The words and songs that greeted the birth of Jesus give us something to sing about today, says the international leader of The Salvation Army in his Christmas message to Salvationists.

General Shaw Clifton points to different episodes in the Christmas story when people  praised God for the birth of a saviour. He considers the moments when Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, greets her relative Mary, who will give birth to Jesus. He writes:

'Elizabeth offered words of blessing to Mary and the child she carried: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" Mary's instinctive response was to burst into song: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour."

'What a marvellous picture we have of these two godly womenencouraging each other and lifting their hearts and voices to Almighty God.'

The General continues: 'Angelic words accompanied the good news of the birth of Jesus. The angel told the shepherds by night: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today ... a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

'This same message is the one we are called to declare today. It is simple, yet profound. It happened long ago, but is for all eternity. We join our voices with the song of the angels to proclaim: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

'I urge the Salvationists of the world to speak on, to sing on. Let our telling of the Christmas message be clear, using words that echo the words of old, bringing blessings as of old. Let our songs be as glad and spontaneous as the songs of old that  accompanied the news of his coming, songs that give glory to God.

'Lift up your hearts, lift up your voices, lift up the Saviour of the world!'

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