Christmas Day (Monday, December 25th, 2023)

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(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

And so we come to the end of our Advent Song Reflections. Today is all about celebrating, and so we celebrate. God has come to us! He has demonstrated his love for us in the most amazing way! If that isn’t worth celebrating, what is?

For today we’re simply posting songs of celebration and worship, in the hopes that they add to the joy of your day.

Joy to the World (lyrics here)

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee/Angels We Have Heard on High (lyrics here)

For Unto Us A Child Is Born (lyrics here)

Light of the World (lyrics here)

Christmas Eve (Sunday, December 24th, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

With Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday, combining with the Fourth Sunday of Advent, churches around the world will be very busy today indeed. Morning services concluding Advent will give way to evening services celebrating Christmas Eve, and in many parts of the world (including ours) there will also be a service on Christmas morning to ring in the day with Scripture and carols about what God has done.

This will be a day filled with wonderful songs, important truths from God’s Word, and thoughtful reflections from preachers and teachers around the globe. I would not dare try to add to what is already a very full day with more words or thoughts or personal stories…it’s time to let the Story speak for itself.

To that end, we will simply spend today with Scripture and song. Three times you are invited to read the Scripture slowly and prayerfully, listen to the song, then read the lyrics slowly and prayerfully as well. Make note of what the Spirit calls you to pay attention to—the things that catch your eye or stir your spirit. As you pay attention to that movement inside of you, offer it to God in prayer before moving to the next section.

May your Christmas Eve be filled with joy and wonder at the story of God’s love!

First Reading for Sunday: Psalm 96 (NRSV)

O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, "The LORD is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity."
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
Let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD;
For he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

Song: The Wild Wood Carol (lyrics below for reflection)

Sing O the wild wood, the green holly,
The silent river and barren tree;
The humble creatures that no man sees:
Sing O the wild wood.

A weary journey one winter’s night;
No hope of shelter, no rest in sight.
Who was the creature that bore Mary?
A simple donkey.

And when they came into Beth’lem Town
They found a stable to lay them down;
For their companions that Christmas night,
An ox and an ass.

And then an angel came down to earth
To bear the news of the Saviour’s birth;
The first to marvel were shepherds poor,
And sheep with their lambs.

Sing O the wild wood, the green holly,
The silent river and barren tree;
The humble creatures that no man sees:
Sing O the wild wood.

Words and Music: John Rutter

Second Reading for Sunday: Titus 3:4-7 (NRSV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Song: See Amid the Winter’s Snow (lyrics below for reflection)

See amid the winter's snow
Born for us on earth below
See the tender Lamb appears
Promised from eternal years

Hail, thou ever blessed morn
Hail, redemption's happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem, Hallelujah!

Sacred infant, all divine
What a tender love was thine
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this

Hail, thou ever blessed morn
Hail, redemption's happy dawn
Sing through all Jerusalem
Christ is born in Bethlehem, Hallelujah!

Third Reading for Sunday: Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.

Song: Night of Silence/Silent Night (lyrics below for reflection)

Cold are the people, winter of life
We tremble in shadows this cold endless night
Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping
Flowers that will echo the sunrise
Fire of hope is our only warmth
Weary, it's flame will be dying soon.

Voice in the distance, call in the night
On wind you enfold us You speak of the light
Gentle on the ear you whisper softly
Rumours of a dawn so embracing
Breathless love awaits darkened souls
Soon will we know of the morning.

Spirit among us, shine like the star
Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar
Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely
Rising in the warmth of your Son's love
Star unknowing of night and day
Spirit we wait for your loving Son.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Words and Music: David Haas/Franz Gruber

Twenty-First Day of Advent (Saturday, December 23rd, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

For this final week of Advent Song Reflections we will be using Scripture from a traditional Lessons and Carols service. You can read about the service of Lessons and Carols here.

Words of Reflection

It seems entirely appropriate (and I assure you, it was completely unplanned) that our final Saturday instrumental reflection falls on the day where our text is from the first chapter of John. In our Scripture today we have the apostle’s remarkably poetic and sublime description of the incarnate Word, and as we consider that text we listen to a wordless carol.

