Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

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.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

4th Sunday of Advent

The Lord will give you a sign.  The young woman will be with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (God is with us).

Isaiah 7:14

3rd Sunday of Advent

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful heats, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."

Then the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.  Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.  The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs.  In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus grow. 

And a highway will be there;  it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.  The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.  No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there.  But only the redeemed will walk there,

And those the Lord has rescued will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 35

2nd Sunday of Advent

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. 

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.  He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.  Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  Infants will play near the hole of the cobra; young children will put their hands into the viper's nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Isaiah 11:1-10

1st Sunday of Advent

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.  They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.  Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 2:4-5

Caleb's Christmas Carol

My 10 year-old sang this song to me yesterday. The tune is familiar but the words are all him.

"Let It Flow"

(to the tune of "Let It Snow")

Oh, although the bathroom over there is frightful,

The urinal is quite delightful.

Especially if you have to go,

Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow

You'll have to excuse me, I have the sudden urge to use the restroom.

Advent Reflections pt. 1

Advent is the anticipation of deliverance, peace, and restoration. The anticipation of Shalom. Each day that passes is one day closer. Advent is not merely history remembered, it is history unfolding.

Black Friday

As our world ushers in the Christmas season with long lines, killer deals, and maxed out credit cards, may you anticipate the coming of our King through loving your enemy, seeking justice for the oppressed, and considering others greater than yourself.

Peace On Earth

But an angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rest."

Luke 2:10-14

Oh Night Divine

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

Oh Holy Night, verse 3