FBC Advent Devotions: A Daily Guide Through the Christmas Season by First Baptist Church Greensboro

Sounds of the

Season A daily guide through the Christmas season.

In Luke 2, we read the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds as they kept watch over their flock. The message begins with the preface, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” That is the promise we are anticipating during this Advent season. We already know what the good news is. We can already anticipate the great joy that is to come as we usher in Christmas each year. So, we can allow Advent to serve as a wonderful reminder of the Gospel message that gives all of us a holy joy that sustains and redeems our lives. This Advent devotional brings with it “good news of great joy.” This year our First Baptist staff and deacons have written devotions for guiding our hearts each day of Advent. You will notice that each devotion is based on a familiar Advent or Christmas song. All of these can be found in our pew hymnals, and many of them you will already know by heart. Our prayer is that every day you will read the words of each song, and maybe even sing the song out loud! Then, read the devotion as your heart reflects on the song and the message it offers. Below each devotion is a question to guide your thinking and your prayers throughout the day. You may even want to ask this question of your friends and loved ones! May this devotional guide be a blessing to you during Advent as we await the good news of the birth of Christ- with great joy! — Rev. Courtney Willis

ADVENT DEVOTIONS Sunday, December 2

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Monday, December 3

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Tuesday, December 4

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Wednesday, December 5

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Thursday, December 6

O Holy Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Friday, December 7

I Wonder as I Wander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Saturday, December 8

Love Came Down at Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Sunday, December 9

In the Bleak Mid-Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Monday, December 10

Emmanuel, Emmanuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Tuesday, December 11

Comfort, Comfort Now My People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Wednesday, December 12

Lo, How a Rose Eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;er Blooming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Thursday, December 13

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Friday, December 14

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Saturday, December 15

What Child is This? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Sunday, December 16

Once in Royal Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Monday, December 17

Angels from the Realms of Glory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Tuesday, December 18

The First Noel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Wednesday, December 19

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Thursday, December 20

Away in a Manger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Friday, December 21

Sing We Now of Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Saturday, December 22

O Come All Ye Faithful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Sunday, December 23

Silent Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Monday, December 24

Joy to the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Tuesday, December 25

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today; Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today

“Good Christian friends, rejoice!” This isn’t the first year we’ve found ourselves needing that reminder. In recent Christmases, the song would have been more honestly sung as, “Good Christian friends, crawl to the finish! Exams are almost over.” Or, “Good Christian friends, hurry up! Make sure you buy everyone the best present.” Or this year, “Good Christian friends, stay calm!! Just get through another month of big life transitions.” So, we need this reminder to set down the things that seem oh so urgent, and rejoice. Not to rejoice in being done just so we can hurriedly recover from our exhaustion, but to pause, step away from our earthly habits, and rejoice in the coming of Christ. The song’s joyous repetition, “Christ is born! Christ is born!” reminds us once again that there is nothing greater than the promise Christ brings. It ignites in us a rebirth of the assurance that there is something that is far greater than material worth, professional successes, and earthly victories. In singing the second verse, I find a natural emphasis at “Christ was born for this.” A reminder that the world was waiting for Messiah, and that at his birth, Christ was the fulfillment of that longing. He was at his birth, and is again today. So, have hope; the world is made anew, because the One has come who knows us fully. The One has come who sees us in our pain and suffering, our weaknesses and our bondage. The One has come who forgives us for our wrongdoing; who recognizes who we are and who we can be. The One has come who challenges our habits and routines, our laziness and our complacency. The One has come who knows our deepest needs and longings; who knows a way of love, acceptance, community. The One has come who gives us reason to stop, remember who we are, and rejoice. — Baker Lawrimore

QUESTION OF THE DAY What does it mean for you to stop, remember who you are and rejoice today and each day of Advent? 4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus…” I turned to number 135 in the church hymnal as I readjusted my legs and bottom half for what felt like the 100th time. It was December 2011. I was thirty-seven weeks pregnant with our first child, Emerson and I was tired. I felt restless in the pew. I had been stretched, pulled, poked, prodded. I was beyond ready to meet our first child, our baby girl. And time seemed to stand still as I sat uncomfortable in that church pew. But yet, this Advent meant more. The hymns meant more. Advent means “coming” in Latin. I really hoped this baby would be “coming” soon. But as I sat in the pew during that entire season, I resonated with Mary’s journey. Had she felt this way? Surely she had. She had waited, just like me. She felt uncomfortable, tired, overwhelmed. Yet, she was hopeful. “Hope of all the earth thou art.” Was she scared like I was? As a first time mother, labor didn’t seem easy at all. “From our fears and sins release us.” Sitting there uncomfortable, I felt peace rush over me.

I awaited a great thing, just like Mary had that first Christmas. “Joy of every longing heart.” As Mary held Jesus for the first time, she felt joy like any mother would, but still beyond what we can imagine. I felt a little less annoyed by my discomfort and a bit more release. In a way, aren’t we all Mary? Heavy, tired, scared, apprehensive. We spend all Advent waiting, squirming in the pew. We know He’s coming, “born to set thy people free.” As we finished the song “raise us to thy glorious throne” A tear ran down my cheek, not uncommon, I cry often in church. But this time, I was thinking about “from our fears and sins release us,” He is coming with so much promise. That heavy feeling, it won’t last forever. Joy is on its way. Jesus is coming. Emerson was born right on time a few weeks later, six days before Christmas. It will remain my favorite Christmas. Even after two more children and many joyous dashes for the Christmas tree, I will always treasure the Christmas I spent pregnant and long expecting the most. — Autumn Culbreth

QUESTION OF THE DAY What are you expecting this Advent season? In what area of your life are you hoping for joy? 5

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let all mortal flesh keep silence and with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descended our full homage to demand.

The culture’s Christmas frenzy has gone over the top even for me. I’m usually the last to concede in my house – holding out for good intentions to the very end. People decorate early because of less time at home, escape to glittering cities for shows and shopping not found in our humble town, desire music with jingles and beats felt not only in our hearts but through car windows at the stop light. I must admit we are desperately searching. We have so much; but can one ever have enough happiness, joy, and light? Reading the ancient text of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” another sentiment pulsates deep in my heart and louder in my ear. It completely stops me in my tracks – the mystery that a child comes to earth with only blessing in his hand. I am filled with awe and wonder that this babe of Mary is also King of all kings, Lord of all lords, and Light of all light. This One gives his life as our heavenly food – food that mysteriously satisfies the faithful once and for all. The visual glimmers as the heavenly hosts, rank on rank, join the Light that descends to us, light so bright that angels cover their faces and cry with unending Alleluias! The late 4th century Greek text, one of the oldest still used today, was an ancient church prayer chanted as bread and cup were brought to the table of the Lord. Our 1864 translation by Robert Moultrie is sung to a French melody whose minor tonality and chant-like nature perfectly express the awe and majesty of the text. We will experience both solemnity and wonder as we hear this carol on the first Sunday of Advent by handbells during communion and the second Sunday, sung by the Youth Choir. O God, stop us in our tracks as we search for moments to “ponder nothing earthly minded” and focus on the mystery and gift of your son – in body and blood – which brings more happiness, joy and light to our lives than we can imagine! We offer you every part of ourselves and add our Alleluias to the voices of the ages. — Terri Vancil

QUESTION OF THE DAY When might you be able to take some time to be still, silent and think only about the mystery of God’s gift to us in Christ? How might that change how you approach the Advent season? 6

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

O come O come, Emmanuel. Come God, come be with us. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, which seems to be more often than not these days, my heart cries out these words. The quiet longing, the desperate plea that resonates from these verses perfectly captures the yearning for peace and deliverance that I experience on a daily basis. I need Emmanuel to come again and again. But this song is more than a reflection of my own feelings, or even of the state of current world events. It is a reminder that God will reconcile the world to himself. It is a picture of confident hope. It may seem impossible to find such hope amidst all the despair in the world, but the song tells us to rejoice. The key word for me is in the first verse: ransom. God is willing to sacrifice something, to pay the price, in order to save me from whatever holds me captive. God wants to get me back to where I belong, to reunite me with himself. The idea that God desires to be with me in my struggles and rescues me from them through the coming of Jesus is astonishing. Jesus, Emmanuel, comes to drive away the shades of night. He is the light that pierces the darkness and the light that can never be extinguished. Whatever is holding you captive – Jesus will come. Whatever you are mourning, whatever exile you are experiencing – Jesus will come. God is with us, and he shall come again and again. — Meganne Gould

QUESTION OF THE DAY In what area of your life do you need to be reminded that Jesus is there – God with us?

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 O Holy Night

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth; Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born! O night divine! O night, O night divine!

This hymn is describing something we experience at the end of each day – the night. But this night was unlike any other – it was a holy night. This night was not traditional; in fact, the events of this night would impact traditions for millennia to come.

The Christmas season, for me, can be defined by traditions. It begins the day after Halloween when I secretly begin to play Christmas songs in the comfort of my car, and culminates on Christmas day, with a morning of hot chocolate, a favorite holiday themed movie, and an evening meal shared at a house that has been in our family for generations. Traditions like these are sacred and wonderful. No one asks if you want hot chocolate, it’s already waiting for you. No one needs an address, we all know where to go and where to park. Traditions do come with a downside. There are times when it is easier to get wrapped up in the acting, doing, and presenting, that the reason for the tradition has been lost. There are times when going through the motions happens more readily than being present.

God is calling us out of the rhythm of tradition in this song. We are called out of our routines to acknowledge that something greater has happened, something new, and we are to stop and hold the sanctity of this moment. “Fall on your knees” the text demands. In this moment God is calling us to stop ‘doing’ and to just be present as we listen to the voices of angels. As we prepare our hearts and minds to reflect on the night of Christ’s birth, let us break away from the traditions that bind us to tasks, that bind us to to-do lists, and hinder us from fully immersing into the moment. Let us fall on our knees, listen for the voice of God. The hot chocolate can wait, and we already know where to park. The next step is to let the spirit in fully and to embrace it on this night that is unlike any other. — Rev. Darnysha Nard

QUESTION OF THE DAY What traditions might you break away from this year in order to more fully listen for the voice of God? 8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 I Wonder as I Wander

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky, How Jesus the Savior did come for to die For poor ordinary people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

This hymn has its origins in the Appalachian Mountains. I think the melody and words evoke a feeling of being in a place of quiet wonderment and mystery, like the mountains, where we seem to be even closer to God. It could just as easily come to mind when we “wander” through Bicentennial Garden or go for a quiet walk around our neighborhood. The words are simple and heartfelt. We wonder how is it possible that Jesus, the only son of God, came here to this place to love us and die for our sins, for “ordinary people” like you and me? How could that be? How could God love us that much? Jesus could have had the whole world and the Heavens at his command, but all He wanted was you and me… to believe in Him, to follow Him, and show love for one another. The beauty of this song is its simple truth…Jesus came for us. God’s love for us, shown through this gift of Jesus to the world, will always be a mystery to us because it is so big, and we can never grasp it or understand it. His love is undeserved, deep in forgiveness and empathy, full of grace…always faithful, never ending. It is boundless hope and joy. It is personal for you and for me. Take a few moments during this Advent season to take a walk, “to wander out under the sky”. Quiet your mind, and consider the greatest gift you will ever receive. God’s gift to all of us was His son Jesus Christ. Pure and simple. Then consider….. What can I give Him? — Janice Newsom

QUESTION OF THE DAY In what ways has Jesus been the greatest gift you’ve ever received?

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 Love Came Down at Christmas Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas– Star and angels gave the sign.

Every time I think of the Christmas season, I think of the scene in Home Alone when the family wakes up late and rushes to get ready to get to the airport. Everyone is running around scrambling with their bags, they rush through the head count in the vans, and sprint to their gate just in time to make their flight. Just watching the scene will elevate your heart race! Now, obviously, Christmas isn’t really anything like a mad dash to the airport, but it does seem like our pace increases dramatically during the holidays. We have busier work days, more social events, longer and more expensive shopping trips, extra baking needs, tight travel schedules, and even additional church expectations. No question the holidays bring about a certain energy. There’s plenty of excitement and joy to go around. But at what cost? I’m a person who tends to get overwhelmed when things get too crazy, so I’ve always liked simple things at Christmas. I want to be home on Christmas Day with just my immediate family. No rush, no hustle, no plans. So often, around the holidays, we pack more and more things into our schedule—all good things, but our lives are already full enough. We would do well to scale it back, take a moment, breathe, and remember the simplicity of what makes the Christmas season worth celebrating. “Love Came Down At Christmas” captures the simplicity of Christmas. It is direct. It is sincere. With just three short verses, Christina Rossetti offers us a glimpse of a world encountered by the God of Love. In its 12 uses, the word “love” is both personified as the name of God and used to describe God. The poem is made up exclusively of one and two syllable words, with the notable exception of the word “incarnate,” which describes the love of God. Her poem was even originally written without a tune. No flair. No fuss. No extra show. Just a short, simple poem about the one piece that matters most at Christmas: Love. This poem is a reminder to slow down, to sit with the simple messages of Christmas, and to remember that God is love and that we are a key part of that.

1 John 4:11 says, “Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” As you move through the normalized hustle and bustle this Christmas, keep this poem on your heart. Remember that our increased hysteria doesn’t match the slowing, calming rhythms of nature and time. Take a moment to sit, to breathe, and to remember that love came down at Christmas for all of us, and that’s all we need. — Rev. Chris Cherry

QUESTION OF THE DAY How might remembering God’s love this Advent season help you to scale back, calm down, and remember why we are celebrating?

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 In the Bleak Mid-Winter

In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan; Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter long ago.

