Greetings,
Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once observed, “Only poets can do justice to the Christmas and Easter stories…” Perhaps this is why the songs that proclaim the incarnation and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are among our most beloved hymns. The poetic nature of these hymns reaches into the recesses of the human spirit and enlightens our minds with the rich theology of our Faith. The poets with their ability to use language well, tell and retell wondrous Christmas and Easter stories.
When I read the birth narrative in Luke 2:1-20, Phillips Brooks’ poetry of Bethlehem reels me in, “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” The Church creeds come alive with John F. Wade’s line, “True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, lo, he shuns not the Virgin’s womb; Son of the Father; begotten, not created…” I am never prouder to be United Methodist than when we sing the poetry of Charles Wesley, “Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by; born that we no more die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.” When I flip back to account of Christ’s earliest years in Matthew 2:1-12, I come undone by James Montgomery’s line, “Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam afar; seek the great Desire of nations; ye have seen his natal star.”
In my opinion Niebuhr was absolutely correct to suggest, “Only poets can do justice to the Christmas and Easter stories…” As I anticipate another Advent and Christmas season, I am moving beyond the daily devotional readings, sermon preparations, and participating in Adam Hamilton’s study Prepare the Way for the Lord. This year I have turned to the poetry of Christina G. Rosetti. Forty years after Rosetti penned Love Came Down at Christmas, the poem was placed to music. However, the reason I am lingering upon Rosetti’s poetry is because a wise and deeply devout member of our congregation always requests that Rosetti’s poem be sung:
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the God-head, Love incarnate, Love divine;
Worship we our Jesus, but where-with for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.
In 1885, Rosetti described the meaning of Christmas without the usual mention of shepherds or even the manger. Perhaps, the poem invites us to supply the shepherds and the manger with Christ’s downward movement towards a world marred by Sin and Death. Amid the coldness and cruelty found on earth, the Heavens declare the arrival of Jesus Christ to ordinary, common human beings. Since, Christ is both fully God and fully human, he alone is uniquely positioned to offer us salvation. My prayer during this season is that we as a church will begin to dip our toes into the poetry of our carols, that they might speak anew into our spirits of “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).
It is my longing that this Advent and Christmas season will mark for you a time to recommit yourself to knowing more intimately the “Love that came down at Christmas” and that you might be a sign of God’s love with each person you encounter. The poets of Christmas offer you a route to renew your relationship with God and others. Your church provides: reverse advent calendar (food pantry collection), a respite group, devotional materials, Sunday school classes, Bible/book studies, Sunday morning worship services, a Blue Christmas service, and Christmas Eve candlelight service. I look forward to your presence as we share in carols together of the wondrous poetry of the season.
Blessings,
Pastor Nicholas Perry
Advent Schedule
Blue Christmas – Wednesday, December 21 – 7pm
Christmas Eve – Saturday, December 24 – 7 pm
Christmas Day – Sunday, December 25 – 10 am
New Year’s Day – Sunday, January 1– 10 am Fireside