Although the carol isn’t really wordless, is it? When something as familiar as “O Come All Ye Faithful” plays, we can’t help but hear the words in our head, which is a really fascinating phenomenon if you think about it. We don’t have to be listening to an actual recording of the words to “hear” them—there is a very real sensation of listening to words even though they are not being uttered at all. Scientists have studied this and described it in terms far too complicated for me, but my very basic understanding of it is that the brain activity when we “think” words is remarkably similar to the activity that takes place when we actually hear them.

Sometimes we can even hear the words being spoken in voices that have long since left us. This truth rings true for me at Christmastime in a way like no other season, because at this time of year I can hear my dad’s voice singing passionately even though he has been gone for many years. My dad loved Christmas carols deeply, and all those years of standing next to him at late-night candlelight services have left a permanent acoustic image in my head of him singing them at the top of his lungs. “O Come All Ye Faithful” was a particular favorite of his, and I am so thankful for this memory that comes alive in such a unique and almost miraculous way—for a moment each Christmas, it’s as if he’s still standing next to me praising God and basking in the joy of the Incarnation. In the way we are fearfully and wonderfully made, words can seem to come to life inside of us.

What a good image for us to sit with today—words becoming real and vibrant and living and breathing for us in a way we don’t fully understand, but can still experience. Because for all of the attempts by theologians to explain the Incarnation…I still can’t grasp it. I don’t think I ever will.

But I can experience it. And in this case, it is far more than a memory. The Word of God that became flesh so long ago is still “living and active,” to borrow a phrase from Hebrews. When we lift our voices in praise at Christmas, we are not merely celebrating something that happened two thousand years ago…we are also celebrating the living presence of Christ in our midst today.

“The Word became flesh and lived among us,” as John says. The Word still lives among us by the power of his Spirit, and by that same Spirit his voice is still speaking to us, calling us to deeper fellowship, more fervent prayer, and more passionate worship. Let’s embrace that invitation as we join our voices with the heavenly chorus over these next couple of days:

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Reading for Saturday: John 1:1-14 (NRSV)
St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Song: O Come All Ye Faithful, Instrumental (lyrics below for reflection)

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

God of God, Light of Light,
Lo, He abhors not the virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten not created;

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Questions for Contemplation:

For today’s contemplation, spend time considering these three questions and offer your responses to God in prayer:

How have you experience Jesus as the living Word of God?

John describes the Word as being full of both “grace” and “truth.” What do those mean for you? What does it mean for you that Jesus is full of both?

Are there voices from your past that you can hear in your head worshiping Jesus this Christmas season? Who has been a witness to you of pure, unbridled praise?

More Carols

Sometimes in a Lessons and Carols service you will hear more than one carol given in response to a particular reading. During this week, you will find in this section after the devotional some additional carols that connect to the passage we’ve been sitting with for that day.

Candlelight Carol (lyrics here)

Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light (lyrics here)

Twentieth Day of Advent (Friday, December 22nd, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

For this final week of Advent Song Reflections we will be using Scripture from a traditional Lessons and Carols service. You can read about the service of Lessons and Carols here.

Words of Reflection

At one church Sharon and I served we heard a recurring story about one of the previous pastors. It turns out that when he would find himself invited to a church member’s house at Christmas time he would look to see if they had a nativity set, and if that nativity set had a set of three wise men he would pull a harmless, but instructional, prank: he’d take the wise men away from the manger scene and place them somewhere else in the house entirely. We’d hear stories of how the wise men were found in garages, bathrooms, and all sorts of interesting places, positioned as if on a journey to the room where the nativity set was placed.

The pastor, of course, was making a point: the magi of Matthew’s gospel weren’t present at the nativity scene. At the time Jesus was born they were not in Bethlehem. As it turns out, our picture of their role in the Christmas story has been informed more by works of art and pop culture (like the animated TV special “The Little Drummer Boy”) than by Scripture. For example, we assume there were three because three gifts are mentioned, but in reality we don’t know how many there were. And many church traditions (and songs) refer to them as “kings,” but that isn’t in the biblical record. They might indeed have been royalty, or at the very least had royal connections as astrologers, but in the end we just don’t know.

