Twenty-one Stories of Christmas

Sometime during his ministry at the Ossining Heights United Methodist Church in Ossining, New York, in the mid 60s, Dr. Arthur W. Bloom conceived the idea of an original Christmas Story instead of his usual meditation at the Christmas Eve Service. Thus, a tradition was started which has lasted even until today.

His ministries in St. Paul?s United Methodist Church, Northport, New York and The United Methodist Church of Patchogue, New York, continued the tradition. After retirement to South Texas, he began preaching at the Leisure World Retirement Park in Weslaco, Texas. There, too, new stories have been added.

Some of the stories are based on the real individuals of the nativity: Mary, Joseph, the Wisemen, the Innkeepers, the Soldiers, the Shepherds, etc. Others were born of his imagination, such as Jacob or The Artist. Many were created after a most memorable trip to Israel. He has tried to use these individuals to bring out some new insight, some new wonder about the Birth of our Lord. There are even three stories that have been developed out of pure fantasy, A Christmas Fable, A Decision in Heaven and The Fable of the Animals.