For most of my life, my favorite Christmas hymn has been “Angels We Have Heard on High.” And I still love it! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Glory to God in the highest, indeed!
At the same time, as I have gotten older, another hymn speaks just as powerfully to my spirit. And so as we begin this holy season of Advent, preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus our Savior, I invite you to join me in prayerfully pondering these beautiful lyrics:
It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all, from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!
For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.
Dear ones, in spite of December’s chaos and cacophony…please make plans to be in worship throughout Advent (which begins on Sunday December 1st) as we consider “Breaking News” from Biblical times for our own day.
Together, let’s “rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing” – to us!
See you in church,
Coralee