'Twas the Night before Christmas ... at Gateway

Posted on: December 10, 2007 by Martha Petteys Related Categories: events

A few people had asked for a copy of the poem read at the Christmas party. Here it is:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the church
Not a creature was stirring .... except for a Moose.
The dirty pots were hung in the kitchen with care,
In hopes that a dishwasher would soon be there;
The praise team was nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of very expensive sound boards danced in their heads;
And Char in her ‘kerchief’, and Moose in his jeans,
They had just settled in for their weekly clean,
When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter,
Moose sprang to his feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, he flew like a flash,
Tore open the drapes and un-cranked the sash.
When, what to his ONE GOOD EYE should appear,
But a Honda Pilot and a 10-point deer,
With a driver that couldn’t be any faster
Moose knew in a moment – it must be the Pastor.
He whistled and shouted and called them by name;
"Now Parker! Now Kneebone! Now Yokimcus and Hicks!
Now, Harney! Now Byron! Now Cuva and Fisk!
Though tiny, this guy seemed to be the master.
He kept shouting and sputtering, "Can’t you work any faster!"
Down from the church roof-top they flew,
With a sleigh full of tools and that dead deer too.
And then, in a twinkling, we heard Pastor say with glee:
"It’s just like the Hotel California...
You can check out any time you like... BUT YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE."
A bundle of tools he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes - how they twinkled! His mouth, oh did it shout!"
"Ah... if you don’t like it!... GET OUT!"
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was almost as white as snow;
He was a jolly old elf.
And Moose laughed when he saw him, in spite of himself!
Moose’s wife watched it all and boy did she get hot
She looked at them all and yelled, "Did someone remember to turn off the coffee pot!"
Laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the staircase he rose
He sprang to his Pilot, to his team he did yell
And away they all flew, to where I can’t tell.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove through the dirt
"Merry Christmas to all ... now get back to work!"