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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye 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, good will toward men.
Luke 2: 8-14 King James Version or Linus Version
This week marked the 60th anniversary of the animated seasonal special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. This means that the Peanuts gang are now enjoying retiriement, going out for lunch early and taking Rhine cruises.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is an improbable multi-generational success story, given that there was reluctance about the concept from just about everyone who controlled the purse strings, although sponsor Coca Cola came around.
Charlie Brown is depressed about what Christmas has become and there is no laugh track. The brilliant Vince Guaraldi Trio sound track is gentle jazz at its best, but who wants jazz in a kids special? Charles Schultz was insistent that Linus recite the story from Luke's gospel -- King James Version, no less -- about the announcement to the shepherds of the birth of Christ but even in 1965 religion on television was a touchy subject.
Despite all of this, a scrawny tree is chosen and the phrase "Charlie Brown Christmas tree" entered the vernacular. Dejected Charlie's materialistic friends rally and decorate the tree and it is transformed.
A church children's choir was recruited to warble "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and just about everything in the special points to the true reason for the season.
A Charlie Brown Christmas was prophetically counter-cultural in 1965 and 60 years later the message may be even more powerful.
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