LSB 374 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

LSB 374 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

Renaissance Instruments

Handbell Quartet - Very Impressive

Organ, Orchestra, & Chorus

The Undefiled

Mary demonstrated her faith embracing God the Father's declaration to her. She would carry the Christ, the Son of God, the LORD into the world.  She demonstrated her love embracing the babe himself and carrying Him in her arms. She demonstrated her humility and patience bearing the scorn and shame accompanying her calling as Virgin Mother. She demonstrated her devotion not seeking after some exalted place, but ready to be Jesus' disciple. Her testimony initiates the testimony of all the saved of all the race. Jesus, the Son of God is the Undefiled according to His Divinity and yet 100% human received through his mother, Mary, the Mother of God.

The Witnesses testify

The accounts of Jesus' conception, birth and early childhood lay out the evidence for answering the question, "Who is Jesus?" The catalog of witnesses testifying about Jesus early life give multiple, independent, and surprising accounts supporting Jesus' Divinity. The LORD arrives to begin New Creation to the earth and its people with angels and shepherds, and later, star and wise men. Each of these witnesses lend support to Gabriel's first testimony about Jesus, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High...the child to be born will be called Holy--the Son of God." A gulf has to this moment existed between God and humanity, between prophesy and fulfillment, between promise and Real Presence, but now all the foreshadowing gives way to reality. 

Mission Accomplished

In His work to save humanity, Jesus will embrace every aspect of human brokenness, suffering, pain, rebelliousness, and sin.  He will stand as our substitute, but remain the Undefiled. He remains without sin. In that way His sacrifice actually provides the New Creation we long for.  His resurrection life and divine kingdom of grace provided now in His Church pave the way for full fellowship without spot or stain or limitation in His eternal kingdom of power, New Creation without end.

Thanks be to God 

Luke 2:7, 12, 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.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 

Hebrews 7:26 

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 John  3:5

You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 

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 373 See Amid The Winter Snow

LSB 373 See Amid the Winter Snow

Hear this Carol

Luke 2:1-7

The Birth of Jesus Christ

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 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.

Jesus, Word of God, Creator and King of the Universe

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds,God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made;

Colossians 1:13-17

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Compassionate Savior

who for us men and for our salvation came down from heavenand was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man;

Genesis 22:8

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

John 1:29 

Behold, the Lamb of God

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

Jesus, Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. 

Teacher and Template of Humility

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Philippians 2:3-8

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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.

Wikipedia Article

LSB 372 O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger is

LSB 372 O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

Organ, Viola, & Chorus

5   Remember thou

     What glory now

     The Lord prepared thee for all earthly sadness.

     The angel host

     Can never boast

     Of greater glory, greater bliss or gladness.

6   The world may hold

     Her wealth and gold;

     But thou, my heart, keep Christ as thy true treasure.

     To Him hold fast

     Until at last

     A crown be thine and honor in full measure.

© 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011178.

Matthew 1:21-23

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
             (which means, God with us).


John 1:1-3 

The Word Became Flesh

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 were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.


Matthew 8:23-27 

Jesus Calms a Storm

When [Jesus] got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

John 17:23

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 



Romans 8:18 

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

LSB 371 Let Our Gladness Banish Sadness-Cas Radosti

LSB 371 Cas Radosti

Let Our Gladness Banish Sadness

Evanjelicky Spevnik 1995 - Guitar w/Solo Voice

Traditional Hymnal Version

Boni Pueri - Čas radosti veselosti

Chorus and Band

 

Let Our Gladness Banish Sadness sets all of the marvelous paradoxes of Christmas in front of our eyes. The lyrics give many facets of the Incarnation their due. The Creator of the entire universe lying humbly in an animal feed box. The Champion of the human race, requires His diapers changed. The angel chorus calls, God's people respond. The one who has all authority, power and dominion comes to serve and save.

Luke 2: 10-16

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. 

Galatians 4:4

But when the fullness of time had come,

God sent forth his Son,

born of woman, born under the law,

            to redeem those under the law

                        that we might receive adoption as sons

John 1:1-4, 14

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

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. 

LSB 370 What Child is This?

LSB 370 What Child is This?

King's Chaple Choir

John Michael Talbot

Classical Guitar

Isaiah's Ornament on our Christmas Tree 

Credit: Heidi Perling

Ever noticed that grief compounds? It’s collective. You feel sad about today’s hurt; and suddenly you’re thinking about grief from decades or years or months ago. You hurt now, but you remember Grandma, and that uncle, that child… and the pain still feels fresh.

And holidays can intensify all those feelings. Grief has a way of shattering the possibility of a “Holly, Jolly Christmas”. It’s hard to feel like this is the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” when what you want most is time with someone you loved.

