3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Christmas

Wednesday, Third Week Advent: Joy to the World! Hymn of Christmas Coming

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Joy World Hymn Joy to the World hym sings of peace and joy of the coming of the Lord.Joy to the WORLD! Hymn of Christmas coming announces the Prince of Peace!

My favorite memory of Christmas is when I played Joy to the World during Christmas Eve service with my son and daughter as part of small church orchestra.

This was a one-time event. My son was a senior. His classmate Sarah spent the year composing orchestra pieces for Christmas and Easter services as part of a senior project.  (She is now a music teacher in Western Nebraska.)

To many, this might not be a big deal. But it was. You see Trinity Lutheran is a small country church in rural Nebraska. Our congregation is less than 150 people. However, we have an amazing local school music and band program at Elmwood-Murdock High School.  About eight youth that practiced many times and never thought it would come together.

Sarah wrote parts for trumpet, tympani, bells, clarinet, saxophone, piano, organ and flute.  I played the piano.

At the start, I looked over the piano at Sara, took a breath and we began.

It was AMAZING! It was JOY to the World as the Prince of Peace filled the air with majestic song and the congregation stood and sang with JOY. Every measure was perfect, every note was hit. At the end, I turned and looked at my son, his response was simply “Wow”

Sarah and I continued to play her Joy to the World hymn piano and organ duet for many years until she married and moved away. Last year I played it just on the piano and although the congregation filled me with peace, it wasn’t the same.

This year I will be playing the same Joy to the World duet, but this time with Pastor Kuhlman. I am so looking forward to it again.

How Exciting is This?

The wonderful counselor is going to bring us peace and goodwill to men! I’ve talked about it, how Jesus Christ comes to give us peace through forgiveness of sins. No, not as the peace the world gives but eternal peace. Yes, we want peace on earth. Peace with our family, our marriages, between friends, at work, in our community and world.

But before we can have peace in our world we have to have peace between God and all of us. Imagine if people gave up their sins. Ok, that might not be possible. But we can daily give them up to Jesus and when we do that repeatably we are less likely to repeat them. Daily repentance and prayers of forgiveness to God gives us internal peace.

So JOY TO THE WORLD and Peace Be With You!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLT9dSt8cwg[/embedyt]

Weekly Advent Readings: Wednesday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Isaiah 40: 1-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 40: 18-41: 10;  Revelation 8: 1-13 


Angels We Have Heard on High, Third Day on the Third Week of Advent

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One of the Most Famous Christmas Hymns

It’s appropriate that on the third week of Advent my favorite Christmas carol Angels We Have Heard on High is on the third Day. I just LOVE this song and LOVE to play it on the piano during Christmas Eve service when the whole congregation is singing.
I could have saved this for Christmas Day and I almost did, but I love it too much. I like to listen to it during the last week of Advent leading up to Christmas.

Angels From the Realm of Glory: Piano Guys Live Nativity Performance

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELjgFKACcdQ[/embedyt]

 

I dare you not to listen and watch this performance of a Live Nativity without getting chills. The musicians from the Piano Guys teamed up with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to produce the most amazing rendition of this famous Christmas Hymns
Playlist- Angels We Have Heard on High: Third Day, Chris Tomlin & other artists
I can seriously listen to this Christmas song over and over. So I created a YouTube Playlist. Yes, I have it playing in the background as I’m writing right now. The Pentatonix version is here too, can’t leave them out. If you haven’t figured out they are also one of my favorite acapella groups.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PLp3k-fAVnkqEMPPvnlOkJNm9pIMpr0VUH[/embedyt]

Angels We Have Heard on High Sheet Music

My favorite sheet music to Angels We Have Heard on High isn’t listed here. The reason why is I composed my own version from the Lutheran Hymnal. I love arpeggios and over the years I have come up with my own composition. Maybe one year I will plug in my keyboard and get it down on sheet music.
But here are a few choices. A tip, let the chorus rip! Roll with it, be confident and let it announce the birth of the baby Jesus the newborn King!!


Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Find the words to God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman and learn how it will give you comfort. Find the meaning of the pink candle of Advent? Rejoice!Lyrics: Angels We Have Heard on High 

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly, sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brief delight
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing,
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Yeah
Gloria, in Excelsis Deo
Songwriters: Sufjan Stevens
Angels We Have Heard on High lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

http://lyricstranslate.com/en/piano-guys-angels-we-have-heard-high-lyrics.html#ixzz51vIy0BLA

Angels We Have Heard on High: Piano Guy Lyrics

Gloria, Gloria
Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Gloria, Gloria
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, Gloria
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Weekly Advent Readings: Tuesday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 40: 1-17;  Revelation 7: 1-17 


Monday, Third Week Advent: Words to God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman Give Comfort

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Comfort and Joy

Tidings of Comfort and joy! It’s a Christmas carol, but the word to God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman is also a theme for Advent. Listen to the word of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman by Pentatonix and really listen.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku7ohU1IGls[/embedyt]

“Comfort, comfort, my people” (Isaiah 40:1)

I’ve talked about how going to church gives me comfort, how Jesus is a great Almighty counselor and today is all about comfort.

