When Hymns Speak Louder Than Words

When I was a child, we were not allowed to listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. It was only then that the handful of records would come out and we would hear with joy the familiar songs.

Nowadays I start listening to Christmas music earlier—albeit in private settings so as not to upset anyone who must wait until the end of November. I do have a good reason for breaking my family’s taboo. I am working on my Christmas time sermons several weeks in advance.

Christmas is the time when every year the music helps me with the message. While many of our hymns help to bring the stories of Jesus to life or otherwise enlighten our theological understanding, it is the music of Christmas that, for me, is the easiest to understand and communicates the clearest.

I think of “O Come All Ye Faithful” and especially the line “true God of true God. Light of light eternal”. This is explaining the nature of Jesus as Emmanuel—God with us. Others use narrative to paint the scene “there’s a song in the air. There’s a star in the sky. There’s a mother’s sweet prayer, and a baby’s low cry. . . “ And still others convey the emotions, “Joy to the World, the Lord has come!”

This is why this Advent we are looking at the Great Hymns of Christmas in our messages. Our music tells us as much if not more about Jesus birth than spoken word does. But you don’t have to take my word for it. When the angel comes to Mary to share the good news that she will birth the Messiah, Mary sings her reply.

I hope you enjoy the music of Christmas (whether you wait until after you have had your fill of turkey or not). And I hope you will come celebrate this most special time of year with friends and family at Prescott United Methodist Church.

See you in Church,

Pastor Dan