T'was the Night Before Christmas Submarine Style (SS)

T'was the night before Christmas, and what no-one could see, The men with the dolphins were under the sea. Most of the crew was flat on their backs, Snoring and dreaming all snug in their racks.

Those men on watch were making their rounds, Some manning the planes or listening for sounds. Back in maneuvering or down in the room, They all hoped the oncoming watch would come soon.

I'd finished some PM's whose time was now due, And hoped for some sleep, even an hour or two. Against better judgment I took a short stroll, And found myself wandering into control.

The Nav had the Conn, the COW was in place, The COB had the Dive and a scowl on his face. The helm and the planes were relaxed but aware, The QM and ET were discussing a dare.

To comply with the orders the Nav told the Dive, To bring the boat up with minimum rise. The orders were given and soon they were there, At periscope depth with a scope in the air.

The QM confirmed our position with care, The broadcast was copied, we brought in some air. The Nav on the scope let out a small cry, He shook his head twice and rubbed at his eyes.

He looked once again to find what it was, That interrupted his sweep and caused him to pause. Try as he might there was nothing to see, So down went the scope and us to the deep.

I asked what it was that caused his dismay, He sheepishly said, "I'm embarrassed to say." It could have been Northern Lights or a cloud, Or a meteorite he wondered aloud.

But to tell you the truth I guess I must say, Whatever it was it looked like a sleigh. And though it passed quickly and never was clear, I almost believe it was pulled by reindeer.

We laughed and teased him and I got up to go, When our moment was broken by "Conn, Radio." They told us a message was just coming in, We looked at the depth gauge and started to grin.

"Radio, Conn, I feel safe to say, Your attempt at a joke is too long delayed. If it had been sooner it might have been neat, But I doubt we're receiving at four-hundred feet."

"Conn, Radio, you can come down and see, We're not playing games to any degree." I headed aft with nothing better to do, Surprised by the fact it was still coming through.

It stopped and was sent to control to be read, The Nav read it slowly and scratched at his head. Then again he began but this time aloud, To those that now waited, a curious crowd.

"To you Denizens of the Deep and men of the sea, Who risk your life daily so others stay free. I rarely have seen you on this, my big night, For far too often you are hidden from sight.

But purely by luck I saw you tonight, As your scope coaxed the plankton to glow in the night. And lucky for me I've finally won, The chance to say thanks for all you have done.

I know that you miss your families at home, And sometimes you feel as if you're alone. But trust what I say and I'll do what's right, I'll take something special to your families tonight.

Along with the gifts I'll take to your kin, I'll visit their dreams and leave word within. They'll hear of your love, and how you miss them, I'll tell them that soon you'll be home again.

It might not be much I know that is true, To thank you for all the things that you do. But I'll do what I can, while you do what's right, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.

Merry Christmas ...

Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,

25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Luke 1:26-35

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luke 2:4-20

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,;

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ “

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

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