And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it […]
Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” Revelation 19:6 – – – For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He […]
I have always loved to sing O Come All Ye Faithful on Christmas morning. The last verse bursts into a crescendo of joy as it calls us to worship and adore Jesus Christ the Lord. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be glory given! Word of the Father, Now […]
Bells have been used for centuries to mark events of significance. Carol of the Bells was composed by the Ukrainian composer, Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych, and is frequently performed by handbell choirs. These handbell ringers in Taipei are unique, however; their entrance and processional as they ring out the notes enhances and underscores the exuberant melody. […]
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, […]
In many churches I’ve attended it is a tradition to close the Christmas Eve service by singing Silent Night. This carol was written and first sung in Oberndorf, Austria. 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! […]
God spoke through the prophet Malachi who told of a messenger to come. And God was silent for over 400 years…as Israel waited in hope. Then God acted, and the journey to Bethlehem began… God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last […]
“Joy to the World” is one of my favorite Christmas carols. The words are based on Psalm 98, and it is one of the more than 600 hymns written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748).1 Watts wrote the hymn not about the First Advent of Christ, however, but about His Second. “Joy to the World” was in […]
Christmas and the holiday season are not always times that are cheery and bright. Loneliness and loss have a sharper edge then because they contrast with our longings to have Christmas be a time of warmth and love and joy. Suffering and grief can also inflict a terrible sense of alienation on our hearts. We […]