Advent Devotional 2 0 1 7 December 3 – December 24 December 3, 2017 First Sunday of Advent The First Noel Michael Dyer Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel; Born is the King of Israel! I grew up in an era when Christian displays could occur on city public property. An important family Christmas tradition in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, was to see the nativity scene exhibit in Centennial Park. This nativity scene, which first appeared in 1953, was an elaborate exhibit commissioned by the Harvey’s Department Store. It drew thousands of visitors from Tennessee and Kentucky during the Christmas season. Christmas carols played in the park and an elaborate light show continuously illuminated the characters throughout the evening. I particularly recall the connection I made between the exhibit and the hymn, The First Noel. Both addressed Jesus’s wondrous appeal to shepherds (members of the least admired occupations in Biblical times) and the Magi (members of Persia’s “intelligentsia”). Jesus’s coming was first proclaimed to “the least” yet was also acknowledged by those of great privilege. The Magi endured a long arduous journey to witness his birth and bring gift offerings. The exhibit, hymn and the myriad of people who witnessed the exhibit reinforced my belief that God, through Jesus Christ, is available to all of us, regardless of our heritage, occupation or circumstances. Sometimes Jesus appears spontaneously and dramatically (shepherds heralded by the heavenly hosts or “born again moments”), other times after a lengthy personal journey (Magi). Regardless, we simply need to be open to his presence in our lives and he can enter. Time, weather-related decay and social/political mores eliminated the Nativity exhibit in Nashville in 1967. Jesus, though, is always with us, as is the memory of the Nashville nativity for those of us blessed to have experienced it. For your own visual experience of the Nashville Nativity you can view this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsPSd3_WvqQ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. [Matthew 1:21] Click here to hear the music video 2 December 4, 2017 Stille Nacht (Silent Night) Margaret Weigand This was written by Charles Weigand and is submitted in his memory Silent Night, Holy Night All is calm, All is bright Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! -- beautifully sung in perfect German by Catherine Meinen to the overflowing, standing room only crowd in the sanctuary on Christmas Eve brought tears to my eyes. The last time that I heard this sung in German was Christmas Eve 1945 – 69 years ago. It was during an impromptu Midnight Mass in a small unheated church with a capacity of maybe 150 on the desolate moors and peat bogs of extreme north-western Germany. The area was abutted by the North Sea and the Dutch border; an area of about 700,000 acres which had become a massive POW camp. Tens of thousands of German POWs were housed in schools, barns, and tents. There was, of course, no transportation – everybody walked, some as long as two hours. There was little snow, but it was cold. In the field opposite the Church stood an old JU 88 night fighter, possibly landed there around war’s end – perhaps the pilot had family in the area. By the time it came to sing Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!, there must have been several thousand men outside who had made the trek to the church. When it was over, these men quietly made their way back to their abodes, many with tears in their eyes. “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.” [Jeremiah 23:5-6] Click here to hear the music video 3 December 5, 2017 Away in a Manger Betty Brown Simm Away in a manger no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head A ravaging California wildfire burned our house. Everything destroyed. My husband, children and I fled from the flames that consumed clothes, toys and all precious mementos of family life. We had nothing and no place to lay our heads. Losing all of our possessions and almost our lives was devastating, and shock shattered our self-esteem. Where would we go? What would we do? My family huddled with other confused refugees in a temporary hotel lobby. Away in a Manger is a Christmas carol that reminds me that Jesus entered God’s earthly world with no home and a donkey’s feed trough for his bed. That Christmas song brings back unforgettable memories of a time when my family faced the same lack of safety and home. A sudden sense of peace dissolved my despair. From memory had come a Bible message. “Do not lose heart. For we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen for the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal. Though your earthly home be destroyed, you have a house from God, not built by human hands, eternal in the heavens.” Like “little Lord Jesus” we had no place to lay our heads but I was strengthened by God’s unseen Holy Spirit. From Bible study I knew Jesus’s humble beginning in a stable and had accepted his God-given life of love, service and sacrificial death to remove my sins. The destructive fire experience gave me a long-lasting connection to Jesus through a mutual experience. It was humbling and touched my soul with faith in God’s comfort through any adversity. Away in a Manger is a hymn that reminds me God provides everything: peace in my mind; love in my heart from church friends with an earthly place to “lay our (weary) heads”; and God’s promise for His eternal heavenly home. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. [John 14:27] Click here to hear the music video 4 December 6, 2017 Joy to the World History of the Carol Joy to the World, the Lord is come! Let Earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing The words and lyrics of the popular Christmas carol Joy to the World were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). According to many accounts, Isaac Watts showed an aptitude for theology and language at a young age. He learned Latin at age 5, Greek at age 9, French at age 11 and Hebrew at age 13. When Isaac complained to his father that he felt church music was boring, his father challenged him to write something better. The eventual result was a revolution in church music. Watts became one of the most prolific writers of church music in church history. In 1719 Isaac Watts published Psalms of David which included Joy to the World. The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 98:4-9. Watts interpreted this psalm as a celebration of Jesus’s role as King of both his church and the whole world. The music of the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759). Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. [Psalm 98:4-8] Click here to hear the music video 5 December 7, 2017 In the Bleak Midwinter Cynthia Soltero 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. Looking back, I remember cold winter nights as a small child. My Father worked tirelessly. Being of meager means, sometimes he would take on an extra shift. I shared a bed with my younger brother and sister. Some nights were filled with laughter and others fighting as we played tug of war with the blanket, struggling to stay warm. All through the year our Mother would read Bible stories to us before bed. We all looked forward to Christmas and hearing about the big bright star, all the wise men with their gifts and the birth of sweet Baby Jesus. My Dad and Mom both loved to sing and encouraged us to join the children's choir as soon as we were able. I remember my Father saying we don't have monetary gifts to share so we will give gifts from our heart, acts of service and the talents God has given us through our singing. Every Christmas Eve there was at least one family member singing at each of the four services. The last service was my favorite: I remember flickering candles, Mom and Dad sweetly singing and we children in our PJs. At the end of the service the congregation held hands and we all sang Silent Night. A feeling of complete peace and love filled the air.