But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10 NIV)

Although no Christmas season would be complete without the melodious singing of this tuneful carol, very little is known about its origin.  It is believed to have had its rise in France during the fifteenth century.  Noël is a French word originating from Latin meaning “birthday,” a joyous expression of greeting to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.  The song is thought to have been brought across the channel to England by the wandering troubadours.  Especially in the west of England, the carol, featuring the spelling “nowell,” became a great favorite for Christmas Eve festivities.  This was when the entire village gathered for singing and celebrating the bringing in of a Yule log.  At that time carols such as this were still thought of as popular religious songs and were meant to be sung outside the church rather than within. 

It is interesting to observe that the “King of Israel” was first announced to “certain poor shepherds” only, but in the final stanza the phrases “let us all” and “mankind hath brought” remind us that Christ came to redeem the whole world. 

By Kenneth W. Osbeck, Joy to the World! (The Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Carols)

The First Noel

1. 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.
   Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
   Born is the King of Israel!
    
2. They looked up and saw a star
   Shining in the East beyond them far
   And to the earth it gave great light
   And so it continued both day and night.
   Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
   Born is the King of Israel!
    
3. And by the light of that same star
   Three Wise men came from country far
   To seek for a King was their intent
   And to follow the star wherever it went.
   Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
   Born is the King of Israel!
    
4. This star drew nigh to the northwest
   O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
   And there it did both Pause and stay
   Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
   Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
   Born is the King of Israel!
    
5. Then entered in those Wise men three
   Full reverently upon their knee
   And offered there in His presence
   Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
   Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
   Born is the King of Israel!
    
6. Then let us all with one accord
   Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
   That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
   And with his blood mankind has bought.
   Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
   Born is the King of Israel!

 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. (Luke 2:15-16 NIV)

Dr. Jaroslav Vajda (1919-2008) was a pastor, author, and editor and was known as "the dean of hymn writers in North America."  He was the author or more than 225 hymn texts and translations that appear in some 60 Christian hymnals and printed collections on five continents.  One of his most widely known hymns is "Go, My Children, with My Blessing."  The hymn the men’s quartet will sing at the candlelight service on Christmas Eve is written by Dr. Vajda.  The following is what he himself wrote about how the hymn came to be written.

“A request from Augsburg Publishing House for a Christmas song for their Christmas Annual prompted the composition of this hymn on the adoration of the Christ Child in the manger.  I wondered what fresh approach and contemporary application could be made of that central event in history. Rather than report the event again in the third person, as so many Christmas songs do, I placed myself in spirit at that poor manger bed and reviewed the implications of that visit in my life and future and in that of my fellow human beings.  I have struggled, and more so as I grow older, with the incomprehensibility of that event and of my connection with it, and with each commemoration of that miracle becoming more routine, though its impact on God’s heart remains the means of my salvation.  I pictured myself at the opposite side of the event from Isaiah and his prophecy (Isaiah 9:6, 7) applying the same promise to myself as a late-arriving pilgrim."

From Now the Joyful Celebration by Jaroslav J. Vajda 

1. Where shepherds lately knelt and kept the angel’s word,
   I come in half-belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred;
   But there is room and welcome there for me,
   But there is room and welcome there for me.
    
2. In that unlikely place I find him as they said:
   Sweet newborn Babe, now frail! And in a manger bed,
   A still, small voice to cry one day for me,
   A still, small voice to cry one day for me.
    
3. How should I not have known Isaiah would be there,
   His prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart I stare;
   A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me,
   A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me.
    
4. Can I, will I forget how Love was born, and burned
   Its way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned,
   To die, to live, and not alone for me,
   To die, to live, and not alone for me?

(Jarosla Vajda)

Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Text: Matthew 2:1–12

The Three Kings

• They came to find the newborn king.
• They brought gifts:
• Gold:  a most valuable commodity
• Frankincense:  incense used in worship—
  a symbol of prayer
• Myrrh:  a spice that was used to anoint bodies before burial
• They brought gifts to ...
• Show their honor
• To show their respect
• To worship the child

• It’s priceless.
• It’s eternal.
• It’s something you use every day.

1. Our hearts. Not just pious words, but our hearts, our love, our devotion, our faith. God wants a relationship!
2. Our worship. Authentic worship is anything we do, anything we say, any action to we take that gives glory to God. God wants lives to mean something…he desires us to be builders of his Kingdom.
3. Our giving and serving. Jesus tells us that when we give and serve the least of these we are doing it to him. If you want to give a gift to God, serve and give to the least of these—it is giving God a gift!

Where I saw God at Clinic with a Heart this week?

I saw God in one of our patients. He has been homeless in the past and was close, if not homeless now. 
He had no transportation and the buses do not run that late. He was going to walk to Wal-mart and then home. We decided we could not let him walk in the cold, so some of the volunteers put money together and paid for him to take a cab.

As he was getting into the cab he turned around and said, "May God bless you" and then he said, "Maybe I will see you in church someday". I hope I see him soon!

Heidi Longe

 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

1. Angels from the realms of glory,
   
Wing your flight over all the earth;
   
Once you sang creation’s story;

   Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
   
Come and worship, come and worship,

   Worship Christ, the newborn king.
    
2. Shepherds in the fields abiding,

   Watching over your flocks by night,
   
God with us in now residing,
   
Yonder shines the infant light.

   Come and worship, come and worship,

   Worship Christ, the newborn king.
    
3. Sages, leave your contemplations,

   Brighter visions beam afar;

   Seek the great desire of nations,
   
You have seen his natal star.
   
Come and worship, come and worship,

   Worship Christ, the newborn king.
    
4. All creation, join in praising
   
God the Father, Spirit, Son
   
Evermore your voices raising
   
To the eternal Three in One.
   
Come and worship, come and worship,

   Worship Christ, the newborn king.

Listen to Chip's Message

Text: Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

Big Idea: We must prioritize our lives during the holiday season so that we don’t just do all of the good things, but that we especially do the best things, namely worshipping God and sharing the love of Christ with our family members through our presence with them.

Main Points:

• If we are honest, most of us will admit that Christmas and the Advent season is a time where, like Martha, we are distracted and worried and upset about many things.
• When we worry and get distracted about all we have to do, we neglect the two most important things that Mary did—worship of Jesus and giving our hearts, emotions and time to our family.
• Many of the things we get distracted by are good things.
• When the swirling vortex of the Christmas season gets going we need to prioritize and keep perspective.

• Being Present Physically: Show physical signs of affection. Hug, shake hands, instead of watching a football game, try board games or something else interactive. Take the time to be present physically.
• Being Present Emotionally: Listen to others. Share your heart, successes, failures. Ask good questions. Say “I love you.” Compliment others. Reflect back on the past year’s blessings and struggles. Call family members you haven’t seen in a long time or can’t see this season.
• Being Present Spiritually: Share the miracle of Christmas with your family. Celebrate the coming, the arrival of Jesus. Pray together. Go through Advent Devotions as a family. Worship together. Serve together. Read the Christmas story together. Pray for each other.
• Above all, be present with God this holiday season.

Additional Study & Reflection Tools

• Get a copy of the book The Advent Conspiracy by Rick McKinley, Chris Seay and Greg Holder. It’s a great read and talk about shifting the way we celebrate Christmas.  ISBN: 978-0-310-32452-2
• Pray about ways you can be more present to family members and friends physically, emotionally and spiritually this Christmas.  What might you give up?  What might you do differently?
• Ask your family members and/or friends how you are doing with giving your presence to them.  Honestly assess how you are loving them.  Ask for forgiveness where needed and celebrate where you are doing well.
• Here is a great link to ideas for dad’s this Christmas season: http://www.theresurgence.com/16-daddy-christmas-tips

I read this quote today that gave me to have a new perspective on waiting:

"A waiting person is a patient person. The word 'patience' implies the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us. Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there. Impatient people expect the real thing to happen somewhere else, and therefore they want to get away from the present situation and go elsewhere. For them, the moment is empty. But patient people dare to stay where they are, waiting." - Henri Nouwen

I never thought about the patient person as a daring person before, and I kind of like that.  How daring are you?  

