O Little Town of Bethlehem

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
Reknowned Episcopal preacher, Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, after making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He saw Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine at night and wrote the lyrics matched with a tune by his Philadelphia church's organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) created for the Sunday school children's choir. The words still speak to us this day.

We are also reminded of Bethlehem today, which is a much less than peaceful place due to tense Muslim-Christian relations. The Archbishop of Canterbury was just there and asked

This Christmas, pray for the little town of Bethlehem, and spare a thought for those who have been put at risk by our short-sightedness and ignorance; and ask what you might do locally to raise the profile of these brave and ancient Churches.

More information is at an Anglican Communion News Service article Bethlehem welcomes church leader's visit and the Times Online article Pray for the Little Town of Bethlehem.

Please join us tonight for a candlelight communion worship service. Kids are invited to come at 5:30 p.m. or so to make a Christingle (or Christ Light) from an orange, ribbon and candies. Our Christmas Day worship will be tomorrow at 12 noon.

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor