Thank you Charles,
On December 18 in 1708, Susanna and Samuel Wesley gave birth to a son, one of 19 children. They named him Charles. At work with his brother John, he would set the world singing with the songs of the Methodist revival, over 6000 in all. For 50 years he wrote about 10 lines of verse every day. One of his best known hymns is the wonderful:
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the new born king.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinner reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumphant of the skies;
With angelic hosts proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn king.
Interestingly enough, Charles wanted it to be sung to a slow and somber tune. It wasn't until almost 100 year later that the text was set to Mendelssohn's joyous and exhuberant tune we know today. One of my colleagues when I worked in Nashville was Harold Hartley, so our kids had their own version of the carol--"Hark! The Harold Hartley sings..." There may be many ways to sing it, many languages and many tongues, but wherever it is sung, it tells the Good News of the gospel. As we anticipate Christmas Eve, we too will join the world is singing our praise to the new born king.
Just a reminder: we anticipate many visitors on Christmas Eve. As as act of hospitality, I would like to encourage all of our regular worshipers to park as far to the back of the parking lot as possible. Leave the spaces closer to the building for senior citizens, visitors and persons with limited mobility. It's just one way to offer a friendly welcome. Then come ready to sing with the herald angels to the newborn king.
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