THE SONG OF LOVE
(by Rev. Kathy Fraser – December 22, 2019)
Across the cold and wintery land, where day is short and night is long –
Amid the days when what is right seems overshadowed by the wrong –
While winds do blow and snow does fall – where bones are wearied, bodies bent –
And spirits languish in the depths of anguish that won’t relent –
Where deer and rabbit, fox and squirrel crouch closely to the ground –
Drawing any hint of heat that somewhere might be found –
And birds do nestle in bush and hedge, protected from the storm –
Puffing their feathers in an attempt to keep their tiny bodies warm;
Into the lives of creatures all – the greatest and the least,
There comes a Song to cheer the heart of human and of beast.
It rises up to fill the air; it sings out loud and clear;
It beckons one – it beckons all – “Come, gather close and hear.”
The words and tune reach out beyond the pall of sorrow deep –
Beyond the darkness and the cold and all that makes the soul to weep;
The Song, it sings to bring us back from brink of desperation;
The Song, it sings out loud and long in every corner of Creation.
The Song, on one hand we know it well – though on the other, no.
“How can this be?” we ask ourselves. “Why did we let it go?”
Familiar words, familiar tune forgotten over time;
Somehow we let the Song get lost – its rhythm and its rhyme.
We listen now, more closely than we’ve ever done before
To hear the Love-Song sung to us from Heaven’s open door.
“Rejoice, my child! This Song I sing for you, my dearest One.
Rejoice, my child! This Song I sing for creatures old and young.
Take heart, my child – this Song’s for you. I wrote it long ago –
Before the world had ever heard of sunshine or of snow –
Before the world in sorrow dwelt – before the time of tears;
Before the world had ever known of anguish deep or fears;
Before the world had ever known the joy of life and living
This song was written from the depths of Love. I can’t stop giving
The Gift to you – to one and all. It’s in the Song I sing.
Attend the words; Learn well the tune; and let the message ring.
The Song sings out the Gift of Love begotten from of old
From everlasting until now – the message has been told
Of God eternal, Three in One – ineffable in glory
The Song is sung from highest heights to tell the world God’s story.
The Song goes forth to sing the truth about our God most holy
Who came to earth on Christmas Day for all – both high and lowly.
It penetrates the waiting heart, its message to repeat.
It rings out loud for all to hear on country lane or city street.
The Song, it sings of Love Divine – all other love’s excelling;
It begs us listen and believe the message it is telling.
Eternal Christ – begotten from before all time and space were born –
Was found within a manger bed that blessed Christmas morn.
The Song is his – the Song is ours – it comes from God above
Who would not be content to dwell apart from those most loved.
On Christmas Day, and all year through, rejoice my sisters and my brothers;
Keep not the Song unto yourself but sing it out for all others.
Across the cold and wintery land, where day is short and night is long –
Amid the days when what is right seems overshadowed by the wrong –
While winds do blow and snow does fall – where bones are wearied, bodies bent –
There comes a Song of Love from God; an Infant Holy sent.
Bless, we pray, each one we name before you now in the silence….
Lord hear our prayer….
We pray all these things O God, with hope and praise in our hearts, our minds, and our souls, through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.