THE PASTOR’S CHRISTMAS CARD:

     Too often the beautiful Advent hymns get lost as we race towards Christmas. We hear Christmas music everywhere, often even before Thanksgiving. Likewise, worshipers on Sunday morning want to sing Christmas carols announcing Christ’s birth when we are to be preparing our hearts and minds for his arrival. We miss the beauty and meaning of Advent hymns reminding us to wait with patience and expectation.

One of those beautiful Advent hymns is “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.” This is one of many, many hymns composed by Charles Wesley. The Advent Carol was originally written as a prayer which Wesley wrote because he was concerned about the plight of orphans and the growing economic divide in Great Britain.

Wesley’s prayer was later set to music and was first published in 1745 in a book titled, “Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord.” This little hymnal contained 18 Advent and Christmas Carols, authored by Charles, of which “Come, Thou Long- Expected Jesus” is the best known.

Blessed Advent,

Merry Christmas,

Happy New Year,

Pastor Brad and Michelle