 five, four, three, two, one. Merry Christmas. So that was Merlin that you just heard playing. Merlin is my most favorite musician. She's based out of Mumbai and she provides all the jazz compositions for Bollywood. So you've heard her work before and today you're going to get to see her face along with the music. So Merlin and I have a huge Christmas tradition where we do lots of carol services and nativity plays and lots of other fun stuff. And this year of course we're doing it all on Zoom unfortunately but we'd like to invite you to a little tiny part of our Christmas carol service. I unfortunately can't sing but I'm going to recite which is what I always do and Merlin is going to play beautifully as she always does. Today I'm going to recite a little poem by Ernest Flanagan. It's one of my favorite pieces of Christmas poetry and I hope that you enjoy this. It's called The Shepherd Boy. As a shepherd boy I wondered about the star that hung so low by the sheep were all so quiet while the whole place was aglow. From my perch high on the hilltop I could see all around. Bethlehem was filled with light the air was full of sound. Who was playing that music? Well, I know today it's you Merlin but I'm thinking about the shepherd boy who was sitting in that dark night on that hill thinking about where that gorgeous music was coming from. Who was playing that music that caused my heart to leap? Who was doing the singing while I watched my sheep? Why this night felt special from all the nights before? Why the world seemed different? Why did it move me so? Why did that caravan stop? Who were those strange men three? What did they carry in their hands? Who were they going to see? Who is that child they bowed before in that lowly cattle shed? Happy snug smiling with a manger for his bed. I watch in awe and wonder how the cattle all obey. Who is this little boy child that holds all in his sway? I take my sheep back to the pen when dawn lights the darkened sky the bright star has disappeared the caravan has passed me by. The joy I felt within me I feel within me still I feel no hunger and no thirst somehow I've had my fill. The world seems somehow different. A deep peace has filled my heart. I want to tell all who I meet but I don't know where to start. I have so many questions but the answers can't be found. They revolve around that little child that never made a sound. What has changed within me that makes my heart leap so? Who was that little baby boy and where did they all go? From our hearts to yours we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.