But here’s what we do know: they recognized the birth of a king, and they came to honor him with gifts—gifts which themselves carry deep meaning. That’s why, even with a minor “glitch” in the song’s title, I’ve always appreciated “We Three Kings.” It’s such a beautiful description of the gifts and what they represent for the one born in Bethlehem:

Gold, a gift signifying royalty
Frankincense, a gift signifying worship
Myrrh, a gift signifying burial

In those three gifts we have powerful declarations of who Jesus is, and the carol sums up those declarations with three simple words: “King…God…sacrifice.” Simple, yet within them profound truth: Jesus is the King to whom we bow our knee in service, the God to whom we ascribe all glory and honor, and the sacrifice to whom we owe our eternal destiny.

These are three words worth sitting with prayerfully today as part of our Advent journey.

Glorious now, behold Him, arise
King and God and sacrifice
Alleluia, alleluia
Sounds through the Earth and skies

Reading for Friday: Matthew 2: 1-12 (NRSV)
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Song: We Three Kings (lyrics here)

Today we offer you two different versions of this carol—a traditional choir arrangement and a contemporary version.

Traditional Choir:

Contemporary version:

Questions for Contemplation:

Spend some time sitting with the three words: King…God…Sacrifice. What do those words stir in your heart and soul? Do you gravitate to one in particular? Why?

There is a popular phrase you find on various Christian gifts like mugs and t-shirts this time of year: “Wise Men Still Seek Him.” What does it mean for you to seek Christ? In what ways have you found him? In what ways are you still seeking? In prayer, offer your answer to the former as gratitude, to the latter as a cry of the heart.

The story of the magi is, at its heart, a story of worship—they came to “pay homage.” What does that phrase speak to you? Spend some time in worshipful prayer as you conclude your time of reflection.

More Carols

Sometimes in a Lessons and Carols service you will hear more than one carol given in response to a particular reading. During this week, you will find in this section after the devotional some additional carols that connect to the passage we’ve been sitting with for that day.

Carol of the Magi (lyrics here)

The First Noel (lyrics here)

Nineteenth Day of Advent (Thursday, December 21st, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

For this final week of Advent Song Reflections we will be using Scripture from a traditional Lessons and Carols service. You can read about the service of Lessons and Carols here.

Words of Reflection

The Christmas story is filled with visitations by angels, but of all the times they show up, it’s the appearance to the shepherds I wish I could have witnessed most of all. The angelic messages for Zechariah, Joseph, and Mary are precious, intimate, holy moments that I think are best left only for them, but I would give anything to experience what happened on the hillsides of Bethlehem that first Christmas night.

Imagine what it must have been like—the shepherds simply watching over their flocks, the quiet rustle of sheep in the fields, the stillness of the night air and then…everything changes. First one angel appears, and Luke tells us that in that moment the “glory of the Lord” shone around them. I used to think that was referring only to the angels, but “them” is clearly indicating the shepherds—they were literally enveloped in the glory of God at that moment. No wonder they were terrified!

Thankfully, the angel tells them there is no reason to be afraid, because he’s there for an important birth announcement—the coming of God’s Savior:

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’”—Luke 2:10-11 (NRSV)

Each year as I seek to wrap my head around what God was doing on that first Christmas, I find within that pronouncement from the angel six words that absolutely enrapture me:

—Good News
—Great Joy
—All People

You could spend the entirety of Advent simply contemplating those six words, couldn’t you?

Christ’s coming is Good News! In the birth of Jesus, God invites humanity to embrace reconciliation, forgiveness, and transformation. In the birth of Jesus the powers of evil are given notice that their reign is coming to an end. In the birth of Jesus we find the beginning of God’s new creation work that will culminate in a Kingdom where suffering, heartache, and death will be no more. Christ’s coming is Good News!

In light of that, we know Great Joy! Not the happiness of the moment that is fleeting, but the foundational joy of knowing we are loved by the God of the universe, of knowing that he not only saw our lowly state but he entered it himself to raise us above it. We know the joy of intimate fellowship with our Creator, of friendship with his only Son, and the abiding presence and power of his Spirit. Christ’s coming is Great Joy!

And these gifts of Good News and Great Joy are not only for a select few, but are offered to All People! In Jesus the promise to Abraham is made real: “…through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed…” (Gen. 22:18, NIV). In a world where humanity excels at division and sect-making, the angel reminds us that in Christ we are all God’s children. The Good News and the Great Joy are for All People!

