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 Hi everyone!  I hope you’re having a great week!

 Driving to church over the past few days I’ve enjoyed looking up at the mountains and seeing the dusting of snow that’s been creeping down from the summits toward the city. I’m glad I don’t have to shovel the stuff anymore. (I grew up on a corner lot in Calgary, where there was a lot of shoveling to do!) But it’s beautiful to look at, and it promises a better season for playing on the slopes than we had last year.

It's also been a reminder that Christmas is sneaking up rapidly. There are enough hints around us that I don’t think anyone can ignore the arrival of Advent season. You’ll get another hint this week if you’re in church on Sunday because we’re going to start a brief series leading up to Christmas. We’re going to take a little different approach from what churches usually do in November and December, but I trust that it will be profitable for us all. (It will probably also be a pleasant change of pace to move away from 1 Corinthians for a few weeks. I’ve found that study beneficial as well, but it does get a little heavy through the first section of the book. It’s OK for us to take a breather.) 

I think I’ll leave the Christmas series as a surprise rather than giving away too much more at the moment. Suffice it to say that this will be a little like our ramp-up to Easter earlier in the year: we’ll think a bit about how the Old Testament prepares the way for our Christian celebration. You may want to meditate a little on some of those Old Testament predictions that come to your mind.

This time of year I often incorporate reflection on Christmas carols into my personal times of prayer and devotion. Few of the church’s songs of worship are as rich in biblical reference and as deep in theology as the best of our carols. Since I’m in that space myself, I’m thinking I may include some lines from carols in my newsletters for the next few weeks. Too often we just hear the music as we drive or wander through the mall and we don’t have time to pause on the content. I invite you to mull over some of the amazing truths in this week’s edition from one of the masters of carol-writing, Charles Wesley.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark, the herald Angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth, and mercy mild – God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies,

With angelic hosts proclaim: “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark, the herald Angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!

 

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time, behold Him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate deity,

Pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.

Hark, the herald Angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!

 

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace; hail the Sun of righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, born that we no more may die,

Born to raise each child of earth, born to give us second birth.

Hark, the herald Angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!

 

Glory to the King, indeed! He is worthy. May your days be filled with the joy of His coming.

Pastor Ken