Christmas Eve Eve

‘Twas the night before Christmas Eve,
And all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring;
(The dogs had been ousted).

The sermon was written,
Neither too short nor long,
A good message of love
Just wouldn’t be wrong.

The newsletter finished,
To be copied tomorrow.
(With 2 parish copiers
There will not be sorrow!)

The carols selected,
The playlist all done,
Those hymns which so joyfully
Soon will be sung.

The service prepared,
BAS pages marked,
“Let us in from outside!”
The two heathen dogs barked.

My clothing all chosen,
My vestments all laundered.
“What am I forgetting?”
This fab rector pondered.

Dress shoes in a bag,
Alongside Bible, and snacks!
Everything I might need,
There’ll be nothing I lack.

“I think that I’ve got it
All done” said the priest
(for once not a frantic
And unprepared beast!)

The gas tank is full,
The coffee pot set.
Christmas Eve will be long,
But I’ll make it through yet!

And so now, with a novel,
To my bed I do creep.
The last thing that I need
for tomorrow –
Is sleep.