LSB 367 Angels from the Realms of Glory

LSB 367 Angels from the Realms of Glory

Pipe Organ - Virtual Church

Orchestra and Congregation

The Angels initiate a new round of praise at Jesus Christ's arrival in Bethlehem. The Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest) sung by the angels in Luke 2 jump starts four succeeding choruses of praise to the Triune God. The Angels' creation song continues with a second verse as the New Creation begins in earnest at the birth of Christ. "Come and Worship Christ," is the angels' call to all.

The shepherds cannot remain idly by as the birth of Jesus unfolds so close by.  God arriving in the flesh and blood of Jesus the Christ calls them to bend their knees beside the manger. The Light of Light has come to shine on us. "Come and Worship Christ," is the shepherds' call to all.

The wise men are ordinarily all wrapped up in their speculations.  We are constantly overwhelmed with theories-- pump public money into banks, change payroll taxes, take from some, give to others, redirect and redistribute, make everyone fend for themselves, let everyone keep whatever they earn and let the chips fall where they may, spend more, spend less. As many theories exist as people. Everyone's a sage. Everyone knows what we should do while nobody thinks we are doing the right things. We pray for world leaders in our congregation every week. Our sages need to stop their theorizing and answer the call of the wisest of the wise men. "Come and Worship Christ," is the sages' call to all.

Those who believe in Christ form One Holy Universal and Apostolic Church. All  believers join the Gloria Chorus in stanza four. We sing in light of the Christ's first coming and in anticipation of his final appearing. "Come and Worship Christ," is the Christian's call to all.







The Call to Worship is completed as all creation joins in praising Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "Come and Worship Christ," is Creation's call to all.


Hebrews 1:6 

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Luke 2:8-17 

The Shepherds and the Angels

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 

Matthew 2:1-11 

The Visit of the Wise Men

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

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

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

Psalms 148 

Praise the Name of the LORD

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;*
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!

LSB 366 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

LSB 366 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

The Carol's Story

Julie Andrews It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Luke 2:13-14 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear was first included in the Lutheran Worship hymnal and here also includes an altered verse 4.  The traditional carol's lyrics do not include the specific reference to Christ.

The angel's words lay out the prospect that Christ's arrival in Bethlehem will end every level and layer of conflict between God and humanity, between men and women, between brothers, and between nations.

In the chaos of the time of the Judges, the "leaders" prescription for the chaos was "a king like all the other nations." They were wrong.

When Jesus describes the way of the cross to His disciples, Peter bucks Jesus' system and Jesus has to put him in his place, too.

Every person imagines what peace would look like from their own point of view. Only God is able to see and act from His point of view. Our greatest challenge in recognizing what makes for peace is that we want to hold on to this world. We imagine that, even in its brokenness, it can still be our forever home. We imagine that our version of peace is the same as God's and that if it isn't, it must be God who is wrong.

The rounds of wars, human conflicts, national and international incidents, interpersonal conflicts and all the other rampant effects of sin among us are still smaller than the peace God actually provides through his Son's ministry. The peace provided by the Lord exists to cut across our brokenness.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace, I give unto you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

LSB 364 Away in a Manger

364 Away in a Manger

Children's Choir

Angelina Female Solo Vocalist

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take

Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Away in a Manger remains a Christmas Carol with many kinds of memories. Because it speaks so tenderly of the Lord's loving care for children, and because its range suits most children's voices, Away in a Manger will be a standard Christmas Carol for the youngest children for some time to come.

Many of us may remember learning it as one of the first Christmas Carols we ever learned by heart and performed as part of our church's Christmas pageant or concert. You may have pictures or videos of your children singing Away in a Manger from Christmas Services that seem like they must have happened yesterday.

The first stanzas set the scene with the most simple images. The believers of any age prays that the Lord will be with us to drive away all fears and ward off all dangers to body or soul. The love and protection the Lord Jesus promises to all of His people is especially important to children and for those involved in nurturing children in Christ whether their own or not.

My wife, Heidi, and I are committed to the lives of our three daughters because experience proved to us very early on how precious each one of them were. For us, this carol touches another place and set of promises. We, along with so many other parents, bear the battle scars of wrestling with death over the lives of our children and finding God's promises our refuge and strength.

Had my son, Isaiah, been four days older in the womb, he would have received a birth certificate. As it was he was not recognized by the state as even having been.  Heidi and I knew better; he had been. We had felt him with our bodies and with our hearts. We had already counted him a part of our future. There is no paper from the state to recognize him-instead we have promises.

Revelation 3:5

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Instead of raising these children up in our own households, experiencing and exploring all of the variety of life, we will get to know them only in heaven. We will recognize them by their heartbeats. We will recognize them by the kicks of their feet.  We will hear their stories for the very first time while accompanied by angel choruses. We will see whether the Lord did any better a job of raising them than we might have. We got to know some of our children for a very short time. The futures we had mapped out with them were cut short. Our dreams never grew into the realities we had hoped for, and there is a place where hurt and hope hold onto each other in the waiting of these days.