Allow me to start this meditation with an observation that will be “old news” to most of you. We do not know what time of year Jesus was born. Maybe it was as cold as “In the Bleak Midwinter” suggests, but it could have been a balmy midsummer night; we simply do not know. We imagine a cold nativity, I suppose, because we are a few days into the winter season when we celebrate Christmas, and weather is very important in setting the mood of the season. So imagining Mary, Joseph, and the baby experiencing our bleak December weather is a good and valuable way of putting ourselves in the stable on the night of Jesus’ birth. However, this beautifully haunting song also invites us to do something when we arrive on the scene. It bids us to ask the question, “What gift would I bring to our new born king?” And it also gives us the answer, we are to give Christ the gift of our hearts. As the melody sends us around and through the scene, floating as angels bearing witness to this grand event, we may struggle to know how it is that a heart may be given. The bitter wind makes us pull our coats in tight, the long night begs us to huddle around the comfort of a fire; we close ourselves off, protecting ourselves from the dark and the cold. Our posture suggests we are conserving, not giving. Our capacity to give our hearts as a gift is empowered by God’s own extravagant intervention. On that dark, cold night so many years ago, a light began to shine in the darkness, and the darkness has no capacity to put it out. With that light, God finds us in the bleak night. The darker the night, the brighter light. The gift of Christ’s light seeks us out, huddled and afraid. The spirit of God seeks us out, and finding our hearts, blows on the coals still glowing in the bleak midwinter of our souls. God’s gift enables our hearts to become gift. — Dr. Steve Sumerel

QUESTION OF THE DAY How can I give my heart more fully to Jesus during this Advent season? 12

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10 Emmanuel, Emmanuel Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called Emmanuel. God with us, revealed in us, His name is called Emmanuel.”

The weekend after Thanksgiving we always put up our Christmas decorations, adorning our house with wreaths and ribbons and lights. Our Christmas tree has a tradition of being very FULL, weighed down with ornaments, often causing the branches to droop prematurely. This year my son, Grant, started to carefully hang the ornaments on the branches when he came to me and said, “Mom, I actually like the tree with fewer ornaments. I just picked my favorites and put them on the tree.” Grant’s appreciation of this simplicity has so much truth to teach us about Advent and speaks to the simplicity that we find in this hymn. When I first read this hymn, I wondered if there was more. Is there another page of lyrics that I missed? Maybe this is just the refrain? But no, this hymn is 18 words. That’s it. It’s simple. It’s clear and to the point. It’s comforting. It’s filled with truth. And as I read these words, I was reminded of the significance of these simple words. During Advent, we wait. We are waiting for God with us, for Jesus, the greatest gift. God with us is profound, it’s God’s ultimate sacrifice of love. I’m especially moved by the words “revealed in us.” We are called to be like Christ, in the waiting and in the hurry. When we are able to push aside the distractions and all of the extra stuff, we can more clearly focus on how God is revealed in us, thus transforming our lives and those around us. God wants us to be present. God wants us to focus on the hope, peace, joy and love that Jesus brings and reveals in us. So this year as my mantle is missing its garland and my tree isn’t so heavy, I am reminded to focus on Emmanuel. — Christina McCord

QUESTION OF THE DAY How can you be more present and focused during Advent this year?

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 Comfort, Comfort Now My People

Comfort, comfort now my people; tell of peace!” so says our God. Comfort those who sit in darkness mourning under sorrow’s load. To God’s people now proclaim that God’s pardon waits for them! Tell them that their war is over; God will reign in peace forever!

Although the Advent season can be one of immense joy and delight, for some it can be a reminder of ways that life is difficult and trying. We might remember broken relationships. We might struggle with feelings of inadequacy. We may be grieving the loss of a loved one, or a job, or a life experience that passed us by. We may simply feel overwhelmed by the pain, poverty and war we see around us. And yet, in the midst of that sorrow and mourning, the birth of Jesus gives us reason to take heart and be filled with hope. God promised that the Christ child would bring comfort to all people. Jesus came to show us that those who are struggling will find new, abundant life. Those who are lowly will be lifted up. Those whose hearts are aching will find peace. When we are tempted to feel beaten down by the weight of the world, the Christmas story reminds us that God’s peace will be the ultimate victor over all. This hymn goes on to remind us that Jesus will make paths straight that were once crooked and he will make the rough places smooth. Our life journeys might not be simple or without difficulty, but a life lived through Jesus Christ allows our hearts to be comforted by the knowledge that Christ goes before us in all of our ways. As we share our faith in Christ, may we be a comfort to those around us who might be suffering. May God’s peace radiate from us so that others might know that God’s love. May that peace overcome any pain or sadness we may experience, when we simply allow God to enter our hearts — Courtney Willis

QUESTION OF THE DAY What is causing you pain or sadness this Advent season? How might you find comfort and peace in Christ?

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

Lo! How a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung, Of Jesse’s lineage coming as saints of old have sung. It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night.