I know. My husband and I lost our little boy about eleven years ago. (More of the story is here, if you’re interested: http://wp.me/p1ioTG-pR ) He was born very prematurely… the day after Christmas. Although the sadness has lost intensity over the years, our memories of him are still mingled with memories of Christmas celebrations. Sometimes it’s impossible to separate the two.

It’s really no use pretending we’re not sad, or faking “joyful” feelings for the sake of sparing our other children. They can see right through any pretending we do. We decided from the start to be honest with them about what had happened, and to find comfort together in knowing WHY Jesus came. It wasn’t just so we could have pretty scenes on Christmas cards, or sing familiar carols every year. He didn’t come “for the children” or so we could all muster up some feelings of good will for a week or two in winter.

He came because people die. Grandmas die; and babies die; and everyone sometime has to face that. There’s absolutely nothing we can do to stop it or make things right.

So God became human. To experience what we experience; to feel what we feel; yes. But especially to FIX the death problem.

That baby in a manger was on a journey to the cross, through the grave, and into life. He was on a quest to reach us, to love us, and to heal us. He came to give us (and our loved ones) life. That’s a big deal! And it means we can sing even through tears:

Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun 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!”

——————–

Heidi is a Lutheran pastor’s wife and homeschooling mom to three wonderful girls. She strives to live simply and generously, which has led to a year-long decluttering journey. She blogs at Give Away Seven a Day and you can find her on Twitter too.

Originally posted as a guest post at http://themommaknows.com

What Child is This is one of my favorite hymns of all time in general as it brings Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and our LORD's Reign in Heaven all into three poignant minutes.  It is no surprise that most commercial renditions of this song skip right over verse two.  The Nails and the Spear have no place in the world's Christmas, but that is exactly why God's people must be all the more insistent on the wood of the manger and the wood of the cross.

There is so much more to "Keeping Christ in Christmas" than insisting on Merry Christmas as a greeting during these days, though that is something.  Believing in the Christ who came takes full account of God crossing all boundaries to take on our flesh and blood in servant humility. He binds our every wound. He embraces all evil, pain, hurt, sin and finally death to disarm its power and leave it all with literally nothing to do and no where to go. Only then, to Rise up in Resurrection Life and beckon one more time, "Follow Me."

Luke 2:6-7

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.

John 1:14 

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.

Philippians 2:5-8 

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.

Isaiah 53:3-6

He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

John 19:34, 37 

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.
And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Matthew 2:1-11

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.

LSB 369 Where Shepherds Lately Knelt

LSB 369 Where Shepherds Lately Knelt

Click to open song in a new tab or window

From:

Commentary for Vajda Hymn Sing

WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, & the Arts

Carl Schalk

Kenosha, WI

July 2002

Introduction

Jaroslav J. Vajda is one of God’s good gifts to the church and is arguably, as one person has suggested, “the greatest Lutheran poet since Paul Gerhardt who lived 350 years ago.” The son of a Lutheran pastor, he grew up in what is now East Chicago, Indiana, playing the violin at the age of 12, and by the age of 16 was translating Slovakian short stories into English. After his seminary years, he served bilingual congregations in Indiana and Pennsylvania, he was an editor and book developer at Concordia Publishing House. He began writing poetry at the age of 18 and made his first translation from the Slovak a few years later.

His contributions to Christian hymnody have been significant. He has authored more than 200 hymn texts and translations. Seven of his original hymn texts are found in Christian Worship together with one hymn translation from the Slovak. His work appear in every major Lutheran hymnal and in virtually every major hymnal of various Christian denominations. It has been my privilege as a composer to have set over 30 of Jaroslav Vajda’s texts to music for congregational singing.

I would mention three aspects of Vajda’s writing to note: first his ability to fashion a striking new image or to reshape an older image, recasting it in a way to bring fresh insight and understanding. Second is his affinity for less usual textual forms and meters. Third is the strong theological thrust of his hymn texts.

Amid the current flood of new hymnody–so much of it bland and insipid, on the one hand, or obtuse or overly clever, one the other, the work of Jaroslav Vajda stands as a unique testimony to clarity of expression, careful craftsmanship, and theological integrity. His writing is both accessible and popular in the best since of those terms.

Ultimately the texts of Jaroslav Vajda are a sign to God’s people, a sign of hopefulness, expectation, and promise, They are a sign that the Holy Spirit has not forsaken his church, that we are still given new songs to sing, until that time when all our singing will be joined to that last and greatest song of the Lamb in eternity.

