Day 282 | Saturday, 26 December 2020

Day 282 - Audio Version

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Day 282 |  Saturday, 26 December 2020
 
In the Christian year the season of Christmastide began on Christmas Day and the season goes until Epiphany Day which is January 6th.  If you added, that’s 12 days of Christmastide.  The secular world, however, ends Christmas the day after.  So being the purist that I am in terms of the Christian year, I will continue with the Christmastide season.

 We all enjoy the Christmas carols and each of us has a favorite.  I am going to share a couple today that are probably not as familiar. 

The first is “He Is Born” words: traditional 19th century French carol.

Refrain: “He is born, the holy Child, play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!  He is born, the holy Child, sing we all of the Savior mild.”

1.   “Thru long ages of the past, prophets have foretold his coming; thru long ages of the past, now the time has come at last!” (Refrain)

2.   “O how lovely, O how pure is this perfect child of heaven; O how lovely, O how pure, gracious gift to human-kind!” (Refrain)

3.   “Jesus, Lord of all the world, coming as a child among us, Jesus, Lord of all the world, grant to us thy heavenly peace.” 

Refrain: “He is born, the holy Child, play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!  He is born, the holy Child, sing we all of the Savior mild.”

Christmas Prayer:
The Book of Hymns, 1966; alt. by Laurence Hull Stookey

“Eternal God,
By the birth of Jesus Christ you gave yourself to the world.
Grant that, being born in our hearts,
he may save us from all our sins,
and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator,
to whom be everlasting praise and glory,
world without end.  Amen”
 
The second is rarely used during the season if at all.  I can picture Mary as I read these words of the hymn “Rock-a-Bye, My Dear Little Boy”, words: Czech carol; trans. By Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1987.

1.   “Rock-a-bye, my dear little boy, dear little boy, wonder of wonders, my blessing and joy; slumber as I gently hold you, let my tender love enfold you; gift of God to me and the world, here in my arms lies so peacefully curled.”

2.   Little Jesus, Infant Divine, Infant Divine, one with the Father, yet born to be mine; as I rock you calmly sleeping, angel guards their watch are keeping; precious child, one day we shall see what love has destined for you and for me.”
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Christmastide prayer
“Loving God, we welcome you and invite you to be present in our worship.  Yes, we were not ready to welcome your Son into our world on that night in Bethlehem so long ago. But today, on this side of Bethlehem, the Cross, and the Empty Tomb, we are more than ready to listen to your voice, to be obedient to your Son, and to be empowered by your Spirit. Thank you for your triune presence today made possible because you came to live among us. Amen.”