Parents like us live a portion of our lives in "Advent waiting" every day for the rest of our lives. Advent is part of our balance. All families are divided between the church militant and the church triumphant. All His beloved children are in the Lord's tender care.  We all rely on these simple and clear promises that the Lord of love cares for us and is caring for every single life we loved in His everlasting embrace.

LSB 363 Silent Night, Holy Night

LSB 363 Silent Night, Holy Night

Norwegian Soprano Sissel sings Silent Night

Mannheim Steamroller Instrumental Version

Bing Crosby

Silent Night has few rivals as the most popular Christmas Carol of all time. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber.


The carol was first performed in the Nikolaus-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria, on December 24, 1818. Mohr had composed the words two years earlier, in 1816, but on Christmas Eve brought them to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service.

Bing Crosby's rendition is one of only thirty singles to sell over 10 million copies.

The popularity of Silent Night stems from simplicity of melody and expressive lyrics. These combine to highlight the Lukan Christmas narrative. The direct presentation of Mary and Jesus in stanza one brings our focus directly to the manger.  We can imagine ourselves kneeling at the manger adoring the newborn as hints of His true identity are planted - Virgin mother, Holy infant.

Stanza two takes us to the second scene of Luke's account. The Angels break their silence and the shepherds are caught in the surprise and wonder that something truly extraordinary is happening on this very night.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Through the long years of waiting for God's Champion to arrive on the field of battle, God had posted markers for those listening to Him. Where should we look for the Savior?  In every twist and turn of the story of God's people he traces where to look. A child of Adam and Eve - Abraham and Sarah - a Son of Jacob - a Son of Judah - a Son of  David - all of those long lists of names pointing us in the direction of the Savior end up with one last marker - look for the babe in the swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

How many children might there have been in Bethlehem that night? How many may have shared the same birthday? Who knows? Probably not a great many, but how many others would be contending for being the manger baby? Now we are down to one.

The carol now keys in on the divine titles given to Jesus by the Angels and these truly answer the solemn question, "Who is this?" Christ - Lord - Son of God - He is the one given to the world to stand in our place against every spiritual enemy. He is the one given by the Father to serve as Lord of all.  The Eternal Son of God makes us family once again. The Son makes us sons and daughters of God our Father.

Silent Night blends the comfort of home and the wonder of the Angel's announcement. Silent Night still provides an incredible witnessing opportunity. It has become acceptable as a cultural phenomena thanks to the many recordings of it by the most prominent popular artists who can't resist producing at least one Christmastime album. The direct unapologetic confession of faith enshrined in these lyrics give Jesus' disciples a marvelous opportunity to say, "Amen."

Luke 2:7-16

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Colossians 1:13

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

LSB 362 O Sing of Christ

LSB 362 O Sing of Christ

Interview with Hymn Writer Stephen Starke on Issues, Etc. 

Interview begins at minute 29.

Listen to an organ rendition here.

 

Pastor Steven Starke composed O Sing of Christ 

around "restoration".

Artistic restoration works to clean, repair, and revitalize masterpieces that have suffered under the accumulated wear and tear, dirt and grime of passing years. Dust and dirt, oils from passersby, soot from candles, automobile exhaust fumes, and the like all accumulate to hide the beauty trapped underneath.

The original intent of the Artist is a key concern.  Pastor Starke believed that excellent hymns recounting the events of Christmas already existed, but some of the themes tied up in the Christmas Readings were still longing to be explored in the poetry of hymnody. O Sing of Christ meditates on the Christ's Incarnation, God becoming "flesh and bone" for the very purpose of restoring human beings to their original intent.

Restoration work on Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes began in the late 1970's and was completed in 1994. The aims of the conservators were as follows:     (Aims of the conservators)

• To study the frescoes progressively, to analyse any discoveries and utilise the appropriate technical responses.
• To record every step of the operation in archival reports, photographs and film.
• To use only those procedures and materials which were simple, extensively tested, not harmful, and reversible.
• To repair cracks and structural damage that threatened the stability of the plaster.
• To remove layers of grime consisting of candle wax and soot that had been deposited by the burning of candles in the chapel for 500 years.
• To remove repainting by previous restorers that attempted to counteract the effects of soot and other accretions.
• To remove oil and animal fat used to counteract salination of areas where water had leaked through.
• To remove crystalline accretions of salt that had whitened areas where water had leaked through.
• To conserve surfaces that were in danger of further deterioration because of bubbling, and flaking.
• To restore sympathetically those areas where deterioration of one sort or another had obliterated details and caused loss of integrity to the whole, for example, filling a bad crack and painting the plaster in a colour matching the original.
• To maintain in small defined areas a physical historical record of the previous restorations that had taken place. 

God determined to roll back all of the effects of sin and death in one direct intervention. The first man's fall from God's grace passed brokenness right on down the line. Our broken human nature longs for restoration.  Christmas executes God's restoration plan by putting the Perfect One, the God-Man, center stage. Jesus is the perfect image of the perfect God and looks to gather us all into His perfection.  Jesus mode of restoration is a matter of dying and rising, but in that new birth we have a new family name and inheritance. The proof of the kindness of God is in his restoration efforts.