As the daughter of an elementary school music teacher and a Minister of Music, it’s no surprise that I grew up with a love for Christmas music. My parents spent a lot of time throughout the year choosing Christmas music for their choirs, and teaching my brother and me how to understand the meaning of musical lyrics. One of my favorite Christmas hymns has always been “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming”. This 1582 German Catholic hymn was originally written about Mary, but the Protestants began to change the focus to Jesus through new translations over the years. The hymn expresses the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, foretelling the birth of Jesus Christ. There’s emphasis placed on Jesus’ lineage through the Tree of Jesse, who was the father of King David. The rose is a reference to the Virgin Mary and how she gave birth to Jesus. There are so many Christmas hymns that are songs of praise and celebration. This hymn is a bit more melancholy. The celebration here is in the knowledge that Christ’s birth brings life out of death. Through Isaiah’s prophecy, we were given God’s son to show His love by sending us a Savior. Though he comes to us in the flesh, Jesus is “very God”. He brings light to take away the darkness, and in his death, He saves us. Although there is some sadness in the knowledge of what comes at Easter, this hymn is meant to celebrate the eternal life we are ultimately promised. “True man, yet very God, from sin and death he saves us and lightens every load.” There is no greater gift. — Cathy Isom

QUESTION OF THE DAY What load are you carrying that you might ask God to lighten for you?

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, from heaven’s all gracious King”: The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

From the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord God would come to live among us on earth, Immanuel. The exact time of his arrival was not revealed in this prophecy. However, a few signs were described. God would arrive as an infant boy having been carried and birthed by a betrothed woman. When will God arrive? Christ’s incarnate arrival on earth was in a lowly setting, a stable surrounded by farm animals, on a quiet, clear starry night in Bethlehem. His earthly parents were a young, modest couple, Mary and Joseph. God announced Jesus’ arrival by having an angel accompanied by a host of angels who heralded this good news by conducting a magnificent celestial concert. This remarkable visual and musical announcement was witnessed by an unlikely group of common shepherds who were watching and caring for their herd of sheep in the middle of that clear, starry night in the fields outside Bethlehem. Imagine the shock, surprise and wonder experienced by those meek boys! Imagine how you would feel witnessing such a heavenly presentation. God’s gift of love to everyone for all time was for peace and goodwill. Jesus Christ would grow up to go on to explain and delineate the path for receiving God’s gift of salvation and everlasting life, for all. It is now up to you and me to choose to receive God’s gift. Our Christmas carol, “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” reminds us of how God chose to first publicly announce the fulfillment of God’s ultimate loving gift to us all. — Richard Beavers

QUESTION OF THE DAY In your life, how have you experienced the peace and goodwill that Jesus brings?

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger; He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger: Son of god, of humble birth, beautiful the story; Praise his name in all the earth, hail the King of Glory!

My memory of Christmas morning 30 years ago is still so vivid. Christmas was on Sunday that year. We had received that always wished for, white Christmas, and the morning was radiant. At church, we sang carols and heard the story of Christ’s birth once again. However, this year I heard the familiar story in a new way. I was 4 months pregnant with our son Daniel, and had just begun to feel gentle kicks and nudges from the little life I was carrying. I remember feeling a kinship with Mary. What had that day been like for her so many years ago? Would I have been that obedient? That brave? The carol “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” tells us something important about Mary’s nature. Her quiet obedience to God despite the uncertainty. There was no plan. No bag packed for the hospital. No Peter Rabbit bedding in a crib, but instead a straw lined feeding trough where her newborn would spend his first night. She would have no visits from family and loved ones. Animals and shepherds would greet her new son. She knew nothing of the future and the heartbreak she would endure, nor the impact this precious child would have on humankind. But then, none of us know the future. Mary was an example of how we all should live out our faith. Gentle, but fearless. Trusting in God’s plan for us despite our circumstances. Lord, let me always respond to your call with the same gentle obedience Mary exhibited. — Rosemary Kellam

QUESTION OF THE DAY How might God be calling you to be obedient this Advent season?

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 What Child is This?

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.

Whose kid is this? It’s a question that has been asked as long as there has been language. Sometimes it’s uttered in admiration. Like when someone wants to know who scored that goal from 10 yards out, or who was the actor in the school play that drew us to tears with their soliloquy? Sometimes it’s exclaimed in disgust or annoyance, like the clerk at the store who has just seen his display crash to the ground as the result of some small curious hands. Or perhaps called out in a moment of panic at the discovery of a lost child at a concert. The feelings of concern of people with no connection to this child before their relieved parents are found. We have to think that “whose kid is this?” was asked by someone at the temple in Jerusalem when he was 12 (Luke 2:41-52). The hymn “What Child is This” asks the same question. Who is this kid? This regular kid who is minding his own business sleeping upon his mother’s lap among farm animals. Luckily this carol gives the answer. This child, “whom angels greet, whom shepherds guard, is the son of Mary.” He is also the one who will “through the cross be borne for me,” be “the King of kings (who) salvation brings.” So rejoice, “Raise, raise the song on high, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary”. — John Sample

QUESTION OF THE DAY What are some ways that Jesus has been part of your life that cause you to ask, “What child is this?”