How blessed the shepherds were to be the first “civilians” to know what God had done, and no wonder their story is filled with wonder, amazement, and worship. As the story continues it also features proclamation—the shepherds can’t help but share what they have seen and heard, and not only do I wish I had been on that hillside with the shepherds that night—I also wish I could been with them as they shared their story. Imagine he look on the faces of Bethlehem as they took in all that the shepherds had both heard and seen:

Good News of Great Joy for All People!

Reading for Thursday: Luke 2:8-16 (NRSV)
The shepherds go to the manger.

Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.

Song: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (lyrics here)

Today we offer you two different versions of this carol—the traditional American tune and the traditional British tune.

American Version:

British Version:

Questions for Contemplation:

Spend some time praying with the six words: Good News, Great Joy, All People. How do they inspire you to pray? In what ways do they call you to worship, gratitude, and intercession?

How would you have responded if you had been one of the shepherds? What in their story speaks to your heart as one also called to come worship the Christ child?

Here are two verses from today’s carol that are sometimes left out of modern arrangements. Spend some time praying with these words, especially in light of things happening in our world today:

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;
Oh, 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.
Oh, rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

More Carols

Sometimes in a Lessons and Carols service you will hear more than one carol given in response to a particular reading. During this week, you will find in this section after the devotional some additional carols that connect to the passage we’ve been sitting with for that day.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night (lyrics here)

Angels from the Realms of Glory (lyrics here)

Eighteenth Day of Advent (Wednesday, December 20th, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

For this final week of Advent Song Reflections we will be using Scripture from a traditional Lessons and Carols service. You can read about the service of Lessons and Carols here.

Words of Reflection

When you read the story of Jesus’ nativity in Luke’s gospel, it would be easy to miss just how monumental this particular birth actually is, because Luke uses such matter-of-fact language to describe it:

“While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.”—Luke 2:6-7 (NRSV)

There is nothing earth-shattering about the language Luke uses here, and yet the event he describes in these two verses is the most monumental event that human history had known up until that point. Luke the physician gives no grand language to the event, he describes it as he would any other birth. But, of course, this is no ordinary arrival. The angel Gabriel has made that clear, and the shepherds are just about to discover that same truth—that God has sent his own Son to us, that the firstborn of all creation is now a firstborn son wrapped in cloth and lying in a food trough.

As we approach Bethlehem in our Advent journey, part of what we’re invited to hold in our hearts is the seeming contradiction of the incarnation. How can God become man? How can the eternal, divine one become a time-bound mortal? And how can we begin to comprehend the reason he has come—to take away our sin and reconcile us to God?

Years ago the Christian poet Luci Shaw, reflecting on the Incarnation, penned these words in a poem called “Mary’s Song”:

Blue homespun and the bend of my breast
Keep warm this small hot naked star
Fallen to my arms. (Rest…
You who have had so far to come.)
Now nearness satisfies the body of God sweetly. Quiet he lies
Whose vigor hurled a universe. He sleeps
Whose eyelids have not closed before.

His breath (so slight it seems
No breath at all) once ruffled the dark deeps
To sprout a world. Charmed by doves’ voices,
The whisper of straw, he dreams,
Hearing no music from his other spheres.
Breath, mouth, ears, eyes,
He is curtailed who overflowed all skies,
All years. Older than eternity, now he is new.
Now native to earth as I am, nailed to my poor planet, caught
That I might be free, blind in my womb
To know my darkness ended,
Brought to this birth for me to be new-born,
And for him to see me mended,
I must see him torn.

When we face questions too deep to fully comprehend, we need the gift of poets. They find the words that often fail us. In this work Shaw gently invites us, in Mary’s voice, to consider the dual nature of the child she holds to her breast. And not only does she hold the tension of the incarnation in her words, she also holds the tension that comes from knowing what will happen to this child when he reaches adulthood:

And for him to see me mended,
I must see him torn

This is our advent journey during this final week—to come to the stable and gaze upon the Incarnate One, the One who has come to transform and restore us.

Come to Bethlehem and behold the God made man…who will make us whole.

Come to Bethlehem and behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Reading for Wednesday: Luke 2:1-7 (NRSV)
St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

Song: Behold the Lamb of God (lyrics here)


Questions for Contemplation:

What helps you sit with the mystery of the Incarnation as you make your Advent journey? Are there Scripture passages, carols, songs, or other tools that have been helpful for you? How can you be intentional about dwelling in that mystery in the coming days as Christmas approaches?

