[MUSIC: Orchestra] [CHOIR]: ♪Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator♪, ♪down from the regions of glory descend.♪ ♪Shepherds, go worship the Babe in the manger.♪ ♪Lo, for His guard the bright angels attend.♪ ♪Brightest and best all ye angels of morning,♪ ♪dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.♪ ♪Star in the East, the horizon adorning,♪ ♪guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.♪ [Orchestra] ♪Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining,♪ ♪low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.♪ ♪Angels adore Him in slumbers reclining.♪ ♪Wise men and shepherds before Him did fall.♪ ♪Brightest and best all ye angels of morning,♪ ♪dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.♪ ♪Star in the East, the horizon adorning,♪ ♪guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.♪ What do we hear this winter's eve?

The voice of a poet.

Whose woods these are, I think I know.

His house is in the village, though.

He will not see me stopping here to watch his woods fill up with snow.

With these words, Robert Frost reminds us that we are all pilgrims traveling in a world not of our own making, a world of purpose, for each of us has a path to walk and work to do.

This is especially true at Christmas time.

As we bring the light of the Christ child to one another and rejoice together in the gifts of his love, joy, and peace.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.

[CHOIR]: ♪Then let us yield Him♪ ♪in costly devotion, fragrance of Eden and offerings divine.♪ ♪Gems from the mountains and pearls from the ocean,♪ ♪myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine.♪ ♪Brightest and best all ye angels of morning,♪ ♪dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.♪ ♪Star in the East, the horizon adorning,♪ ♪guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.♪ ♪Ah.♪ ♪Ah.♪ ♪Ah.♪ ♪Ah.♪ ♪Brightest and best all ye angels of morning,♪ ♪dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.♪ ♪Star in the East the horizon adorning,♪ ♪guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.♪ ♪guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.♪ ♪Was laid.♪ ♪Was laid.♪ ♪Was laid.♪ ♪Was laid.♪ [Applause] [MUSIC: "In Dulci Jubilo"] [Orchestra & Trumpets] ♪In dulci jubilo let us our homage show.♪ ♪Our hearts joy reclineth in praesepio.♪ ♪And like a bright star shineth matris in gremio.♪ ♪Alpha es et O. Alpha es et O.♪ [Orchestra & Trumpets] ♪O Jesu parvule, I yearn for Thee alway.♪ ♪Hear me, I beseech Thee, O Puer optime.♪ ♪My praying let it reach Thee, O Princeps gloriae.♪ ♪Trahe me post te.♪ ♪Trahe me post te.♪ [Orchestra & Trumpets] ♪Ubi ubi sunt gaudia?♪ ♪If that they be that be not there,♪ ♪there are angels singing nova nova cantica.♪ ♪And there the bells are ringing in Regis curia.♪ ♪O that we were there.♪ ♪O that we were there.♪ ♪Ah.♪ ♪And there the bells are ringing in Regis curia.♪ ♪O that we were there.♪ ♪O that we were there.♪ [Orchestra, Trumpets & Bells] ♪O that we were there.♪ ♪We were there.♪ ♪O that we were there.♪ [Applause] [MUSIC: "Mary's Little Boy Child"] ♪A long time ago in Bethlehem,♪ ♪so the Holy Bible says, Mary's boy child♪ ♪Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day.♪ [ANNOUNCER]: Ladies and gentlemen, from Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the West End in London, and concert stages throughout the world, please welcome Tony award winner Kelli O'Hara.

[Applause] ♪Hark now hear the angels sing,♪ ♪new king's born today.♪ ♪And men will live forevermore♪ ♪Because of Christmas Day.♪ ♪While shepherds watched their flocks by night,♪ ♪they saw a bright, new, shining star,♪ ♪and heard a choir from heaven sing the music came from afar.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Hark now hear the angels sing,♪ ♪new King's born today.♪ ♪And man will live forevermore♪ ♪because of Christmas Day.♪ [Orchestra] ♪Now, Joseph and wife Mary came to Bethlehem that night.♪ ♪They found a place to bear a child.♪ ♪Not a single room was in sight.♪ ♪By and by they found a nook in a stable♪ ♪all for forlorn.♪ ♪And in a manger cold and dark♪ ♪Mary's little boy child was born.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Hark now hear the angels sing♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Listen to the angels singing♪ ♪Listen to what they say.♪ ♪That man will live forever more because of Christmas Day.♪ ♪Because of Christmas Day.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪New King's born for us today.♪ ♪A Savior is born this Christmas Day.♪ [Applause] Thank you.

