Here is a poem for the season of Advent or Christmas. The stanzas move through the retelling of the birth of Christ to his work of redemption and coming again. The first line reminds us that the story of Christ's birth is our story, too, because of the succeeding chapters in his life and work. If you are unfamiliar with the entire story of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of John is a great place to read about it.
May be sung to the tune:
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
The Christmas story is our own
It is our story of peace
When
hearts were troubled, love unknown
In
humble birth, in family tree,
We
see the way to know
How
love can be a mystery
Yet
bloom in time and grow.
A
manger bed, an angel’s voice
Announced
the baby was born
In
Bethlehem they knelt, rejoiced
When
Love came down that morn.
The
coming of our King;
A
tiny child, a baby boy
Who
taught the world to sing.
For
thirty years enrobed in flesh,
He
taught, he prayed, he led;
His
ways were new, his message fresh;
With
loving deeds he fed.
Then
irony of greatest height
When
on the cross he bled
As angels gasped at awful sight,
How could the Lord be dead?
A
seed in earth laid down to die
The
crushing of a dream–
Burst
forth in splendor from on high
When
resurrection beamed
Upon
the world in majesty
Christ
did creation redeem;
Eternity
in motion set
With
gifts of love supreme.
The
Light that came will come again
And
bring the world true peace;
His
kingdom rid the world of sin
And war and fightings cease.
Though
days may find us tinged by fear
Or
wond’ring why he delays;
Look
up, be calm, the Lord is near;
In
hope, we wait, we pray.
Nancy
Gerst, © 2011
___________
MUSIC LINKS
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - King's College Choir (the English tune)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - St. Peter's Choir (the American tune)
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