O Little Town of Bethlehem - Micah 5:2; Luke 2:9-11; Matt 1:18-21
The story of the long-time favorite Carol - O Little Town of Bethlehem - is a great reminder that the best-loved things are often also the simplest of things. Phillips Brooks spent Christmas of 1865 in Bethlehem just soaking up the atmosphere of the village. Unchanged in many ways for centuries, Brooks reflected on the history and heritage of this insignificant town that welcomed the greatest gift of Heaven. He wrote this poem a few years later and then asked his Worship Leader to compose a simple tune to carry his poem - done at the last minute - both expected the song to be used that Christmas Sunday for the children’s choir and likely never again - they were wrong! This is one of the best-loved and best-known carols in the collection of Nativity songs.
The verses that support this carol are just as well known. Well-known verses from Isaiah and the Gospels but also verses from Micah, the Psalms. Sunday I will take us through a few of each - giving us the background of the Carol and the promises of God kept in the baby of Bethlehem - Jesus!
Remember - a Christmas Eve service at 10am and repeated at 4pm. Bring your family - bring your friends - worship with us as we celebrate the original gift of Heaven-born in a stable - laid in a manger - crucified on a cross - risen to life - ascended to Heaven! Full circle!
Pastor Mike