NAME THAT CAROL

From: John Ross Thompson
November 29, 2006

You know the words, but what Christmas carol or hymn are they from?

“The soul felt its worth”

“He come from the glorious kingdom”

“Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight”

“Bless all the dear children in thy tender care”

“Peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling”

“The King of Kings salvation brings”

“God with us is now residing”

“Born to reign in us forever”

“His name shall stand forever; that name to us is love”

“O come, thou Wisdom from on high”

“He hath opened heaven’s door, and ye are blest forever more”

“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”

“True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal”

“Son of God, love’s pure light”

“Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth”

“Love shall be our token, love be yours and love be mine”

“Let every heart prepare him room”

“There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth”

This is the only season of the year when you can hear Christian messages of joy and peace from the loudspeakers at the mall and over our TVs and radios.  There will be lots of inane holiday music, too, but the central theme of God come to earth will be there, too.

Take time, wherever you are this Advent season, to listen to the words and consider what they mean for you, and for all the world.  If these words are true (and they are!), there is hope for a weary world, and for each of us.

Our Advent and Christmas events at University United Methodist Church over the next four weeks are designed to bring these truths home to all of us.  From the Wednesday Bible study at noon and 6 p.m., to the music and family activities, through the Sunday worship services and Christmas Eve candlelight worship, we will have a chance to connect with the God who yearns to be with us. Our Blue Christmas worship at 6 p.m. December 17 is a special way to reaching out to those for whom the Christmas season is difficult.  If you know someone for whom this is true, a kind way to invite them is to say, “Won’t you come with me?”

I look forward to this first Advent and Christmas season in this church.  Please continue to share with your pastors the joys and needs that you have.  It’s a busy time, but it’s also a time when we realize how much we need each other, and how much we have to share when we reach out in love.

A holy Advent and Christmas to everyone!