O Come All Ye Faithful

Christmas music, the songs reminding us that God in His caring compassion sent Jesus to be our savior, has a special capacity to evoke deep feelings, arouse dormant memories, and heighten anticipation. My Christmas experiences begin with positive memories. Christmas music reminds me of mini family reunions in a church gym. Uncle Raleigh played Santa. Uncles, aunts and cousins swarmed noisily around tables filled with the best food one can imagine. Almost all of them were among the "faithful" in worship and as reliable examples of Jesus followers.

Boyhood memories connect to Pat and my first Christmas. We were too poor to buy a tree, but wanted one badly! On the way home from purchasing a few groceries we followed a large semi truck piled high with Christmas trees and, one blew off! It dropped right next to our car – as if it came down from heaven! That December 1967 experience still speaks of the faithfulness of God to us today!

When I sing, "O Come All Ye Faithful," during the Advent season, I also think of the "Faithful" folk who have surrounded me for seven decades. Last June Pat’s father, one of the best examples of "faithful" that anyone can imagine, passed away. Pat and I often said, "Roy Kolas is the same yesterday, today and forever!" Roy’s model of "faithfulness" taught us to sing all year, through ups and downs, in sunshine and in rain, and with softened joy in seasons of sorrow. My sister who has rarely been under the bright lights of public ministry, quietly, consistently, routinely found ways to comfort, encourage and urge forward those suffer or who are alone. And everyone ought to sit at her dinner table to experience a foretaste of "the marriage supper of the Lamb!" Ralph Crites is a faithful friend who comes to mind when I sing, "O Come All Ye Faithful." When I needed help one one of many church construction projects, all I had to do was call Ralph. He made it easy, because Ralph never learned to say, "No!"

"Seasonal saints" attend pageants and candlelight services but are hardly qualified to be numbered with the "faithful." The "faithful," like many in my experience, are reliable, ready and participate in the rigors of Christian service all year. The "faithful" are consistent. When the seats of the "faithful" are empty people are as surprised as when the fickle fans of seasonal religion appear.

John, one of the Twelve closest to Jesus, wrote, "Because in this world we are like him." (1 John 4:17) Jesus called the Twelve to be "with Him," and to learn from Him by observation and by participation with Him. So, when I sing, "O Come All Ye Faithful," I sing with wonder-filled memories of the past and with serious introspection so that I sing as one of the "Faithful."

O come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant
Oh come ye O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him born the King of angels;
O come let us adore him Christ the Lord.
　
Sing choirs of angels sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above;Glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, Christ The Lord
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Certainly the "word of the Father, now in flesh appearing" is worthy of our worship, worship expressed in lives marked with consistency, reliably and integrity throughout the year. "O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord," during Advent and throughout the coming year.