"There is an intellectual desire, an eros of the mind. Without it there would arise no questioning, no inquiry, no wonder." Bernard Lonergan

"It seems clear that humans cannot significantly reduce or mitigate the dangers inherent in their use of life by ccumulating more information or better theories or by achieving greater predictability or more caution in their scientific and industrial work. To treat life as less than a miracle is to give up on it." Wendell Berry

"Do not be afraid, my little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Christmas Music Ringing

From time to time on Tuesdays, I'll post the newsletter article here on PastoronPoint.  That is the first offering this week, only here on the blog it will have live links.  Hope you enjoy.

What is your favorite Christmas carol?  The last few years I have really enjoyed In Bethlehem A Babe Was BornIn Bethlehem A Babe Was Born (number 34 in our hymnal).  My favorite for many years was Once in Royal David's  (number 49 in our hymnal) because the tune is easily sung and the hymn itself is a remarkable balance between the humility of Jesus’ human birth and the totality of his cosmic redemption.  My favorite Christmas performance piece was written in 1956 by the African-American musician and actor, Jester Hairston – Mary’s Boy Child.  Hairston was born in North Carolina and if you have never heard Harry Belafonte, Charlotte Church, - - - Gladys Knight (a calypso version with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - proof that the internet is incredible), or Andy Williams  perform the song then you have missed something indeed (special blog link - click here to see and hear Tom Jones perform it at the Vatican in 2001).

There is one verse of one Christmas carol, however, that has made me pause, caused my eyes to well with tears, and has captured my imagination as no other.  Written in 1847 by the Frenchman Adolphe Adam, O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel) has undergone more revisions and endured more poor performances perhaps than any other Christmas carol.  But the revisions and the remakes can neither improve upon, nor detract from the power of the song and the depth of its incarnational theology. Near the end of the carol, the text proclaims these words:

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!
Noel!  Noel!  O night divine!

For me, those words embody the power of Christmas.  They look back into the promises of the prophets and of John the Baptist as they look forward to coming hope, peace, and joy that the Savior shall bring.  I never get tired of hearing the promise expressed in that text.  Indeed, let all within us praise!

I hope you will find the time to worship with us the remainder of the month.  We will share wonderful and powerful music the next two Sundays here at White Memorial.  On December 11 we will hear the music of John Rutter in morning worship and sing carols and songs of joy with the children of our church at the Joy Gift service in the afternoon.  On December 18 we will share in the service of lessons and carols.  It would be hard to have Christmas joy without Christmas song and these weeks coming will find our worship ringing with Christmas music.

I also hope as we prepare to end the year 2011 that you will join me in prayer for our church.  Will 2012 be a year for the renewal of your commitment to God, gospel, and our common ministry?  Will it be a year when “all within us” praises God for the wonderful things God has done?  We trust that it will be.  I ask that each member of our church consider the year to come by praying for our ministry, by making a financial commitment to our 2012 budget, and by recommitting to the projects and groups which are held dear.  With Christmas music set to ring, that is my prayer this day.

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