JOY = THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT!

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

Whether in person, live-stream or later on YouTube, we celebrated 3 Advent services today; blessed by each as we focused on the coming birth of our Savior Jesus. Each had a church family light the candle and explain its color and place in the wreath.

A small church celebrated their Christmas Cantata as a UMC choir 35 miles away joined a FBC to add voices to Advent celebration. Singing. Sharing Responsive reading among the choir including verses from Luke 2. Having a children's lesson at the altar to explain the first pink candle to be lit known as the shepherd's candle. Congregational singing "Joy to the World."

Live-stream church FEC in a later time-zone had a large sanctuary and choir loft filled with the city orchestra plus church members seniors and teens played instruments as well.

A children's choir joined the adult choir as the service began.

Little man in plaid, front row knew all the hand motions & could have led the entire group. A special treat was the acceptance of one little fellow, whose family I know well, who treated all to a view of his belly-button a couple of times. (Adorable front row little guy in black & white to far right)

A hymn/carol included, 'Silent Night, Lonely Night" was new to me but the words rang as the words told of the difficulties of life that can darken ones life and weary ones  with trials..... BUT God offers peace and comfort for one's soul when His son Jesus entered bore sorrows and offered eventually offered his redeeming blood Christ the Savior, in whom is all our hope. All is calm and bright.

YouTube Service had excellent visuals as the Matthew 1 responsive reading was led by the two lighting the candle together. I chose a few of my favorites; to reflect the reason for the Advent season. 

Thank you LORD for blessing me over and over again as each church today included HARK THE HEARLD ANGELS SING  as one they chose to sing. 

A Christmas carol close to my heart

3 great ways to celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent!

HARK!!

HARK! 

What a great December word!

Listen! Listen carefully.

Look back. Pay close attention. Heed. 

The ones in Biblical times who were heralds of the birth of Christ were announcers of the birth of the newborn King.....Jesus!

Maybe we need to herald this news more today on this Advent Sunday!

Herald. (Announce) Harken.(Listen Carefully.) Heed. (Do it)

Maybe even Click here & hum along with the words........... 

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" my favorite carol!

Hark!” The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king.” Mild He lays His glory by; born that man no more may die— Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth—. Hark! The herald angels sing....... 

Glory to the new-born king!

Hark for sure!

BEHOLD: ONE WORD LOUD & CLEAR IN SCRIPTURE

BEHOLD---used 1,298 times in the Bible, KJV version. A word that shows up from Genesis to Revelation.....in Genesis with creation, (Genesis 1:29) with the prophets, "Behold, this is our God, "(Isaiah 25:9) through the New Testament (2 Corinthians 5:17) to  Revelation "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5)

To behold music that will lift you up....

CLICK HERE https://www.facebook.com/FirstEvan/videos/578071259669891/ 

.....if you want to Fast forward to my favorite, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" at 47:13 or to 43 if you want an upbeat intro w/ soloist Effie Johnson) 

You will beholden to me if you do so.

HARK!!

How many ways can one say "HARK" ? 

That question is one I hope to explore during my quiet times this advent season.

I received a great start yesterday during Sunday services at Allen Bible Church. From the lighting of the first candle on the advent wreath.........

.........to singing my favorite Christmas hymn, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing",  I began harkening back to our family traditions of advent at 1152. Time with family and friends, even one year in the dark, because our electricity went out as our friends began to arrive. What a fun time to remember.

To "hark back" was Mama Davenport's way of "recollecting"---Just sitting by her as she would start "to recollect" was always a special time to get a glimpse of her Christmases in the "olden days" as we we called it.

To leave the service with a HARK! Devotional Guide * was a great resource to start my "HARK" word study. 

*Thanks to Jim and Grant for writing this and providing a printable copy online.

https://allenbible.org/harkadvent-devo-guides

AND SO IT BEGINS..............

AND SO IT BEGINS...............Christmas Season 2018.

Lunch with friends. Christmas music and message....

