I Love Christmas
There are only a few days left until it is Christmas Eve, that holy night, that most holy of all nights.
In a few days we will celebrate the night long long ago when the stars were brightly shining. It was the night of our dear
Savior’s birth. Long had lain the world in sin and error pining, till
he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, and the
weary world rejoiced! For yonder broke a new and glorious morn. Fall on
your knees, and hear the angel voices! It was a night divine, when
Christ was borne. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let
all within us praise his holy name! Christ is the Lord, let ever, ever
praise we. (1)
Our
Christmas story started with the trumpeting of angels. “Glory to the
newborn king!” They proclaimed. “Peace on earth, and mercy mild God and
sinners reconciled. Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the
skies with angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!” (2)
Their
audience was a group of lowly shepherds, guarding their flock of sheep
in a field. While they watched their flock by night, far far away on
Judea’s plains, those shepherds of old heard the joyous strains, “Glory
to God! Glory to God! Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth good
will toward men!” Those shepherds followed the star and it led them to
the newborn babe. (3)
The shepherds found that precious newborn babe in the town of
Bethlehem because of a requirement to pay a tax in the city of Joseph's
lineage. O that dear 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. For Christ is born of Mary and
gathered all above, while mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of
wondering love. O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth! And
praises sing to God the king and peace to men on earth! (4)
Those
seeking Him found the precious baby in that city of Bethlehem where he lie in a manger,
with no crib for his bed. The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet
head. The stars in the heavens look down where he lay, the little Lord
Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes.
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. (5)
When
the shepherds entered the manger, they found Joseph watching
steadfastly over his wife Mary, and her newborn son. The shepherds and
Joseph watched Mary lovingly care for her newborn son, singing him sweet
lullabies to soothe him back to sleep. Silent night, holy night, all
is calm. All is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant
so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace.
(6)
And
as she lulled her baby back to sleep, the earth itself rejoiced. Joy
to the world! The Lord is come, let earth receive her king! Let every
heart prepare him room, while saints and angels sing. Rejoice rejoice,
when Jesus reigns, and Saints their songs employ! While fields and
floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy! (7)
There
was another group of righteous men who saw the star shining in the midnight sky, and
understanding its meaning set out to seek the Christ child. With
wondering awe the wise men saw the star in heaven springing, and with
delight in peaceful night they heard the angels singing, “Hosanna!
Hosanna! Hosanna to his name!” By light of star they travelled far to
seek the lowly manger, a humble bed wherein was laid the humble little
Stranger. And still is found the world around the old and hallowed
story, and still is sung in every tongue the angels’ song of glory! (8)
And
that is our miraculous, beautiful story, of once upon a time in Royal
David’s city when there stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid
her baby in a manger for his bed. Mary was that mother mild, and Jesus
Christ her little child. It is our job to come all ye faithful! Let us
be joyful and triumphant! O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem! Come and
behold him, born the king of angels! Let us sing with choirs of angels
and let us sing in exultation! Sing all ye citizens of heaven above,
“Glory to God, glory to God in the highest” - o come let us adore Him!
(9) (10)
... to be continued.
1. O Holy Night
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
3. Far Far Away on Judea's Plains
4. O Little Town of Bethlehem
5. Away in a Manger copyright 1980 Rosalee Elser
6. Silent Night
7. Joy to the World
8. With Wondering Awe
9. Once In Royal David's City
10. O Come All Ye Faithful
(reposted from last year, from my talk in church on Christmas Day, with a few changes)
I am getting so excited for Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteI loved this talk. Good idea to post it. Missing you a lot!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to one and all!
ReplyDelete