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 Once in Royal David’s City

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

This carol is known around the world through the BBC’s Christmas Eve broadcast of the Service of Lessons and Carols. Kings College Chapel, Cambridge is the setting for this service which has taken place each year since 1919, even during the Second World War when the great windows of the chapel were removed and stored for protection in the hills of Scotland. The carol Once In Royal David’s City always begins the service with one of the boy choristers chosen to sing the first verse unaccompanied. The director waits until the last minute to choose the soloist in order to reduce anxiety. The hymn’s writer, Cecil Frances Alexander who also wrote All Things Bright and Beautiful, and There is A Green Hill Far Away donated most of the proceeds from her publications to homes for disadvantaged persons. She spent a great deal of time visiting and advocating for the poor, although she herself was a member of the upper class. Ms. Alexander’s hymns including this carol were directed at teaching children about Jesus which the third verse clearly shows: For he is our life-long pattern; daily, when on earth he grew, he was tempted, scored, rejected, tears and smiles like us he know. Thus he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.

I first sang this carol with professor Richard Linn at Southern Seminary in 1982. Dr. Linn had just returned from sabbatical in England and led a Lessons and Carols service at the end of the fall semester before Christmas break. I will never forget being surrounded by a 500 voices (mostly men) singing the final stanza: Not in that poor, lowly stable with the oxen standing round, we shall see him; but in heaven, where his saints his throne surround: Christ, revealed to faithful eye, set at God’s right hand on high.

— Rev. Doug Vancil

QUESTION OF THE DAY What sadness and what gladness do you have to share with Jesus during Advent? 19

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17 Angels from the Realms of Glory

Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah birth; Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King. Though an infant now we view him, he will share his Father’s throne, Gather all the nations to him; every knee shall then bow down. Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.

This hymn has always been a favorite of mine because of its all-encompassing Biblically sound message of the Christmas story. On Christmas Eve, in 1816, the author James Montgomery paints in verse, a vivid picture of angels singing and shepherds in the fields following the star; while Mary & Joseph, wise men, and others are gathered viewing the miracle of Christ’s birth. This poem has all the elements of the Christmas story, but most importantly, it includes the baby Jesus they are now worshiping who will share God’s throne one day. Montgomery’s 200 year-old poem was inspired from Luke 2:2 and was set to music in 1867 by Henry Smart. To me, the hymn gives the ultimate opportunity that those singing can be part of the heavenly choir, by believing, worshipping, and proclaiming our Messiah’s birth. This Advent season as we sing “Angels from the Realms of Glory”, it is my prayer, that all may realize the true miracle, and be invited to worship and receive the continued invitation of this time honored hymn. — Betty Morgan

QUESTION OF THE DAY Aside from Sunday morning worship at church, what is a way you can worship Christ this Advent season?

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 The First Noel

The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

N-O-E-L. I remember four differently-patterned red and green fabric letters stuffed with cotton batting and sewn together into a Christmas decoration in our home growing up. I remember asking, “What does NOEL mean?” and I remember being answered, “Christmas.” I remember looking it up in our big, old, Oxford dictionary, because who doesn’t love etymology at any age? I remember bits of what I read: Nowell, the English transliteration of French Nouel or Noel. In college I learned these all derived from Latin roots related to birth and newness (natalis, novellus). My professor summed it up like this: “When we sing of the First Noel, we sing about the first and best Good News, the birth of the One who saves us.”

And so we sing about the first Good News that the Angel shared with the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks: “Fear not. I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” Sometimes I have to remind my modernly-sensitized heart that the First Noel should sing to my soul the newness of God’s love and light just as fresh and fearful as those same words of grace and joy were to the Shepherds. In my favorite Advent devotional book, The Night of the Child, Robert Benson reminds us that it is up to us to look up from our holiday-ness to see the star that lights our days and nights with Christmas’s first good news afresh: “It will be up to us to follow the star when we see it. We are the ones who must somehow summon the courage to believe in its Light and to follow wherever it leads. We might begin to know in our hearts that no darkness we find ourselves in is too dark for us…that the One who made us will come searching for us, choosing to be among us, choosing to share in that darkness and to burst it apart with light and life and hope and love.” May God’s first and best Good News be light and joy born to our hearts anew this day and always. — Amy Grizzle Kane

QUESTION OF THE DAY What areas of your life feel dark right now? Where might you invite God to shine the light of Christ into your heart? 21

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 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 th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”

With its lyrics penned by Charles Wesley in 1739, this venerable hymn has stood the test of time and continues to be sung and celebrated as a standard in the Christmas season.