The Advent season is all about waiting.  In worship, we are waiting for the promised Christ Child to arrive in our midst.  In our homes, we are waiting to blow the wrapping off of those presents that are tucked under the tree.  In our lives, we are hoping for the next great event or relationship or opportunity.  But how content are we with what's happening right now?  How present are we in the present?  How might we give our presence to the moment we are in right now?

Pastor Sara

The Saratoga Pancake Feed has been postponed to January 7 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Please pass this message on to people who were planning on attending. 

However, this morning round #4 just got to me.  It was heavy, it was sticking to my shovel, it was falling back into the same place from which I had just removed it.  I was beginning to loathe round #4.

I was only about 1/4 of the way done this morning when my neighbor came over with his snow-blower. (Cue the Hallelujah Chorus in my head!) I have a serious amount of gratitude in me, it would have taken me til noon to do it by myself.  (Instead I was inside the house again by 10:00 cozy warm, taking a picture of my neighbor out the window.)  In the time it took me to shovel the front walk, he had the entire driveway done.  Just when I was on the brink of losing it, he restored my great delight!  Mine was the 3rd drive way he's done this morning, and he's working on a 4th right now.

I also neglected to mention that yesterday another neighbor came over and helped me with the final 1/3 of round 3.  I have good neighbors.  Ever since, the State Farm jingle ... "And like a good neighbor _________ is there," has been stuck in my head.  For me I'll insert "Scott and Troy."  State Farm doesn't have the patent on being a good neighbor though, Jesus does.  Read more about that here.

So I got to thinking, there are probably all sorts of stories, all over Lincoln (and beyond) today of good neighbors.  Who is your neighbor?  OR, how have you been a good neighbor?  I need some good reading on this "snow day" so comment away good neighbors!

Pastor Sara

 “But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 NRSV)

A century later, Brebeuf’s lyrics were translated into French by another missionary priest, Etienne de Villeneuve.  Villeneuve was pastor of the descendants of the Huron Christians who had survived the massacre of 1649.  He translated many of the Huron hymns and chants into French and preserved their original language versions in writing.  Until then they had been handed down orally from generation to generation.   In 1899, this French-language volume of old carols was discovered by Jesse E. Middleton, a choir director from Toronto.  He did his own translation into English and the carol achieved recognition and a new life.  His freewheeling translation, beginning with the haunting phrase, “’Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled,” is still used today.

In an attempt to convey the meaning of the first Christmas to his converts, Brebeuf had written this carol using Huron settings and language.  The wise men became “chiefs,” and the gifts of the Magi became “fox and beaver pelt.” The shepherds became “hunters,” and the swaddling clothes were transformed into “a ragged robe of rabbit skin.”   This unusual carol is at once the oldest North American carol and one of the newest admitted to many denominational hymnals, such as those of the Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Episcopalian churches. 

From Joy to the Wrold by Albert J. & Shirley C. Menendez

'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

1. Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
   That mighty *Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
   Before their light the stars grew dim and wandering hunters heard the hymn,
   Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
    
2. Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
   A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
   But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high
   Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
    
3. The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
   As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
   While chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
   Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
    
4. O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
   The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
   Come kneel before the radiant Boy
   who brings you beauty peace and joy.
   Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

(Translation: J. Middleton)
*traditional Huron name for God

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

This Sunday, December 13 at 4:30pm, Southwood Lutheran will have the privilege of hosting a presentation of Handel’s Messiah by the UNL Choir and faculty with orchestra. I can tell you that after hearing a rehearsal on Monday night that the audience is in for a very special treat.

