You’re Worth Loving
This year St. Peter’s UCC in Grant Park is providing the book A Love Worth Giving to You at Christmas by Max Lucado for our members to distribute to their families, friends, and neighbors as a small gift. Each book includes an invitation to worship with our church family on Christmas Eve.
Throughout Advent we are reminding everyone that they are worth loving! Lucado writes, “(Jesus) went from commanding angels to sleeping in straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier. Why? Because that’s what love does.”
Each day, during Advent, join us for a journey to see just how much God’s love for you is evidenced in the story of Christmas.
The Message of the Angels
“O Come All Ye Faithful.”
“Joy to the World.”
“Silent Night.”
“Away in a Manger.”
The songs of Christmas have arrived. They’ve been filling our radio airwaves since Thanksgiving, or even before.
They have been sung in Advent services, as choir pieces, parts of children’s programs, and more.
They all share a story.
Recently, I came across an article on the carol, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” by Edmund H. Sears.
“It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
‘Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.’
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.”
The article mentions that this is one of the few Christmas carols in a church hymnal that doesn’t mention the birth of Jesus, and that its focus is on the proclamation of the angels’ song, “Peace on the earth, good will to men.”
During the period of time the hymn was written the country was preparing for the Civil War and the author of the hymn shared his concern about the social condition of our country.
There was a verse that appeared in the original release of the carol which appeared in December 29th, 1849’s Christian Register that is not found in the majority of hymnals.
“But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song, which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!”
We are to be reminded that while we are singing the joyful songs of the hope and joy of Christmas, there are many in our world that are suffering, that are dealing with the reality of sin, that are experiencing rejection, loneliness, and strife.
The words from the angels in Luke’s gospel are a reminder to quiet the noise around us and listen to the angels sing.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to whom His favor rests,” Luke 2:14.
It’s an angelic song of peace, of love, of hope.
It’s a song that reminds each of us that we are WORTH loving.
Prayer: God of salvation, we pray for those who are dealing with war. Not just the battles of wars, but with wars within their own souls. Struggles with sin, with relationships, and with the world around them. Help them to hear the song the angels sing and to find peace on earth and goodwill towards each other. Amen.