Spend some time reading the poem “Mary’s Song” slowly and prayerfully. What words or phrases catch your attention? Why? Do you find yourself resisting any of the words or descriptions she uses? Pay attention to that, because the Spirit can even use moments that provoke us for our growth.

Andrew Peterson’s song invites us to consider the death and resurrection of Jesus even as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is not an easy thing to do. Spend some time reflecting on this invitation and offer your response to God in prayer.

More Carols

Sometimes in a Lessons and Carols service you will hear more than one carol given in response to a particular reading. During this week, you will find in this section after the devotional some additional carols that connect to the passage we’ve been sitting with for that day.

Infant Holy Infant Lowly (lyrics here)

Nativity Carol (lyrics here)

Seventeenth Day of Advent (Tuesday, December 19th, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

For this final week of Advent Song Reflections we will be using Scripture from a traditional Lessons and Carols service. You can read about the service of Lessons and Carols here.

Words of Reflection

Have you ever seen a word cloud? It’s a graphic representation of a list of words gathered from a source (such as a book or an historical document) that shows which words are most common by making words larger the more often they appear. I recently fed the various Christmas texts from Scripture into a word cloud generator, and here is what it produced:

So the larger the word, the more often it shows up in those texts. Can you tell which word is the most common of all?

The word “will.”

I find that very enlightening, because while it’s a word that can be a noun (such as “God’s will” or “writing a will”), in this context it is most often a verb—it’s a declaration of something that is absolute and definite.

It will happen.

Over half of the occurrences of this word come from our text from today in Luke chapter 1, which details the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary. In the course of his conversation with her, Gabriel makes a number of declarative statements:

…you will conceive in your womb and bear a son
…you will name him Jesus
…He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High
…the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David
…He will reign over the house of Jacob forever
…of his kingdom there will be no end
…The Holy Spirit will come upon you
…the power of the Most High will overshadow you
…the child to be born will be holy
…he will be called Son of God

“Will” is such a simple word, and yet it is so powerful. It is a word of absolute certainty. God is faithful, and will do as he promises. In a world full of “maybes,” it is comforting to know that the plan of God is steadfast and sure.

There is another word that doesn’t appear explicitly in the texts, so you won’t find it in our word cloud, but it is also both simple and powerful and important to the Christmas story.

The word yes.

As Luke records it, this is not what Mary said exactly. But it is what Mary said. She said it when she uttered this faithful and trusting reply:

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

In the face of an unbelievable promise and an immeasurable task—raising the very Son of God—Mary says “yes.” Or to put it another way…she ways “I will.” The history of the entire world is altered because of her reply. In response to God’s faithful declarations, Mary makes a faithful pledge—she will live her life according to the promise, no matter how difficult it may be or where the road may lead.

What a picture of faithfulness and submission for us. We will never be asked to do what she did, but we would still do well to model Mary’s “yes,” her “I will.” Mary trusted God, and that trust is one of the most beautiful parts of the Christmas story.

Today’s song is a beautiful rendition of Mary’s response, and although it is on the longer side I believe it to be well worth your time to listen prayerfully and let the beauty of her “yes” penetrate your soul. As Mary replies, “Be Born in Me,” we are invited to allow Christ to be born anew in us.

Reading for Tuesday: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

Then the angel departed from her.


Song: Be Born in Me (lyrics here)


Questions for Contemplation:

How does the story of Mary’s response model faith and trust for you, not just in her encounter with Gabriel but the whole of her story in Scripture? Spend some time in grateful prayer for Mary’s witness and ask God to help you know that same faith and trust.

What does it mean for you pray, “make my heart your Bethlehem?” Sit with that imagery for a bit and consider how Christ might be born anew in you as you celebrate his birth this year.

Spend some time simply contemplating the word cloud in the devotional above. What words stand out for you? Do you find in any of the words of the Christmas story a particular invitation or opportunity for prayer? Spend time with God offering to him your response.

More Carols

Sometimes in a Lessons and Carols service you will hear more than one carol given in response to a particular reading. During this week, you will find in this section after the devotional some additional carols that connect to the passage we’ve been sitting with for that day.

