This was sent to me this morning by a good family friend, Diane Heeney, who sang at our wedding ceremony 23 years ago. Jill and Diane were actually fellow counselors at the camp where Jill and I met! Diane sent a great meditative Christmas thought:
Dear Family and Friends,
We invite you to take a closer look at the words to a familiar song this Christmas. Usually, you hear this as a solo; which means you may or may not pay close attention to the lyrics. It is sometimes done in "show-stopper" fashion, which distracts from the poignant meaning of the words. Read through it. Meditate upon its truths. We sang it as a congregation Sunday night, and some of the thoughts have stuck fast this year : "the soul felt its worth...born to be our Friend...to our weakness is no stranger...the slave is our brother...let all within us praise Him...!" Yes, come, let us adore Him together this Christmas season.
Rejoicing in God's Unspeakable Gift,
Patrick, Diane, Erin, Michael and Katie
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need-to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
