Christmas Praise!

As we continue our Christmas meditations, I would like to look today at one of my favorite Christmas carols, "O Little Town of Bethlehem".  The lyrics of this beautiful carol were penned by Phillips Brooks and the melody by Lewis Redner.

     In 1865, Phillips Brooks was on the journey of a lifetime.  He was on an extended tour of the Holy Land -- the trip a gift from his parishioners.
     On Sunday, December 24, 1865, he rode on horseback from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.  He wanted to be present at the Christmas Eve service.  The services lasted from 10 p.m. until three in the morning.  He was moved with emotion as he listened to hymns of praise, scripture readings and prayers.  This Christmas Eve in Bethlehem would remain with him the rest of his life.

     Phillips Brooks was known as a man of great compassion and humility who connected well with people of all generations.  It was his love for little children that led him to pen the hauntingly beautiful Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."  The children of the church were planning a Christmas program, and he wanted a new Christmas song for them to sing.  His thoughts drifted back to that Christmas in Bethlehem a few years earlier.  Recalling the beauty of the city, the darkness of the night, the pageantry of the story, he quickly wrote four stanzas.
     He gave his verses to the church organist, Lewis Redner, requesting that he compose a simple melody that the children could easily memorize for their program a few days later.  The night before the Christmas program, Mr. Redner still had not come up with anything.  He fell into bed, exhausted, and plunged into a deep sleep.  In the middle of the night, he awoke with the strains of a lovely melody ringing in his ears.  Hastily, he jotted down the notes and went back to sleep.  In the morning he completed the harmony and taught it to the children.  That night, in December of 1868, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" was sung for the first time by the children of Philadelphia's Holy Trinity Church.
     Now, more than 140 years later, the strains of that haunting carol continue to bless congregations around the world!

     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 wond'ring love.
     O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men 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 Emmanuel!

I trust that you will often find yourself humming or singing this beautiful  carol as you continue to prepare your heart and home for Christmas!