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Category Archives: Books of The Bible

Christmas Music, Part 2 – Joy To The World

Joy to the World

Joy To The World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King.

Isaac Watts wrote  the words to “Joy to the World” in 1719, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The hymn originally glorified Christ’s triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating His first coming. Only the second half of Watts’ lyrics are still used today.

The music was adapted and arranged to Watts’ lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody which was then believed to have originated from Handel. The name “Antioch” is generally used for the hymn tune.

As of the late 20th century, “Joy to the World” was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.

 

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Sermon – December 2, 2012

Journey To Bethehem

Advent Sermon Series ~ Journeying to Bethlehem

Each Christmas is a journey!  We make it from wherever we are to the manger.  Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem on the First Christmas.  What will our journey be like?  Are there helps along the way?  How do we really prepare to receive the King? Let’s see how we might journey together so that this Christmas we find the true reason for the season — the child Jesus!

Dec. 2 Sermon – Mary of Nazareth:  Journey of Faith – Luke 1:26-38

Christmas is about miracles, love, giving, family, friends, presents.  But the first Christmas didn’t have any of these but a miracle and love.  For Mary, Christmas was a surprise that required of her a lot of FAITH.  How many of us would believe an angel?  How could we even know what an angel is and looks like?  And the message, a virgin will birth a baby?  Now that does take FAITH!  Let’s learn from Mary about how FAITH is needed and helps to bring about a holy Christmas for each of us.

This sermon is now available on the Pender Sermon Podcast series and on the home page of PenderUMC.org

 

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The Heavens are Telling

 

The opening verses of Psalm 19 present the heavenly bodies and their movement as a universal witness to the glory of God that is understood by people of every language. The language connects day and night as a continuous presentation. The words suggest energy, strength, joy, and light.

So many of the Psalms and scriptures have been made into wonderful works of classical music.  Franz Joseph Haydn was one of these composers.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” ~ Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

A setting of ‘The Heavens are Telling the Glory of God’ from Haydn’s  Creation.

More about Haydn’s work, The Creation, can be found on Wikipedia

 

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December Sermon Series

Journey To Bethehem

New Series: JOURNEYING TO BETHLEHEM

Each Christmas is a journey! We make it from wherever we are to the manger. Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem on the First Christmas. What will our journey be like? Are there helps along the way? How do we really prepare to receive the King? Let’s see how we might journey together so that this Christmas we find the true reason for the season – the child Jesus!

Dec. 2 – Mary of Nazareth: Journey of Faith – Luke 1:26-38

Christmas is about miracles, love, giving, family, friends, presents. But the first Christmas didn’t have any of these but a miracle and love. For Mary Christmas was a surprise that required of her a lot of FAITH. How many of us would believe an angel? How could we even know what an angel is and looks like? And the message, a virgin will birth a baby? Now that does take FAITH! Let’s learn from Mary about how FAITH is needed and helps to bring about a holy Christmas for each of us.

Dec. 9 – Joseph of Bethlehem: Journey of Trust – Matt. 1:18-24

The Night Before Christmas says that the dreams were of “sugarplums that danced in their heads.” Don’t know about you but during the rush of Christmas my dreams are more nightmares and not sugarplums. For Joseph I think it was the same. Mary pregnant and it wasn’t his! His life over and dreams crushed! Now he is told “Don’t be afraid!” Trust is the word that Joseph had to learn so that there would be a Christmas. I wonder do we TRUST that Christmas is love, peace and hope? Do we put our trust in the one who does the Impossible at Christmas? Let’s see how we can Trust Christmas!

Dec. 16 – A Christmas Cantata “Night of the Father’s Love” will be sung at both of the traditional services! Come and enjoy this morning of music as we hear the Christmas story told through music! There will be a 50 voice choir, an orchestra and music you will not want to miss!

Dec. 23 – From Nazareth to Bethlehem – Journey to a Manger – Luke 2:1-7

You can’t have Christmas without Bethlehem’s manger. For in it we find the reason for the season-the Christ child! As you have moved from store to store, house to house, party to party have you come to a manger yet? It took Mary and Joseph a long time to make that 90 mile trek, how long will it take us? Let’s talk about where to find Jesus this Christmas. Without him we have nothing but X-mas!

Dec. 30 – Pastor Kevin is preaching

Jan. 6 – Still on the Journey – Matt. 2:1-18

Once Christmas is over is that the end? Or does the journey of Christmas continue as we seek the Christ child all year round? What ways can we seek Him? What will we do when we find Him? WE are ALL still journeying. Let’s begin at the Lord’s table on the first Sunday in a New Year!

 
 

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