How Can I Keep From Singing the
…Songs of Christmas Light…
Week 5 Christ Candel Lighting
Music Video Link: https://youtu.be/JyGwl_x3WgM
Devotional Questions:
Sunday Dec. 26th -Listen to the song today. Then reflect on the question: What does the author see as the Light we should experience at Christmas?
Mon. Dec. 27th What does the song today tell you about how others view light and how is your view different than the authors?
Tues. Dec. 28th In the song today the author shows Jesus at the Light. How are you shining light in the world today as a follower of Jesus?
Wed. Dec. 29th How does the scripture and the song speak to your longing for Light in the world? John 1:1-18
Thurs. Dec. 30th Today let us lift a prayer for light together. Lord, we long this year for Light to radiate in our songs, in our lives, in your world this Christmas. Lord we lift up……………….. who are in need of Light. We lift up the places light is needed in our world……………. We sing in heart and voice with the song of Light today. Help us find Light in you. Amen.
Fri. Dec. 31th In this song what is light supposed to look like, feel like, sound like? Do you still look for these feelings, sights, and sounds of light today or are your experiences of Light different?
Sat. Jan. 1st In the song of today the author is talking about what has changed with the arrival of the Christ Child. What has changed for you at the start of this new year as you think about light this Christmas?
Singing the Songs of Christmas Promise…
Sunday Jan 2nd -Listen to the song today. Then reflect on the question: What does the author see as the promise for all children?
..Songs of Peace
Week 4 Advent Candle Reading
Lord we come this week to sing the songs of Peace in our worship together. Help us to find your peace, the shalom that speaks to our whole being. The peace that is not understood but experienced, the peace we long for in our chaotic and divided world.
As we light the candle of Peace today, he join in the words of the song I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day “Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” May we keep this song ringing and singing through the chaos of the world today.
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
Music Video Link: https://youtu.be/6_RZCzKlx0g
Devotional Questions
Sunday Dec. 19th -Listen to the song today. It was written during the American Civil War. The author was living in a time when fighting and conflict was a way of life for all in this country. Many were beginning to question what God was thinking and if God was even still there. Do you find Peace in the answer of the final verse? Relisten to the song: Who is asking this question in our world today?
Mon. Dec. 20th In the song “Peace Child”. How are you singing towards God’s Peace, God’s Shalom in the world today?
Tues. Dec. 21st What does the song today tell you about how others view peace and how is your view different than the authors?
Wed. Dec. 22nd How does the scripture and the song speak to your longing for Peace in the world today?
Thurs. Dec. 23rd Today let us lift a prayer for peace together. Lord, we long this year for peace to echo in our songs, in our lives, in your world this Christmas. Lord we lift up……………….. who are in need of peace. We lift up the places peace is needed in our world……………. We sing in heart and voice with the song of peace today. Help us find our peace in you. Amen.
Friday Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Singing the Songs of Christmas
The song “Oh Holy Night” was first played in 1843 in a town in France. The church organ had been renovated and the parish priest wanted to celebrate so he persuaded a local poet Placide Cappeau to write a Christmas Poem and Music was composted for the song. It was played regularly in the catholic church for many years until it was discovered that the author was an atheist. In 1855 Unitarian Minister John Sullivan Dwight wrote the English version. It became popular in the US especially in the north because the third verse resonated with abolitionists. But over the years it became shortchanged when people only sang the first verse, but if you sing all verses, it tells a story; and the third verse is the heart of the story. -Rev. Kate O’Leary
Christmas Prayer from the Council of Bishops Advent Series:
God who incarnates, we your people stand in anticipation of your arrival amongst us. In the birth of your son Jesus, we are reminded of the power of the Word made flesh to bring peace, love and justice to all creation. Make your word come alive in us, Holy God. Prepare our hearts to see all of humanity as you do. Open our minds to listen and learn from one another. Convict our spirits to do the work needed to tear down all systems of fear, prejudice, exclusion and oppression. We pray for the vulnerable, the hurting and the marginalized, that they experience peace, safety, belonging and justice, and we pray that you will use us to make these virtues real upon the earth. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Sat. Dec. 25th The Israelites are looking for the messiah as a sign of Peace, hope, love and joy for their people. Where do you see these themes in the Christmas song “Do You See What I See”?
Singing the Songs of Christmas Light…
Sunday Dec. 26th -Listen to the song today. Then reflect on the question: What does the author see as the Light we should experience at Christmas?
…Songs of JOY
Week 3 Advent Candle Reading
Lord we come this week to sing the songs of Joy in worship together. Joy that makes babies leap in their mother’s womb, joy that makes grown men dance, and heaven and nature sing. We long to feel the joy of Christmas with family and friends again this season. We want to share the Joy of the Messiah amongst us in this dark December world.
As we light the candle of Joy today he join in the words of the familiar Christmas Carol Joy to the World that we might each in our own lives “repeat the sounding joy” that all the earth may feel Joy this Christmas and in the year to come. Amen.
