Kevin Havens preaches: Full, But Still Hungry.
Have you ever eaten so much, that you thought you might pop, only to realize that you were still hungry? Often times, Christmas is just like that, so lets look at some means of moving past that feeling, for the coming year.
We will begin our 17th year of Sing ‘N Celebrate with an opportunity to look back, as Christians, at our personal relationships with our Lord in 2012 – hoping that a fresh focus on strengthening these relationships will be realized and maintained during the New Year.
Even if we feel determined to keep our relationships with the Lord fresh and thriving, ALL Christians can fall short of where we expected to be in our spiritual walks. Andy Murphy will return to our Pender Stage as he portrays this circumstance which can enter our lives. But at any given time, we can start afresh, empowered by grace to return to an even deeper, more memorable, eternal life.
Join us as we come together with the full realization that Jesus couldn’t care more about our relationships with Him!!
Learn more about Sing ‘N Celebrate at http://www.penderumc.org//pages/page.asp?page_id=72469
“Good King Wenceslas” is a popular Christmas carol that tells a story of Good King Wenceslas braving harsh winter weather to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (the second day of Christmas, December 26). During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by following the king’s footprints, step for step, through the deep snow. The legend is based on the life of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia or Svatý Václav in Czech (907–935).
In 1853, English hymnwriter John Mason Neale wrote the “Wenceslas” lyrics, in collaboration with his music editor Thomas Helmore, and the carol first appeared in Carols for Christmas-Tide, 1853. Neales’ lyrics were set to a tune based on a 13th century spring carol “Tempus adest floridum” (“The time is near for flowering”) first published in the 1582 Finnish song collection Piae Cantiones.
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath’ring winter fuel
“Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know’st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
“Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither.”
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind’s wild lament
And the bitter weather
“Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my foteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”
In his master’s steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
The Mannheim Steamroller version:
The Pastors and Staff of Pender wish you and your family the most blessed of Christmases.
May the peace of that night, the news of the angels, the joy of the shepherds and the love of the Christ Child be yours as you make room for the Christ Child all year long.
Merry Christmas!
Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the Psalms. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
Part II of the Messiah covers the Passion, death, resurrection, ascension, and the later spreading of the Gospel, concluded by the “Hallelujah Chorus”.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings the classical and beloved Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
And also on Nov.13 2010 unsuspecting shoppers got a big surprise while enjoying their lunch. Over 100 participants in this awesome Christmas Flash Mob.
News and Views 