Peace On Earth

Luke 2:13-14

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When we recite verses, or do a responded reading, how monotone is it.  When we recite the Pledge of Allegiance, is it fun?  I always imagine that the angels are singing, or at least their voices are in sing-song voices.  I bet they are booming as the say "Glory to God..."  Especially since there was a bunch of them joining their voices together.  They were praising our Lord and Savior.  They  also were letting us know that if God loves you, you will have peace.  I'm sure Mary and Joseph, after traveling from Nazareth, finding a place to stay and giving birth needed the rest and peace.  May you find peace this week, as we close in on our celebration of Jesus' Birthday!

Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing

Words:  Charles Wesley

Music:  Mendelssohn

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful all ye nations rise;  Join the triumph of the skies;

With th'angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!

With th'angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!

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;

Veiled in flesh the God-head see;  Hail th'incarnate Deity;

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!

Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel!

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,

Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord;

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home;

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Luke 2:8-12
 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”


Imagine that it's pitch black.  Maybe there is no moonlight tonight, so all you see is shadows, and here the sheep grazing, rustling the grass, or even sleeping.  You are just sitting there, trying not to be cold, trying not to go to sleep, when BAM!  A light as bright as the sun rains down on you.  You are alert, but you see a messenger from God.  An angel is right in front of you.  You wonder, did I go to sleep?  Am I going crazy?  You look at your friends that are with you and realize that they see the same thing.  
Then the angel tells you to not be afraid.  Is he kidding?  He pops up right in front of you and you are suppose to be happy and not worry?  Then he tells you that the Messiah has finally come.  You may not be the greenest leaf on the tree, but you do understand what this means.  You've heard the stories of a king that will come and save The People.  
What a story these shepherds had to tell their families for the rest of their lives.


While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks
Words:  Nathan Tate
Music:  G. F. Handel

1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 
 all seated on the ground; 
 the angel of the Lord came down, 
 and glory shone around, 
 and glory shone around. 

2. "Fear not!" said he, for mighty dread 
 had seized their troubled mind. 
 "Glad tidings of great joy I bring 
 to all of humankind, 
 to all of humankind." 

3. "To you, in David's town, this day 
 is born of David's line 
 a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, 
 and this shall be the sign,
 and this shall be the sign:" 

4. "The heavenly babe you there shall find 
 to human view displayed, 
 all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, 
 and in a manger laid, 
 and in a manger laid." 

5. Thus spake the seraph and forthwith 
 appeared a shining throng 
 of angels praising God on high, 
 who thus addressed their song, 
 who thus addressed their song: 

6. "All glory be to God on high, 
 and to the earth be peace; 
 good will henceforth from heaven to earth 
 begin and never cease, 
 begin and never cease!" 

Child of Promise

Luke 2:6-7
 ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.


What a message in just these two verses.  It is God's promise come true..."she gave birth to her firstborn, a son."  This is the most important verse in the whole Christmas story, for without this part of the verse, how would we know that Jesus was born?  Do you have room in you for Him?  Is there no room in your life for Christ' promises to take root?  Don't shut Him out.  Don't send Him away.  Wrap him in your heart and keep him close.


Read the chorus of this song.  It's a little different than we normally sing at church.


What Child is This?
Words:  William Chatterton Dix
Music:  Sir John Stainer

1. What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

2. Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

3. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

The Hard Trip

Luke 2:1-5


¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

 ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

In high school, my English teacher made us memorize Luke 2:1 -20.  It's amazing how I have never forgotten most of it.  I love saying this in my mind with whoever is reading it, where ever and whenever I hear it.  I especially love Linus, from A Charlie Brown Christmas reciting the words every year on national television.  

Counting has never been one of my strong points.  We have to take inventory of our stores, factories, to get at least a close count of what we have.  It amazes me every time the government takes a census.  It's easy now.  The government sends us a form in the mail, we fill out the form, and send it back.  If we fail or forget to do that, then they send someone to your door to ask you those questions!  But back in Mary and Joseph's day, you had to travel to your family's hometown and register.  Joseph was a long way from his hometown.  Nazareth is 80 miles from Bethlehem.  There was no cars or trains or planes then.  All Joseph could afford was a donkey for Mary.  She was his responsibility so she had to go with him.  I'm sure the road was not paved and it took them quite a while to get there.  

