Songs of Christmas
A Christmas Message Series
I Heard the Bells…
December 24, 2021 • Pastor Bill West • Romans 8:31–39
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas 1863 Civil War. After his wife died in 1861 and his son was severely wounded in the war. The poem was then turned into a song in 1872 by John Baptiste Calkin. Christmas is often a lonely time for many. Because of the incarnation, God isn’t absent from the world, but he’s intimately involved in it. On the first Christmas, God entered human existence as an infant to begin his great work to heal the world’s brokenness. “God is not dead, nor does he sleep. The right will prevail, and the wrong shall fail because of this child born in Bethlehem.” I Heard the Bells… Live on Fri, Dec 24, 2:55pm PST
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
December 19, 2021 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • Colossians 2:9–15, 1 John 3:8
We know little about where this song came from, but it is one of the oldest carols: dating back before the 16th century. Charles Dickens even mentions the song in A Christmas Carol. This song tells us that Christ was born to “save us all from Satan’s power.” We will focus on that statement in this message. Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan and deliver us from the darkness of sin. He made a mockery of Satan’s attempt to destroy Him on the cross by rising from the grave. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Live on Sun, Dec 19. 8:55am PST
What Child is This?
December 5, 2021 • Pastor Bill West • John 1:1–5, John 1:9–13
This hymn helps to bridge the gap between the hope of the coming Messiah to the birth of Jesus in our world. We will focus this message on answering the question: “What Child is This?” using John’s gospel. What Child is This? Live on Sun, Dec, 05, 8:55am PST
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
November 28, 2021 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • Isaiah 42:1–4, Revelation 5:9–10
Charles Wesley helped his more famous brother, John, start the Methodist movement and wrote this song and about 6,000 others. One of the enduring strengths of this song is the fact that it doesn’t retell the nativity story. Instead, it focuses on a hunger that we can all identify with. Blaise Paschal, a French philosopher, said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person that cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator.” And still today, Christians cry, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Live on Sun, Nov 28, 8:55am PST