TWELVE

Today is the 12th day before Christmas.  Can't wait.

In the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, 12 stands for 12 drummers drumming.  We might relate that to the 12 disciples -- Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus, Bartholomew and Matthias.

From these first followers of Jesus and those like them comes the Apostles' Creed, an early statement of Christian belief:

'I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried.  He descended into hell, the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.  From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead;  I believe in the Holy Ghost;  I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.  Amen.'

And amen.

And be blessed.