This is the second day of Christmas I have been told by my old friend and marvelous musician Phil Magness. Phil is also a francophone and does a great job translating liturgy into French.  He reminded us that today is the celebration and remembrance of Stephan the deacon that was martyred in his witness to Christ.  Etienne is the French version of Stephen. It also reminded me that a long time ago  I took the song “Good King Wenceslaus and added lyrics from another great author and hymn writer and another Stephen, Stephen Starke.  I put it together as a piece to bring attention to LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  Luther says that we serve God through our neighbors.  God does not need our stuff but our neighbors can be helped and supplied by our help and concern

So we have a lot of Christmas left – 10 days.