Thank you so so much Thank you.

It is so wonderful to be with tonight.

And to be with this magnigicent choir and orchestra.

Thank you Mack and Ryan.

It is just a delight to work with you.

And a delight to be here.

There is just a truely lovely magnigicent spirit in this room.

I feel that, um, that music can unify us all.

And that is why I sing.

This is why I'm especially grateful for the opportunity to share with you this next Christmas classic.

[MUSIC: Birthday of a King] ♪In the little village of Bethlehem♪ ♪There lay a child one day♪ ♪And the sky was bright with a holy light o'er♪ ♪the place where Jesus lay.♪ ♪Alleluia.♪ ♪O how the angels sang.♪ ♪Alleluia.♪ ♪How it rang.♪ ♪And the sky was bright with a holy light.♪ ♪'Twas the birthday of a King.♪ ♪Alleluia, Oh how the angels sang.♪ ♪Alleluia, how it rang.♪ ♪And the sky was bright with a holy light.♪ ♪'Twas the birthday of a King.♪ [Orchestra] ♪'Twas a humble birthplace,♪ ♪but O how much God gave to us that day.♪ ♪From the manger bed what a path has led,♪ ♪what a perfect holy way.♪ ♪Alleluia, O how the angels sang.♪ ♪Alleluia, how it rang.♪ ♪And the sky was bright with a holy light.♪ ♪'Twas the birthday of a King.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Alleluia.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Alleluia.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Oh how the angels sang♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Alleluia.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Alleluia.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Alleluia.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Alleluia.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪And the sky was bright♪ ♪with a holy light.♪ ♪'Twas the birthday.

'Twas the birthday.♪ ♪'Twas the birthday of a King.♪ ♪Of a King.♪ [Applause] [CHOIR]: ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪Bethink Thee Jesus of Thy charge.♪ ♪The Prince of Peace Thou art.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪Hallelujah♪ ♪And to Thy people far and wide.♪ ♪Thy saving grace impart.♪ ♪So may we hear Thy holy word♪ ♪in songs of peace resounding.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah.♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ ♪The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord,♪ ♪and of his Christ, and of His Christ.♪ ♪And He shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪And He shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪And He shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪And He shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪King of Kings.♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah.♪ ♪And Lord of Lords.♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪King of Kings.♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah.♪ ♪And Lord of Lords.♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah.♪ ♪King of Kings.♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah.♪ ♪And Lord of Lords.♪ ♪King of Kings and Lord of Lords.♪ ♪And He shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪He shall reign.♪ ♪He shall reign.♪ ♪He shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪King of Kings.

♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪And Lord of Lords.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah.♪ ♪He shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪King of Kings and Lord of Lords.♪ ♪King of Kings and Lord of Lords.♪ ♪And he shall reign forever and ever.♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪Forever and ever.♪ ♪Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah♪ ♪Hallelujah.♪ [Applause] [MUSIC: "A Cradle In Bethlehem"] ♪Sing sweet and low, the lullaby♪ ♪till angels say Amen.♪ ♪A mother tonight is rocking a cradle in Bethlehem.♪ ♪While wise men follow through the dark, a star that♪ ♪beckons them, a mother tonight is rocking♪ ♪a cradle in Bethlehem.♪ ♪A little child shall lead them.♪ ♪the prophet said of old in storm and tempest♪ ♪heed them until the bell is tolled.♪ ♪Sing sweet and low your lullaby till angels say Amen.♪ ♪Sing sweet and low your lullaby till angels say Amen.♪ ♪A mother tonight is rocking a cradle in Bethlehem.♪ ♪A mother tonight is rocking a cradle in Bethlehem.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪A little child shall lead them,♪ ♪the prophet said of old.♪ ♪In storm and tempest heed them until the bell is tolled.♪ ♪In storm and tempest heed them until the bell is tolled.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Sing sweet and lo your lullaby♪ ♪till angels say Amen.♪ ♪A mother tonight is rocking a cradle in Bethlehem.♪ ♪A mother tonight is rocking a cradle in Bethlehem.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Sing sweet.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Sing sweet and low.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Sing sweet.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Sing sweet and low♪ ♪to the babe in Bethlehem.♪ ♪In Bethlehem.♪ [Applause] [MUSIC: Organ Playing Jingle Bells] [Bluegrass band playing Jingle Bells] [Applause] [MUSIC: Orchestra] [ANNOUNCER]: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Emmy award winning actor of stage, television and motion pictures.