Being really pregnant, it probably wasn't a good idea for her to ride a donkey to much.  But she probably couldn't walk much either.  How tired she must have been.  How much longer the travel must have felt for both of them.  When I was eight months pregnant with my son, we moved, in January.  We luckily had a lot of help and we appreciated that.  I couldn't have helped much if we didn't.  But it was a very tiring experience.  I'm sure it was nothing compared to what Mary went through. 

Breath of Heaven

by Amy Grant and Chris Eaton

I have traveled
Many moonless night
Cold and Weary
With a babe inside
And I wonder
What I've done
Holy Father
You have come
Chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting
in a silent prayer
I am frightened
by the load i bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holyness
For your holy Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

A Loving Father

Matthew 1:18-24

 ¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 ²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”

 ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[g] (which means “God with us”).

 ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Let's talk of Joseph.  Here's a man who is excited to be marrying a nice young girl.  Or so he thought.  Then he found out she was pregnant.  How could she do that?  How could she be like that?  How betrayed he must have felt.  How stupid.  How angry.  

Then, God sent an angel to talk to him.  He told him not to doubt Mary's story.  How he was picked to take care of Mary and the child she was carrying.  This child was to be the Savior of the world.  The Bible doesn't tell us if he questioned anything God said to him.  He just did what God asked of him.  I'm sure he and Mary had long talks and felt they were sharing a secret.  In society's eyes, he was a fool.  But to God and us, he is a quiet hero.  We don't know much or hear a lot from him, but he was obedient, he cared for them in every way a father should and he loved Mary.  That is very important in this story.

A Strange Way To Save The World
by Fred Hammond
Written by Dave Clark, Mark Harris and Don Koch
Album: Christmas... Just Remember

I'm sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem

And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel
Come to life, and Joseph said

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way to save the world

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth

But, Joseph knew the reason
Love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought

Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers of the world
Why here, inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way to save the world

Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But, this is such a strange way

This is such a strange way
This is such a strange way
I don't claim to really know
Why You gave this King
But I really thank You, thank You

Mary's Song

Luke 1: 46-56
 ⁴⁶ And Mary said:

   “My soul glorifies the Lord
 ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”

 ⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

I love these verses.  Mary shows her heart and why God chose her.  She is the humblest person.  She doesn't take any credit for anything.  She states that generations will call her blessed, because of what God has done great things for her.  He noticed her, he lifted her up, he has done good things for all people.  

In one cantata, these verses were made into a song.  It is a song I will always remember when I think of Mary.  it  shows that she praised God because he picked her, even though she didn't know what was going to happen.  She just new that God needed her and she would do her best for him and the baby she was carrying.

A Baby Changes Everything

Luke 1:39 - 45
 ³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”


I love these verses.  Mary goes to see her cousin, Elizabeth, and God reveals to Elizabeth that Mary is the mother of our Messiah.  It must have been a relief to Mary to have someone to talk to.  Someone that understood what she was feeling.  The physical aspects of being pregnant as well as the looks and whispers.  For Elizabeth was pregnant with John, but she was very old.  How odd that must have been to her friends and neighbors.  
Both women had a lot to talk about, but when Mary first greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb.  Leaped!  We aren't sure how far along Elizabeth was, but even at 6 months, and could have been around a pound in weight and twelve inches long.  Doesn't sound like much, but that probably surprised her.  Timm was so big that if I stretched out, I would need help getting up.  I'm sure Elizabeth had to sit down after that.  But then the verses tell us that she was filled with the Holy Spirit.  She knew exactly what was going on.  What a comfort to Mary that must have been, because as we all know, this baby changed everything.


A Baby Changes Everything
Songwriters: Nichols, James Timothy; Wiseman, Craig Michael; Wiseman, Kim;

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what's to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring on her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

The man she loves she's never touched
How will she keep his trust?
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries!
Ooh, she cries
Ooh, oh

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can't stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it's coming soon
There's no place, there's no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries!
And she cries!
Oh, she cries

Shepherds all gather 'round
Up above the star shines down
A baby changes everything

Choir of angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
Everything, everything, everything

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

My whole life has turned around
I was lost but now I'm found
A baby changes everything, yeah
A baby changes everything


[| From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/f/faith-hill-lyrics/a-baby-changes-everything-lyrics.html |]