The Messiah is an extraordinary composition that captures the spirit of Christmas perfectly. Handel composed the entire work in only 24 days (50 individual selections!). It must have been a feverish production, as Handel saw this as his masterpiece, a musical retelling of the life of Christ, from birth to resurrection. Handel was apparently seized with a genuine religious fervor during his writing and composition, a realization that this was something that would outlive him and would have the potential of reaching a wide audience with a spiritual message. Handel’s biographers are in complete agreement that the Messiah represented a culmination of Handel’s spirituality and musical talents. Handel himself wrote later, “I did think I did see all heaven before me, and the good God himself.” Come experience this musical masterpiece and understand why it has been a favorite Christmas celebration for generations.

From Joy to the World by Albert J. & Shirley C. Menendez

The people of Southwood provided more than 600 Christmas gifts for the City Impact Gifts of Love Christmas Store, the Lincoln Regional Center, families of Southwood’s congregation and scholarships, books, meals, and school supplies for Southwood’s AIDS Orphans program.

This picture is the truck that picked up the gifts for City Impact Gifts of Love Christmas Store!  We filled ¾ of the 20 foot U-Haul!

Thank you for giving so generously and helping to make Christmas brighter for people in Lincoln!

Scott Young, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Lincoln, sent out his monthly update.    
Please see how Lincoln is giving presence to children in need through the Backpack program and how you can help raise funds to continue this program.

To the Friends of the BackPack Program: 

This has been a wonderfully busy Autumn at the Food Bank.  We continue to grow and grow on all fronts. At the same time, we are well aware that our growth, while robust, is not keeping up with growing demand. 

During October and November, your BackPack Program distributed 15,171 food filled backpacks from 25 packing sites at 51 schools in southeast Nebraska.  We also distributed at least 23,370 pieces of fresh fruit, and 3,080 vouchers for a gallon of milk. 

Together, for the year, we have distributed 23,435 food filled backpacks. At the conservatively estimated 5 meals per backpack, we have distributed 117,175 meals during the first three months of our BackPack Year.  We have also distributed 35,650 pieces of fresh fruit, and 4,615 vouchers for gallons of fresh milk. These are outstanding numbers.   

We have several BackPack fund-raising events coming up for the BackPack program that may be of interest to you.  Nebraska Wesleyan is staging another Empty Bowls Luncheon for the program Saturday, February 27^th.   There is an event called Artitudes Holiday Art Show and Sale on 12/4, 12/5, and 12/6. This is in the Tool House Building at 8^th and Q, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the BackPack Program. We also have an event called Fashion for Food for the BackPack Program Sunday night at Campus Life North (the old Back to the Bible location our on Cornhusker) at 7pm. Tickets for that are $14 for adults and $7 bucks for students. Some of the Clinton BackPack kids will be in this “Runway Show” and I think it might be a riot. 

Please call Alynn Sampson at the Food Bank if you need information about any of the above events. 

Last but not least we want to share a couple of links with you that will be meaningful. The first is a 6 minute piece that aired on CBS Sunday Morning a couple of weeks ago about hunger and Food Banking and Feeding America.  The second is a link to a video that was produced by Feeding America promoting the BackPack Program. Four Food Banks were featured in the video including the Food Bank of Lincoln. Most of us ended up on the cutting room floor, but Dr. Bess Scott of LPS and BackPacker Extraordinaire Dana Govaerts made the cut.  Hit the links below to see some great information, and examples of compassion at work. 

• CBS Sunday Morning Report on Feeding America
• http://image-base.com/files/mjob/fa_backpack/

Thanks for all you are doing to help our BackPack kids and families. Have a great holiday season.

Best,

Scott Young,

Food Bank

To donate to the program, or find out what’s going on at the Food Bank: www.lincolnfoodbank.org

December 6      Giving Presence to Those in Need
December 13    Giving Presence to my Family
December 20    Giving Presence to God

• Worship More: During Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, read the Christmas story and make sure to build up the anticipation to Jesus’ birth.
• Spend Less: Talk with your kids, spouse, and extended family about how you’ll be spending your money for Christmas. Ask: Does what we spend on someone determine how we feel about them? It can, but explain to your children that giving of ourselves is much better!
• Give More: Take time to discuss who will benefit from your spending less on frivolous gifts. Talk about the ways your family could get involved with serving or giving to those in need.  Our Christmas offerings this year will all go toward hunger ministries.
• Love All: Pray as a family for those who will be receiving life-changing gifts for Christmas. Serving Jesus is most readily seen (and most Christ like) when you give gifts to people who can’t give you anything in return.

