“Joy to the world” by Erin Leeper
Friday, December 14, 2018
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Psalm 100: 1-2
When I was years old and in the 4th grade I loved to act and sing. I grew up in a small NJ town with an actual "Main Street" and one stop light. There were not a lot of opportunities for my exuberant desire for creative expression. Luckily, that year our Episcopal church got a new priest with new ideas and she started a children's choir and produced musicals.
The children's choir consisted of 8 kids and the laid-back choir director assigned vocal parts based on where you sat on the first day. If you sat by the window you were declared "Soprano" and if you sat by the wall you were dubbed "Alto."
l loved singing this song because it was so joyful and it told a biblical story that I could actually understand. "Hey, the angels are really happy and having a party, making noise because Jesus was born!"
Sitting through church as child I felt comfortable but never could get the meaning of the gospel readings or sermons. But the songs, they made sense!
Thinking back it was probably the first time I was really engaged in worship, its that good memory and comfort level with the church that brought me back to it as a young adult.
rayer: Dear God, thank you for the ways music and the arts bring us closer to you and your joyful exuberance. Bless our singing and rejoicing this holiday season and evermore. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
—Wednesday Lampinen