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Henry J. de Jong

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Christmas, 2025

Welcome to this small patch in the middle of Christendom, where we are celebrating Christmas with stories and music, just as it’s been done for a long time.

For music, we are offering Herman de Jong’s recording of Christmas songs that he played on the St. Catharines, Covenant CRC organ.

The first story comes down to us via a cassette tape that Herman and Stiny recorded for their children and grandchildren who had just moved far away to Africa for mission service, in 1992. It’s a Dutch story (from 1954) that Stiny loved enough to go to the trouble of translating on the fly. Now, with my new transcription, you can read the story while you listen to it.

November 26, 2025
The Great Voice
by Auke Jelsma

And as I stood in front of the cabin, the thought suddenly occurred to me that this is where Jesus was born a couple of days ago. I knew it. It had to be.

. . .

The second story was written by Herman especially for this 1992 cassette communication. Unlike the first story, it was also preserved as a booklet. That text too is newly available so you can read and listen.

November 25, 2025
Aleb and the Wise Man
by Herman de Jong

So great was the knowledge of the wise men, so great their conviction, that it sank deep inside the heart of Aleb. He knew without a doubt that the wise men’s words were true

. . .

The third story is already relatively well known, but it is worth highlighting here again.

January 8, 2025
Johan
by Herman de Jong

last night who pops up in my head? johan
slender little johan i wish we had grown up together

. . .

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