,,,,my favorite Christmas carol, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" 

sung by choir carolers at "Miss Ann's" table.

"Glory to the New Born King!"

Here's a Great Christmas..

From Beginning to end,

I got a terrific "beginning" present--

----lunch with Ann, my sweet friend!* (Proverbs 27:9)

What a great jumpstart for this special season. 

*Thanks to Judy B. for making it possible.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

12/25/11 A Hallmark card that says "You care enough to send".....my favorite Christmas carol!

"GLORY TO THE NEW BORN KING"

ADVENT TRADITIONS

12/5/10 Today is the second advent Sunday of 2010. Advent Sundays are the four Sundays before Christmas Day. The entire advent season is a time of expectancy. Christian families wait and prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Through the years we Liles have only done it “officially” on Sunday. But….we’ve done it so often we even have our own script. As each married and moved away, I sent an advent candle holder along with a copy of our script.
In the past, on the 2nd Sunday, I would have opened in prayer, our youngest child (Molly) would be lighting the purple candle of faith from last week’s lesson, Larry would read Matthew 1:18-24, middle child (Josh) would light the next purple “candle of light” (also known as the Bethlehem candle) after the devotional and oldest child (Buddy) would lead the singing of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and my favorite carol of all, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”

Now the script doesn’t quite fit our empty nest household---it doesn’t exactly fit Buddy’s either because he and Day have a lot more kids who will need a part. Whereas Molly and Corey only have one and Josh and Megan have none, it doesn’t fit their houses either and I’m afraid our tradition will die out.

Maybe each house will alter and begin its own tradition. Maybe that’s what Larry and I need to do because it feels lonely here when I think back on previous advent Sunday nights: the time our Jewish neighbors’ son came and came back again when he realized that the next time, Mr. Liles would be singing “We Three Kings” and he didn’t want to miss that; the joy on the faces of our kids opening those small gifts which were fairly predictable over the years---ornament, the first Sunday, magazine or book the second Sunday, etc; extinguishing our candles the Scrooge way---“scrooging” has a way of leaving spit dribbles on the candles.

One year we shared our traditions with friends. With everything organized with our kids so that they were also a part, we had it all planned down to the letter----except for the electricity going off. (& only on our street) It turned out to be memorable, probably more so, because of the “seeming” catastrophe. Cooking was done via extension cords over the fence from our back neighbors’ house and our grill. Gifts were given by candlelight so that those who received gifts with the “wrong” name could pass them on to others. The gift went on…

Tonight, if gmail cooperates, I plan to open an email sent by a friend from Germantown Methodist that includes an Advent guide. Maybe Larry and I will find just the right advent lesson for empty nesters who miss sharing this tradition with their kids.

I is for IDENTITY

12/23/09 Organ chords of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing’’ rang out as the choir began to process along the red carpet down the aisle toward the choir loft at the First United Methodist Church in Hopkinsville yesterday. All of this was so familiar to me. Except, there was no Mr. Scruggs, or Mr. Tilley or short lady on the front row with the “big” strawberry red hair now occupying that loft, just Marian Adams looking mostly the same, but now graying.

This church with its large stain glass window above said choir loft (in memory of J. Brownell) stating, “He is not here. He is Risen” is where I began to discover my identity.

I walked that same aisle toward the altar at age 13, during a revival---somewhat unusual for a Methodist church---against my mother’s protestations too, because “we” didn’t express our emotions in public like that. Methodist became my moniker. Oh I had so much to learn. So much grace and knowledge to acquire---still do. (I need to insert an emoticon here but I only know this one---☺---have never created my own.)

Remember, I come from a small town where names like Baby, Bugs, Cookie and Junebug given at a young age still mark the identity of these folks, some of whom are now in their eighth decade. But names/labels do say a lot about who we are.