Listen to Pastor Sara's Message

God gave us the greatest present of all when he came to earth to live among us and redeem us. God’s presence with us is what Christmas is all about. Instead of presents, how can we give our presence this Christmas?

Mary’s Song: Luke 1:46-55

Mary recalls the past.

• Mary’s Song is full of references to Old Testament passages, especially Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2, when Hannah praised God for her own son Samuel.
• She recalls the deliverance of the people of Israel from captivity in Egypt to a new life in the promised land.

• Mary firmly believes that God can and will do incredible things through this Jesus. The proud will be scattered, the rulers brought down, the humble lifted up, the hungry filled, and the rich sent away empty.
• This vision is either preposterous or profound. Do you believe it could happen?

"‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ —which means, ‘God with us.’"

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

1. Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, 

   And ransom captive Israel,
   
That mourns in lonely exile here
   
Until the Son of God appear.
   
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   
Shall come to you, O Israel!
   
   
   
2. Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
   
Who ordered all things mightily;
   
To us the path of knowledge show,
   And teach us in her ways to go.
   
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   
Shall come to you, O Israel!
   
   
   
3. Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem,
   
From ev'ry foe deliver them
   
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
   
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
   
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   
Shall come to you, O Israel!
   
   
   
4. Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
   
And open wide our heav'nly home;
   
Make safe the way that leads on high,
   
And close the path to misery.
   
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   
Shall come to you, O Israel!
   
   
   
5. Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
   
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
   
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
   
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
   
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Listen to Pastor Michael's Message

Text: Luke 17:20-24; 34-35

Revelation: Scaring Mark, the paperboy

• Literally to uncover. 
  
• Revelation, Insight, Enlightenment

• Jewish-Christian writings about God’s wrath for justice inflicted on the earth before starting the righteous life.
• Prophetic revelation
• A great disaster

How did revelation go from Godly insights to calamity?

• Can’t see it, it is among us.
• Don’t need to go looking for it because its light and power is all around.
• When is the second coming?

• Ask at the close of each day, where have you seen Christ today?
• Where has God revealed truth to you through unlikely places?
• Live as if this is your last day.  What would you say, do? 
• Take the risk and say it or do it as long as it is out of care for others.

Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come! 

   Let earth receive her King; 

   Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
   And heav'n and nature sing.
   
   
   
2. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
   
Let men their songs employ,
   
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
   
Repeat the sounding joy.
   
   
   
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
   Nor thorns infest the ground;
   
He comes to make His blessings flow
   
Far as the curse is found.
   
   
   
4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
   
And makes the nations prove
   
The glories of His righteousness,
   And wonders of His love.

Listen to Pastor Greg's Message

Message Text: Luke 12:13–21 (NLT)

We are bombarded with messages…

• If you had a little bit more, you’d be content
• If you had this new ”thing” you’d be satisfied
• If you had a bigger house or more fashionable clothes, you’d be happy

Contentment is a condition of the heart and soul!

¹⁶Be cheerful no matter what; ¹⁷pray all the time; 18thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (MSG) 

Contentment is a life choice. Choosing Contentment means:

• that we look to God as the source of all we have and give thanks for what we have been given.
• we ask God to give us the right perspective on money and possessions and to change our hearts each day.
• we lead a simpler life, wasting less, conserving more, managing well.
• we say yes to the right things, and no to the unnecessary, and that we grow closer to God to know the difference.
• we live generously for the sake of others in need.

Lord, help me be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don’t need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity.  AMEN

This sermon series is based on the book Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity by Adam Hamilton