Angels . . .
"Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation . . . " (O Come, All Ye Faithful, LSB 379, St. 3)"On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring . . . " (On Christmas Night All Christians Sing, LSB #377, St 1)
"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not . . . '" (Luke 2:8-9)
- As frequently described in the Biblical narrative, angels may not have had the cherubic demeanor that allows Hallmark to sell so many angelic figurines. Over & over again we read of angels appearing to men & women whose reaction is initially one of great terror. Inevitably, the angel must provide reassurance with the words, "Fear not." So it was with the shepherds on that first Christmas Eve. An angel of the Lord appears & they were filled with great fear. [Personally, I recall & favor the phrase, "They were sore afraid," from the KJV.] I don't presume to be fluent in Greek, but perhaps a contemporary English translation would be "scared spitless."
- Why this reaction when humankind encounters "angel-kind?" I think the key is in the phrase, "The glory of the Lord shone around them." The angels appear from the presence of a Holy Lord into the presence unholy humans. The effect is staggering.
- One more mental picture comes to mind. [At least to MY mind, so take it with a grain of salt.] I picture "a multitude of the heavenly host" {2:13a}, overwhelmed by their own joy at the Savior humankind finally born into the world as a little baby, pestering(?) their Lord--yes, OUR Lord, as well--to be set free from their ethereal existence, so that they may appear to let God's glory shine forth in a manner that has not been seen in ages.
Singing . . .
Unless it's Easter Sunday, is there a better worship service for singing hymns than Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? In fact, there are so many awesome Christmas hymns that it's impossible to fit all of them in one service. We sang:
- "O, Come, All Ye Faithful": [Reminded me of the Christmas Eve programs that were a highlight of my youth at St. Paul's in Concordia, MO.]
- "On Christmas Night All Christians Sing" [A new Christmas hymn--at least to me--destined to become a favorite.]
- "God Loves Me Dearly"
- "Of the Father's Love Begotten" [One of my Top 5]
- "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing": [Reminded me of the Christmas Eve programs that were a highlight of my youth at St. Paul's in Concordia, MO.]
- "Lo, How a Rose"
- "O Little Town of Bethlehem": [Reminded me of the Christmas Eve programs that were a highlight of my youth at St. Paul's in Concordia, MO.]
- "Gentle Mary Laid her Child"
- "Now Sing We, Now Rejoice" [One of my Top 5]
- "Angels We have Heard on High" [Reminded me of the Christmas Eve programs that were a highlight of my youth at St. Paul's in Concordia, MO.]
- "It Came upon the Midnight Clear"
- "Where Shepherds Lately Knelt" [Not familiar to me]
- "What Child Is This" [One of my Top 5]
- "Away in a Manger" [Reminded me of the Christmas Eve programs that were a highlight of my youth at St. Paul's in Concordia, MO.]
- "Silent Night" [Reminded me of the Christmas Eve programs that were a highlight of my youth at St. Paul's in Concordia, MO.]
- "Joy to the World" [Reminded me of the Christmas Eve programs that were a highlight of my youth at St. Paul's in Concordia, MO.]
Hymns . . .
- I love the juxtaposition of melodies: The overwhelming joy & praise of hymns like "O, Come, All Ye Faithful" & "Joy to the World," contrasted with the humble nature of the Messiah's birth expressed in hymns like "Away in a Manger" & "What Child Is This."
- "God Loves Me Dearly" & "Away in a Manger:" Probably two of the first Christmas hymns I learned.
- "Silent Night": It would be worth your while to google this hymn & learn the backstory.
- "Joy to the World": A search of the Lutheran Confessions may reveal that it is a requirement to sing this hymn at the end of Christmas Eve services & beginning of Christmas Day services.
Family . . .
- Sharing Christmas Eve worship with family . . . priceless. Memories to be treasured.
- Listening to my 12-year-old grand-daughter Brianna & daughter Sarah sing the Christmas hymns & carols was spiritually uplifting--also choked me up more than once.
- I also recalled a Christmas Eve candlelight communion service that my brother Mark & I attended at St. Paul's in Concordia with our dad. Mom didn't accompany us. She may have been in the nursing home already. Possibly one of the last Christmas Eves that my dad spent at home before moving into the Good Shepherd Home. Possibly the last Christmas Eve service I attended at St. Paul's.
Scripture . . .
Please bear with me. I'm going to try to wrap things up.
- Listening to the Luke 2 & Matthew 1 accounts of the birth of Jesus also brings back memories of the Christmas Eve programs of my youth. Those verses were always part of our recitations as students of St. Paul's Lutheran School.
- Readings from John 1: "The Word became flesh." As I've [hopefully] matured in my faith, St. John's "Christmas" chapter has become ever more meaningful to me.
- And then there are the multiple prophecies from the OT Prophet Isaiah. I count myself privileged to have a pastor who is truly an Old Testament scholar, & I believe that I have grown to appreciate & reach some measure of understanding of how God spoke to His people through His Old Testament prophecies.
I think that I've also come to understand this about Old Testament prophecies.
- God spoke to His people in their current afflictions, offering them hope for deliverance from their oppressors while still offering deliverance from sin & death. These passages still allow us to derive hope & comfort from our own afflictions today.
- God spoke to His people of both the Old & New Testament, prophesying of the One to be born the Messiah, the Christ, "The Anointed One," who would come to save His people from their sins--from their Sin.
- God spoke to His people of both the Old & New Testament, telling of the time when Christ would return at the end of time to take His people home to live with Him forever in Heaven.
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