December 19th 1967
It is with joyful hearts that we come amongst you, to be with you for a short time once again. And we would have you remember that although you cannot sit together, and you cannot use the instrument at all times, at any time, that we are ever near, and although we may be doing other work in other spheres, just a fleeting thought from your mind, a cry for help, will be heard instantly, and with the speed of thought, the quickness of thought, we ere at your side. And if we ourselves cannot be immediately at your elbow, there is someone to take our place.
And again you come to the festive season, to that time when so many people are making up their minds to do so many things, And overshadowing all the so-call gaiety, and festivity, there are they here and there who worship at the true shrine, and who worship also in Spirit and in truth. But let us remind you that all giving creates a certain amount of power, on one level or another. And if people, and, many there be that do not attach any religious importance to the Christmas season, at the same time they have the desire to give, they have the desire to enjoy themselves, and to help others to do the same. And on this level a certain amount of power is given out and can be used for upliftment on this level, for a cheering of the body, and, for a short time, forgetfulness of the problems of every day. And his is good, on this level.
And so it goes on and on. The ordinary orthodox Christians who believe in the birth of Christ, the babe, in Bethlehem, and who feel uplifted by the sound of the songs of Christmas, and who think of Jesus in the crib, mother and father and the animals standing around, and they have a feeling of gratitude for this birth, which means to them so much. Because, perchance, the very thought of this first Christmas, helps them to be and to act, in a better way. And so again the power on these higher levels is used for good.
But in very truth, we are always searching for the soul who looks into the manger of his own heart. And who sees and recognises there, the tiny baby, the tiny beginning, the seed of love, the seed of God, the holy inheritance. And from this one who has been born again, all the power, all the love that emanates from this, a truly humble soul, except a humble woman, can bring to life, bring to birth, deliver, as it were, this entirely new birth, new life. Born, as it were, not of the flesh, but of the spirit.
And now, dear children, let us remind you of the rather unpleasant feeling when you see and realise that there is someone in your midst, to whom you have given a gift, and you realise that it has not been used, that it has not served any purpose, and that you can see lying unused. And you know there is a certain amount of disappointment because you feel that you failed in the giving of that gift.
Now, let us examine the spiritual gift that has been bestowed upon you over the last few years. Since you have claimed your inheritance since you have realised that the Father is the greatest Giver of all, in very truth, we are pleased. We are at peace, for we see that that which we gavest unto you, through the grace of God, has been used.
Many who have received the gifts have blown cold and have used them for a little while, and then, placed them, as it were, on one side. But these gifts that were given to you, and they were very precious indeed, were given to you because you asked for these very things. First, you have the gift of faith, and with this, for a long time, you had to be content. But it was used, and it was bright and shining through use, and then because you had used it, because it was your stand by, the cover of all men's souls, the Father himself said, "Ah, now we must give the other gifts. We must give the follow on gifts”. Even as one year a parent gives his child a number one this or that, and if the child uses it, and it causes pleasure and a certain amount of learning, the wise parent will get the number two. And it goes on and on. And so, after the good use of faith, understanding, understanding is given unto you. Because anyone with the true faith, and uses this faith, automatically draws unto himself, understanding. And faith and understanding eventually brought the third gift, wisdom. And all these three, altogether, bound into one, used and placed in exactly their proper place, crested, brought about, the greatest gift of all, love. And with this gift in your possession, there is nothing that can say you nay. With this great gift you can do all things, overcome all obstacles. We do not profess to be able to take the obstacles away, we do not promise you a life free of care, not whilst you are upon the Earth plane. But, the power to overcome, the power to help others, the power to heal with your thoughts, and the power, not only to bring about a spiritual courage within your own heart, but to help others to be strong, and go overcome in turn their own trials and tribulations.
And so, beloved, know thyself and recognise thine own gifts. And thank always the Parent who placed these things at your disposal. Remembering at all times that is love, and if you have made this gift your own, then you yourself have claimed your inheritance, know your own Father, belong to the kingdom here and now.
And once again, as you see the little ones making merry. playing with the tinsel and all the coloured baubles of the Earth, have pity. Condemn them not. But thank God again and again, that at last you are ready to receive the true gifts, and that you have recognised over the years, as they have been handed to you one by one, their true value. And take unto yourself the other things, which indeed have been granted through love. The music, the kindness of friends, the peace of your own heart, and the knowledge that you have made your own through love.
And we will be with you, and we will bring you good cheer in the quiet, in the silence. You have earned your peace.
This transcript names Christmas giving generously across every level rather than dismissing the ordinary versions of it — even giving with no religious meaning attached still creates real "power... for upliftment," and traditional Christian devotion to the crib genuinely helps people "be and act in a better way." What it's ultimately pointing toward, though, is a further step: looking "into the manger of his own heart" and finding there a birth of one's own, "not of the flesh, but of the spirit" — the same inward nativity described in "The Peacock" and "While Shepherds Watch," now given as this collection's own recurring Christmas theme.
The transcript's central image is a sequence of gifts, given deliberately in order, each one earning the next — faith first, used steadily until it "automatically draws unto himself" understanding, and understanding in turn producing wisdom, the three together finally producing love, described as the gift that makes every other obstacle bearable, though never removed. This mirrors, closely and perhaps deliberately, Peter's own sequence in 2 Peter 1:5–7 — faith building to virtue, to knowledge, and on through several further steps to love as the capstone — the same structure of gifts building on gifts rather than arriving all at once.
Its gentlest instruction concerns the ordinary Christmas around it — the children with their tinsel and baubles are met not with correction but with pity and real tenderness, "condemn them not," alongside plain gratitude for having been, oneself, further along that same road for some years now. The transcript closes without triumphalism: no promise of a life free from care, only "the power to overcome" and to help others do likewise — earned, it says simply, rather than given without cost.