The recording captures a 1986 Christmas program performed by Skyline Wesleyan Church, featuring a series of festive songs, choral interludes, and spoken segments delivered by four speakers (A‑D). The early portion consists of familiar holiday lyrics (“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” “Jingle Bells”) interwoven with playful banter and calls for children to join in. Mid‑program, the tone shifts to a moral exhortation: speakers repeatedly urge listeners, especially children, to “do better,” warning against selfishness, fighting, and cheating, and encouraging generosity and kindness during the season. The climax is a narrated parable delivered by Speaker D about an elderly cobbler, Conrad, who awaits the Lord’s visit on Christmas. Conrad welcomes three strangers—a beggar, a shivering woman, and a lost child—each of whom he aids with shoes, food, and comfort. After each act of kindness, Conrad learns that the strangers were manifestations of the Lord, teaching that love and generosity are the true gifts of Christmas. The program concludes with a reaffirmation of the moral lesson, blending song, dialogue, and storytelling to reinforce community values of generosity, compassion, and joyful celebration.
Chapters
It's the most wonderful time of the.
Year.
With the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you the other cheer.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
It's the happy season of all. With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings when friends come to call. It's the happ. Happy season of all.
There'll be parties for roasting marshmallows for.
Toasting and caroling out in the snow.
There'll be wonderful stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago. It's the most wonderful time of.
There'll be much mistletoeing and hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near.
Jingle fast, jingle fast. Jingle all the way. All my fun is to ride in my muscles. Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way. All my fun it is to ride in the one wh. Sleigh. Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way. Oh my. Is to ride one sleigh. Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one whistle. It's the holiday season and everyone is g The Christmas snow. We smile on the ground. There's lots of love and joy to be found. When the Christmas season rolls around. It's the holiday season and mom and dad have got a toy for every good girl A good little boy. They wrap them up in a package of joy. Well, that Christmas season goes Sometime we'll have a Christmas feast for all to eat with lots of goodies for you and for me. We'll spend some yule time cheer with the family here singing round the Christmas stream. It's the holiday season so take the read up. And don't forget to hang up your son and set the chimes on the grandfather. But Christmas season rolls. Christmas season rolls. Christmas season rolls. Up.
Falling. Tis the season to be jolly.
It.
Sa.
Hey, kids. Kids, wait a minute.
You shouldn't be talking that way to each other. It's Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve we're taught to do the things we ought.
Ah, but all those things you're taught can all add up to not unless.
You really come to know There are.
Just two ways that you can go. Take it from me, don't be up. Do better.
Up.
Do better.
Up.
Do better. You'll put your foot on that ladder that leads you to unhappiness On Christmas day. You'll grow sadder. You'll feel sadder. You'll get madder. So why not use that same ladder to climb the other way? Scrapping and fighting. Scratching and biting. Cheating and Acting selfish keeps your heart far apart from the giving Christmas spirit. Take it from me. Don't be up. Do better, do better, do better. Just hop on more that step ladder and climb the other way. Hey kids, I think you've got the idea. Now why don't you try singing it with me? Take it from me, don't be a do better. You'll put your foot on that ladder that leads you to unhappiness on Christmas day. You'll grow sadder, you'll feel sadder, you'll get madder. So why not use that same ladder to climb the other way?
Scrapping and fighting. Scratching and biting, cheating and again selfish eats your heart far above from. Thank you Christmas.
Now you've got the idea. Don't be up. Do better, do better, do better. Just hug on more time step my all you do is climb the other way.
Climb the other way.
It happened one day at December's end. Some neighbors called on an old time friend and they found his shop so meager and mean Made gay with a thousand bounds of green. And old Conrad was sitting with face ashine when he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine and said my friends, it dawned a day when the cock was crowing the night away. The Lord appeared in a dream to me and he said, I'm coming your guest to be so I've been busy with feet astir Strewing my shop with branches of fir. The table is spread and the kettle is shined over the rafters the holly is twined. And now I'll wait for my Lord to appear and listen closely so I will hear his steps as he nears my humble place. And I'll open the door and a look on his face. Then his friends went home and left Conrad alone. For this was the happiest day he had known for long. Since his family had all passed away and Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas day. But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest, this Christmas would be the dearest and best. So he listened with only joy in his heart. And with every sound he would rise with a start and look for the Lord to be at his door. Like the vision he had had a few hours before. So he ran to the door after hearing a sound. And all he could see on that snow covered ground was a shabby baker whose shoes were torn and all his clothes were ragged and worn. But old Conrad was touched as he stood at the door and he said, you feet must be cold and sore. I have some shoes in my shop for you and I have a coat to keep you warmer too. So he hastened in order his knees to meet with a coat for his back and shoes for his feet. And with grateful heart the man went away. But Conrad noticed the time of the day, and he wondered what made his dear Lord so late, and how much longer would he have to wait? Then he heard another knock, and he ran to the door.
But he found that it was only.
A strange once more, a bent old lady with a shawl of black and a bundle of kindling piled on her back. But she asked only for a place to rest, a place that was reserved for Conrad's great guest. But her voice seemed to plead, don't send me away. Let me rest for a moment. It's Christmas Day. So she sat at his table to rest for a while, and the hot tea he poured her was met with a smile. And when it was time, she got up to leave, having regained her strength from the kindness received. But after she left, he was filled with dismay, for he saw that the hours were slipping away and the Lord had not come as he said he would. And Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood when out of the stillness, he heard a cry. Please help me and tell me, where am I? So again he opened his friendly door and he stood disappointed. Twice before, it was only a child who had wandered away and was lost from her family on Christmas Day. Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad. But he knew he could make this little girl glad. So he called her in, and he wiped her tears, and he quieted all her childish fears. Then he led her back to her family's place, where great joy could be seen on everyone's face. Then Conrad returned to his home once more. But as he entered his own darkened door, he knew that the Lord was not coming today, for the hours of Christmas had all passed away. So he fell on his knees and he started to pray. And he said, Lord, why did you delay? What kept you from coming to call on me? I wanted so much your face to see. Then softly in the silence, a voice he heard. Lift up your head. I have kept my word. Three times my shadow crossed your floor. Three times I came to your lowly door. I was the beggar with bruised cold feet. I was the woman you gave something to eat. I was the child on the homeless street. Three times I knocked, three times I came in and each time I found the warmth of a friend. Of all the gifts, love is the best. I was honored to be your Christmas guest.
