Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Come let us worship the Lord! The snow lay on the ground;
the stars shone bright, when Christ our Lord was born on Christmas night.”
This became my favorite song this Christmas. Mostly the refrain. I found myself humming it over and over. Of course it helped that we did actually sing the tune throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons. However, when I looked out the window this week, with the snow on the ground, and the moon shining bright, I felt a certain peace as I hummed the song. Even now, as I write, and listen to the video, I have a smile on my face and calm heart.
Congregational singing, and congregational memorization of songs and prayers and scriptures, have power to help us through tough times, to refresh us during tiredness, and to enhance the joy of a special moment.
When we recite particular phrases, or sing refrains, doxologies, glorias, over and over, we are teaching one another to hold onto pieces of faith that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Between now and Ash Wednesday, I encourage you to practice during the week the refrains of sharing God’s peace with one another.
Hymn 609: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Hymn 448: Peace of God Be with You
You might even try memorizing a Scripture:
just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world
to be holy and blameless before him in love. Ephesians 1: 2-4