Where shepherds lately knelt

One might realistically ask “What is there left to say about Christmas and the scene at the manger?” A request to Jaroslav Vajda and myself from Augsburg Publishing House for a Christmas song for their 1987 Christmas Annual, a request which repeated the 1981 request the result of which was the well-received and popular “Before the marvel of this night,” Vajda “wondered what fresh approach and contemporary application could be made of that central event in history. . . Rather than report the event again in the third person, as so many Christmas songs do, I placed myself in spirit at that poor manger bed and reviewed the implications of that visit in my life and future and in that of my fellow human beings.” Hence, the text suggests that not only were the usual characters–shepherds, angels, animals, Mary, Joseph–at the manger, but also Isaiah, who presumably came to see if his prophecies were fulfilled.

The original metrical structure of the text was 6.6.6.6.4.4.2 was modified by me to 12.12.10, a change which Vajda agreed made the lines more fluent and which give additional attention to the refrain. The music, Vajda graciously remarked, “captured the mood and style of the text” just as he had hoped. This hymn or carol ends with the beautiful words: “Can I, will I forget how Love was born and burned its way into my heart–unasked, unforced, unearned, to die, to live, and not alone for me?” The repetition of that final phrase brings this carol to a beautiful conclusion.

Jaroslav Vajda

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jaroslav Vajda (April 28, 1919 – May 10, 2008) was an American hymnist.

Vajda was born to a Lutheran pastor of Slovak descent. His father, Rev. John Vajda, was a pastor in East Chicago, Ind. at Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church. This is where Jaroslav had his beginning learning from his father and his mother, Maria. Jaroslav had two brothers, Ludovit and Edward, both pastors, now deceased.

Vajda received musical training in childhood and began translating classical Slovak poetry at age eighteen. Vajda did not write his first hymn until age 49. From that time until his death in 2008 at age 89, he wrote over 200 original and translated hymns that appear worldwide in more than 65 hymnals. He also published two collections of hymn texts, numerous books, translations, and articles. Vajda served on hymnal commissions for Hymnal Supplement (1969) and Lutheran Book of Worship (1978).

Vajda is a Fellow of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, and is the recipient of numerous honorary doctorates recognizing hymnic contributions. After 18 years in a mostly bilingual ministry he became the editor of This Day Magazine and then became a book editor and developer at Concordia Publishing House. Jaroslav Vajda retired in 1986

Hymns

List of hymns written by Jaroslav Vajda (not exhaustive):

• "God of the Sparrow"
• "Before the Marvel of This Night"
• "Ever Since the Savior Came"
• "A Dove Flew Down From Heaven"
• "Slumber, Lovely Baby"
• "Someone Special"
• "Where Shepherds Lately Knelt"
• "Peace Came to Earth"
• "Wake, Shepherds, Awake"
• "The King the Wise Men Found"
• "Go, My Children, with My Blessing"
• "Then the Glory"
• "Now the Silence"
• "In Hopelessness and Near Despair"
• "Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain"
• "When You Woke That Thursday Morning"
• Amid the World's Bleak Wilderness

A nice guest commentary on the text

LSB 368 Angels We Have Heard On High

LSB 368 Angels we have heard on high

Orchestra and Choir Belmont University 2007

Boston Common A Cappella

Classical Guitar

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Angels, Shepherds, and Us

God makes Himself available to sinful people and one inescapable aspect of his connecting to us is "Glory".  To put it from our perspective, when fallen humans encounter God, His "Glory" is as close as we can get until this mortal flesh puts on immortality.

The Glory of God in many cases appears as light breaking through darkness and while this is often times physical light illuminating physical darkness. The Glory of God carries the promise of God's Light and Presence piercing theological, philosophical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and any other kind of darkness.

Consistently, when God shows Himself to people throughout the Bible accounts Glory is part of God coming to act on behalf of his people.

The Glory of God fills the tabernacle and temple in order to make God's presence real. Forgiveness, Peace, Thanksgiving offerings along with prayers were all given and received as God spoke, God's people listened, God's people spoke and God listened. God's people worshiped in the real presence of God's Glory come to earth in the place and in the manner God promised.

God putting on flesh and blood to be born in Bethlehem provides the new place and manner of God's real presence. God the Son is the Glory of the Father and the Holy Spirit to serve the fallen humanity. The Angels accompany His Jesus' birth by affirming that the Glory of God in the highest heaven has come not in fire or smoke or winds or earthquakes or even in just a still small voice, but in the flesh and blood of Jesus the Son.

The Christian Liturgy continues this praise by affirming that Jesus promise to be with His people as they gather for worship is true every single time and especially true in the manner and at the time He provides.

Word and Sacrament are His designated means for delivering His gifts. Glory to God in the highest.

The greater Gloria inspiring todays carol is an ancient hymn of praise reaching back before the fourth century in Christendom.  Its words are even more universally accepted between Eastern and Western Rite Christians than the Nicene Creed. The background and text of the Gloria may be found at the link below. It is used in Lutheran Hymnals published around the world.

Wikipedia Article on the Gloria in Excelsis Deo

Luke 2:7-20 

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. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.