Christmas carols

Go! Tell it on the Mountain!

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15 NIV

I will bet that you have never heard the above verse read during a Christmas service. But what the shepherds did after going down to see baby Jesus in the manger, is exactly what this scripture is all about! Those shepherds didn’t need an evangelism course; they simply couldn’t wait to tell everyone that night in Bethlehem that “Jesus Christ is born!” This anonymous hymn sung in many African American churches during the middle 1800’s was eventually published and arranged by John Wesley Work Jr. in 1901. Though its words and melody are simple it is deservedly as well-loved as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, written by another Wesley (Charles). I do hope you will enjoy listening to our precious residents singing along and that perhaps you will join in and “Go tell it on the mountain!”

God’s Christmas Gift of Light

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
In Him was life and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 KJV

If we were to guess the meaning of Christmas from what we see on television or by way of internet marketing, we might guess that it is primarily about buying things for people. We see images of smiling people slipping on diamond rings, jumping into shiny new cars or cuddling up by the fire in luxurious clothing. But the Bible makes it clear, that while God knows there are things that we dream of receiving, there is nothing that we could purchase, that has eternal value. When God prepared to give His gift to us at Christmas, it was neither in the beauty of an expensive ring, nor the comfort of a fine home, but rather He gave us the light of Heaven. We all have heard how that on the night that Jesus was born, the first people to get the news were shepherds in a dark field, and the Bible says, “The glory of the Lord shone around them.” Luke 2:9. When the wise men showed up some time later, we are told that, they followed the light of a star that, “When it rose, went ahead of them.” Matthew 2:9. Everywhere we turn, God’s gift comes to the world by the light of His Son Jesus Christ. That gift still shines in our darkness, but if we follow Him, God promises to give us the light of life. Once we have received that light, then we will be able to give gifts to others, like forgiveness, encouragement or a listening ear. These never show up in commercials, but they are the ones that are eternal, because they point to Jesus, the light of the world and God’s Christmas gift to us!

Mary I Have News!

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

As we end Christmas week, I begin sadly thinking of how I will need to soon take down the lights, the ornaments, candy canes along the walkway and put away the wreath. But just before putting the Advent season to bed for the year, I wanted to share an original Christmas carol which I wrote for a church program in 2017. This all started when I began searching for a carol about the angel Gabriel telling Mary the news of how she would have a miracle child. After looking through all my books, I realized there weren’t any, and so I prayed, and the Lord gave me this song called, “Mary I Have News.” You are welcome to freely use this in your own future pageants, just be sure to let me know. I do hope you like it!