As a child my favorite part of
Christmas was putting the Noah’s Ark animals on the Christmas tree to celebrate the birth of Christ…
Let that sink
in… Noah’s Ark / on Christmas.
Sort of a
strange thing—putting figurines of penguins and lions and caribou on the
Christmas tree, all hanging above the Nativity Set.
Similarly, if you’ve seen the
Christmas Movie “Love Actually”
you’ll remember the surprising, non-traditional, manger scene in that film—with little British children dressed up
as lobster, Spiderman, and an Octopus.
Clearly there were no penguins
surrounding the manger, no Octopi
occupying the Shepherds’ field by night.
But, it does
bring to mind a particular point—that all
of creation celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, for he’s Savior of the Whole World.
Think of Paul’s famous 8th
chapter to the Romans—all of creation
groans for the revealing of the sons and daughters of the living God—so
too, one can not help but imagine, all of
creation sings out with joy at the birth of the Son of God.
And so, tonight, I just want us to
think a little bit about the songs
beating in the heart of all of creation that night our Dear Savior was
born.
Let us pray,
Holy Family Sing this night, Rejoice by candle light, He is
bringing salvation to all!
Dear
Joseph, rejoice and sing! Your inheritance,
the promise to
your family,
the promise to
the house of David,
the promises of God,
is sure and
true!
In this little child is a ruler who is
totally unlike any before or since
—one who in the weakness of the flesh is “Wonderful Counselor”
—An infant whom we may call “Everlasting Father.”
Dearest
Mary, sing again! Sing that
beautiful song
—give us a tune with
which we might ponder your son this season, and treasure him in our hearts.
Tell us how his deeds will glorify
God,
—how his justice, always unsettles and unseats
us still
—how his mercy frees,
unbinds,
heals,
and brings life
to the dead.
Shepherds and
Angels Sing this night,
Rejoice by candle light, He is bringing salvation to all!
Sing
shepherds, sing of the heavy, heavenly, wholeness
—the very presence of God, aflame in
that field,
how it
surrounded you
—God’s glory,
God With Us
—Announced!
Announce
you angel—calm our terrified souls, bent
before the awful power of Holiness.
“Fear not, here
is the Gospel for everyone:
Born today
—for you a Savior,
for you the Messiah,
for you the Lord
—a sign, for you O’ people “A child is born.”
Sing
Honor Guard of Angels, sing of the strange new thing God is doing
—accent this
moment
—how it honors God,
how it brings peace on earth.
* Sing
so softly, shepherd band
—a joyous gentle
song to the Holy Family
—tell them what
God is doing
—tell them God
has invaded
— Invaded
softly,
kindly,
in this meager Manger baby.
You powerful,
you powerless, Sing this
night, Rejoice by candle light, He is bringing salvation to all!
Sing
with one last gasp of pomp, you emperors,
you governors.
Call up your
subjects and servants
—serenade them
with registration
—registration
for war,
registration for
taxes,
for profit,
for control.
Sing
sorrow songs, you
—who passed by Christ
in the womb of the tired mother
—who gave no
room to the traveling weary family
—sing sorrow.
Sing
all you people, deep in darkness,
you are the beloved of God
—His light will
make your darkness bright.
Sing
a freedom song, O’ people
—born is the
King.
Born is the One
Who Upholds Righteousness,
who holds your
hurts to account and cares for you,
Born the one who
sets you free.
All of Creation, Sing this night, Rejoice by candle light, He is
bringing salvation to all!
Sing
out field where angels trod,
Cattle, lambs,
sheep and goats, mice and all you creatures,
sing about the
birth of the Son of God!
O’
Trees clap your hands to keep the beat,
join in the song
you predators and wild things,
howl and purr
and stomp your paws!
Sing
a duet O’ Heavens O’ Earth,
may we say of the sky line it shows that
in him Mercy and Truth have met,
in him Righteousness and Peace kiss one
another.
Let
the Wave’s rage and the Thunder’s burst tell to eternity the Savior’s
Birth!
Dear Church, Sing this night Rejoice, by candle light, He is
bringing salvation to all!
Sing for God’s promises are true,
he’s born
—here among us,
Humble and unnoticed,
just and merciful!
Sing that God’s overwhelming presence,
joyful,
good news,
honorable,
peaceful
… terrifying,
is with us,
worship Christ
dear people!
Sing
confessions too,
confess where you missed him
—he’ll sing
back,
leading the way,
that we might
follow him.
Sing with all of creation—praise the
Savior of the World.
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