O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

Jesus was born many years ago, and many of our Christmas carols tell of the manger and shepherds and wise men. But Christmas is not something long ago. Christmas is an event that happens every year in the present. It is happening now. And the carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem speaks to us so beautifully of what Christmas is. It is written in the present tense. Read the words aloud.  Hear the angels sing.  Let your heart accept the Christmas gift of Christ being born in you.

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emanuel!

Loren Bullock
December 24, 2013