Richard Thomas.

[Applause] [RICHARD THOMAS]: Tonight's Christmas reading based on the story by Nobel laureate Pearl S Buck, has a special place in my heart.

And I hope it finds a place in yours.

[Solo Clarinet] Robert woke suddenly and completely.

It was 4 o'clock, the hour when his father had always called him to get up and help with the milking.

That was 50 years ago but his eyes still opened every morning at 4:00.

And even if he wanted to go back to sleep, which he usually did, it wasn't going to happen this morning.

Because this morning was Christmas.

He looked at his wife sleeping beside him, and remembered Christmases when their children were young.

This had been a joyous day, the day she labored and lived for, filled with the laughter of little ones.

But now those children were gone, and the house was empty.

And for her, Christmas was becoming just another winter morning, it's joy a memory of the past.

His mind slipped back further to growing up on his father's farm.

He'd always loved his father, but he hadn't realized how much.

And then, one day he overheard his parents talking.

"I wish I didn't have to get Robbie up so early", his father said.

"He's growing so fast, and he needs his sleep.

If I could just find a way to handle the milking alone."

"well, you can't", his mother said firmly.

"Because he's not a child anymore, and it's time he do his part."

"It's true", said his father.

"But I still don't like to wake him."

Hearing those words, something awakened in Rob.

His father loved him.

He'd never thought of it before, but now he knew it, and he could never go back to waiting for his father to call him in the mornings again and again.

He might stumble out of bed blind with sleep, pulling on his clothes with his eyes half shut, but he would get up.

A few days later, on Christmas Eve, Rob was lying in his bed, thinking about the next morning.

His family was poor, and most of their excitement was about the turkey they had raised themselves, and the mince pies his mother made.

His parents almost gave him something he needed, and he saved to buy them gifts, too.

For his father, it was always a tie from the $0.10 store.

But that Christmas, the tie just wasn't enough.

Rob had to give him something better, something more.

Rob lay on his side, propped up on one elbow, looking out the attic window.

The stars were bright, much brighter than he ever remembered them.

And he wondered if one of them was the star that shone over Bethlehem.

[MUSIC: "Christmas Day In The Morning"] [CHOIR SINGING]: ♪Oh, watch the stars.♪ ♪See how they run.♪ ♪Oh, watch the stars.♪ ♪See how they run.♪ ♪The stars run down at the setting of the sun.♪ ♪Oh, watch the stars.♪ ♪See how they run.♪ [RICHARD THOMAS]: "Dad", Rob once asked when he was a little boy, "what's a stable?"

"It's just a barn", his father had replied, "like ours."

"So Jesus had been born in a barn, into a barn the shepherds had come, and wise men with their gifts."

In that moment, a thought struck Rob like lightning.

They had a barn, and in it there was a gift for him to give.

He would get up before 4 o'clock and milk the cows.

He'd do it alone while everyone was asleep, and when his father opened the barn door, all the work would be done.

A smile broke across Rob's face, and his eyes danced with the stars.

[CHOIR SINGING]: ♪Go find the child, see where He lays.♪ ♪Go find the child, see where he lays.♪ ♪The Child lays down on a manger bed of hay.♪ ♪Go find the child, see where He lays.♪ [RICHARD THOMAS]: Rob must have woken 20 times that night, scratching a match each time to look at his old watch.

Midnight, 1 o'clock, half past 2:00.

At a quarter to 3:00, he finally got up and put on his clothes, crept downstairs, being careful of the creaky boards, and let himself out.

Inside the barn, he lit the old hurricane lamp.

The cows were looking at him, sleepy and surprised.

It was early for them, too.

Then, with a great rush of energy, Rob set to work.

He smiled as he milked steadily, two strong streams rushing into the pail, frothing and fragrant.

For once, milking was not a chore.

It was something else, a gift to his father, who loved him.

When he was finished, the two milk cans were perfectly full.

He covered them, and closed the milk house door carefully, making sure of the latch.

Back in his room, he had only a minute to pull off his clothes in the darkness and jump into bed.

His father was already coming down the hall.

Rob yanked the covers over his head as the door opened.

