O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
--"O Little Town of Bethlehem," ELW 279, v. 1
Dear friends in Christ,
Do you have a favorite Christmas carol? I think most of us have at least one that speaks to our hearts in a special way. Over the course of our lifetime, we may change our minds about which one is our favorite, but that's only natural, since our lives are constantly being shaped and reshaped by our unique relationships and circumstances.
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" has been a personal favorite of mine for many years. I almost always choose it as the sermon hymn for Christmas Eve because I appreciate how it holds the mystery of the incarnation--without trying to explain it! The words hold the mystery in the same way I imagine Mary and Joseph held the infant Jesus: with gentleness and a deep sense of wonder. The melody enhances the gentle tension created by the lyrics; in fact, the tune reminds me of the lullaby-like hymns I used to sing to my children while rocking them to sleep.
This carol also paints a picture that speaks to the familiar longings of our hearts. Many of us can remember feeling quite vulnerable as new parents: Something tender, yet strong stirs within us when we gaze at a newborn. We wonder: "What then will this child become?" Yet at the same time we worry: "What kind of world will this child experience?" Our hopes and our fears meet in such moments, and though we don't yet know it, they will continue to coexist on into the future. After all, when God enters into human history in the person of Jesus Christ, everything is changed! Dark places are bathed in everlasting light, and human fears are soothed by the balm of divine hope. So it was in Mary and Joseph's time, and so it is in our time, as we wait, once again, for the birth of the One who comes to meet us where we are and who brings light in the midst of our darkness.
I hope you will join us for Christmas Eve worship, as, once again, we hear the timeless story of our Savior's birth. God comes down, so that you and I may be raised up to new life through Jesus Christ! And that, my friends, it the best gift of all!
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming; but, in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. --"O Little Town of Bethlehem," ELW 279, verse 1
Christmas blessings to you and yours!
Pastor Michelle Manicke
Christmas Eve Worship
December 24, 2020
The link and passcode to join our online Christmas Eve worship service are the same ones we use on Sundays:
