What’s that, you say? Isn’t that a Christmas song? In September??? Well, for several of us on the worship and arts staff, Christmas actually started the day after Easter! And in anticipation
of another December outreach project, we’ve been on the lookout and the listen-out for what unique way God might bring this timeless message to our community through the arts. Last year, our program, “The Wonder of Christmas,” was actually conceived by the song that brought it all together—Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. It was our starting point and it became the climactic exclamation point to the entire presentation.
This year’s program, entitled Unwrapping Christmas, was hatched in two ways, through the lyrics of a composer, Bob Kauflin, and the special insights of pastor and author, Jack Hayford. Twenty years ago, Kauflin penned these provocative phrases in a song entitled In the First Light:
In the first light of a new day no one knew He had arrived
Things continued as they had been while a new born softly cried.
But the heavens wrapped in wonder
knew the meaning of His birth
In the weakness of a baby they knew God had come to earth.
As His mother held him closely, it was hard to understand
That her baby not yet speaking was the Word of God to man.
He would tell them of His kingdom,
but their hearts would not believe
They would hate Him and in anger they would nail Him to a tree.
But the sadness would be broken as the song of life arose
And the First born of creation would ascend and take his throne.
He has left it to redeem us, but before His life began
He knew He´d come back not as a baby
but as The Lord of every man.
Hear the angels as they´re singing on the morning of His birth
But how much greater will our song be when He comes again
But how much greater will our song be
when He comes again to Earth
When He comes to rule the Earth!
And quoting from pastor and author Jack Hayford (from Moments with Majesty):
Christmas month begins. And again I find myself wanting to reach out to help people who can’t, by themselves, ‘unwrap’ Christmas. It is, you know, “wrapped” for many…
…wrapped in the bandages of bygone hurts and disappointments,
…wrapped in the plastic of sophistication which prohibits childlike wonder,
…wrapped in the tinsel of materialistic binge,
…wrapped in the confetti and streamers of empty partying,
…wrapped in the busy-getting-ready preparations,
..wrapped in the artistically designed whisky box of bombed-out,so-called “celebrations.”
The “wrappings” listed are not necessarily reflective of one’s current hindrance, but rather, the cluttered residue of a person’s private history. They are the wadded packagings of Christmases
ruined in other times, at other places. Sadly, the impact carries on, souring year after year. I’m speaking of people…
- who had heartbreak one Yuletide, and now always associate the season with that tearful memory,
- who have been burned out over family stresses surrounding
the holidays, so that
now these days are dreaded instead of anticipated with joy,
- who became wearied with the carnality of superficial gift giving when love seldom attended the presents, and now wince at the idea of Christmas shopping
Confronting those ghouls of past pain, I pray with you: “Father, forgive us our Christmases, as we forgive those who ‘Christmased’ against us.” And I say, “Be free, dear one!”
Through Jesus – the Babe become King, the Son become Lord, the Child become Christ – in His mighty Name, lay hold of this festal day with rejoicings. Refuse to let the Prince of Darkness
smother the Season of Light. The one who sought to murder the Baby of Bethlehem now seeks to ruin your celebration of His coming. Resist him with all the strength your Lord provides.
Be untied. Be unfettered. Be unwrapped. Take my hands, and together…let’s dance toward Christmas!
In just two weeks, we get to begin the dance toward Christmas again—together. New faces and voices will join us; new songs and scripts await us. But the awesome treasure of good news is
the same as last year and every year since the very first Christmas. And though it is the same, it seems to get sweeter and more desperately needed each year as darkness increases all around.
Musicians and technicians, let’s begin now to anticipate God’s special visitation this season, long before others even know it’s here, as we prepare and pray and ponder.
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