It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - The Rest of the Story.

 

Rev Cathy Reflects

Wednesday December 8, 2021  

                Christmas is just 3 weeks away and the Hallmark

Romance movies are on every two hours. These movies show people falling in love during the Christmas season based upon specific situations and circumstances. The scenery is usually somewhere in Canada in the winter and of course Christmas carols play throughout reminding us that there is a reason for Christmas and it is Jesus’ birth!

                A minister in Wayland, Massachusetts write a hymn 1849 as the Industrial Revolution had arrived in the New England states. Edmund Hamilton Sears saw the challenges and changes around him, as many people had left their home farms and began to move west to find better soil.  Others left their land and entered the mills and factories only to endure long days of labour. There was much social upheaval because of the Industrial Revolution. There was also a sense of loss and wonder. Leaving the agrarian lifestyle brought many challenges but when the words were sung from the heart, a stirring of hope was made possible. ‘It came upon the midnight clear/ that glorious song of old”. It was just 12 years later when the American Civil War began and in those years, though the words were filled with despair, there was also message of hope!

‘beneath life’s crushing load... who toil  along the way,

-- hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing.”       

 All that is being asked is simply to listen:  “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. “(Luke 2:10-11)

Listen to the words of the angels- rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing!

What is the song of the angels? What song are longing to hear them sing?

The song of the angels rings out loudly as we pray, sing and celebrate Jesus’ birth. Are we ready to sing like the angels? Jesus is born. Thanks be to God!

PRAYER God of grace we praise you that the song of the angels is still heard in the hearts of many people. Be with us O God as we strive to know this song as we seek Christ within us. Bless us we pray in the name of Jesus, the Promised One! Amen.

The Back Story: "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Rev Cathy Reflects

Wednesday December 1, 2021  

                Christmas is four weeks away and for some radio stations

and television channels, the music of this special season has already been playing for two weeks. There are numerous ‘covers’ of Frosty the Snowman, and  “White Christmas” sung by many artists. But of course once cannot forget, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” as one of the classic songs!

                Throughout Advent, I will be sharing the stories behind the beloved carols/ hymns of Christmas unfortunately which are not as well known as they once were. But these songs have withstood the test of time because of their melodies, lyrics and mostly the memories which they stir up in our hearts.

The hymn,  “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, was written in 1868 by Phillips Brooks. He was the minister of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. Having traveled to the Holy Land three years before, he wrote this hymn recalling the peaceful view of 19^th Century Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine. The lyrics describe the dark and quiet beauty of this little town, which welcomed the Infant Jesus as the angels watched. The melody gives us a peaceful approach to the words and offers a prayer of thanksgiving with hope.

One verse of this hymn, which is rarely sung, teaches us Jesus’ purpose in coming to us and how Christmas comes to us all again.

Where children pure and happ,y  Pray to the blessed  child,
Where misery cries out to thee, Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching,   And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.

As we sing this hymn, let us remember that Christmas can come again in our human hearts. All we need to do is pray:

“O holy child of Bethlehem! Descend to us (me), we(I) pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in me (us) today.” Amen.

May God comfort and keep you in these days of hope and peace