How Can I Keep From Singing the

…Songs of Christmas Light…

Week 5 Christ Candel Lighting

Today we light the candles of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace as these themes echo throughout our Christmas carols tonight. We remember their meaning, the importance of the words, the feelings, the songs to each of us on this journey to Christmas night. We see the light grow brighter with each candle and we anticipate the light of God coming into our dark world through the birth of Jesus, the Messiah long hoped for, the example of love lived in the world, the joy of freedom Jesus offered from the oppressors of his day, and the coming of the Prince of Peace to a world still in need of God’s Shalom. As we light the Christ candle tonight we join in singing the songs of a long awaited Christmas. This Candle represents the light coming into the world in the darkest of seasons. It represents emotions of relief, the promise of a future. For some of us that promise is seen in returning to Christmas gatherings we wanted last year but couldn’t have. We also see that promise still to come in the more just kingdom that God promised, and Jesus taught people how to help create. It represents the new life not just of the baby in the manger, but for all who choose to follow in faith and believe. As we light the Christ Candle tonight let us sing the songs of Christmas and echo Charels Wesley’s famous refrain again this year “Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King”

Music Video Link: https://youtu.be/JyGwl_x3WgM

Devotional Questions:

Sunday Dec. 26^th -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. 27^th What does the song today tell you about how others view light and how is your view different than the authors?

Tues. Dec. 28^th 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. 29^th How does the scripture and the song speak to your longing for Light in the world? John 1:1-18

Thurs. Dec. 30^th 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. 31^th 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. 1^st 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 2^nd -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

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Music Video Link: https://youtu.be/6_RZCzKlx0g

Devotional Questions

Sunday Dec. 19^th -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. 20^th In the song “Peace Child”. How are you singing towards God’s Peace, God’s Shalom in the world today?

Tues. Dec. 21^st What does the song today tell you about how others view peace and how is your view different than the authors?

Wed. Dec. 22^nd How does the scripture and the song speak to your longing for Peace in the world today?

Thurs. Dec. 23^rd 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. 24^th 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. 25^th 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. 26^th -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. 12^th -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. 13^th 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. 14^th 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?

Wed. Dec. 15^th How does the scripture and the song speak to your longing for Joy in the world today? Who in our community needs Joy this year?

Thurs. Dec. 16^th 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. 17^th 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. 18^th 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. 5^th -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. 6^th What does the song today tell you about how others view love and how is your view different than the authors?

Tues. Dec. 7^th In the song today the author shows Josheph’s Love. How are you singing of Love and working towards love in the world today?

Wed. Dec. 8^th How does the scripture and the song speak to your longing for Love in the world today?

Matt. 1:22-25 NIV translation:

²²All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
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. 9^th 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. 10^th 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. 11^th 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. 12^th -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. 28^th -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. 29^th 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. 30^th What does the song today tell you about how others view hope and how is your view different than the authors?

Wed. Dec. 1^st How does the scripture and the song speak to your longing for Hope in the world today?

Revelation 1:7-9

⁷Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. ⁸“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.⁹I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.

Thurs. Dec. 2^nd 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. 3^rd 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. 4^th 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?