is about Jesus’s birth. He was born in Bethlehem in a manger. It was nice and quiet in the stable. That’s why the song is nice and quiet. I like to Sing it some times at Christmas.

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I delight in “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. This is why.

First, I enjoy what it says. I like that the song talks about the joy of Jesus being born. Second, I admire how it’s being sung. The song is energetic and I appreciate that you are the angels singing to the shepherds. Third, I like the tune.

It’s catchy and a piano can play it. Also the song is a classic. In conclusion, I like “Hark The Herald Angels Sing”, that’s why.

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Essay Contest - December 6, 2017 - 13

14 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

Carol of the Bells

Joy to the World

Abigail Stoltzfus, Age 11, Honey Brook

Alberto Miranda, Age 10, Morgantown

“Carol of the Bells” is my favorite Christmas carol. I like how the notes are merry, happy and perfect for Christmas.

It just makes you and everyone around you feel like being happy!

Take for instance, the line “to young AND old, meek AND the bold.” I really like how it says that! Another line says “On, on they send, on without end.” That is SO cool! That makes everyone feel excited about Christmas! Then it ends by saying Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas. Songs like this make Christmas so fun.

My favorite Christmas carol of all time is “Joy to the World”. This is my favorite Christmas carol because it tells you the true meaning of Christmas unlike Jingle Bells that you can make a joke about. It tells the true meaning of Christmas because it tells about how the Lord comes to Earth, of the wonder of his love and that he reigns. Another reason I like this song is that it’s not very short. It takes about 5 minutes to sing all of the verses of this carol. The last reason it is my favorite Christmas carol is because not only is the song about a reason for the world to have Joy, it brings joy to me when I listen to it. These are the reasons why “Joy to the World” is my favorite Christmas carol.

We Three Kings Coby Weaver, Age 9, New Holland

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My favorite Christmas song is “We Three Kings”. I like the three wise men and the star they are following. The wise men are going to find Jesus. Do you know the three wise men went to see the king in court.

The star was bright and brilliant which made the sky shine nicely. The wise men were following the star for a good reason. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth. Jesus, the king, our savior is risen.

I also like the tune of the song.

This concludes why “We Three Kings” is my favorite Christmas carol.

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• Helmets • Comfort Saddles

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BICYCLE BARN

Rt. 625 (2 miles S. of Bowmansville) Mon., Thurs., Fri. 8-7; Tues. 8-5; Sat. 8-4; Closed Wed. & Sun.

717-445-8508

S989357

Layaway NOW for Christmas

Joy to the World

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Kaeden Good, Age 9, Denver

My favorite Christmas Carol is “Joy To The World”. It talks about how Jesus came to the world and we should praise him. It says he comes to make his blessings flow and that makes me happy. I love songs that talk about Jesus and all the good stuff. If I win I want to send most of the money to my friends who are missionaries in Thailand. I bake to raise money to send to them because they are telling people about Jesus who don’t know him. I will spend a little of It for me.

My Favorite Christmas Carol - Christmas

Snoopy’s Christmas Ethan Lawrie, Age 8, Conestoga

I love “Snoopy’s Christmas”* because I like learning about war, I love Snoopy and I like airplanes.

My uncle is currently serving overseas on his second deployment, my grandpa was in the Vietnam War and my great grandpa served during peace time. I like to learn about what soldiers use to wear and what kind of weapons they used.

Airplanes are fun to learn about. I like to build them with my Legos, and my mom and I are learning about them in my engineering class in homeschool. We’ve made some cool ones with paper to test speed and distance. I learned about the Wright Brothers in school, too, and I would love to visit Kitty Hawk someday in North Carolina, where they first flew their plane. Soon, I hope to fly on a real plane.

I love dogs, and Snoopy is cute. I love the show Peanuts, and I want to see the new movie that just came out.

It was hard to pick just one Christmas carol because I love all of them. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I plan on asking Santa for a toy train for the Christmas tree, a remote control car, Hot Wheels, Legos and Nerf guns.

The End *Editor’s Note: “Snoopy’s Christmas” is a 1967 song

by The Royal Guardsmen and a follow up to their 1966 song “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron”.

Away in a Manger Susan Kauffman, Age 9, Honey Brook

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL IS “AWAY IN A MANGER”…

For it makes me think of a Christmas Program we had in school when I was in second grade. I sat on a rocking chair on the stage rocking a doll and singing this song. It has a nice tune and beautiful words. makes you think of the evening baby Jesus was born… There are other Christmas songs I like but this is my favorite…

Essay Contest - December 6, 2017 - 15

Joy to the World Haven Eager, Age 10, Narvon

The Christmas Carol that Isn’t About Christmas How? You may be thinking can a Christmas carol not be about Christmas? What is that hymn? Well, you’ll find that out at the end of the essay. It was written by Isaac Watts, commonly called “the Father of Hymns, and is actually about Jesus’s second coming. But it becomes even more fascinating when you find out the tune was most likely written by Handel! It was based on Psalm 98:4-9 and meant to be a poem. The third stanza though is not based on Psalm 98:4-9. The hymn was written in 1719. The hymn is … Joy to the World!!!

Yes!! This Hymn is the well-loved Joy to the World!!

These captivating reasons are why this is my favorite Christmas carol

Merry Christmas

from our family and staff!

504 East Main Street New Holland, PA 717.354.5980 www.squiresidecafe.com S991032

16 - December 6, 2017 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- My Favorite Christmas Carol

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After 2,000 years, wise men and women are still following his star.

A blessed Christmas from all of us.

EAST EARL

Rt. 23 717-354-4026

(Next to Shady Maple Farm Market)

EPHRATA

QUARRYVILLE

SCHAEFFERSTOWN

(Rt. 322, East of Martin’s Country Market)

(Rt. 222 & 372 Intersection)

(Rt. 501 N. in Dutchway Plaza)

1686 W. Main St. 717-733-7356

333 W. 4th St. 717-786-9028

2499 Stiegel Pike 717-949-2663

Store Hours: Weekdays 8am - 9pm, Saturday 8am - 5pm • Closed Sunday

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