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Christmas: O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord

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 Christmas is Here! Christ the Lord is Born Today

“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12)

Rejoice and be glad! Sing, choirs of Angels, sing in exultation! It’s Christmas and Christ the Lord, born as baby Jesus has been born today. God’s own Son in the flesh to come live among us. Heaven and earth have touched. God and man are united together in the person of Jesus, born of Mary on Christmas day

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJYW1oN6fw[/embedyt]

Christ the Savior is born. Not Christ the judge or enforcer. Christmas is the day that exclaims that God is not just “out there”, but He is here with us, amongst us. Immanuel, meaning God with us. God in the flesh.

That is still true today. You will find Him at the baptismal font, in the Last Supper during communion, in the Word spoken by the pastor during the Gospel and throughout the Divine Service. He is found here on earth on those who hold Jesus in their heart.

He demonstrates His love through his people who give their gifts to those around them. Christ the Lord is inside the hearts of caregivers, Mothers, Fathers, teachers, doctors, police officers and all those who remember the love and forgiveness given through grace.

Merry Christmas!

O Come All Ye Faithful Sheet Music


O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord is Born today!! Celebrate Christmas with this popular Christmas hymn O Come All Ye Faithful. Find lyrics, sheet music and more.O Come All Ye Faithful Lyrics

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels!
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Sing, choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above
Glory to God
In the highest!
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be glory giv’n
Word of the Father,
Now in the flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

List of Christmas Carols and Hymns

I hope you have enjoyed Advent Season and my daily reflections. I didn’t know if I would be able to complete the series and I’m glad I did.

Below is a list of Christmas carols and hymns which I specifically wrote about and provided lyrics and sheet music.

Prepare the Royal Highway

Playlist: Hymns for Advent Season

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Hymn

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

Angels We Have Heard on High

Joy To The World

Once in Royal Davids City

Away in a Manager

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Silent Night

O Come All Ye Faithful

While I wrote each Advent devotion I listened to hymns and Christmas carols in the background. Many times looping my playlist for inspiration. Here is my YouTube Christmas Carol playlist with some of my favorite renditions. Many of them didn’t make it on the list above. It was difficult to decide which one to pick for each day. You can listen to my entire set here on YouTube

Enjoy and have a VERY Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Readings

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43: 1-24:  Revelation 9: 13- 10: 11

Sunday, Fourth Week Advent: Words to Silent Night Announce Christ the Savior is Born

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Candlelight Service Tradition

On Christmas Eve it is a tradition in many Lutheran churches to end the evening service with the lights turned down and sing Silent Night by the light of candles. Actually, this is a Christmas Eve tradition in many churches and I fondly remember midnight service at Grace Episcopal Church growing up.

All is calm, and all is bright as the congregation sings of heavenly peace. For twenty years I have sat at the front of the church playing Silent Night on the piano as the congregation fills

Silent Night Sheet Music

It came upon the Midnight Clear that glourious sound of old. With Angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold. Rejoice in the music of Christmas as the Lutheran Advent season comes to a close with music and lyrics of It Came Upon a Midnight ClearWords to Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Weekly Advent Readings: Sunday, The Nativity Sunday

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43: 1-24:  Revelation 9: 13- 10: 11

Friday, Third Week Advent: Words to Away in a Manger Tell a Story

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Words to Away in a Manger tell of a humble birth of the baby Jesus.The Words to Away in A Manger Celebrate a Humble Birth of Baby Jesus.

The Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus was born not in a castle, not in a palace, but a lowly stable.
The birth of the Baby Jesus was NOT attended by the rich. Mother Mary did not have ladies in waiting to bring her food and water. It was Mary and Joseph alone, in probably a cave that served as a stable for animals. They laid him in swaddling clothes in a feeding trough, off the floor on a bed of hay.
The picture of humanity in a tender scene is depicted in this tender Christmas Carol.
Children in hundreds of churches sing this simple song and it’s often the first Christmas carol they learn. In our Sunday School program, the preschool kids sing it the loudest.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur60zV6cjaE[/embedyt]
The innocent voices of these “wee little ones” are perfect for such a humble birth. The words to away in a manger remind us of humble poor beginnings come great things. Don’t judge your surroundings or where you live. Just because you were of a humble birth or poor doesn’t mean you are any less loved.
In fact, you are VERY loved. Jesus comes to you where you live to give you peace, joy and salvation.

Away in a Manger Sheet Music


Lyrics for Away in a Manger

Away in a manger
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
‘Til morning is nigh

Weekly Advent Readings: Friday, 3rd Week Advent

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43: 1-24:  Revelation 9: 13- 10: 11


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 


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