Thursday, December 08, 2011

"The Theme of My Song," part 3

On Tuesday I posted part 1; yesterday I posted part 2, and here is the conclusion. I did have three other people share the "theme of their song" in between parts 2 and 3, but I don't have their talks. The challenge for you (and for the brunch attendees) is to not just let it be the theme of MY song, but to ask yourself, "What is the theme of my song?" Where do I see God at work with a consistent message of love, mercy or grace in my own life?

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We are right at the beginning of the Christmas season, and the songs that we sing during this time are a virtual goldmine for themes of God’s character and his saving grace. Think of the Christmas carols that we love – don’t they all bring a message of joy and hope and peace? “Joy to the world! The Lord has come!” Or, “Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.”

What I’d like to do now is to invite you to contemplate what is the “theme of your song.” Maybe one springs to mind right away, or maybe your brain is now racing or freezing up. But I’m not leaving you on your own; if you look in the middle of your program for this morning, you’ll find a page that says “The Theme of My Song” at the top (see below for blog readers). Would you to take a few minutes and look that over… and contemplate a line or two that particularly resonate with you. Why is that? Or, if you have another Christmas carol that you particularly love, why do you love it?

I know this: God IS at work in your life, in his endless love and mercy. Do you hear the theme of your song? How will you sing along?

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

“The First Noel”

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
“Joy to the World”
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

“O Come All Ye Faithful”

Yea! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! For evermore be Thy name adored.
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.

“Silent Night”

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth


1 comment:

Melodee said...

I loved your talk, and I knew the theme of my song immediately: "Do not fear, for I am with you."

I guess that's Emmanuel theme! :)