2015 The Queen


2015

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MUSIC: The National Anthem

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# God save our gracious Queen

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# Long live our noble Queen

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# God save the Queen

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# Send her victorious

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# Happy and glorious

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# Long to reign over us

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# God save the Queen

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# Thy choicest gifts in store

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# On her be pleased to pour

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# Long may she reign

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# May she defend our laws

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# And ever give us cause

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# To sing with heart and voice... #

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-Hip, hip!

-ALL:

-Hooray!

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# God save the Queen. #

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At this time of year,

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few sights evoke more feelings of cheer and goodwill

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than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree.

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The popularity of a tree at Christmas is due in part

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to my great-great-grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

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After this touching picture was published, many families

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wanted a Christmas tree of their own, and the custom soon spread.

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In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly married naval wife.

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We have returned to that island over the years,

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including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.

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And this year, I met another group of leaders -

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The Queen's Young Leaders, an inspirational group,

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each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities.

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Gathering round the tree gives us a chance to think about the year ahead.

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I am looking forward to a busy 2016,

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though I have been warned

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I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.

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It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed,

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as we think of those who are far away or no longer with us.

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Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one

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is particularly hard.

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But it's also a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for.

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It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness

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this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope,

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often read at Christmas carol services -

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"The light shines in the darkness,

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"and the darkness has not overcome it."

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One cause for thankfulness this summer was marking 70 years

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since the end of the Second World War.

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On VJ Day, we honoured the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in

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the Far East, as well as remembering the thousands who never returned.

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The procession from Horse Guards Parade to Westminster Abbey

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must have been one of the slowest ever,

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because so many people wanted to say thank you to them.

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At the end of that war, the people of Oslo began sending an annual gift

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of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square.

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It has 500 light bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians,

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but by people of all faiths, and of none.

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At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem.

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The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert's time.

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For his family's tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us

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that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family.

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For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus' birth -

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in a stable - were far from ideal,

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but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country.

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It is no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination

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and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.

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Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life,

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Christ's unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence

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but simply that we should love one another.

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Although it is not an easy message to follow,

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we shouldn't be discouraged. Rather, it inspires us to try harder,

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to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness

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into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading

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that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.

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One of the joys of living a long life is watching one's children,

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then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren,

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help decorate the Christmas tree.

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And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun.

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The customary decorations have changed little in the years

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since that picture of Victoria and Albert's tree first appeared,

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although, of course, electric lights have replaced the candles.

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There's an old saying, that "it is better to light a candle

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"than curse the darkness."

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There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today.

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Christmas is a good time to be thankful for them,

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and for all that brings light to our lives.

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I wish you a very happy Christmas.

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# Away in a manger

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# No crib for a bed

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# The little Lord Jesus

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# Laid down His sweet head

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# The stars in the bright sky

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# Looked down where He lay

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# The little Lord Jesus

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# Asleep on the hay

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# The cattle are lowing

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# The baby awakes

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# But little Lord Jesus

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# No crying, He makes

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# I love Thee, Lord Jesus

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# Look down from the sky

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# And stay by my side

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# Until morning is nigh

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# Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh

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# Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh

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# Be near me, Lord Jesus

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# I ask Thee to stay

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# Close by me for ever

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# And love me, I pray

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# Bless all the dear children

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# In Thy tender care

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# And fit us for heaven

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# To live with Thee there

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# To live with Thee there. #

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