Dear Fellow Children of God,
I was struck recently by an insightful comment at a
meeting of the Palmer Kiwanis Club. I
was asked to arrange speakers for the December 13 meeting of the club by inviting
some local pastors who would share opportunities for Christmas worship and activities. After the short presentations, the pastors
led our club in singing a few Christmas carols.
One of our club members then shared how much she enjoyed the traditional
carols, which in some ways have been missing in recent years. “Maybe we’ve heard enough about ‘Gramma Got Run
Over by a Reindeer.’ I have missed the
traditional carols.” In fact, this
Kiwanian and another had sung Christmas carols recently while ringing a bell
for the Salvation Army. Their singing
brought many comments of appreciation from those shopping that day.
As a Christian who seeks to live my faith as a child of
God, one of my favorite ways to celebrate Advent and Christmas is the music. You may have favorite Christmas hymns or
carols. Maybe you like the children’s
cradle song, “Away in a Manger.” Perhaps
your soul yearns for the heavenly peace of “Silent Night.” (That is my favorite.) Possibly you are moved by classical music
like G.F. Handel’s “Messiah.” Or, has your
heart been renewed in faith by traditional songs from other nations like the
English carol, “Once in Royal David’s City,” or the French carol, “The First
Noel,” or even by the German children’s hymn, “O Come Little Children?”
A favorite Christmas carol of many is the Isaac Watts
classic, “Joy to the World.” This hymn
shares the joyful good news that God Himself has come in the birth of the
infant, Jesus. But, did you know that
Watts’ inspiration for this hymn is found in the Old Testament, in Psalms 98
and 96? Listen to the first two verse of this Psalm 98.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done
marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for
him. 2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to
the nations.
In this Psalm the Psalmist calls for singing songs of
praise to God, because He has saved all nations by His righteous acts. If you were to open your Bible at home and
read the rest of Psalm 98, or Psalm 96, you would also read how the seas and the
rivers, the mountains and the fields, praise God for His righteous
salvation. This Psalm teaches that there
are many reasons for giving praise to God.
Watts then reminds us of these reasons in the well-loved Christmas
carol, “Joy to the World.”
One of the joys of the Advent and Christmas celebrations
is that there are so many wonderful musical expressions of God’s Christmas
love. This love is expressed not only in
the familiar tunes, but also in the words of Godly truth. We can also find such heart-touching beauty
in songs not quite as well known. In
worship this past Wednesday evening my heart was moved again by the words of a
lesser known hymn, “Once He Came in Blessing.”
Once He came in
blessing, All our sins redressing;
Came in likeness
lowly, Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to
save us; Hope and freedom gave us.
Come, then, O Lord
Jesus, From our sins release us.
Keep our hearts
believing, That we, grace receiving,
Ever may confess
You, Till in heav’n we bless You.
Those words, speak to my mind and touch my heart. But, such reaction to songs of praise has
been noted throughout history. Martin
Luther taught others the wisdom of St. Augustine, “He who sings, prays twice.” How wonderful when God can touch our hearts
and light the fire of faith again through the words and music of a song!
I saw the blessings of Christmas music again last Sunday.
A smaller than usual group of St. John
folk went Christmas caroling. We went to
the homes of 4 different members of our congregation who, because of health or
age issues, can’t get out of their homes the way they once could, or are unable
even to leave home at all without help.
This year we didn’t see the tears we often see. But, we were welcomed with heart-felt joy and
appreciation by children of God who were glad to know they had not been
forgotten. And we were welcomed with heart-felt
joy and appreciation by children of God who were reminded by these traditional
carols that God has a special love for them which even caused Him to send His
Son to be born as a humble child, and to grow to save us from our sin.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done
marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for
him. (Psalm 98:1) Which Christmas carol is your
favorite?
A Child of God, Finding Joy and Faith in
Christmas Music,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. In Christmas Eve worship this year we will
again speak the Christmas prayers of some of these famous carol, after we have
sung them.
P.P.S. Here are some pictures from fishing last
Monday. Gerry Zellar and I caught a
limit of rainbows on a local lake. Two
of my grandchildren later DEVOURED the two biggest trout that evening! https://goo.gl/photos/hb7Cc7gLYQdn6qho9
****
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE
PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to
all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am regularly
adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this
e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this
e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for
this message.
****
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