Fellowship "Elbow Bump" for December 9
Advent candle arrangement courtesy Jane.
This week we are considering the peace of Advent. As we asked last week, what carol speaks to you of Advent peace? There are certainly many, but the one on my mind is, "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear." Each verse speaks of peace (or lack thereof):
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, goodwill to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.
Yet 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.
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!
For lo!, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Perhaps this year you are having just a bit too much peace and quiet! I hope not. I pray that this year, as we experience the disappointment of lockdown, we can find our addiction to busyness, especially the busyness of Christmas, healed. Or at least put to rest for a season.
How might we practice "giving back the song" of peace, to someone who needs to hear it? You won't have to look far! May God give us the courage to help others to hear the song of peace!
"Lord, Bring your peace to a desperate world I need your peace, and I know others who really need it, too. Give me the courage to share your peace with those who need it so."
Pastor Mark
PS - in the spirit of a calmer, more peaceful Christmas, we are hosting an Online Games Night this Sunday evening at 7pm. I hope you will plan to join us!
PSS - Are you participating at home in both Sunday morning candle lighting and Communion? This are just a couple of ways for us to share something in common, even while separated. To that end, I share here two more contributions of advent candle arrangements. If you have not already done so, please send your own photo!