Music Video Link: https://youtu.be/4A189yDmxTQ
Devotional Questions
Sunday Dec. 12th -Listen to the song today. Then reflect on the question: What does the author see as Joyful in the words of the song “Joy to the World”?
Mon. Dec. 13th In the song “Good Christian Friends Rejoice” the author finds Joy in the act of singing itself. How are you singing songs of Joy in a world of bah humbugs this year?
Tues. Dec. 14th The song Mary is asked about how much she knew as the mother of Jesus. In this song what is the expectation of a mother that Jesus is supposed to look like, feel like, sound like? Do you still look for these feelings, sights, and sounds of joy in the lives of children in your life today?
Thurs. Dec. 16th Today let us lift a prayer for Joy together. Lord, we long this year for the sounding Joy to resound in our songs, in our lives, in your world this Christmas. Lord we lift up……………….. who are in need of joy. We lift up the places joy is needed in our world……………. We sing in heart and voice with the song of joy today. Help us find our joy in you. Amen.
Fri. Dec. 17th In the song Joy the author is talking about what has and hasn’t changed since childhood Christmases. What has and hasn’t changed for you as you think about the hope for Christmas?
Sat. Dec. 18th What does the song today tell you about how others view Joy and how is your view different than the authors?
…Songs of Love
Week 2 Advent Candle Reading
Lord we come this week to sing the songs of Love in our worship together. Love changes over time, love grows, love can be overwhelming and unexpected, Love never dies, and Love always perseveres.
Love is what open’s Joseph’s heart to raising Mary’s child knowing he is not the father. Love is what we aspire to as Christians, as parents, as people of God in a broken and hurting world.
As we light the candle of Love today, we echo the worlds of the song Love Came Down At Christmas “Love will be our token. Love be yours and love be mine. Love for God and all men. Not for self but sacred sign.” (Light Candle)
Give us the strength to love like Joseph, like Mary, and like Jesus as we sing the songs of love this year. Amen.
Music Video Link: https://youtu.be/ycsaypfJjmM
Devotional Questions
Sunday Dec. 5th -Listen to the song today. Then reflect on the question: What does the author see as the Love we should anticipate at Christmas?
Mon. Dec. 6th What does the song today tell you about how others view love and how is your view different than the authors?
Tues. Dec. 7th In the song today the author shows Josheph’s Love. How are you singing of Love and working towards love in the world today?
23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;* and he named him Jesus.
Thurs. Dec. 9th Today let us lift a prayer for Love together. Lord, we long this year for Love to sound in our songs, in our lives, in your world this Christmas. Lord we lift up……………….. who are in need of Love. We lift up the places love is needed in our world……………. We sing in heart and voice with the song of Love today. Help us find Love in you. Amen.
Fri. Dec. 10th In this song what is love supposed to look like, feel like, sound like? Do you still look for these feelings, sights, and sounds of love today or are your experiences of Love different?
Sat. Dec. 11th In the song of love today the author is talking about what has and hasn’t changed in Joseph to love Mary and the child. What has and hasn’t changed for you as you think about love this Christmas? Did it take a miracle (like the tree bending down) for you to notice?
Sunday Dec. 12th -Listen to the song today. Then reflect on the question: What does the author see as Joyful in the words of the song “Joy to the World”?
…Songs of Hope!
Week 1 Advent Candle Reading
Lord as we come today to sing the Songs of Hope in our worship together, we are reminded of the hope Jesus was to a people in despair. We affirm the hope that we find in the Messiah and the hope we have that Christ will come again to our world that is in need of justice and righteousness. As we light the advent candle today, we echo the words of the Old Wesleyan Hymn “Come thou long expected Jesus born to set thy people free…” (light candle)
Set us free from despair to feel and sing the songs of hope this year. Amen.
Music Video Link:https://youtu.be/t2QFQkKK7wk
Devotional Questions
Sunday Nov. 28th -Listen to the song today. Then reflect on the question: What does the author see as hopeful in the words of the song Come Thou Long Expected Jesus?
Mon. Nov. 29th In the song “How Can I Keep from Singing” the author finds hope in the act of singing itself. How are you singing towards hope in a world of tumult and strife?
Tues. Nov. 30th What does the song today tell you about how others view hope and how is your view different than the authors?
Thurs. Dec. 2nd Today let us lift a prayer for hope together. Lord, we long this year for hope to ring in our songs, in our lives, in your world this Christmas. Lord we lift up……………….. who are in need of hope. We lift up the places hope is needed in our world……………. We sing in heart and voice with the song of hope today. Help us find our hope in you. Amen.
Fri. Dec. 3rd In the song hope for Christmas the author is talking about what has and hasn’t changed since childhood Christmases. What has and hasn’t changed for you as you think about the hope for Christmas?
Sat. Dec. 4th The Israelites are looking for the messiah as a sign of hope for their people. In this song what is the hope of the messiah supposed to look like, feel like, sound like? Do you still look for these feelings, sights, and sounds of hope or are your hopes in Jesus different?