During this time of year certain names of our Lord resonate throughout church services:
Infant---the babe born in the lowly manger stable.
Incarnate One---“incarnato” Latin for being or taking flesh. He came and dwelt among us that we might have abundant life. “Hail the incarnate deity.”
Identity---“I AM”--- is the personal name for the God of Israel and Judah as revealed to Moses in the Wilderness (Exodus 3:14) In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you before Abraham was born, “I AM.”

• And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

This verse gives identity to Jesus because He reflects the identity of His Father.

May I find my identity in Him as well---called by God to reflect His Son.
Call me Christian!

Music Prompts

11/17/09

🎵🎶 🎵 

Without Music Life Would B♭---that’s what the t-shirt said in my latest “Wireless” catalog. Flat, indeed. It certainly rings true to me, even though I don’t stay “plugged in” like the teens at Houston High. I don’t even have my new iPod Touch (free) synced with my new iMac (not free) computer yet. Both are sources of frustration that could prompt me to tears.
I don’t always have music playing in the car or at home as many folks do. I do have my new "Tenors’ Christmas" CD playing now because this blog “prompted” me to put it in my iTunes. I also have it as loud as it will go because, in my opinion, opera should be played with VOLUME!

Music is a part of the life of the Lord, creator of all music. His delight in me can prompt Him to sing as well. According to Zephaniah 3:15 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Music often prompts tears for me. “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” is my favorite hymn and it always puts a knot in my throat and, more often than not, tears in my eyes. It was “my” song for seating as “mother of the bride”---so I had a special hanky handy. Special church services often include it as well, so I try to “gear up” but…….but if Peggy catches my eye from the choir loft and smiles, I “puddle.”
Music can prompt tears.

Church seems to turn over the Liles “tickle boxes,” as Daddy labeled my giggling fits of childhood, especially if we’re suppose to be quiet and somber. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is my favorite Christmas Carol and that causes no problems--- but let us sing “We Three Kings” and we all tend to fall apart. At least, we look askance at Larry who sings it loud and clear and in his “own key,” ---if there is such. It’s our family thing---an inside joke that happened each year during our Advent time (#3). It was shared with friends and even our Jewish neighbors who had heard about it.
Music can prompt laughter.

Whenever the Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” plays, Larry and I dance---regardless of where we are! He thinks I’ll probably try to rise up for one last dance, if he has it played at my funeral.
I also admit to doing a little toe tapping in church whenever I hear, "Lord of the Dance.”
Music can prompt dancing.

Whether on a praise walk or cleaning the house, a little music can help me to pick up the pace. Volume seems to help here as well.
Music can prompt energy.

Larry’s new “cash for clunkers” jeep came with a year’s subscription (free) to Sirius XM satellite radio. I don’t have that feature in my “old lady Cadillac,” so if I don’t have an audio book for travel, I choose his car. That way I can select the "60s on 6" channel and listen to music that I know the words to or can at least “understand” the lyrics.
Singing along favorite hymns or praise choruses brings an element of fellowship that is rich. However, I rarely sing out at church because I don’t have that gift. But I’ll “sing in the shower” or sing along with iTunes. I have numerous versions of “Come Thou Fount” and when I get to verse 3, I can belt it out---it rings so true, ..........................

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.

Music can prompt singing along.

Everyone knows that a quiet lullaby can help soothe a baby to sleep, unless his name is Josh Liles. With him, Larry turned the car radio on and drove him around (sometimes at midnight) just so I could sleep. I have friends who keep music going at bedtime to dispel the quiet and ease them into slumber.
Music can prompt rest/sleep.

Music is the international language. I have heard the melody of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” sung by children at a zoo in Venezuela and recognized it even before the E-I—E-I—Os. I heard Silent Night in German and knew the English version because of years of singing it with my family. Music sticks with us and both melody and lyrics can trigger memories.
Music lingers and prompts our thoughts .

My friend, Carol Newman, sent this e-mail message to me. “The God who created music has songs for resting, songs for dancing, and songs of rejoicing over you!"

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42

“His song” is music to my ears and prompts praise from my heart.