I teach Sunday school, right now it’s 4th-6th grade and it’s a wonderful age to teach. They are beyond coloring (sometimes) and starting to get into some deep questions. During my 25 years of teaching Sunday School, there have been few things more satisfying than seeing that look on a child’s face when they truly understand your lesson.

When you let go of your sins, give them to Jesus, ask for forgiveness it gives you COMFORT. Really, it does.

To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray…

Satan would like you to hang on to your sin, make it a burden, weigh on your heart every day. I know, it’s hard to grasp. So I’ll do what I do to my Sunday School kids. Apply a “real life example”.

Thou Shall Not Covet: You want more money, you chase money, you “need” more money, you worry about it, stress about it, and it can physically cause you harm in high blood pressure and a heart attack. This is personal for me. I recently started working from home, we have had financial challenges. Instead of stressing about what I don’t have, I concentrate on what I have. It does no good to want a vacation, lust for that new car, new furniture, or desire a big screen TV.

It’s easy to go “astray” from what we “NEED”.

Lutheranism is all about the comforting of troubled consciences! In Christ, God wants to forgive everyone. He wants to give you comfort.

Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? How do the words "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" give comfort this Advent and Christmas seasonComforting Words: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman”

Read the words “God rest ye merry gentleman” and listen to the Christmas hymn, take in their meaning and how it fits into your life this Christmas.

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Fear not then, said the Angel
Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s pow’r and might
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Songwriters: Grace Price / Robert Lee Black
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Weekly Advent Readings: Monday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Isaiah 40: 1-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 34: 1-2, 8-35: 10 Revelation 6: 1-17 


Sunday, Third Week Advent: 3rd Sunday Advent Joy and Blessings

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3rd Week of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday and the rejoicing and blessing the Lord Jesus Christ gives to us.Blessing in the 3rd Sunday of Advent

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. It’s when the Pink Candle of Advent is lit. Just like I described in my Advent colors post and yesterday this is a day to rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:4-5)

Rejoice because we receive God’s blessings. Where? In church, from Jesus during multiple times during the service.  Don’t believe me, let’s count.

When do you receive blessings in church service?

  1. In the opening of the Lutheran Service the Salutation “The Lord be with you.”,
  2. The apostolic greeting “Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  3. At the end of the sermon, before the Lords Supper,
  4. Another after the Words of Institution “The peace of the Lord be with you always”
  5. During communion after receiving the Lords Supper
  6. Finally, at the end of service during the Benediction.

Six times that I can count, and many times after I hear a blessing during service I take a deep breath, breathe it in and I feel myself relax. Just like when you receive counseling from someone and it soothes your soul and centers your mind. Now does the title Wonderful Counselor make sense?

So REJOICE, for the Wonderful Counselor is coming!

Weekly Advent Readings: Saturday, 3rd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Matthew 11:2-11

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 33: 1-24;  Revelation 5: 1-14 


Saturday, Second Week Advent: Pink Candle of Advent

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Lutheran Advent Season, What is is All About? Hopefully, this series will inspire, teach and prepare you for Christmas in a way you never considered. Find the meaning of the pink candle of Advent? Rejoice!Time to Light the Pink Candle of Advent!!

What does that mean?!! 

It means Christmas is getting closer!! Tomorrow is the 3rd week of Advent.

Hurry, get ready. Is your tree decorated, are the cookies baked? Are the presents wrapped?

The pink candle of Advent is about to be lite? Are you ready!!!??? Can you ever be ready for Christmas?

I know there is always ONE more present to buy, gifts to wrap and one more recipe to add to Christmas dinner. Did someone say stuffed mushrooms?

Oh yes, I digress. It’s a tangent habit of mine.

The Lord is not trying to add one more burden to your Christmas.

Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:45)

Tomorrow is Gaudete Sunday when the “rose” or pink candle on the Advent wreath is lite. During my Advent daily readings, I explain the meaning of the candles on the advent and what the colors represent.

Gaudete is the Latin imperative, “Rejoice!” Rejoice because the Lord is coming. Rejoice because the birth of the baby Jesus is near.

The light on the Advent candles lights the way to Christ. They glow brightly at the front of the church to remind us Jesus, the light of the world is coming who will bring light into the darkness.

Relax, Jesus the Light of the World is Coming

If we want to take time to do anything else this season REJOICING should be at the top of the list!

When we take time out to rejoice and praise the Lord it soothes the soul. It causes us to pause and contemplate what the Advent season is all about. You can almost feel the stress starting to fall away, you can feel the pain fall away when you put your trust in this newborn baby Jesus.

Don’t believe me? Try it. 

Eternal God, Your Word has been sent forth into the world to the joy and edification of Your holy people. Grant that Your Word may encourage, comfort and strengthen all who hear it. Grant faith to those who do not know You, both here and abroad, that all peoples may sing to Your name and extol Your goodness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, fill all who hear Your Word with all joy and peace in believing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.”

Weekly Advent Readings: Saturday, 2nd Week Advent

Today’s Reading Introit for Advent 3

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 32: 1-20;  Revelation 4: 1-11