Advent

December 21, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 98
O sing to the Lord a new song,
   for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
   have gained him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
   he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
   to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
   the victory of our God. –Psalm 98:1-3

Do you remember the first time you heard special songs that remained with you forevermore? The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music comes to mind for me. I think I loved Near to the Heart of God when I was born; just hearing it brings the peace and comfort of God’s presence to my heart. Silent Night has a similar impact.

All the challenges our world has faced over the past few years and still faces today call out for us to find a new song to address all the new ways of being with which we must deal. We have buried our heads in the sand too long on so many things like climate change, racism, and all the other isms that divide us even anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head again; mass shootings; and drug abuse. All are often the result of an overabundance of greed.

As we sing the songs of Christmas this week, let us own them as guidance for our living throughout the rest of the year. Celebrating the gift of the Christ child, let us intentionally make life changes modeled by Christ in his sojourn on earth.

There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God*.

Prayer:  Lord, write on our hearts the new song you wish us to hear and sing in 2023. Amen.

*First verse an refrain of the hymn Near to the Heart of God by Cleland Boyd McAfee see at https://hymnary.org/text/there_is_a_place_of_quiet_rest?extended=true#Author

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.