(The Angel Gabriel lyrics here)

Breath of Heaven (lyrics here)

Sixteenth Day of Advent (Monday, December 18th, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

For this final week of Advent Song Reflections we will be using Scripture from a traditional Lessons and Carols service. You can read about the service of Lessons and Carols here.

Words of Reflection

A popular image in medieval Christian art was something known as the “Jesse Tree,” which would depict salvation history as a tree of many branches, each branch telling a story from the Bible. The final branch, of course, would be the coming of Christ, which led to Jesse Trees being a popular symbol at Christmas time. The idea of representing God’s work of salvation with a tree was inspired by the prophecy in Isaiah 11 that we often hear during Advent:

“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”—Isaiah 11:1 (NRSV)

Jesse Trees would often feature in the stained glass of cathedrals, with one of the most famous being found in Chartres Cathedral in France, dating from the 12th century:

For these medieval artists, the use of a tree to symbolize God’s plan of salvation had a dual meaning. Not only did it refer back to Isaiah’s prophecy, but it also echoed a tree that appears much later in the story—the cross of Christ. For these artists Jesus was the blossom of the tree in both his birth and his death. In his birth, he fulfills the prophecy of lineage from Isaiah 11. In his death, he fulfills the prophecy of sacrifice from Isaiah 53, a passage that has similar imagery:

“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.”—Isaiah 53:2 (NIV)

The Jesse Tree continues to inspire artists today, and features in a modern stained glass window dedicated in 2019 in the city cathedral of Glasgow, Scotland:

Photo by Melanie Ehsan

You can read some words from the artist about the Glasgow Cathedral window’s design here, but there was one quote from her that really caught my attention:

“It has been said that there is a scarlet thread that runs through the whole Bible. One example is the account of Rahab who tied a scarlet thread in her window – she and her household were saved when Jericho was destroyed. In this window, this ribbon of red glass represents the redeeming blood of Christ.”—Emma Butler-Cole Aiken

The ribbon of red in her design is striking, and it provides us with a powerful reminder of why Jesus came: that we might be redeemed. In her window, the tree of Jesse becomes the tree of Calvary, and to sit in the shadow of both is to see both the plan of God and the love of God displayed.

Reading for Monday: Isaiah 11: 1-4a; 6 (NRSV)
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see
or decide by what his ears hear,

but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor
and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;

The wolf shall live with the lamb;
the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the lion will feed together,
and a little child shall lead them.

Song: Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming (lyrics here)


Questions for Contemplation:

What images from Isaiah 11 capture your attention? Why? As you contemplate the the peace that the coming of the Savior brings, what does it stir in your soul?

What stories from salvation history have spoken powerfully to you in your life? What characters from the Bible has God used to communicate his love to you? Spend some time in gratitude for the stories of Scripture that reveal who God is and how much he loves us.

The final verse of the carol is rich with poetic imagery and theological depth: the sweet flower from Jesse’s lineage is also the light that dispels the darkness. The incarnate Son of God is the one who saves us from sin and helps us with our burdens. Spend some time in prayer with these truths and ask God to root them deeper in your life as Christmas approaches.

More Carols

Sometimes in a Lessons and Carols service you will hear more than one carol given in response to a particular reading. During this week, you will find in this section after the devotional some additional carols that connect to the passage we’ve been sitting with for that day.

There is a Flower (lyrics here)

The Isaiah Carol (lyrics here)

Third Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 17th, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

In many churches, the Third Sunday of Advent is given a special name: Gaudete Sunday. The name comes from the Latin word gaudete meaning “Rejoice,” which is the first word of one of the Lectionary readings for today:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.”—Philippians 5:16-24 (NRSV)

The theme of Gaudete Sunday is joy, plain and simple. It’s meant to be a day set aside for the wonder of God’s promises and how they are made true in Christ, and how they will find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s return. In traditions where Advent is considered a reflective or even penitential season, Gaudete Sunday is a day where that is set aside in favor of a celebration of joy and gladness rooted in the redemption God has given to us and will one day make complete. (You can read more about Gaudete Sunday here)

When Paul says, “Rejoice always,” I think it’s important to remember that he’s not saying, “Be happy always.” There is a profound difference between happiness and joy, although they are often related. A lot has been written through the centuries on that difference, but one of my favorite illustrations of the distinction between the two comes from a list written not too long ago for the website of Compassion International. Here are a few of the items from that list (you can read the entire article here):

—Joy is in the heart. Happiness is on the face.
—Joy is of the soul. Happiness is of the moment.
—Joy transcends. Happiness reacts.
—Joy runs deep and overflows, while happiness hugs hello.