Titus 3:4-8

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

John 1:1, 4, 10-14 

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Romans 5:18-19

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Philippians 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

LSB 361 O Little Town of Bethlehem

LSB 361 O Little Town of Bethlehem

The little town of Bethlehem has a long and varied story in the scriptures. Bethlehem makes its first appearance as the burial place for Rachel (Genesis 35:19). Jacob and Rachel had two sons, Joseph (of technicolor deamcoat fame) and Benjamin. In the course of giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, Rachel died and Jacob buried her at Bethlehem.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel's_Tomb

The book of Ruth details how Ruth the Moabite married Boaz the Bethlehemite who then raised their family in Bethlehem - Obed fathered Jesse who in turn became the father of King David.

After David set up Jerusalem as his kingdom's capital, Bethlehem faded from the scene until Micah reminded the people of Jerusalem that they would need to return to their Bethlehem roots to see God in action.

Micah 5:2

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.

Bethlehem grows into a sign of Christ's humility.  The Bethlehem stable carries the devotional and poetic contrast to the Jerusalem Palace and Temple.  Bethlehem is revered today as Jesus birthplace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativity


Luke 2:3-7
The Birth of Jesus Christ

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

But the Eternal Word robing himself in human nature is only the first step as the hymn itself describes.  The Christmas journey moves that same Eternal Word into the hearts and minds of people.


John 14:23

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

The Christian Christmas plea is that the birth in Bethlehem is a vital first step, but it is not yet enough. The one who was born must also "impart to human hearts the blessings of His heaven." The simplicity and humility of the first Christmas is mirrored over and over again by the simple new birth miracle of faith and love as new Christians share in the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:16-19

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

LSB 360 All My Heart Again Rejoices

LSB 360 All My Heart Again Rejoices

Organ and Congregation

Brass Chorus

Softly from His lowly manger
   Jesus calls
   One and all,
“You are safe from danger.
Children, from the sins that grieve you
   You are freed;
   All you need
I will surely give you.”

Come, then, banish all your sadness!
   One and all,
   Great and small,
Come with songs of gladness.
We shall live with Him forever
   There on high
   In that joy
Which will vanish never.

Public domain


I had never heard this hymn before committing to meditate on it.  My guess is that "All My Heart Again Rejoices" is brand new to most of my North American friends. However, judging by the number of excellent renditions in Germany, it is well known across the pond (the Atlantic Ocean).

Lutheran Service Book promotional material claims that 200 hymns are introduced here for the first time for use in our congregations. The best hymns from the two most recent Synodical hymnals have been retained.  Getting familiar with these "new" hymns is another reason I embarked on this project. They stretch me. Stretching feels sore at first, but feels good as you get used to it.

I appreciate the simple MIDI tracks included with the Lutheran Service Builder. I can at least hear the simple melody line. Still, nothing prepared me for the youtube presentations of this tune I have been listening to from across Germany. Full Christmas Eve congregations with full organ and full orchestra belting out a hymn they obviously know well and love deelply. Beautiful.

A very important beginning to reflecting on Christmas begins with "Peace." The angels are famous for their proclamation of peace. Getting peace right requires that we first appreciate who and what the enemy is. Then, recognize how we are complicit with those enemies.

This is one of the real dangers of skipping Advent in favor of jumping right to Christmas. Advent, the penitential Advent, took a hard look at lawlessness, chaos, evil, sin, death, and hell. Advent marked the enemy targets and appreciated all the many ways that fallen human beings had turned traitor against their God, against each other, and against their own desire to do good.

Advent marked the enemy during these fasting days and loaded the ammo of each Feast Day.
Fire one: Christmas (God the Father gives the Son)
Fire two: Easter (God the Son gives His Life)
Fire three: Pentecost (God the Holy Spirit call, gathers, enlightens, and makes people holy)

Sin, Woe (suffering), death, and hell are in the cross-hairs from the start. Jesus didn't come to teach evil people how to be nice by being nice and then encouraging us with lots of "you-can-do-its." Jesus came to be the Truth. Truth is, the only thing to do with all that evil is kill it.  The good news is not that everything is "ok" now.  The good news is that Jesus has put all the enemies to death by his death and left them all in the grave when He rose.  The evil in our hearts, minds, souls, flesh and blood is included. Jesus' "Follow Me" is all inclusive.  The good news is that we have Jesus' death and resurrection to do the dying and rising for and in us by baptism into Christ and trust in the Truth.

Basic issues still remain - imagining everything is fine and dandy is delusional. Far too many things go terribly wrong to even keep track from one moment to the next. Imagining that some human effort of education, or science, or applied technology, or exploration, or diplomacy, or, or, or --- is finally going to make the difference, lets the real enemy hideout while we treat symptoms. If our appreciation of the enemy is too small, our solutions will never satisfy.  Evil is real; it needs to be cut off.  Death is real; it needs to be swallowed up in victory.

Come, then, banish all your sadness!
   One and all,
   Great and small,
Come with songs of gladness.
We shall live with Him forever
   There on high
   In that joy
Which will vanish never.



Luke 2:8-14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Hebrews 2:14
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Revelation 12:9-11

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

John 3:16-17

[Jesus said:] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 1:29

The next day [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.