Originally, Wesley had thought it best to employ a slower, more solemn tune in keeping with its message. They hymn underwent changes in both its opening lines, to the ones used today by George Whitefield, and in its tune, the more lively one, composed by Mendelsohn. The hymn is based on Luke 2:14, which reads, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” It states the good news and the reason for our celebration!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing has been sung by children and adults alike, and in many genres. In “A Charlie Brown Christmas” the Peanuts gang sings while gathered around Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree, which is swathed in one of Linus’s blankets in the snow. And there is the stirring, soulful rendition sung by the great Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson. Countless choirs have voiced it over the ages, including London’s King’s College Choir. I regard this hymn as one of my “top 10” favorite Christmas hymns. It simply states the good news of Christ’s birth; the reason we celebrate! Have you ever thought how fortunate we are to have so many wonderful hymns with which to sing of the good news? — Jeff Bennett

QUESTION OF THE DAY In what ways do you celebrate during the Christmas season that serve as reminders of the good news?

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 Away in a Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

One of my earliest Christmas memories was singing Away in a Manger. I can’t remember if I learned it in Sunday School or at the knee of my Grandmother; probably both are true. It was the first Christmas carol that I memorized and I’m sure that is true of my own children. The first verse of the carol provides a simple and clear description of how we picture the birth of the Christ child. No crib or heated room, but a manger full of hay. As I have matured in my faith journey and been more attentive to all the verses of this beloved Christmas song, my understanding of the carol has changed. While it starts with the imagery of the birth of Jesus, it is so much more. The third verse serves as a powerful prayer to keep Jesus close to us and for him to be a protector to all the dear children. If we strive to live in close communion with Jesus and love and care for those around us, we are preparing ourselves to be fit for heaven and spending eternity with our Savior. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

— Pat Wilson

QUESTION OF THE DAY For whom can you pray for Jesus to protect during this Advent season?

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 Sing We Now of Christmas

Sing we now of Christmas, Noel, sing we here! Hear our grateful praises to the Babe so dear. Sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel! Sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel!

One of my favorite days of the year is November first. The day after Halloween, I program all of the Christmas music stations into my radio, pull out my Christmas cds, and make a Christmas playlist on my phone. It may sound premature to most, but I love for the music of Christmas to fill my mind far before the Advent season technically begins. There is a reason there are so many Christmas stations. It’s not an accident that most popular singers put out a Christmas album at some point. There is more music written about Christmas than any other season. There is just something about Christmas music that brings us joy. Each year, remembering the birth of Jesus Christ invites us to celebrate with joy and delight. With every song we hear, we are reminded of what an incredible gift God gave us. And Jesus’s birth, life and ultimate resurrection offer us a compelling message that is worth singing about. In fact, it should be so compelling that we can’t help but sing. So, this Advent, don’t forget to sing the songs of Christmas! Whether you are a gifted vocalist or you are more known to “make a joyful noise”, allow space in your days to sing the Good News of Christ’s birth- sing Noel! — Rev. Courtney Willis

QUESTION OF THE DAY What song can you sing today that reminds you of the compelling the story of Jesus’s birth?

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold him, born the King of angels; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Some of my fondest memories of First Baptist Greensboro are of our Christmas Eve worship services. The first time I ever set foot into FBC’s sanctuary was the evening of December 24, 1993, with my then girlfriend Shelly Rudd and her family. Fast forward 25 years later, and I still get goosebumps when the sanctuary illuminates as the congregation raises their candles during the final stanza of “Joy to the World”. The opening hymn each of those 25 years, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, has equal, if not greater significance to me. In Luke 2:15-17, the shepherds, upon hearing of the birth of a Savior, Christ the Lord, felt a sense of urgency to visit Him: “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about”. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what has been told them about this child”. It was this scripture that in 1760 inspired Englishman John Francis Wade to write the words and music to a hymn he called Adeste Fideles in Latin, which was translated by Frederick Oakely in 1841 to the hymn we know as “O Come All Ye Faithful”. “O Come All Ye Faithful” is a hymn that celebrates the remarkable joy and excitement that surrounded the birth of Christ. It is an invitation that allows us to transcend time and distance, to travel to Bethlehem in our hearts, and behold our Savior much like the shepherds and Magi did more than 2000 years ago. “O come let us adore Him”! In stanza 2 we are reminded that song is one of the most glorious forms of worship. Whether we are singing with the congregation at FBC Greensboro on Christmas Eve, or with a choir of angels in Bethlehem, we are giving God the glory for the birth and worship of His son Jesus Christ. Let us “Sing in exultation” each and every hymn we sing. continued on next page

In the final stanza of the original version of the hymn, “Word of the Father / Now in flesh appearing” speaks to our heart that we are now all able to join in with this celebration. Prior to his birth as the baby Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Word, existed in perfect harmony with God only for all previous eternity. But the infinite possibilities of God entering human flesh has made it all possible. In Jesus, we can join alongside the history of God’s people and their worship of Christ, and each Christmas as we specifically focus on Jesus’ birth, we too can say, “Oh come let us adore him / He is Christ the Lord.” — Dave Worsley

QUESTION OF THE DAY In what ways could you be a more faithful follower of God this Advent and in the year to come?

