Yearly Archives: 2011

Sunday is a sense of perception.  At least in previous years there was a sense in which Sunday was seen as a day off.  Off of buying and selling.  Off going to work.  Off a lot of activity.

As I was driving home from our church service today, I looked around at open stores, cars rushing somewhere, and people who have a new perception.  Every day is the same as the previous day.  There is no common day off.

What if there was?  A common day?  What would our community look like?  What would our country look like?

I’ve been working on my speech for tomorrow.  I guess we call it a sermon!

I started with the idea of peace – being the second Sunday of Advent.  The idea of the Peace of God for us stuck in my head.

And yet peace has become so related to wars and people to people that we struggle to figure out what it means to work with God.  We figure we don’t want to work “for” God – as in the type of relationship that is fraught with obligations that are based in fear and not wonder!!  But we are quite willing to work with God if that means being like God in what we do.  We call that holiness!

Of course, we know that is a task that comes with all sorts of problems.  Not the least of which is “us”.  We seem to get in our own way all the time!  What would happen if we just let God get in our way – and be the way for us?  I guess that’s what it means to have God with us, in us and for us.  Or, as we in practical terms would say – “Christ lives in you.”

Which is the great secret of Christmas!  Peace on earth, goodwill to men!!

Practiced today with another baritone.  Our voices are very much alike – when we sing duets you can barely tell who is singing what.

The songs were Christmas themed.  Songs I’ve sung over the years with others.  This time around the sound is amazing!  I realize we are not quite ready for performance yet . . . but there are those times when you just know there is something beyond just notes and swells!

We will be leading a group of people in their Christmas program – with a good bit of carol singing.  They will enjoy their time together – and we will enjoy being with them.  Before that time I’ll sing or hear carols on a regular basis – and after that we still have our Christmas program!

Funny thing, this year I’ve been pushed into preparing for Christmas.  The Sunday School class I’m teaching has done Advent chains – today I was praying for missionaries.  I wonder what tomorrow holds.  I’m planning on singing a few times over the season so the songs are running through my head.  And my preaching has stepped up a notch as I consider the themes of Advent. 

All in all, this looks to be a great season!!

Tis the season.

And many are thankful.  Today one person talked about how the songs get into your head.  They begin to be on the back of our tongues, just waiting to come forward.

With the evident impact of carols and songs, I’m certainly enjoying getting a start on the season.  Of course, I’ve also been asked to sing a few times over the next few weeks – all the more reason to start listening and enjoying.

What are my favorite Christmas songs?  I love the old standard carols – Joy to the world; O Come, all ye faithful; Silent Night . . . and many more.  I enjoy some newer songs like Birthday of a King, and Oh, Holy Night.  And even more contemporary are songs like Hope is Born and Are you Listening.

Not that you know all these songs! 

So, what are the songs that you enjoy in this season?