Just One Song.
About a week ago, the newspapers reported the death of Lee Pockriss. He was 87 years old. Don't remember him? You will. Essentially he is remembered for one thing, one song--"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini". He and his writing partner Paul Vance wrote a couple other songs, most memorable of which is "Catch a Falling Star", which I would say is more worthy of remembering, but the one he will always be associated with is the classic description of the swimming suit "she wore for the first time today". Now if you were only going to be remembered for one song, wouldn't you prefer the hopes and dreams of falling stars rather than the risque image of a teeny bikini which didn't quite make it, forcing her to stay in the water because of a "costume malfunction"?
If you were going to be remembered for one song, what would it be?
Mary had one song. She sang it when she went to meet with her pregnant cousin Elizabeth to share the mystery of their unexpected expectancy: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior". (Luke 1:46). It is a song of joy and hope, a song of strength and witness against the injustices of her day. It is a song of blessing for the poor and the overthrow of the mighty. It is a song filled with the hope of falling stars and a God-given vision for the world. It's quite a song, really, from the lips of a young teen-age girl who should more likely be found on the beach in a bikini!
So Advent begins with a song and the season moves on the chords of music. Mary sings. Zachariah sings. Angels sing. Simeon sings. By the time it's over even fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. Just one song, but look how it has changed the world. During Advent, I hope you will fill your home with the music of Christmas. Hum the carols in the car and whistle them on your way to work. Listen on your Itunes and strum them on your guitar. Fill your world with the song. It is, after all, the best song the world has ever heard, and it is the song the world needs to hear even today.
Lots of music going around First Church this Advent. I encourage you the check out the website (www.fumcbirmingham.org) for details of the Advent/Christmas schedule and I encourage you to invite someone to join you in the joy of the season.
Listening for the one song.
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