"Rob, we have to get up, son, even if it is Christmas."

"All right", he mumbled.

The door closed, and Rob lay still, breathing heavy.

In just a few minutes, his father would know.

His heart was ready to jump from his body.

The minutes seemed endless.

10, 15.

He didn't know how many until he heard his father's footsteps.

Again, the door opened.

"Robert?"

"Yes, Dad?"

His father was laughing, a strange sobbing sort of laugh.

"You thought you'd fool me, did you?"

His father was standing by his bed, feeling for him, pulling away the covers.

"It's for Christmas", Rob cried, finding his father and clutching him in a great hug.

He felt his father's arms around him in the dark.

"Son," I thank you.

Nobody ever did a nicer thing."

"Oh, dad", Rob said, "I just want to be good."

The words broke from him of their own will.

His heart was bursting with joy.

50 years later, Robert reflected on that Christmas.

And again, something in him awakened.

He looked over at his wife and remembered the years of Christmas mornings that she had made joyous for him and their children.

And in that moment, all he wanted was to give her something, to do something to express his love and revive their joy.

And then it struck him like lightning, the true joy of Christmas is to love and to awaken love.

Their children were grown, and their house was empty, and the laughter of little ones would remain a memory.

And yet, because of his father's love, and because of hers, love was alive in him, and the joy of Christmas was his to give.

Quietly, he got up in the dark, pulled on his clothes, as he had done so many years before, and crept to his desk, being careful of the creaky boards.

"My dearest love", he wrote, his pen flowing freely across milk white paper, "on this Christmas day, on this Christmas Day in the morning--" [CHOIR SINGING]: ♪Behold the Lamb, see how He loves.♪ ♪Behold the Lamb, see how He loves.♪ ♪The Lamb loves you, and will lead you home above.♪ ♪Oh, watch the stars.♪ ♪Go find the Child.♪ ♪Behold the Lamb, see how He loves.♪ [RICHARD THOMAS]: "Merry Christmas, my love."

"Your husband, Rob."

[MUSIC: "Baby of Bethlehem"] [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Singing in the land,♪ ♪singing in the land, singing in the land♪ ♪I'm a long ways from home.♪ ♪Singing in the land, singing in the land, Baby of Bethlehem,♪ ♪Baby of Bethlehem.♪ ♪O sister, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪O sister, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪O sister, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪Baby of Bethlehem.♪ ♪Baby of Bethlehem.♪ [MUSIC: (Flute solo)] ♪Praying in the land, praying in the land, praying in the land,♪ ♪I'm a long ways from home.♪ ♪Praying in the land, praying in the land.♪ ♪Baby of Bethlehem, Baby of Bethlehem.♪ ♪O brother, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪O brother, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪O brother, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪Baby of Bethlehem, Baby of Bethlehem.♪ ♪Oh, oh, oh, oh.♪ ♪Oh, oh, oh.♪ ♪Oh, oh, oh, oh.♪ ♪Oh, oh.♪ ♪O sister, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪O brother, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪O children, don't you want to go to heaven?♪ ♪Baby of Bethlehem, Baby of Bethlehem.♪ ♪Bethlehem.♪ [RICHARD THOMAS]: And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed, and all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

[MUSIC: (flute)] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you.

You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

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

"glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men."

[MUSIC: "Angels From The Realms of Glory"] [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Angels from the realms of glory, ♪wing your flight o'er all the earth.♪ ♪Ye who sang Creation's story now proclaim Messiah's birth.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ [Orchestra] [CHOIR]: ♪Shepherds in the field abiding, watching♪ ♪o'er your flocks by night.♪ ♪God with man is now residing, yonder shines the infant Light.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Sages leave your contemplations.♪ ♪Brighter visions beam afar.♪ ♪Seek the Great Desire of nations,♪ ♪ye have seen His natal star.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ [CHOIR]: ♪Saints before the altar bending,♪ ♪watching long in hope and fear.♪ ♪Suddenly the Lord descending in His temple shall appear.♪ [KELLI O'HARA]: ♪Through an infant now we view Him.♪ ♪He shall fill His Father's throne.♪ ♪Gather all the nations to Him, every knee shall then bow down.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ ♪Gloria♪ [Applause] [ANNOUNCER VO]: For music from this performance ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ ♪Gloria.♪ ♪In excelsis Deo.♪ ♪Gloria♪ [Applause]