Merry Christmas!

Dec. 25, 2021

Scripture Readings

“Joy to the World,” our beloved Christmas Carol, by English writer Isaac Watts, was first published in 1719. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit in response to Psalm 96:11-12; 98; and Genesis 3:17-18. The tune usually used today is from the 1848 edition by Lowell Mason.


“Joy to the world! The LORD is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing (X2), and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.” “Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns;’’ starts stanza two. “Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy” (X2) . . . “repeat, repeat the sounding joy.” “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground,” begins verse three. “He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found” (X2) . . . “far as, far as the curse is found.” As the curse is everywhere, His blessings flow everywhere! Stanza four proclaims Christ’s reign: “He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love” (X2) . . . “and wonders, and wonders of his love.”


“O Come All Ye Faithful” was originally written in Latin as Adeste Fideles and attributed to various authors. The earliest manuscript, 1640, bears the name King John lV of Portugal (1604-1656). The first printed Latin source, 1751, was by John Francis Wade (1711-1786). Frederick Oakeley, a Catholic priest, translated this carol into English in 1841. First stanza: “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the King of Angels: O come, let us adore him (X3), Christ the LORD.” Stanza three: “Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above! Glory to God, glory in the highest: O come, let us adore Him (X3), Christ the Lord”. (Both carols referenced to Wikipedia September 20, 27, 2021).


From our reading of Revelation 17:14: “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is LORD of lords and King of kings--and with him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.”


As we want to be with Him in eternity, may God’s grace enable us to be faithful followers of Christ all of our days.


Judy Mary Llewellyn