The Christmas season does not automatically guarantee happiness. In fact, for many, happiness is elusive at this time of year. But during Advent we have an opportunity to reflect on joy as something that is not circumstantial, but is rooted in the very faithfulness of God. Paul spoke of that faithfulness pretty directly: “He will do this.” The apostle is referring to God’s coming redemption of all creation, made possible by the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This is, indeed, reason to rejoice.

One of the most joyous parts of the Christmas story occurs when the angels appear to the shepherds, and so on this day of rejoicing we will sit with a carol inspired by that encounter: “Angels We Have Heard on High.” There are two versions of the hymn below—one traditional choral arrangement, and one modern acoustic worship version. Both invite you to join your voice with the angels:

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Scripture for Meditation:

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’
The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.”—Psalm 126 (NRSV)

Song: Angels We Have Heard on High (lyrics here)

Traditional Choral Version

Modern Worship Version

Questions for Contemplation:

Think back on times when the “Joy of the Lord” became real for you in a new way. Spend some time in grateful prayer for the ways God has brought joy into your life.

Sit prayerfully with this line from the psalm: “The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.” How does that verse resonate in your own soul? How has God done great things for you? How have you rejoiced?

Like many hymns and carols, our song today features questions. Imagine you are among the shepherds, first in the fields then making the journey to Bethlehem—how would you answer these questions?

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?

Fourteenth Day of Advent (Saturday, December 16th, 2023)

If you’re new to Advent Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Advent Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.
(please note—due to copyright, versions of songs on the playlist may differ from those used here)

Words of Reflection

Sometimes it is the shortest sentences in the Bible that can impact us the most.

One text that appears in the three-year Scripture cycle for Advent is Philippians 4:4-7:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

It is a passage that is often quoted during the Advent week focusing on “peace,” as it’s the place where Paul talks about the “peace that passes all understanding.” And during a season that can be filled with all sorts of anxiety, the apostle’s exhortation to pray “in every situation” is a good one to think about in the midst of shopping, family gatherings, and other holiday activities.

But I think the reason this passage was included in the Advent reading schedule is not the theme of peace, but instead the simple four words we find in verse five: The Lord is near.

Christmas is all about the nearness of God. The incarnation is where the God of the universe draws closer us than we even thought possible. He comes and lives as one of us, among us and alongside us. The distance between humanity and its Creator is breached by love, and because of that love we no longer need live a single day apart from him.

Theologians refer to this as the immanence of God, from the Latin word “manere,” meaning “to dwell.” It contrasts with transcendence, which literally means to “climb beyond.” In a way, the entire meaning of Christmas is captured in the distinction between these two words: the one who is beyond us has come to dwell with us.

The Lord is near.

On these Saturdays of Advent we offer instrumental versions of familiar carols with an invitation to simply sit in prayerful consideration of the words. Today we listen to a song that asks a straightforward question: “What Child is This?” The lyrics then go on to answer that question in no uncertain terms: this is Christ the King, the Word made flesh, the King of Kings.

This is God drawing near to us. May this time of reflection find you drawing near to him.

Scripture for Meditation:

“The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.
The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”—Psalm 145:13b-19 (NIV)

Song: What Child is This? (instrumental, lyrics appear below for reading slowly and prayerfully)

What Child is this who laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
Come peasant king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Questions for Contemplation:

Spend some time simply sitting in prayerful wonder at the truth that in Christ, God draws near to us. What does it mean for you that the God who speaks the universe into existence desires to be in relationship with you? How do you experience the transcendent in the immanent?

The Psalmist says that God is near “to all who call on him in truth.” And yet we aren’t always aware of it, are we? What helps you to continue to trust in God’s nearness even when you can’t sense it?

This ancient carol is filled with invitations, but they sometimes come to us in archaic language, such as “bring Him laud” and “own Him.” What do those phrases speak to you? What invitation from God do you sense in them?