Day 286 | Wednesday, 30 December 2020

Day 286 - Audio Version

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Day 286 | Wednesday, 30 December 2020

 Christmastide
“There was no room in the inn.  "We're booked solid," said the innkeeper.  God was ready to give the world a Messiah, but the world wasn't ready for a Savior.  So, the lamb of God was born in a lambing stall; the shepherds worshiped him there.  Let us worship him here - and now.”

 A Christmastide Invocation:
“Almighty God, you have wondrously revealed yourself in the Holy Child of Bethlehem. By faith we kneel beside the manger-throne, hoping that somehow, he will be born in us here and now. For Jesus’ sake, grant that we may share in a new birth of faith. Teach us to recognize your presence in our lives and bring us at the last to the realm of your glory, through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”

 Perhaps another Christmastide Hymn that is not one of the most familiar carols is the hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter” words: Christina G. Rossetti, 1872 (Luke 2:8-14)

1.   “In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.”

2.   “Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.  In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.”

3.   “Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss.”

4.   “What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him; give my heart.”


 Another is “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” words: Polish carol; trans. by Edith M. G. Reed, 1925 (Luke 2:6-20)

1.   “Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall; oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the babe is Lord of all.  Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing: Christ the babe is Lord of all.”

2.   “Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.  Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow: Christ the babe was born for you.”

 A Christmastide prayer:
“O light of the World, we come forth from the darkness into a new dawn! With the dawning of your Son, we sing forth your praise. For now, the earth has a savior, a Christ! Grant us wisdom grant us courage to follow him faithfully, through the lands of Egypt, through the trials of doubt, through the times of persecution and testing. Even as our savior leads us, we know that he brings the goodness and blessing of God each day. For new birth, for new life, for the path ahead into final glory, we give our thanks and praise. Amen!”
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 A Christmastide blessing:
“May Jesus, wonderful Counselor, grant us wisdom.
May Jesus, mighty God, establish and uphold us in righteousness.
May Jesus, Prince of Peace, sustain us in love from this time forth and forevermore.  Amen”