Advent 2008: Week 4

Last year, I mentioned the tradition of the advent wreath that my family does every year. Please join us in our celebration this year as I post the thoughts, scriptures and songs that make up our worship this holiday season.

Week 4: The Shepherds' Candle

For most of us, it's very easy to have joy this time of year. We get to be with friends and family, enjoy special activities and foods, and of course (I know you're thinking it) we get presents. Even adults seem to find a child-like joy during the Christmas holiday. Then January hits, a new year begins, and "reality" sets in. We get back to the daily grind and the joy seems to evaporate. The situation was almost the exact opposite for the shepherds on that first Christmas. They were living in their own daily grind, no parties, no special foods and no presents; and yet they still found a real and lasting joy in the birth of a Savior. Let's try to be like these shepherds in the coming year, finding joy, not in our circumstances and surroundings, but in the hope we have through our Savior. "Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." Isaiah 52:7

Verses to read: Ezekiel 34:23; Luke 2:15-20; John 10:11

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
Traditional

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

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at these tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy