The Season of the Star

Item Metadata

Title

The Season of the Star

Access Rights

The material in this collection may be reused so long as attribution is provided to its original source. Some writings and works may be subject to copyright restrictions depending on the publisher or owner of specific instances of the materials.

Date Created

1983

Description

Audio recording of Peggy Simson Curry reading her Christmas poem "The Season of the Star." This audio file was originally recorded as a Wheatland, Wyoming radio broadcast by Kevin Utter for a weekly devotional program titled "Music with a Message" as part of a Christmas segment. Kevin Utter was a frequent visitor to the Allen H. Stewart Lion's Camp for the Visually Handicapped on Casper Mountain outside of Casper, Wyoming. Peggy Simson Curry also often visited the camp to read her writings and poems to the camp members and teach at a creative writing class that was held there. Upon his request, she agreed to record herself reading her Christmas poem "The Season of the Star," which he then applied music to and featured on his weekly radio broadcast. The poem was by then already purchased by the Christian Science Monitor. This copy of the audio was then gifted to Peggy Simson Curry by Kevin Utter for her records.

Type

Sound

Creator

Peggy Simson Curry; Kevin Utter

Is Part Of

Peggy Simson Curry Papers, CCA 04.2007.01. Casper College Archives and Special Collections.

Identifier

CCA 04.2007.01_PeggySimsonCurryChristmasPoem_TheSeasonoftheStar

Format

MP3

Publisher

Casper College Archives and Special Collections (Western History Center)

Transcription

Kevin Utter: Hello, this is Kevin Utter. I would (inaudible)…to record your Christmas poem in July of 1983. As I promised, I would like to… (inaudible)… in my weekly radio broadcast this… (inaudible) is a five minute weekly devotional radio program which is played on the local Wheatland, Wyoming radio station for a rather small audience. Program is entitled “Music with a Message.” As of this time, July of 1984, the program has been on the air going on six years. Again, thank you very much and here now is a recording of the program which was broadcast in December of 1983. Program 222 for December 12th.

Kevin Utter: We are now well into our Christmas season, and as we prepare for Christmas, put up the decorations, prepare the tree, clean the house, we must remember God’s purpose and the reason for celebrating Christmas. Please stay tuned. [Gospel Music].

Kevin Utter: [Music in background] A gift would be given in the Christmas season, which would last throughout eternity and would bring saving grace to all who would accept it. This is “Music with a Message,” the stories of Christ as told through music and word for your inspiration and joy.

Kevin Utter: Good evening everyone, this is Kevin Utter. This evening, we would like to express the Christmas spirit in a little different manner. Last summer I had the privilege, as I do every summer, to hear Mrs. Peggy Simson Curry, one our favorite Wyoming writers and poets. One of the works she shared with us last summer was a Christmas poem, which I would like to bring you this evening. So at this time, I now present to you Mrs. Peggy Simson Curry.

Peggy Simson Curry: Pleasure to be here, I’ve enjoyed it very much. I like to share my poetry. And this one I’m very fond of, it’s a Christmas poem that I wrote over a year ago and it was purchased by the Christian Science Monitor and they will use it in the future. And it is a religious poem because it’s just something I wanted to say relative to Christmas and God and so forth. And the title is “The Season of the Star.” [Music].

Peggy Simson Curry: [Music in background] Father, thy name I praise. And all thy foes and names in hearts of men of every race. Thy name I praise and praise again. In grass that greens out of the snows and in the flute-like songs we sing, remembering love by little fires in the dark. I praise thy name in autumn-breasted birds and miracles of star-shaped moss upon the smallest rain-washed stone. I praise in all moons, in rainbows down on city streets and sun remembered earth. I praise the mystery from which I came, for if I am not this, then I am nothing. For if thy mark is not upon me as the light, I am the lost and empty shell that gives no ear the echo of the sea. Now in the sacred season of the star, lighted trees, love untethered as the winds, thy name I praise and kneel upon the earth, take communion with all living things. Lay soft thy blessing in my heart and in my mind renew thy purpose.

Kevin Utter: You’ve just heard a poem written and read by Peggy Simson Curry of Casper, Wyoming. I would like to thank her very much for the permission to use this poem this evening on this series of Christmas programs. Lord, this evening we ask you to help us remember these wonderful things you have taught us and things you have given us to make possible our salvation and to make possible for us joy that would otherwise be unreachable and for bringing us hope that would otherwise be despair. We praise your name this evening for your wondrous love for us, and as we remember this through the Christmas season, help us to show this love for others as you have showed it to us. To bring love and aid to someone else in need and never to hesitate to reach out to someone when we plainly see their needs or if their needs are not as clear at first. Help us, still, to reach out. We thank you again and praise your holy, wonderful name. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. [Gospel Music].

Kevin Utter: At this time of the year, we have decorated trees, beautiful lights and many Christmas gifts under the tree. But also let us not forget the wonderful gift that was given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, which is what we’re worshipping during this Christmas season. Thank you very much for listening, and please listen again next Monday evening at 6:25. So long.

Original Format

Audio file; radio broadcast

Duration

9 minutes, 24 seconds

Citation

Peggy Simson Curry; Kevin Utter, “The Season of the Star,” Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center Digital Collections, accessed December 23, 2024, https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/items/show/5664.