6th
On My Heart and Mind - Mid-Advent Thoughts
6 December 2008
‘Tis the Season
The signs of Christmas are all around us… and tonight’s snow is just one more sign. Throughout today’s Christmas Bazaar I heard many members of our church and community saying that this annual event marked the official beginning of their Christmas season; a big “thank you” goes out to the many people who have made this event a wonderful tradition. I love this time of year, and I also acknowledge that just as the nights grow their longest, many persons experience great pain, grief and emptiness during the holiday season.
One source of joy for me during Christmas is the music. I especially love the concerts of choirs and organ performing music of the masters. Earlier this weekend I attended the annual Christmas Concert of the Grace Choral Society in New York City. Well over a thousand people attend this concert each year and the line to get in the door of the grand stone edifice went around the corner. One particular piece they sang is a favorite of mine and gave me chills; “The Christmas Carol” by Charles Ives combines the austerity of New England transcendentalism with the familiar story of Jesus’ birth:
Little star of Bethlehem!
Do we see Thee now?
Do we see Thee shining
O’er the tall trees?
Little Child of Bethlehem!
Do we hear thee in our hearts?
Hear the Angels singing:
Peace on earth, good will to men!
Noel!
O’er the cradle of a King,
Hear the Angels sing:
In Excelsis Gloria, Gloria!
From his Father’s home on high,
Lo! for us He came to die;
Hear the Angels sing:
Venite adoremus Dominum.
Maybe it’s the angel’s chorus back in Bethlehem that makes Christmas choir concerts so appropriate this season. We are having our own “Victorian Christmas Concert” at 3pm (Sunday,12/7) that will feature music created or popular when our sanctuary was built 140 years ago. I heard part of today’s rehearsal and this is going to be an awesome event with professional musicians, our own choir and our children. Dr. Joan Forsyth has put together a program you will not want to miss. I expect you will attend and will want to bring a friend!
Gloria in excelsis deo,
Pastor Matt.
PS- About the snow: we will have a worship service and ask that everyone be careful, only attending if you can do so safely. I anticipate that the snow will not affect the “Victorian Christmas Concert.” Any cancellations will be place on the church’s answering machine: 666-5014.
