Silent Night! Holy Night!

This week’s carol is one of the most popular that we sing during the Christmas season. It came about by accident. The words were written in 1816 by Franz Xaver Gruber . The organ in the Church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, Austria was broken, so he was asked to put a melody to a poem. History was made and it’s popularity exploded.  It never fails to bring a sense of peace to all who hear it, reminding us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

During the Christmas Truce of 1914, “Silent Night” was sung by German, Britain and even some French soldiers as they paused for a moment of peace during the first World War.

Jesus brought us peace with God. Our natural inclination is to run from God, but Jesus came to restore our relationship with him. The entire Bible is the story of God’s attempt to do this. He came as a human baby, identifying with all of our struggles, then suffered the consequences for our disobedience. We can have peace with God, but it starts with salvation and continues with growth by meditating on the Word, praying, and making worship part of our every day lives.

Jesus brought us peace with each other and he asks us in Matthew 5:9 to be Peacemakers. Diffusing arguments, rumors and gossip goes a long way to making that peace. We need to show forgiveness to those who have hurt us, taking the first step to mend broken  relationships. Remembering Jesus’ birth and the love he brought, provides moments of rest and tranquility in the midst of even the most turbulent times. As we celebrate  Jesus’ arrival, we need to understand that peace is not just a state of mind, but a way of life.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 14:9)

 

Due to technical difficulties, we were not able to provide an audio of this week’s message.

The scriptures we read were:

• Isaiah 9:6
• Romans 5:1
• Matthew 5:9
• Proverbs 20:19 (NIV)
• Matthew 6:12
• Matthew 18:23-35 (MSG)
• Romans 14:19

These are the videos we watched: