ADVENT...
PREPARE THE WAY
Isaiah 40:3 GNT
A
voice cries out,“Prepare in the wilderness a road for the Lord!
Clear
the way in the desert for our God!
Prepare
the way, O Zion, Your Christ is
drawing near!
Let
every hill and valley a level way appear.
Greet
One who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story.
O
blest is Christ that came In God’s most holy name.
(#13B,
Franzen, Price, 1980, verse 1)
Advent
is upon us -
A
time of preparation.
We
wrap gifts,
we decorate homes,
we decorate homes,
We
bake and clean.
How
well do we prepare our hearts
For
the coming of Christ?
In
the midst of Christmas preparations, Lord, may I also make ready my
heart. Amen.
 |
| Image: Death Valley NP, California |
11.12.17
COMFORT, COMFORT YOU MY PEOPLE
COMFORT, COMFORT YOU MY PEOPLE
Isaiah
40:4 GNT
Fill
every valley; level every mountain. The hills will become a plain
and the rough country will be made smooth.
Make
you straight what long was crooked, Make the rougher places
plain;
Let
your hearts be true and humble, As befits God’s holy reign.
For
the glory of the Lord Now o’er earth is shed abroad;
And
all flesh shall see the token That God’s word is never broken.
(#3B,
Olearius, 1671, verse 3)
Make
straight the crooked,
Make
smooth the rough,
Correct
faults, repent of sin.
Preparation
involves change.
The
directions, old or new, are very clear!
Help
me to smooth out the rough places of my life, Lord. Amen.
11.13.17 HAIL
TO THE LORD’S ANOINTED
Psalm
72:1-2 GNT
Teach
the king to judge with your righteousness, O God; share with him your
own justice,so that he will rule over your people with justice and
govern the oppressed with righteousness.
Hail
to the Lord’s Anointed, Great David’s greater Son!
Hail,
in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He
comes to break oppression, To set the captive free,
To
take away transgression and rule in equity.
(#146R
– Montgomery, 1822, verse 1)
Anointed.
Marked. Chosen by God.
We
celebrate the coming of the Christ.
But
we are also anointed,
Not
with oil but with baptismal waters,
Marked
by the Holy Spirit
and
chosen by God to do God’s work.
Our
time has come as well.
May
I live into my own calling as a chosen one of God. Amen.
11.14.17 LET
ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENCE
Let
all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder
nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in His hand,
Christ
our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand.
(#5B,
Liturgy of St. James, 4th
century, verse 1)
Silence
the prophet said.
Silence
to hear God whisper.
Silence
in which to fully worship
Without
the blather of the everyday.
Listen
to the sacred.
God
speaks. God is coming.
May
I seek silent moments and
waken to your presence, Lord. Amen.
 |
| Image: Rose from Margaret Taylor's garden with rain drops |
11.15.17 LO! HOW A ROSE 'ER BLOOMING
Isaiah
11:1 There
shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse..
Isaiah
‘twas foretold it the rose I have in mind.
With
Mary we behold it, the Virgin mother kind.
To
show God’s love aright,
She
bore to us a Savior when half spent was the night.
(#48B,
German Carol, 15th century, verse 2)
The
Rose of Sharon,
Shoots
from Jesse’s stump,
Perfection
from the ordinary,
A
king from a humble birth.
However
we reference the event,
God
is coming to us.
Lord,
may I see your face in every rose I bend down to smell. Amen.
11.16.17
ON
JORDAN’S BANK THE BAPTIST’S CRY
Matthew
3:1-3
On
Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake
and hearken, for he brings
Glad
tidings of the King of Kings!
(#10B,
Coffin, 1736, verse 1)
Awake
and harken!
Come
alive! Be aware!
A
modern ‘Baptist’ may proclaim.
Our
Lord is here. RIGHT here.
Yet
we fail to notice, fail to recognize,
The
God alive in one another.
Open
my eyes, open my heart, Lord, to your presence here today. Amen.
11.17.17 THE
ANGEL GABRIEL FROM HEAVEN CAME
Luke
1:26-28
The
angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His
wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All
hail,” said he, “O lowly maiden Mary,”
Most
highly favored lady, Gloria!
(#16B,
Baring-Gould, 1834-1924, verse
1)
Snow
and flame. Cold and hot.
Hardly
angelic descriptions.
But
God doesn’t work in the ordinary.
God
sends messengers we least expect,
When
we least expect them.
Lord,
make me mindful of your messengers AND the messages of hope they
bring. Amen.
11.19.17
LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YE MIGHTY GATES
11.23.17
11.18.17 WATCHMAN,
TELL US OF THE NIGHT
Isaiah
21:11-12
Watchman,
tell us of the night, what its signs of promise are.
Traveler,
o’er yon mountains’ height, see that glory beaming star.
Watchman,
does its beauteous ray aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler,
yes; it brings the day, Promised day of Israel.
(#20B,
Bowring, 1825, verse 1)
Glory-beaming
stars,
Celestial
bodies that linger with love-light
above
the silhouette of earth,
Announcing
again and again,
The
promise of hope Christ brings.
May
I see the hope of love that lights the sky each night. Amen.
11.19.17 LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, YE MIGHTY GATES
Psalm
24:7-10
Fling
wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple, set apart.
From
earthly use for heaven’s employ, Adorned with prayer, and love, and
joy.
(#8B,
Weissel, 1642, verse 2)
Gates
are openings
That
allow entry into sacred ground.
How
wide is the entrance to my heart?
Am
I ready to fully let Christ in,
Prepared
for the change that can take place?
Lord,
make a temple of my heart, ready for service in your name. Amen.
11.20.17
PEOPLE
LOOK EAST
French
folk melody, Verse 1
People,
look east, the time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make
your house fair as you are able,
Trim
the hearth and set the table.
People
look east and sing today;
Love
the guest
is on the way.
(#12B,
Farjeon, 1964, verse 1)
Who
will we invite to join our celebration?
What
guests will sit at our table?
Love
or Intolerance? Compassion or Apathy?
Look
out beyond the comfortable doors
And
seek the Christ child -
LOVE,
the guest, is on the way.
May
I look east and west, Lord, for those who might join my table. Amen.
11,21,17 CREATOR
OF THE STARS OF NIGHT
11,21,17 CREATOR
OF THE STARS OF NIGHT
Philippians
2:10-11
At
the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
father.
When
this old world drew on toward night,
You came, but not in splendor
bright,
Not
as a monarch, but the child
of Mary, blameless mother mild.
(#4,
Neale, 1851, verse 2)
God
comes, not in royal trappings,
Not
as monarch or king bedecked in gold.
God
comes in unexpected form:
A
defenseless baby with humble birth.
Glory
be to our Unpredictable God!
Prepare
me, Lord, for the unexpected, for often it is your presence in
disguise. Amen.
11.22.17 SAVIOR
OF THE NATIONS COME
Isaiah
49:6
...but
I will also make you a light to the nations—so that all the world
may be saved.”
Savior
of the nations, come,
Virgin’s Son, here make Thy home.
Marvel
now. O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.
Not
by human flesh and blood,
By the Spirit of our God,
Was
the Word of God made flesh,
Woman’s Offspring, pure and fresh.
He
will come, he will come,
He will come down and rescue us.
(Ambrose,
circa 350, verse 1)
God
is sending a life ring -
Something
firm to grab and hold
Rescue
of
spirit and soul.
Have
we reached out and
Pulled
ourselves out
of the waters?
Lord,
salvation
is at hand. May we reach out and claim it. Amen.
11.23.17
COME,
THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS
Acts
13:32
And
we are here to bring the Good News to you: what God promised our
ancestors he would do, he has now done for us..
Come,
thou long expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;
From
our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s
strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear
desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.
(#2B,
Wesley, 1744, verse 1)
Fear
can hold us captive
With
unseen chains that tie us down,
Our
soul caught behind bars of uncertainty.
God
promises release and
God
is fulfilling that pledge:
Hope
and Love will set us free.
Lord,
free me from my fears to fully serve you in love. Amen.
11.25.17
ONCE IN ROYAL
DAVID’S CITY
12.1.17 SOME
CHILDREN SEE HIM
11.24.17 O
COME O COME EMMANUEL
Isaiah
7:14 M Watch
for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She’ll
bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us)
O
come, O come Emmanuel,
and
ransom captive Israel,
That
mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice!
Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
(#9B,
Neale, 1851, verse 1)
Emmanuel.
God-with-us.
No
longer a God ‘out there’.
But
God dwelling with us,
Among
us, In us, through us.
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Help
me remember ‘Emmanuel’, Lord, and your dwelling within. Amen.
CHRISTMAS...
CHRISTMAS...
11.25.17 ONCE IN ROYAL
DAVID’S CITY
Luke
2:7
V
She
wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough
because the inn had no room for them.
He
came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all,
And
His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall.
With
the poor, oppressed, and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy.
(#49B,
Alexander, 1848, verse 2)
How
often do we view
the
poor and oppressed as holy?
How
rarely do we see the sacred in the ‘soiled’?
Yet
in the humble, God rests.
In
the lowly, God lives.
Perhaps
we need to open our eyes wider.
Open
my eyes, God, to see your face where I least expect it. Amen.
11.26.17 'TWAS
IN THE MOON OF WINTERTIME
Within
a lodge of broken bark,
The tender Babe was found
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped His beauty round
And
as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The
angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus,
your King, is born.
Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.
Jesus is born. In excelsis gloria.
(Brebeuf,
1642, Native American Huron, verse 2)
A
Jesuit priest in Canada
Serving
the Huron Native Americans
Wove
the tale of Christ’s birth
Using
symbols the people could identify
And
in so doing wrote the first
Christmas
Carol of the Americas.
Help
us, God, to share your story with words to which others can relate.
Amen.
Written
by Noel Regney in 1962 as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
11.27.17 DO
YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR
Written
by Noel Regney in 1962 as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
Said
the king to the people everywhere, listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere! Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light.
Pray for peace, people everywhere! Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light.
(Regney,
1962, verse 4)
A
song of peace from the 60’s,
Written
while nuclear war threatened
Seems
somehow appropo today
While
nations continue to battle.
Pray
for peace, people everywhere!
The
Child CAN bring us goodness and light!
We
pray, O Child of goodness and light, for peace. Amen.
11.28.17 GO
TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
The
origins and lyrics of this African American spiritual are fuzzy, but
John Wesley Work made it popular with publication in an anthology of
spirituals.
While
shepherds kept their watching Over silent flocks by night
Behold
throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
Go
tell it on the mountain over the hills and every where,
Go
tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
(Work,1907, verse 1)
Go
tell it on the mountain!
I’ll
shout it from the mountaintop!
Lyrics
of two eras, two cultures
Both
proclaim the angel message
Of
good news for all!
May
I sing out the good news of Christ everywhere! Amen.
11.29.17 I
WONDER AS I WANDER
11.29.17 I
WONDER AS I WANDER
Luke 1:70
He
promised through his holy prophets long ago...
When
Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
(Niles,
1933, based on an Appalachian Carol, verse 2)
Promises,
promises.
They
are often empty in modern times.
But
God holds true to covenants.
God
promised a Savior,
And
God delivered.
“I
swear to God” can we say the same?
Help
me hold true to my promises, O God, as you delivered on yours. Amen.
11.30.17 THERE’S
A SONG IN THE AIR
Luke
2:13 MSG
At
once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s
praises...
There’s
a song in the air!
There’s a star in the sky!
There’s
a mother’s deep prayer
and a baby’s low cry!
And
the star rains its fire
while the beautiful sing,
For
the manger of Bethlehem
cradles a King.
(Holland,
1872, verse 1)
There
are times when music
Seems
to truly fill the air
And
the sounds of heaven
Echo
among the stars,
As
the glory and voice of God
Gently
lights upon us in LOVE.
May
I hear your music, O God, and feel your Love-Light rain upon me.
Amen.
12.1.17 SOME
CHILDREN SEE HIM
Matthew
5:8 MSG
“You’re
blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put
right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
The
children in each different place
will see the baby Jesus’ face
Like
theirs, but bright with heavenly grace, and filled with holy light.
O
lay aside each earthly thing
and with thy heart as offering,
Come
worship now the infant King,
‘Tis love that’s born tonight!
(Hutson-Burt,
1951, verse 3)
How
do you see the baby Jesus?
With
pale skin, rosy cheeks and blond tresses
Or
ebony hued with kinky black curls?
Slanted
eyes or high cheek bones?
Looking
inward, we see the baby as ourselves.
With
holy hearts, we should simply see GOD.
Physical
appearances matter not, God, if we see you in the face of your Son.
Amen.
Interesting continued reading....
12.2.17
MARY’S
BOY CHILD
Luke
2:12 MSG
This
is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying
in a manger.”
Long
time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say
Mary’s
boy child, Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day.
Hark
now hear the angels sing A king was born tonight.
And
man will live forever more because of Christmas Day.
(Hairston,
1956, verse 3)
A
calypso beat for a birthday tune
Reworked
for Christmas as a spiritual-
The
stories behind the songs are fascinating!
The
message of the songs eternal:
“Mary’s
boy child, Jesus Christ,
Was
born on Christmas Day!”
Lord,
your message comes in many ways, may we truly hear it. Amen.
May
I answer your call, Lord, even when I don’t understand. Amen.
12.4.17
God
of all miracles, may we find Love as we approach the manger. Amen.
12.5.17
12,7,17
12.8.17
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
12,9.17
12.11.17
12.13.17
THE DRUMMER BOY
12.14.17
IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
12.15.17 INFANT
HOLY, INFANT LOWLY
Lord,
may I be swift to recognize and ring out your Good News. Amen.
12.16.17
NO SMALL WONDER
12.3.17 MARY
DID YOU KNOW?
Luke
1:38 GNT
“I
am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you
have said.”
Mary
did you know that your baby boy will some day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.
(Lowry,
1991, verse 1)
Zechariah
was old, mature and wise,
Yet
he doubted God.
Mary
was just a young teen,
but
willing to serve God however God determined.
Did
Mary know what lay ahead? Do we?
We
don’t need the answers when we trust the Designer.
12.4.17
IN
BETHLEHEM A BABE WAS BORN
Luke
2:11
GNT
This
very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord!
The
mystery of Bethlehem
was long ago, they say,
was long ago, they say,
But
miracle of miracles,
the Baby lives today
the Baby lives today
In
each new heart that hears
Love coming through the years,
Love coming through the years,
Singing,
‘Come, come, Christ is born! Come, come, world forlorn,
The
Child of peace and sacrifice is waiting to be found.”
(Mays,
1986, verse 3)
Mysteries
and miracles.
Hearts
that ‘hear’ Love.
A
Child of Peace waiting to be found.
Come,
World! Come!
The
Baby indeed lives today
In
you and in me.
12.5.17
GENTLE
MARY LAID HER CHILD
Luke
2:7 V
She
wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough
because the inn had no room for them.
Gentle
Mary laid her child
Lowly in a manger;
There
he lay, the undefiled,
to the world a stranger.
Such
a babe in such a place,
Can he be the Savior?
Ask
the saved of all the race
Who have found His favor.
(Cook
1919, verse 1)
A
manger, a feeding trough
Stable-soiled and scratchy hay.
This
is how God brings a Savior?
Yet
humble and soiled beginnings
Open
the door to all our shortcomings,
And
Savior is no longer a stranger.
In
our rough and soiled lives, God, come to us. Amen.
12.6.17
STILL, STILL, STILL
STILL, STILL, STILL
Luke
2:16
paraphrased
So
the shepherds hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby
sleeping in the manger.
Sleep,
sleep, sleep,
He lies in slumber deep.
He lies in slumber deep.
While
angel hosts from heaven
come winging,
come winging,
Sweetest
songs of joy are singing,
Sleep,
sleep, sleep,
He lies in slumber deep.
He lies in slumber deep.
(Gotsch,
1810, Austrian carol, verse 2)
The
stable was a noisy place,
Cows
mooing and sheep baaing.
Shepherds
coming and going.
But
a gentle lullaby song
Sung
by the God of Creation
Reminds
us to seek peace in a troubled world.
Sing
to me, Lord, that I might pause and rest in these hectic days. Amen.
12,7,17
I
HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Widowed
with 6 children and eldest son gravely injured in Civil War battle,
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow finds hope in the midst of conflict and
despair.
Then
pealed the bells more
loud and deep:
God
is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The
wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With
peace on earth, good will to men.
(Longfellow,
1863, last stanza)
Reading
the first lines of Longfellow’s poem,
One
hears words of despair and conflict.
A
world lacking in Christmas peace.
But
‘God is not dead nor doth He sleep’!
Hope
is in the song of the bells.
Listen
to the sound of hope around us.
Lord,
as we seek to right the wrongs, may we keep the spirit of hope in our
hearts. Amen.
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
William
Dix, an insurance manager in Glasgow, Scotland, first wrote these
lines as a poem ‘The Manger Song’ following a period of bed-rest
and spiritual awakening.
What
child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Why
lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
So
bring Him incense, gold and myrrh-come, peasant,
king, to own Him;
This,
this is Christ the King!
(Dix,
1865, first lines of three verses, refrain)
Questions
and answers –
Who? Why?
A
lowly, humble birth,
yet royal gifts.
An
open invitation to
rich and poor alike,
And
the glorious response,
“This,
this is Christ the King!”
Help
me live each day, Lord, knowing the whos and whys of Mary’s child.
Amen.
12,9.17
ANGELS
FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
Matthew
1:23 GNT
A
virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called
Immanuel (which means, “God is with us”)
Shepherds
in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God
with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant Light.
Come
and worship, Come and worship,
Worship
Christ the newborn King.
(Montgomery,
1825, verse 2)
Shepherds
were not high society,
They
were unkept, often dirty.
They
smelled like...SHEEP!
Yet
God spoke to them:
“Emmanuel!
I am coming to be with you!
Go!
Worship my presence in a tiny baby!”
May
we heed God’s voice and feel God-with-us, Emmanuel. Amen.
12.10.17
RISE
UP SHEPHERD AND FOLLOW
Luke
2:15-16a GNT
The
shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.” So they
hurried off..
There’s
a star in the East on Christmas morn,
Rise
up shepherd and follow.
It
will lead to the place where the Christ was born.
Rise
up shepherd and follow.
Follow,
follow,
rise up shepherd and follow.
rise up shepherd and follow.
Follow
the star of Bethlehem,
rise up, shepherd, and follow.
rise up, shepherd, and follow.
(African-American
spiritual, verse 1)
Follow.
Just go and follow.
Jesus
gives the same command
to
a group of fishermen 30 years later.
Follow
a star, follow a man,
Follow
to find God.
Do
I have the courage to follow?
Lord,
may I have the faith to follow in spite of my fears. Amen.
12.11.17
ANGELS
WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Luke
2:14 GNT
Angels
we have heard on high
sweetly singing o'er the plains,
And
the mountains in reply
echoing their
joyous strains.
Gloria,
in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
(French
Carol, verse 1)
A
heavenly chorus in proclamation
with
Creation responding in turn.
But,
as part of Creation, have we replied?
How
well do we echo the song of angels?
How
boldly do we share the Good News?
Sing
out! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
May
I live a bold echo of the Gloria of your Son, O God. Amen.
12.12.17 THE
FRIENDLY BEASTS
12.12.17 THE
FRIENDLY BEASTS
Romans
12:6 NIV
We
have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
Thus
every beast remembering it well
In the stable dark was so proud to tell
Of the gifts that they gave Emmanuel
The gifts that they gave Emmanuel.
In the stable dark was so proud to tell
Of the gifts that they gave Emmanuel
The gifts that they gave Emmanuel.
(Old
French Carol, 12th century, last verse)
By
the grace of God
We
all have gifts to share,
Individual
and unique to our spirit.
When
we withhold our gifts,
We
break the circle of love
That
binds us all, man and beast, together.
Open
my heart, Lord, to share freely that which you have given to me.
Amen.
THE DRUMMER BOY
Matthew
2:11
When
they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and
worshiped him. They brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense,
and myrrh, and presented them to him.
Little
baby … I am a poor boy too….
I have no gift to bring ….That's fit to give our King
Shall I play for you...on my drum?
I have no gift to bring ….That's fit to give our King
Shall I play for you...on my drum?
(KK
Davis, 1941, verse 2)
He
comes with the Magi,
But
no gift worthy of royalty.
So
he offers what he has.
We
have nothing to offer God,
But
our hearts and souls,
And
God smiles when we play.
Transform
my humble gifts, Lord, to bring joy to others. Amen.
IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
Originally
a poem under the title ‘A Christmas Carol’ published in 1872. Set
to music for a hymn in 1906.
In
the bleak mid-winter,
frosty wind made moan.
frosty wind made moan.
Earth
stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone.
Water like a stone.
Snow
had fallen, snow on snow.
Snow
on snow,
in the bleak mid-winter, Long ago.
in the bleak mid-winter, Long ago.
(Rossetti,
1872, verse 1)
We
all have winters of life -
When
events and relationships seem frozen,
Our
hearts as stone, circumstances in chaos,
And
the darkness overwhelming.
But
the warmth of Christ-Light comes,
And
brings a new resurrection of Spirit.
Help
me, Lord, to find the beauty and Light in the midst my winters. Amen.
12.15.17 INFANT
HOLY, INFANT LOWLY
Luke
2:7 GNT
She
wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough
because the inn had no room for them.
Infant
holy, infant lowly, For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen
lowing, Little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift
are winging Angels singing, Noels ringing, Tidings bringing:
Christ
the babe is Lord of all.
(Polish Carol, verse 1)
No
room. No bed. Homeless.
The
townfolk were clueless.
The
animals ignored him.
‘Little
knowing’ - is this how we see Christ?
Are
we missing God here and now,
In
this place and time?
NO SMALL WONDER
Luke
2:10 GNT
The
angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for
you, which will bring great joy to all the people.
Small
wonder the star, small wonder the light,
The
angels in chorus, the shepherds in fright:
but
stable and manger for God- no small wonder!
(Wigmore,
1983, verse 1)
Awe,
surprise, admiration.
Wonder
is never a minor act!
Yet
these verses all contain a ‘But’ -
A
however that encompasses the absolute glory of all Creation:
The
birth of Emmanuel - God-with-us.
No
small wonder.
Keep
the wonder, the excitement, of Christmas in our hearts, Lord. Amen.
12.17.17
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
Luke
2: 14 GNT
Yet
with the
woes of sin and strife The
world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing.
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing.
(Sears,
1849)
A
Christmas song with no mention at all
of
the birth of Jesus Christ!
Yet
the angels repeatedly proclaim,
‘Peace
on Earth! Goodwill to men!’
Civil
War, World Wars, current strife
May
we truly hear the angels sing.
God
of Peace, may we respond to the angel chorus and bring your peace to
our world. Amen.
12.18.17 O
COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
Luke
2:15 GNT
The
shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.”
O
come, all ye faithful, joyful
and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels!
O
come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O
Come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
(Wade,
c1740, verse 1)
What
does it mean to adore?
Love,
respect, cherish, or treasure;
Glorify,
praise or worship.
Do
I just mention Jesus at Christmas,
with
a nod of recognition, a token notice?
O
Come, let us ADORE Him, with joyful hearts!
Lord,
help me truly adore Christ as the centerpiece of my
Christmas celebration. Amen.
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see Thee lie,
12.25.17
12.26.17 THE
STAR CAROL
Matthew
2:2
GNT
“Where
is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it
came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.”
12.19.17
O
LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
Micah
5:2 MSG
From
you will come
the leader who will sheoherd-rule Israel.
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see Thee lie,
Above
thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by.
Yet
in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light,
The
hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
(Brooks, 1868, verse 1)
If
God were to ‘Emmanuel’ again,
Now,
two thousands years later;
Or
here, in Baker Valley,
would
Haines or Durkee or Sumpter be
our Bethlehem?
Humble,
unknown, yet birthing a Savior?
Only
you, God, know the potential that lies within each person or place.
May we recognize the Bethlehem in one another. Amen.
12.20.17 THE
FIRST NOEL
Luke 2:20 GNT
The
shepherds went back, singing praise
s to God for all they had heard
and seen; it had been just as the angel had told them.
The
First Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
(Sandys
& Gilbert, 1823, verse 1)
English
Nowell, French Noel,
Latin
natalis – Nativity.
A
Happy Birthday song!
The
first Christmas two thousand years past.
Poor
shepherds to all mankind -
Christ
was born for us all.
May
we joyfully sing Noel, Happy Birthday, to you, Lord, each and every
day. Amen.
12.21.17 HARK
THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Luke
2:14 NKJV
Hail!
the heav'n born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of
Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"
(Wesley,
1739, verse
3)
Listen!
The angels bring a message,
They
sing of joy and good news:
God! Emmanuel! One of us!
Fragile,
innocent, and dependent – a baby!
Do
we all have the potential for a second birth?
A
birth of God-IN-us? YES!
God-among-us,
God-within-me, may I sing the song with
the angels. Amen.
12.23.17
AWAY IN A MANGER
12.22.17 O
HOLY NIGHT
Luke
2:1-20
Truly
He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
(Cappeau,1847,
verse 3)
Penned
by a poet
who would leave the faith,
Set
to music by a Jew.
Beloved,
then banned, by the French
Catholics,
Brought
to America for
abolitionist
purposes,
The
melody
brought
ceasefire during a war.
Cantique
de Noel – truly a holy song with
a holy history.
Holy
God, may praise, love, and peace be our holy response. Amen.
12.23.17 AWAY IN A MANGER
Luke
2:7 MSG
She
wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was
no room in the hostel.
Away
in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The
stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The
little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
(Unknown
lyricist,1885, verse 1)
Unknown
sources, slippery theology,
yet
beloved and sung worldwide,
The
song speaks to the child in all of us:
We
are safe in the arms of God.
Be
near us, Lord, Jesus, we ask Thee to stay. Amen.
12.24.17
SILENT
NIGHT
Luke
2:10-14
Silent
night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
(Mohr,
1818, verse 1)
There
is a calm in silence,
A
whisper from God in the stillness of night,
A
sacred beauty in the darkness pierced by light,
A
holiness that opens our hearts
To
the wonder,
the miracle of Jesus’ birth.
Emmanuel.
Feel it, deep within. God-with-us.
On
this holy night where heaven and earth join together, fill our hearts
with peace, O God. Amen.
12.25.17
JOY
TO THE WORLD
Luke
2:10 GNT
The
angel said to them, “Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for
you, which will bring great joy to all the people.”
Joy
to The world! the Lord is come, Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing
And
heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing.
(Watts,
1719, verse
1)
Make
room in our hearts for joy!
Make
space in our lives for love!
Receive
Emmanuel, welcome God.Sing
the songs of Christmas together with the angels!
Hallelujah!
The Lord is come!
Hallelujah!
Christ is born!May
we sing out the joy of Christmas every day of the new year,
God-with-us. Amen.
EPIPHANY...
EPIPHANY...
12.26.17 THE
STAR CAROL
Matthew
2:10 MSG
Then
the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern
skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child.
Dear
Baby Jesus, how tiny Thou art,
I’ll
make a place for Thee in my heart,
And
when the stars in the heavens I see,
Ever
and always I think of thee.
(Hutson,
1954, verse
3)
Are
we like the magi?
Do
we see the promise of the Christ child
When
we gaze up at the stars?
Do
we see the God-light showering down
With
the light of love and hope?Make
a place for God beneath the stars!
Lord,
fill me with the light of your love, keep my eyes on the promise of
the star. Amen.
12.27.17
WHAT STAR IS THIS WITH BEAMS SO BRIGHT?
WHAT STAR IS THIS WITH BEAMS SO BRIGHT?
“Where
is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it
came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.”
O
Jesus, while the star of grace
Impels us on to seek Your face,
Let
not our slothful hearts refuse
The guidance of Your light to use.
(Coffin,
1736, verse
3)
Ancient
sailors were led by the stars-
A
navigational system of guidance.
Can
we use such light,
A
sparkling dome of God-grace,
To
guide our lives as well?
What
a compass of Christ-light!May
we use the Light God has put before us to guide us through the
darkness. Amen.
Matthew
2:11 GNT
God-of-the-Ultimate-Gift,
guide us to freely give of all you have given to us. Amen.
12.30.17
STAR-CHILD
12.28.17
WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE
WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE
They
went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother
Mary, they knelt down and worshiped him. They brought out their gifts
of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and presented them to him.
We
three kings of Orient are
bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
Field
and fountain, moor and
mountain, Following yonder star.
mountain, Following yonder star.
O
star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward
leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.
Guide us to Thy perfect light.
(Hopkins
1857, verse 1)
Such
gifts from God! -
Gifts
ready for re-gifting!
Do
we live our days bearing gifts?
Do
we share our God-given talents
with
other trav’lers along the road?
Giving
will guide us to the Light!
God-of-the-Ultimate-Gift,
guide us to freely give of all you have given to us. Amen.
12.29.17
CAROL of the EPIPHANY
Matthew
2:1-12
And
so, distinct from all we’d planned,
Among
the poorest of the land,
We
did what few might understand:
We
touched God in a baby’s hand.
(Bell,
1992, verse 5)
What
does it mean to touch God?
Not
on a throne, not with wealth,
Not
with power or prestige.
We
touch God in the soft, vulnerable flesh
of
the poor and innocent -
We
touch God in the hand of Jesus.
God
of the humble, touch our hearts that we might freely bless others.
Amen.
Matthew
16:9 GNT
“And
that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s
kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between
heaven and earth, earth and heaven.”
Star-Child,
Earth-Child,
Go-between of God,
Go-between of God,
Love
Child, Christ Child,
heaven’s lightning rod,
heaven’s lightning rod,
This
year, this year,
let the day arrive
let the day arrive
When
Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
(Murray,
1994, verse 1)
A
whole year stretches before us!
Our goal is Christmas alive for everyone,
Our goal is Christmas alive for everyone,
Each
and every day!
We all can be ‘lightning rods’ for God -
We all can be ‘lightning rods’ for God -
Connecting
heaven and earth,
Linking
all creation with
Creator.
May WE be a go-between like Christ, O God, and bring the spirit of Christmas to all. Amen.