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 Silent Night

Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright ‘Round yon virgin mother and Child, Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

The holiday season in my family always began with a road trip to both my grandparents’ homes for our two Thanksgiving dinners! We lived five hours away and excitement would build in the early morning hours as we headed to their homes. Coming back to my house on Sunday evenings would be just as exciting but in a different way. The Christmas season would be heralded in by my mom and dad beginning the singa-long of Christmas songs. My favorite was when mom would sing Silent Night. Her voice sounded like an angel. The dark coldness of the car would grow warm with the advent of Christmas in this song. To me, the song told of the sweet joyfulness of the birth of the Holy Infant. As a child, the gloriousness of the light-filled night described in the song, created a joy that lasted the season. Through the years, my favorite verse has been the third verse… “Son of God, love’s pure light.” The remembrance of the birth of Christ allows us to see what the purity of love looks like. In John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus did that when He was crucified for our sins. Christmas shines a light on Christ’s love and sacrifice beginning with His birth. In the song Silent Night, I am reminded that God’s greatness is shown in the quiet stillness, in the birth of a baby and in the whisper of His abundant love. This Christmas may we all see “the glories stream from heaven” as we listen for the baby’s cry and see love’s pure light. — Debbie Huneycutt

QUESTION OF THE DAY What are some small, quiet things you notice around you that remind you of God’s abundant love?

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

For as long as I can remember, Joy to the World has been my favorite Christmas carol. I have to confess that I don’t know all of the verses of many hymns by heart. But this one I do. Why do I love this carol? Maybe it’s the beautiful musical phrasing at the very beginning of the song. It bursts with Joy in the first line. Maybe it’s the word Joy: much more than happiness… truly a deep feeling that is longer lasting and full of love. Maybe it’s because we usually save this carol until the end of Advent. It’s announcing that Christmas is here! The baby Jesus is born! But it seems like it’s more than that. I decided to do a little research. “Joy to the World” was included in a book of poetry by Englishman Isaac Watts published in 1719. Over 100 years later his poem was put to the now familiar tune written by American Lowell Mason. It almost immediately became associated with Christmas. At that time, churches typically sang from the Psalter, the Psalms of the Old Testament. Watts rewrote songs in the style and language of the common people. Joy to the World is a paraphrase of Psalm 98. (Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 98:4) It refers to the Second Coming of Christ rather than the birth of the baby Jesus. Think about the words: » Let earth receive her King. » The Savior reigns. » No more sins and sorrows growing. » He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness. Surely, this describes the world when Jesus returns! Joy as we celebrate the birth of the Babe now and Joy when He comes again. — Anita Cranford

QUESTION OF THE DAY How does Christ bring you joy today and in what areas of your life do you hope Christ will bring you joy in the future? 28

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!

Dear friends, we are rejoicing today - Christmas Day! As we do, perhaps the words echo in our heads, “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice.” The beloved Christmas Day carol is based on a 4th century Latin text, which later inspired a 14th century mystic, Father Heinrich Suso. According to Suso’s autobiography, one night he experienced a vivid dream, in which he was singing with an angel choir. When he awoke, he penned what he remembered of the song. A religious populist, Suso’s text was distinct at the time in that it was written in the common language and accessible to all, which in and of itself is the story of Christ’s coming. This theme of incarnation is captured in the first verse of this carol we sing: “Christ is born today!” Sometimes we approach Christmas and the coming of Christ into our world as something that happened long ago or “once upon a time.” So full of spectacle and wonder, vivid characters, dramatic moments, and ethereal angel choirs, it can seem distant from our ordinary lives. Some of our carols are written in the past tense, as we sing about what “came upon a midnight clear” or what “the angels did say” on a long ago night. But today, we sing a carol in the present tense, full of the possibility of now, rejoicing in the one who comes yet again into our ordinary lives, accessible and embraceable by every one of us. On a Christmas Eve some years ago, the poet farmer, Wendell Berry, was making the rounds on his small farm in Kentucky, when something about the stillness of the moment caused him to realize, “Oh. This is when it happened.” And he wrote this: Remembering that it happened once, We cannot turn away the thought, As we go out, cold, to our barns Toward the long night’s end, that we Ourselves are living in the world It happened in when it first happened

(excerpt from “Remembering it Happened Once”) continued on next page

What happened once, happens still. It’s not once upon a time, but real time. It’s not long ago, but again and again. It’s not merely some distant day in a storied past, but as we hear in the song echoing in our heads this Christmas morn: “Christ is born today!” — Rev. Alan Sherouse

QUESTION OF THE DAY How might Christ be born in your heart today?

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